RICOH SINGLEX (1962–1967)

Name: Ricoh Singlex
Brand: Ricoh

The Ricoh Singlex was Ricoh's first 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses. It was the company's entry into the SLR market.

Overview

Ricoh introduced the Singlex in 1962 as its first reflex camera with interchangeable lenses. It was based on the Mamiya-designed Nikkorex F, a camera originally made for the amateur market. Export demand was strong and Ricoh had no SLR of its own ready, so it acquired the design to get into the growing SLR market quickly. Sears sold it as the SL 11. Ricoh used the design only for this model before developing its own SLRs with different mounts.

Specifications

Type	35mm Single-Lens Reflex (SLR)
Film Format	35mm film, 24x36mm frame size
Years Produced	1962–1967
Lens Mount	Nikon F mount
Shutter	Mechanical vertical focal-plane metal Copal shutter
Shutter Speeds	1 sec to 1/1000 sec, plus B (bulb)
Flash Sync Speed	1/125 sec
Viewfinder	Non-changeable screen with horizontal split-image rangefinder surrounded by microprism collar
Metering	No TTL metering; camera is completely mechanical
Exposure Meter	External coupled clip-on CdS meter
Standard Lens	Auto Rikenon 55mm f/1.4
Dimensions	147 x 93 x 102 mm

Design

The Singlex is completely mechanical, with no electronics, so there is no battery to leak and nothing electronic to fail. The shutter speed dial sits on the top plate, and the back is hinged for loading film. The body is described as "quite well built" and has X & M PC sync ports on the side. The cold shoe for flash is on a slip-on cover over the pentaprism. Depth-of-field preview and the mechanical self-timer share a single lever. The Nikon F mount locking pin sits at 5 o'clock. Ricoh sold an external CdS meter made specifically for this model, and it also fits the Sears SL 11 and the Nikkorex F.

Context

The original Singlex is the only Ricoh SLR that uses the Nikon F mount. All later models, including the Singlex TLS and Singlex II, used a 42mm screw mount and were in-house Ricoh designs. Rikenon F-mount lenses are optically and mechanically distinct from Nikkor lenses. The black Singlex is rarer than the black Nikkorex F. The rarest configuration is the all-black body with the special black 55mm f/1.4 lens.