The word is "Handy".
By handy, I mean it's very usable. Not very big, it's light, and fully adjustable.
The size factor is something you can really appreciate. I have a couple of
Yashicamats that are true daily users. They're not too big, but this little Ricoh job
makes them seem big by comparison. It's only about 75% the size of a 'Mat.
It's shown here with a BC (battery-capacitor) fold out flash. The flash is shown
folded in it's case in the top photo. Just in case you wanted to know.
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Shutter speeds are from 1/10 to 1/200 and "B". Aperture from f3.5 to f16.
The shutter is a cock and fire type where you push the lever one way to cock and the
other way to fire. Coated lenses. This camera is a multi-format rig, and will
take 120, 127, and 135 film, if you have all the different film inserts,
(I only have the 120 size, which is all I need). The big round plate on
the back rotates to take different films. The ruby window is behind the small
round metal plate at the bottom. The lever at lower right slides to open it.
The hood opens and closes in one action, you don't have to
fold the wings down, they just slide inside. The magnifier at the back
flips 270 deg to use for fine focus on the ground glass.
Bring a flashlight, it's not real bright.
To
load up you have to take out the film carriage
by pulling out on the film wind knob and dumping
it out. Load the film, put it back in the camera and shoot.
by pulling out on the film wind knob and dumping
it out. Load the film, put it back in the camera and shoot.
I loaded up
with a roll of Agfa pan 400 120 film
and headed out in the snow. When I got home
I developed it in D23 and printed the negs on Agfa RC.
A little fog on the Harpster grade here. This is the
Clearwater River gorge, and during season is a good
place to be if you're into Steelhead fishing. 'Bout ten
miles from my place, and I spend a lot of time in these
hills...you know, makin' shine and other hobbies like that.
I headed on into the little town of Clearwater, which is
about 15 miles from the gorge shot above. Despite it's
name, it's not on the Clearwater River at all, but about
five miles up on the high farmland. Their small cemetery
is on the knob of a hill. Been here for over a century.
Even graveyards show the changes in fashion. People
used to routinely erect pinnacle monuments to their loved ones.
Of course, the cemetery has benches...thankfuly. Not a good
place to rest right now, though.
The Clearwater Odd Fellows hall. I like these old
false front buildings, though I've never figured out the
thinking behind them.
I once heard a radio announcer giving meeting times
for the Odd Fellows. Had to laugh when he call it the
"One hundred F club". Sounded like a
get together for high school dropouts.
deansphotographica.com
deansofidaho.com
deanw@bmi.net
3-05
© 2005 Dean Williams
and headed out in the snow. When I got home
I developed it in D23 and printed the negs on Agfa RC.
A little fog on the Harpster grade here. This is the
Clearwater River gorge, and during season is a good
place to be if you're into Steelhead fishing. 'Bout ten
miles from my place, and I spend a lot of time in these
hills...you know, makin' shine and other hobbies like that.
I headed on into the little town of Clearwater, which is
about 15 miles from the gorge shot above. Despite it's
name, it's not on the Clearwater River at all, but about
five miles up on the high farmland. Their small cemetery
is on the knob of a hill. Been here for over a century.
Even graveyards show the changes in fashion. People
used to routinely erect pinnacle monuments to their loved ones.
Of course, the cemetery has benches...thankfuly. Not a good
place to rest right now, though.
The Clearwater Odd Fellows hall. I like these old
false front buildings, though I've never figured out the
thinking behind them.
I once heard a radio announcer giving meeting times
for the Odd Fellows. Had to laugh when he call it the
"One hundred F club". Sounded like a
get together for high school dropouts.
deansphotographica.com
deansofidaho.com
deanw@bmi.net
3-05
© 2005 Dean Williams