Ricoh RW-1 (December 1993–1994)
The Ricoh RW-1 is a 35mm point-and-shoot compact from the mid-1990s. As far as the record shows, it was released in December 1993, with production generally listed as 1994. It sits in an unusual niche: a weather-resistant compact. Multiple sources describe it as splash-proof or all-weather, so you could carry it without babying it. The body is plastic, available in gray. Despite the rugged pretensions it stays pocketable at 123 × 66 × 45 mm and 250 grams.
Photographically, it's straightforward by design. The lens is a Ricoh 34mm. Sources conflict on the maximum aperture, with some listing f/4.5 and others f/2.8, so treat that figure with caution. Focusing is single-point active autofocus, and there's a focus lock that one seller notes can be used to create deliberate bokeh. Film speed is set automatically via DX coding from ISO 100 to 400. The shutter offers just two speeds, 1/50 and 1/100 sec, and minimum focus is 1 metre. Features include a self-timer, a red-eye reduction switch on the front, and a built-in panorama mode. Exposure and film advance/rewind are fully automatic.
The RW-1 has a small following among compact-camera enthusiasts. One photographer who tested it extensively wrote that it "clearly acquitted itself admirably producing high quality 35 mm film images." He called it the most reliable camera he'd used in its class and rated its image quality and functionality against the Yashica T4 and Pentax PC35AF-M, two well-regarded fixed-lens compacts. YouTube sample rolls with Kodak Gold 200 also exist. A "Date" version, the RW-1 Date, was also offered. Original instruction manuals surface occasionally, often in five languages.
The gaps in the record are big. No original retail price has been found, no battery type is documented, and there are no viewfinder specifications, flash range figures, or details on the panorama mechanism. No period reviews from major photography magazines have surfaced, and nothing is recorded about where the RW-1 sat in Ricoh's lineup or what it was competing against. Contemporary resale prices vary wildly, from about $17 to $400 AUD depending on seller and condition.
Known specifications:
- Type: 35mm point-and-shoot compact, weather-resistant
- Lens: Ricoh 34mm (aperture conflicting in sources)
- Focus: Single-point active autofocus, 1m minimum
- Shutter: 1/50 and 1/100 sec
- ISO: 100–400 via DX code
- Features: self-timer, red-eye reduction, panorama mode, fully automatic exposure and film advance
- Body: plastic, gray; splash-proof
- Dimensions: 123 × 66 × 45 mm; 250 g
- Release: December 1993; production year listed as 1994
- Variant: RW-1 Date
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.