Riken Ricohflex IIIb
One of series of cheapish models, III, IV, VI and VII with some further variants. No I, II or V ever made. Geared lenses. Fairly crude, but functional, 1951
Lens Ricoh Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter Riken 1/25 to 1/100
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Riken Ricohflex IV
One of series of cheapish models, III, IV, VI and VII with some further variants. No I, II or V ever made. Geared lenses. 1952, but much as the IIIb model
Lens Ricoh Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter Riken 1/25 to 1/100
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Riken Super Ricohflex
The one in McKeown has multifilm capability. This (from c1955) certainly doesn't! Similar to the Ricohflex at left, with slightly improved shutter, but nothing flashy!
Lens Ricoh Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter Riken 1/10 to 1/200
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Riken Ricohflex Holiday
Lots of these (from c1956) around. Apart from superficial differences, pretty much the same as the earlier Ricohflex models, with plastic wind knob replacing metal.
Lens Ricoh Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter Riken 1/10 to 1/200
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Ricohflex Dia (Original)
This is the very first of the Dia series, which moved the Ricohflex family away from geared lenses to lensboard focussing. Prior to this, the cameras had been recognised by some as quite effective performers, but the new design brought them into direct comparison with the Rolleicords and better Japanese models. The original model is sans Bay i lens surrounds. The Dia M (below) is a downmarket version of this.
Lens Riken Ricoh 80mm f3.5
Shutter Citizen MXV 1 to 1/400
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Ricohflex New Dia (early model)
This is the second version of the Dia, which introduced Bay 1 lens surrounds a la Rollei. The previous (original) Dia omitted these. However, this one has the 1/400 Citizen MXV shutter carried over from that model; Sugiyama says it should have the 1/500 Seikosha MX. Even odder, the lens is a Riconar, which doesn't appear on any of the various models in Sugiyama. Clearly there was a period of transition, so maybe this version is fairly rare?
Lens Riken Riconar 80mm f3.5
Shutter Citizen 1 to 1/400
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Ricohflex Dia M
As discussed before, The Dia and this 1956 Dia M were the first Riken TLRs to move beyond geared lenses, and introduced the trademark dual lever focus alongside the lensboard, with the focus indicator below. The M was a rather down-market version, with a lesser shutter. In the case of this particular camera, there is an additional source of potential confusion - it came in its original box, which says "Super Ricohflex"... Riken clearly had a mix-and-match policy.
Lens Riken Ricoh 80mm f3.5
Shutter Seikosha 1/10 to 1/300
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Riken Ricoh Dia L
The Dia/Diacord series moved into a completely new sector. As often, Riken mixed names up. This is a Selenium-metered (uncoupled) Dia from around 1957. It uses the EVS numbering system pioneered by Rollei and some others, and later dropped as rather too complicated for some users to manage.
Lens Rikenon 80mm f3.5
Shutter Seikosha MXL 1 to 1/500
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Riken Ricoh Diacord L
Apart from the nameplate, it's hard to see the difference to the previous Dia L. Both use above-viewing lens window with linked EV numbers and speeds/apertures. Not as complex as it sounds! 1958.
Lens Rikenon 80mm f3.5
Shutter Seikosha MXL 1 to 1/500
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Riken Ricohmatic 225
Evolution from the Diacord produced this in 1959, with uncoupled Selenium meter. It also has crank-wind, like the Rolleiflexes, and still uses the EV number system on the meter and settings window.
Lens Rikenon 80mm f3.5
Shutter Seikosha SLV 1 to 1/500
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Riken Ricoh Auto 66
Riken's attempt to copy/compete with the Rolleimagic, launched a year later in 1960. Coupled selenium meter and self-setting auto shutter speed. A rather strange beast I must test sometime!
Lens Riken Ricoh 80mm f3.5
Shutter Seikosha L 1 to 1/500
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