Have you ever made a purchase that you ended up regretting, only to eventually change your mind and realize that said regretted purchase was the GOAT choice? That’s how my love affair began with the R1s.
I bought this little Ricoh point and shoot initially looking for something that I could carry with me anytime, anywhere. Something that was super pocketable just in case I saw something interesting I’d have a camera on my person at all times.
But after daily shooting with it for about a month, the R1s ended up in my drawer of misfit cameras, mostly untouched.
Why? Well, for me, the 30mm lens just felt too wide.
Fast-forward a few years, and here I was looking for carry-on camera to take with me on a trip to South Carolina. After sifting through my options, I considered trying the Ricoh out for another go.
I thought for a moment about how and why this camera found its way into the void of lost, unloved cameras. It occurred to me that each time I had used the R1s in the past, I wanted it to fit my preferred shooting style- tight cropping that isolates the subject and removes distractions from the frame. Needless to say, that’s not a strength of this camera.
But what if I approached the R1s differently? Instead of trying to make the Ricoh conform to the way I shoot, I could just play to the camera’s strengths. I could treat it’s 30mm lens like the documentary style focal length it is.
Plus, the thought of leaving behind my typical bags full of camera gear felt pretty freeing. So, I made my decision- the Ricoh R1s would be my pocket-sized memory maker on this road trip to Charleston.
Fully Automatic, Plus A Few Things
Smaller than my phone, the Ricoh R1s is easily the most pocketable film camera I own. Its compact size is arguably one of its best features, making it effortless to carry around and always ready for action.
The camera comes equipped with a selectable date code, LCD information panels on the top and side, and helpful dynamic guidelines in the viewfinder. These outlines switch in real-time inside the viewfinder when you select different aspect ratios to help with framing.
Everything is powered by a single CR2 3V battery.
The R1s is fitted with a 30mm prime lens that offers selectable aspect ratios. You can choose between a standard 2:3 12x36mm image and a 1:3 panoramic option at 30mm or 24mm. The panoramic effect is achieved through a plastic mechanical curtain that masks part of the frame.
For the 24mm focal length, the rear lens element shifts slightly backward to create a wider view, but this adjustment limits the aperture to f/8.
If you’ve shot film for any length of time, chances are you’ve accidentally opened the back of the camera mid-roll, ruining some of your shots. Thankfully, the Ricoh R1s has a clever feature to minimize the damage. It pre-winds all the film when you load it, so each shot is pulled back into the canister sitting safely in the dark until development. A pretty cool safety feature for us forgetful types!
Another handy trick of the R1s is its “leader-out” function. By depressing a hole in the side when rewinding, you can stop the process a few centimeters before the film leader is fully pulled back into the canister. This is especially useful if you process your own film and need to load your development reels. No need to fish the film leader back out- it’s ready to go.
A Few Snafus
When I purchased the camera from an eBay seller in Japan, I willingly paid a premium in hopes of getting a copy in good working condition. (Top Mint A+++, anyone?) Unfortunately, my first test roll revealed bad light seals, but it’s nothing that a little electrical tape on the film door couldn’t fix.
More recently, I noticed that the automatic lens shade that protects the front element was sticking partially closed when the camera powered on. A few light flicks with my finger cleared out whatever obstruction was causing the issue (probably pocket lint), and the shade began opening and closing properly again. It’s only happened once so far, but it’s something I’ll be keeping an eye on.
Other Specs and Info
Shutter: 2 sec – 1/400 sec
Weight: 4.9 oz (140g) empty, and 6.4 oz with a roll of film and battery installed
DX Code: 50-3200 iso (sets iso to 100 if the film canister is not coded)
There are a few different versions of the R1 released over the years, with slightly different features. The original R1 debuted in 1994, followed by the R1s and R1e in 1995. All have a 30mm 3.5 lens, but the R1e removes the 24mm wide option. The R1s is considered the best version because its lens has a muticoating.
These cameras all share a similar size and form factor with the famous GR series, but the GR cameras offer manual control over exposure and a more robust build.
My Final Thoughts
While I was disappointed with this camera when I first bought it, I think it’s finally found its place in my camera lineup. Once I stopped expecting it to be something it was not, the Ricoh R1s became a wonderful camera to shoot with.
When I stop trying to force subjects into tight framing, and instead focus on capturing the bigger picture to tell a story- the R1s delivers no less than excellent snapshots and memories.