Post by casualcollector on Oct 13, 2013 19:45:30 GMT -5
Every once in a while I still find something appealing on e-bay. This recently arrived along with a Canon T-50 and FTb.
The Ricoh Singlex TLS was a successful camera for Ricoh, Sears and a bunch of other re-brand sellers. By 1975 - 76 it had been around for seven or eight years and Ricoh felt it was time for a face lift. They chose a very respected face! Compare it to a Nikkormat EL and you'll see an eerie resemblance!
Compared to the Singlex TLS, Ricoh Moved a few controls. The shutter speed/asa dial migrated from the front to the top. The meter switch moved to the right hand side from its former position on the left hand side of the mirror box (a la Pentax). A hot shoe was installed atop the prism and black plastic tips were added to the film advance and self timer levers. The rest of the camera is good, old Singlex TLS. Simple, reliable and durable.
Looking inside the film chamber and through the viewfinder the new camera is very much like the old. A look inside the base shows no change in the mechanism. I suspect there may be a change under the top plate though I haven't looked yet. The TLS had a variable resistor geared to the shutter speed dial to send shutter speed and asa information to the meter. For the deuce, I suspect Ricoh may have emulated Chinon and run a wire or cord around pulleys from the shutter dial to the meter movement providing the information mechanically instead of electrically.
The camera came with a 28mm P Auto Rikenon. Most Ricoh branded accessory lenses I've seen for the TLS appear to have come from Tokina or Sun. This lens came from Makina. The same lens is found with Hanimex, Focal and Continental Optics branding.
The Singlex II didn't enjoy the long run of its predecessor. Even as it was coming to market Ricoh was joining the K mount revolution as did Chinon and Cosina.
The Ricoh Singlex TLS was a successful camera for Ricoh, Sears and a bunch of other re-brand sellers. By 1975 - 76 it had been around for seven or eight years and Ricoh felt it was time for a face lift. They chose a very respected face! Compare it to a Nikkormat EL and you'll see an eerie resemblance!
Compared to the Singlex TLS, Ricoh Moved a few controls. The shutter speed/asa dial migrated from the front to the top. The meter switch moved to the right hand side from its former position on the left hand side of the mirror box (a la Pentax). A hot shoe was installed atop the prism and black plastic tips were added to the film advance and self timer levers. The rest of the camera is good, old Singlex TLS. Simple, reliable and durable.
Looking inside the film chamber and through the viewfinder the new camera is very much like the old. A look inside the base shows no change in the mechanism. I suspect there may be a change under the top plate though I haven't looked yet. The TLS had a variable resistor geared to the shutter speed dial to send shutter speed and asa information to the meter. For the deuce, I suspect Ricoh may have emulated Chinon and run a wire or cord around pulleys from the shutter dial to the meter movement providing the information mechanically instead of electrically.
The camera came with a 28mm P Auto Rikenon. Most Ricoh branded accessory lenses I've seen for the TLS appear to have come from Tokina or Sun. This lens came from Makina. The same lens is found with Hanimex, Focal and Continental Optics branding.
The Singlex II didn't enjoy the long run of its predecessor. Even as it was coming to market Ricoh was joining the K mount revolution as did Chinon and Cosina.