casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
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Post by casualcollector on Dec 23, 2023 15:08:44 GMT -5
Hi Guys!
Been a long time since I last signed in. Glad to see discussion is still going on. I'm still picking up a "new to me" camera every once and a while. Whatever you celebrate, have a great holiday.
Bill
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
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Post by casualcollector on May 4, 2022 10:58:03 GMT -5
I think it was Herbert Keppler who opined that the unmarked detent was faster than 1/500 but usually out of spec for 1/1000. Similarly the 2.0/55 was the 1.8/55 with a fixed disc to reduce the aperture. This allowed use of elements with chipped edges rather than scrapping imperfect but otherwise good components. My recollection from my days behind the camera counter was that the SP500 and SP1000 bore "Made In Hong Kong" markings.
In a similar vein, The Canon TL and Mamiya/Sekor 500 DTL may have been made from bodies whose shutters were slightly out of spec at 1/1000 rather than investing additional labor to tune them up or scrapping them.
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casualcollector
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Post by casualcollector on May 4, 2022 10:44:33 GMT -5
Back in the late 60s - early 70s my school system used two of these. The half frame option was useful for making filmstrips, a popular medium at the time. They were regular visitors to the repair shop for film advance problems.
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
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Post by casualcollector on Aug 25, 2014 9:54:57 GMT -5
Ricoh certainly has in interesting history and some distinctive designs. The very compact GR was highly regarded and a cult fave back in the early 2000s.
The first design Singlex, and its Sears SL11 cousin is indeed a big, heavy unit. The subtle difference in the lens mount is something overlooked until users try fitting the Rikenon 1.4/55mm to a Nikon product.
The second design Singlex, with M42 mount was appealing as a simple rugged and durable camera. It did not have the elegance of the Pentax, Minolta or Canons but was certainly an effective picture maker. There's an interesting variant known as the Sears SL-11 that has no built in light meter. I've not seen this version with the Ricoh name on it.
Ricoh probably served as a contract assembler for others, so Nikkormats assembled at Ricoh would not surprise me. They probably produced outside designs as Ricohs. The Auto TLS comes to mind as being very untypical of Ricoh in having a cloth shutter and an unusual body design. If you see one, look at it closely and you'll see what I mean.
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
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Post by casualcollector on Feb 24, 2014 10:56:46 GMT -5
WOW! U.P. always liked the big stuff.
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
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Post by casualcollector on Feb 22, 2014 17:40:17 GMT -5
A train of containers and trailers southbound crossing one of two Sebastian Rivers on the route. The front two units wear the new Florida East Coast "Heritage" colors.
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
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Post by casualcollector on Nov 4, 2013 20:02:15 GMT -5
A DSLR for film guys, finally!
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
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Post by casualcollector on Nov 3, 2013 20:02:36 GMT -5
Frankly, I am happy about this "Thinking camera". At last I can put my brain in a jar and give it a much needed rest. Should I use formaldehyde, alcohol or dill pickle Juice? Mickey I suggest pickling it a shot at a time with some of that fine Canadian whiskey you folks export to us. Administered orally, of course.
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
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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.
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Post by casualcollector on Oct 5, 2013 10:21:11 GMT -5
I've had a bunch of the Stylus/MJU series and am fond of the foxed lens verions. Of the manual focus Olys I have an XA-3 That's a really cool camera. I recently sold a Trip as I was able to make a profit on it. I am very happy with the pictures these little cameras make! The more sophisticate versions, like your RD and the XA-1 are usually priced above my impulse buy limits.
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Post by casualcollector on Sept 29, 2013 8:06:47 GMT -5
Another unsuccessful foray into the offbeat. The Canon T-80 and EF-M come to mind.
Neat that you have it mostly working again.
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Post by casualcollector on Sept 12, 2013 7:58:15 GMT -5
I just received an Agfa Karat 36 from eBay. $25.00 + $11.00 postage from British Columbia.Mickey Excellent catch, Mickey. The reverse rapid wind caused me to pass on one as I thought the camera was jammed!
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
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Post by casualcollector on Sept 5, 2013 18:50:18 GMT -5
Gene,
I agonized over this decision for years. I've used 35mm SLRs since 1971 and am fond of wide angle views. I considered the early Canon DSLRs but that would require new lenses. I considered the Nikon D-100 but it would not accept the legacy "pronghorn" lenses I had. I was taken with the Epson RD-1 but the expense kept me away. All had me thinking of the "crop factor".
I did come into some Canon EOS film equipment in 2008. The price tag on the then recently introduced EOS 5D was a bit much for my blood and I still didn't want to compromise with an APS-C format body. The 2009 5D mkII tempted me but the $3000 price tag kept me away. Introduction of the 5D mkIII in 2012 with its $3600 price tag sealed the deal and I bought a mkII before stocks ran out.
My wallet still hurts but I'm happy and made the right decision. The full frame viewfinder is far better than the "tunnel vision" finders of the APS-C DSLRs. If I had waited a few more months I'd have chosen the new Canon 6D over the 5D mkII, but I'm still happy. My 24mm lens is a true wide angle and not a normal! With a 50, it's almost like the old days, just more decisions to make in regard to camera settings.
I would say "Go for it"! The Canon 6D or its Nikon and Sony equivalents are the way to go if you're still attached to your old habits.
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Post by casualcollector on Aug 27, 2013 7:52:03 GMT -5
Another Canonite here but very impressed with two of the three Nikons I've collected.
I have a Nikon F with FTn finder. I've seldom had the opportunity to handle one but find that the F2 corrected all of the F's shortcomings and smoothed the sharp edges. An impressive improvememt on a great camera.
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casualcollector
Lifetime Member
In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Post by casualcollector on Aug 25, 2013 7:50:13 GMT -5
Recently, I saw a Matt Helm movie there a Pentax Spotmatic had a laser beam and a cigarette lighter in it....of course if it could shoot a laser, it could light a fag. Dino RULES!
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