I found a KR-5 Super 2 in my mom's basement. Metal copal shutter, fully mechanical, light weight and small with a built in finger grip. Picked up the Rikenon 50/2 for $20 USD on the Ebay and it shoots nice. If you are looking for a mechanical cheap K mount body this might be an option.
@@BriansPhotoShow Only for the light meter on this one, which by the way is pretty accurate. I wonder if why so many are not working is because they were sold to customers who were real entry level buyers and they just got beat up due to being treated too rough.
Just bought your ebook and I'm really enjoying it! Been growing my konica collection a lot but I fear you may have convinced me to start in on Nikons as well... the rabbit hole grows deeper
Glad you're enjoying the book; leave a review on Amazon if you don't mind. Nikkormats and Autoreflexes are great investments for anyone getting into 35mm photography; dive right into that rabbit hole and enjoy!
I was given a Ricoh Kr-10 Super with the XR Rikenon 1:2.2 55mm lens last year by an acquaintance. A classic case of being the only film camera enthusiast she knows. I was told, if I didn't want it, it would go to recycling, so told her, I would take a look at it . It was in a sad state completely covered in brownish muck with rotten light seals, and the film advance lever was so loose, it didn't work. After fixing the film advance lever (all it took was a PH0 screwdriver), cleaning the camera and replacing the light seals, it looks almost like new. The lens is fungus free and seems to be in good shape. I have yet to test it though. That 55mm lens does not excite me, and I have other cameras, I'd rather test, but maybe this summer, I'll find the time to put a roll of cheap film through it (probably Fomapan 100). I look forward to seeing your experience with the camera body.
The KR 5 is all mechanical with no dependency with batteries like the Yashica FX3. KR5 goes up to 1/500th s and the KR5 Super goes up to 1/1000th of a second.
I don't think that Ricoh cameras were ever intended to compete with the likes of Canon and Nikon (with similar specifications). The KR10 was my first 'real' camera back in the early '80's (prior to which I had a Zorki 4 rangefinder). It served me well, and years later, after many top brands have come and gone (e.g, my monumentally heavy Nikon F4s), I've recently purchased another KR10 (in almost new condition), a KR10 Super and a KR5, all of which I'm delighted with. I'm using Pentax K-Mount lenses on them which I find to be a perfect combination of economy (Ricoh) and quality (Pentax).
I have 2 regular KR-10 cameras and when I bought them around to years ago they did not work I had them in storage and about a week ago I decided to put batteries in them and check them out now they are both working. I don’t understand them and it’s a little scary with that type of unknown reliability.
3rd possibility that it has inherit design weakness that ruins it in specific conditions. Like it may be very sensitive to moisture that can then ruin the electronics.
I bought the xr10 version from a seller for 10$. It was listed as not working. I decided why not. The camera had the craziest quirks. I put fresh batteries in it thinking it will come roaring into life. It didn't. I was about to write off as not working but I decided to investigate it. To make it function. I had tighten the battery cover door at just the right amount of torque. It can't be too tight or too loose. It had to be just nice. Once that is achieved. The camera worked fine. I just got mine so I haven't tested it. I gotta say I've actually kinda fallen for it. It feels nice in the hand for some reason. My LCD display in the viewfinder doesn't seem to work. Is there a special button i need to press? I'm unsure. But so far it fires and I'm happy about that
I have recently acquired this camera from my late grandfather and I’m keen to get it working. I’ve put in some new batteries but there is no black bar in the display screen and the camera seems lifeless. I am a complete beginner with film cameras, so any help would be gratefully appreciated:)
It sounds like the electronics have failed. If the batteries are fresh and have been inserted correctly, the shutter should fire and you should see the black bar at the side when you push the button on the front of the camera.
@@BriansPhotoShow Hi Brian i've recently picked up a KR-10 for great value so thought it was worth a go. I've found a user manual but mirror seems to be stuck in up position even with new batteries (inserted correctly!) therefore viewfinder is black. any tips? many thanks!
@@BriansPhotoShow that's already helpful enough, to know i'm not missing something blindingly obvious. one other question (i've never used a manual before..) would i hear anything (say mechanical) or have any way of knowing the camera is 'on' once i've installed new batteries? once again wondering if i'm missing something obvious. many thanks for your reply
I worked in a camera store in the 80's and the two companies that paid salesmen commission was Vivitar and Ricoh. I hardly sold any Ricoh cameras but my coworkers did. The Ricoh had the worst reliability of any camera brand, and so many would come back for repair. I felt bad selling anyone such a crappy camera, so I didn't make any commission on them. I would steer everyone to Nikon, Canon or Minolta, who was the king in those days with AF and the Maxxum cameras. It's crazy that sad Ricoh would end up buying the mighty Pentax and then selling it for peanuts.
I have the xr2, in pristine condition, working flawlessly, I've used it with the original optics, not bad, but not impressive either, Pentax is way better. That said, I prefer the xr2 to the K1000, not a Hugh quality camera, often made in China, the viewfinder is made as a unit, and cannot be cleaned or repaired, get the MX instead. Ricohs are nice budget alternatives, If in Good condition.
I’ve had a 10 Super for years, never shoot it. Half way through this video, I decided to pull it out and play with it. Put in batteries and fired off a few shots, worked great, then…..nothing. Checked contacts, different batteries,……nada. The thing failed during this video! No reason to doubt the 90 percent fail rate.
Ha, fixed it by tightening the bottom screw of the rewind mechanism. Guess it was not quite advancing all the way, therefore not triggering the shutter button. Back in biz!
I had this camera as my very first own SLR. Worked and learned with it for years until it literally fell apart from heavy duty 😏 all these years it never failed me and was a reliable tool.
My 1st SLR bought in 1984, learned a lot from this camera beautiful camera, and took some great photographs.👍
I found a KR-5 Super 2 in my mom's basement. Metal copal shutter, fully mechanical, light weight and small with a built in finger grip. Picked up the Rikenon 50/2 for $20 USD on the Ebay and it shoots nice. If you are looking for a mechanical cheap K mount body this might be an option.
That's good to know. It's hard to keep the Ricoh names straight. I think some of the KR-5 variants were battery-dependent.
@@BriansPhotoShow Only for the light meter on this one, which by the way is pretty accurate. I wonder if why so many are not working is because they were sold to customers who were real entry level buyers and they just got beat up due to being treated too rough.
Just bought your ebook and I'm really enjoying it! Been growing my konica collection a lot but I fear you may have convinced me to start in on Nikons as well... the rabbit hole grows deeper
Glad you're enjoying the book; leave a review on Amazon if you don't mind. Nikkormats and Autoreflexes are great investments for anyone getting into 35mm photography; dive right into that rabbit hole and enjoy!
KR-5 was my first camera. My grandfather gave it as a birthday gift. Still have it. 🙂
Bought your e-book and read it in a day. Really enjoyed it. Well done.
I have a KR10 super with a 50mm f 2 Rikenon lens.
I love that it has a lock position.
The results are excellent.
I was given a Ricoh Kr-10 Super with the XR Rikenon 1:2.2 55mm lens last year by an acquaintance. A classic case of being the only film camera enthusiast she knows. I was told, if I didn't want it, it would go to recycling, so told her, I would take a look at it . It was in a sad state completely covered in brownish muck with rotten light seals, and the film advance lever was so loose, it didn't work. After fixing the film advance lever (all it took was a PH0 screwdriver), cleaning the camera and replacing the light seals, it looks almost like new.
The lens is fungus free and seems to be in good shape.
I have yet to test it though. That 55mm lens does not excite me, and I have other cameras, I'd rather test, but maybe this summer, I'll find the time to put a roll of cheap film through it (probably Fomapan 100).
I look forward to seeing your experience with the camera body.
I have a XR2-s and i love it. I prefer it over the Pentax MX and LX. But not over the ME Super.
Praktica had some angled split image finder cameras if I recall correctly. Now if you ask me which model that was you are asking me too much...
The KR 5 is all mechanical with no dependency with batteries like the Yashica FX3. KR5 goes up to 1/500th s and the KR5 Super goes up to 1/1000th of a second.
I don't think that Ricoh cameras were ever intended to compete with the likes of Canon and Nikon (with similar specifications). The KR10 was my first 'real' camera back in the early '80's (prior to which I had a Zorki 4 rangefinder). It served me well, and years later, after many top brands have come and gone (e.g, my monumentally heavy Nikon F4s), I've recently purchased another KR10 (in almost new condition), a KR10 Super and a KR5, all of which I'm delighted with. I'm using Pentax K-Mount lenses on them which I find to be a perfect combination of economy (Ricoh) and quality (Pentax).
I have 2 regular KR-10 cameras and when I bought them around to years ago they did not work I had them in storage and about a week ago I decided to put batteries in them and check them out now they are both working. I don’t understand them and it’s a little scary with that type of unknown reliability.
The 'meter on' button on the front intrigues me. When you press and let go does the meter turn off instantly or does it stay on for a few seconds?
It stays on for a few seconds
3rd possibility that it has inherit design weakness that ruins it in specific conditions. Like it may be very sensitive to moisture that can then ruin the electronics.
90% failure though, so not too specific.
I bought the xr10 version from a seller for 10$. It was listed as not working. I decided why not. The camera had the craziest quirks.
I put fresh batteries in it thinking it will come roaring into life. It didn't. I was about to write off as not working but I decided to investigate it.
To make it function. I had tighten the battery cover door at just the right amount of torque. It can't be too tight or too loose. It had to be just nice. Once that is achieved. The camera worked fine.
I just got mine so I haven't tested it. I gotta say I've actually kinda fallen for it. It feels nice in the hand for some reason.
My LCD display in the viewfinder doesn't seem to work. Is there a special button i need to press? I'm unsure. But so far it fires and I'm happy about that
Push the button on the front of the camera to activate the LCD information in the viewfinder.
@@BriansPhotoShow I tried that. How long do I have to press it?
@@postmanpat3265 Not long. Sounds like you've got a dead LCD display.
@@BriansPhotoShow took it out in the Sun. The LCD seems to work. I'm getting a +- symbol on the top of the display. Just above the 1000 number.
@@postmanpat3265 The +- symbol means that your exposure compensation dial is off zero and you need to check it.
maybe off topic a bit, but this is your most recent post... do have a recommendation for a wide angle for a Canon llD ? thanks !
Just curious, is the top plate and bottom plate metal or plastic?
feels like plastic to me
I have recently acquired this camera from my late grandfather and I’m keen to get it working. I’ve put in some new batteries but there is no black bar in the display screen and the camera seems lifeless. I am a complete beginner with film cameras, so any help would be gratefully appreciated:)
It sounds like the electronics have failed. If the batteries are fresh and have been inserted correctly, the shutter should fire and you should see the black bar at the side when you push the button on the front of the camera.
Thanks for your reply Brian! Is there any way of repairing it or are my chances of getting it working pretty slim?
@@BriansPhotoShow Hi Brian i've recently picked up a KR-10 for great value so thought it was worth a go. I've found a user manual but mirror seems to be stuck in up position even with new batteries (inserted correctly!) therefore viewfinder is black. any tips? many thanks!
@@bobfred06791 Sounds like you need a good repair tech. I wish I could be more helpful.
@@BriansPhotoShow that's already helpful enough, to know i'm not missing something blindingly obvious. one other question (i've never used a manual before..) would i hear anything (say mechanical) or have any way of knowing the camera is 'on' once i've installed new batteries? once again wondering if i'm missing something obvious.
many thanks for your reply
I worked in a camera store in the 80's and the two companies that paid salesmen commission was Vivitar and Ricoh. I hardly sold any Ricoh cameras but my coworkers did. The Ricoh had the worst reliability of any camera brand, and so many would come back for repair. I felt bad selling anyone such a crappy camera, so I didn't make any commission on them. I would steer everyone to Nikon, Canon or Minolta, who was the king in those days with AF and the Maxxum cameras. It's crazy that sad Ricoh would end up buying the mighty Pentax and then selling it for peanuts.
So Ricoh's reliability problems are nothing new. That's interesting to know. Thanks for commenting.
My camera is stuck on S and can’t move it why?
I have the xr2, in pristine condition, working flawlessly, I've used it with the original optics, not bad, but not impressive either, Pentax is way better. That said, I prefer the xr2 to the K1000, not a Hugh quality camera, often made in China, the viewfinder is made as a unit, and cannot be cleaned or repaired, get the MX instead. Ricohs are nice budget alternatives, If in Good condition.
I’ve had a 10 Super for years, never shoot it. Half way through this video, I decided to pull it out and play with it. Put in batteries and fired off a few shots, worked great, then…..nothing. Checked contacts, different batteries,……nada. The thing failed during this video! No reason to doubt the 90 percent fail rate.
Ha, fixed it by tightening the bottom screw of the rewind mechanism. Guess it was not quite advancing all the way, therefore not triggering the shutter button. Back in biz!
I had this camera as my very first own SLR. Worked and learned with it for years until it literally fell apart from heavy duty 😏 all these years it never failed me and was a reliable tool.