The Ricoh FF-9 is a 35mm moderate wide angle ultra compact camera which was released in
1988. It was also released as FF-7. It is a basic camera with some extra features. Its main features are:
35mm F3.5 Ricoh lens, 4 elements in 4 groups, autofocus with focus lock, min. focus 0,8m Electronic shutter, 1/4-1/400 Size 121x64x44, Weight 220 gr. without battery 100-1600
ISO, automatic DX coding, self-timer, automatic film advance, continuous mode (1 fps), multi exposure (!), TV
screen mode, remote socket, Auto BackLight Control for subjects over 3m
or Daytime Synchronization by flash within 3m, interval mode (1 shot
every 60 sec.)
Camera
front closed and original case.
Camera
back. Flash indicator. Viewer and AF indicator.Film window.
Camera front open. On/off slider uncovers the lens and sets camera to work. The lens does not move. Flash
guide number 10 (m/ISO 100). The flash pops up if necessary.
Camera bottom. Tripod socket. Battery compartment. Takes a CRP2 battery, not common, but still available. Mid roll rewind.
Camaera top:LCD
screen.Shutter
release and self timer. Back open. The film leader is safely engaged when you close the back.
This
camera is easy to use, move the on/off slider, the cover opens and
it's ready.
Autofocus is responsive and works well. Putting a film is easy as well,
you drop the film, tear the film leader up to the mark and that's it. The
camera winds it automatically. It has quite some manual settings if
needed, the menu is very easy to access on a LCD screen, but the mode
button (on the side of the strap) needs fingernails or a pointed tool.
Auto
flash setting at start, which is the case with most ultra compacts.
There
is no dedicated flash off mode except night infinity and TV screen
mode, but the camera does not activate the flash if the subject is more
tha 3m away. Night photos are limited because of 1/4 sec. min shutter
speed. Daytime Synchronization activates either Auto BackLight Control for backlit subjects over 3m or synchronization by flash within 3m.
There
are several modes which are hard to find on other models: Multi exposure
mode, Continuous mode (1 fps) until the film ends, Interval
mode (1 shot every 60 sec.) until the film ends and TV mode to capture
pictures from a TV screen (1/30 fixed speed, F4). The remote socket
takes either a cable release, an infrared sensor or even an audio
(noise) sensor.
It's
a point and shoot camera
with a moderate wide angle lens, good picture quality, in a still
pocketable body. Point and shoot at its simplest while good picture quality end plus some experimental modes.
