Ricoh Auto Half camera instruction manual, user manual, free PDF camera manual

Ricoh Auto Half
posted 10-7-'03

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INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Ricoh Half camera

RICOH AUTO HALF is a fully automatic electric-eye half-size camera with automatic spring winding.

* Electric-eye meter eliminates exposure setting trouble Micro spring motor eliminates winding trouble Uni-focus lens eliminates focusing trouble

PRINCIPAL PARTS

(1) Shutter release button

(2) Taking lens (RICOH F :2.8 25mm 4 element, 3-section)

(3) Photocell

(4) Viewfinder (Extra bright frame)

(5) Bright frame window

(6) Back cover release button

(7) Tripod screw-in hole

(8) Flash synchronization plug

(9) Manual exposure setting dial

(10) Film speed adjustment dial

(11) Strop fitting

(12) Film rewind knob

(13) Film counter

(14) Film rewind release button

(15) Spring motor wind knob

(16) Take-up spool clip

(17) Take-up spool

(18) Shutter blade (Do no' touch)

(19) Sprocket

(20) Viewfinder eye-piece

(21) Rewind spindle

(22) Film cartridge pressure plate

(23) Film pressure plate

LOADING THE RICOH AUTO HALF

Before loading your Ricoh Auto Half camera, make sure if the spring is wound by pushing down the Shutter Release Button. When the button cannot be pushed down, the spring is released completely, and the camera is ready to be loaded.

AVOID DIRECT SUNLIGHT WHEN LOAD AND UNLOAD THE CAMERA

1 ) Remove the back cover by pushing the Back Cover Release Button in the direction of red arrow to "O" (Fig. 1)

2) Pull out the Film Rewind Knob, and place the film cartridge in the chamber. (Fig. 2)

3) Push in the Knob by turning it so as to engage the Rewind Spindle

4) Insert the film tip into the Take-up Spool Clip firmly. (Fig. 4)

If the Take-up Spool Clip is not in proper position, turn the

Take-up Spool by keeping the Film Rewind Release Button pressed.

(Fig. 5)

5) Make sure the film perforations are correctly engaged to the SPROCKET TEETH (Fig 6)

(6) Wind the SPRING MOTOR WIND KNOB in the direct on of white arrow (Fig. 7) then release the shutter once or twice

If the film perforations ore not correctly engaged (Fig 8), film advance mechanism would not stop properly and the film may be wound as long as the spring works In this case turn the SPROCKET by finger in the direction of film advance.

In case that the shutter cannot be released even when spring is wound with film perforations correctly engaged, also turn the SPROCKET in the direction of film advance and release the shutter.

7) Close the back cover tightly after making sure the film is to be properly advanced. If the Back Cover Release Button is in position of "O". set it to center position. (Fig. 9A, 9B)

8) Wind the Spring Motor Wind Knob until it would not go any more. One full charge of spring advances film mare than 15 frames.

Ricoh Half camera

Ricoh half camera

9) Now the letter "S" can be seen in the Film Counter. Then release the shutter until the number "1" appears in the Film Counter During this Action, if You watch the Film Rewind Knob turning, you are assured the film is properly advanced. (Fig. 10A 10B)

SETTING THE FILM SPEED
Set the Film Speed Adjustment Dial to the Corresponding film speed (ASA or DIN).

* The Dial works between ASA 12 and ASA 200 (DIN 12 DIN 24).

* When "A" appears in Manual Exposure Setting Dial. the RICOH

* AUTO HALF works automatically. (Fig. 11)

The camera is now ready to take photographs.

TAKING THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) Paint the camera at the subject to be taken. Look through the Extra Bright Viewfinder and frame the subject within the bright frame

(2) In the center of viewfinder frame, you will see yellow dot when the light is sufficient This dot is on alarm signed for under-exposure. When the dot disappears, the light is not enough to take good photograph, so flash or artificial lighting is desired.

Fig. 13A - Correctly exposed

Fig 13B - Under exposed

(3) The lens is of high resolving power with F/2. 8 and focal length of 25mm, and is of specially designed Uni- Focus. Any subject within the distance from 1.5m (5 ft) to infinity will be photographed sharply and clearly

(4) Release the shutter
(a) Hold the camera firmly not to let it hove even a slight movement. Then press the Shutter Release Button gently as far as it stops.

(b) When you leave your finger from the Release Button, the film is advanced automatically by one frame with the sound "Z-E-E".

CAUTION

The Shutter Release Button cannot be pressed in the following cases

(1) During the film being advanced, which is identified by the sound "Z-e-e"

(2) When the spring motor is released. Wind the Spring Motor Wind Knob

(3) When the Bock Cover Release Button is in the position of "L" (locked)

This locks shutter release. When you carry the loaded RICOH AUTO HALF with you, it is advisable to set the Bock Cover Release Button at "L" in order to prevent any accidental shutter release. (Fig. 14)

UNLOADING THE RICOH AUTO HALF

When the film has all been exposed, indicated by the Film Counter, unload the camera according to the following instructions.

(a) Press the Film Rewind Release Button. which releases spring motor.

(b) Pull out the Film Rewind Knob half step, and turn it in the direction of "R" with keeping the Film Rewind Release Button pressed. (Fig, 15)

(c) After the film is completely rewound, when Rewind Knob turning becomes light, open the back cover by setting the Back Cover Release Button at "O". Then pull out the Rewind Knob as far as it stops, and take the cartridge out of the chamber.

CAUTION
(1) Avoid direct sun light
(2) Do not press The Shutter Release Button while rewinding the film.
{3) If the spring cannot be released even when the Rewind Release Button is pressed, turn the sprocket counter clockwise after taking off the cartridge, then release the shutter.

FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY

Under poor light condition, when you cannot see yellow dot in the centre of the viewfinder frame, use FLASH or artificial lightings. The RICOH AUTO HALF fully synchronizes to M-class bulbs and electric flash equipment.

In flash photography, the aperture number and the distance between camera and subject hove close relations each other. These relations are represented by the Guide Numbers which ore particular to each bulb type, film speed etc.

(1 ) Equip the RICOH FLASH UNIT BC-605D with the RICOH AUTO HALF by using an exclusive RICOH bracket.

2) The shutter :peed is automatically set at 1/30 second, then set the Manual Exposure Setting Dial at the number equal or near to the figure given by the division of Guide Number by the distance. (Fig. 17)

MAINTENANCE

Camera is a precision machine which requires careful usage and maintenance.

(1) Always keep the lens clean.
Brush lightly with a lens brush and wipe fingerprints or dirt off with soft chamois, cotton or gauze. If possible, apply alcohol.

2) When you have used the camera by the seaside or in wet weather, never fail to clean the camera thoroughly before you replace it in the case.

(3) Whenever you do not take photograph, place lens cap over the lens part to protect both the lens and the photocell.

4) Never leave the camera spring charged. Release the spring motor by pressing the Film Rewind Release Button when you leave the camera unused long.

5) When you carry the camera loaded, lack the shutter by setting the Back Cover Release Button at "L" in order to prevent any accidental shutter release.

6) Never leave the camera by any magnetic equipment.

7) Keep car note of the camera body and lens serial numbers.