The Ricohmatic 110X Pocket Deluxe was first released 1973, a high end camera for Kodak 110 pocket film*(see below).
It is said to be in production only until 1977. There is little
information about this model. It had a very similar successor, the
600M, which has a hot shoe instead of the cube socket.
*
110 film was introduced by Kodak in 1972. The film sits in a cartridge,
like Kodak's earlier 126 film, but is much smaller. A frame is 13mm ×
17mm, has one perforation per image to control film advance and 24
frames per cartridge (12 were also available). The film is protected by
a backing paper like 120 film. The frame number is visible through a
window at the back of the cartridge. The basic film is ordinary 16mm
film which was already on the market, so it could be processed in
existing machines. The small picture size made very small, pocketable
cameras possible.
Kodak introduced with its 110 film a line of
Kodak Pocket Instamatic cameras which were followed by
cameras from other manufacturers. Most cameras were cheap
point-and-shoot, but very sophisticated models were also made. Small
digital cameras made 110 film obsolete. Bit by bit manufacturers stopped making 110 format film (Fujifilm in 2009), but in 2012 (and 2019) Lomography made a large batch of 110 film, followed by other firms.
The Ricohmatic 110X Pocket Deluxe has zone focussig with indication in the viewfinder and advanced features, a close-up setting, a good lens, an automatic
shutter/aperture setting and exposure compensation. Its main features are:
25mm F2.8 Rikenon lens, 4 elements, F2.8-F16, min. focus 0.9m Electronic shutter, 1/30 - 1/250 Size 125x55x28, Weight 200 gr. with battery and strap 100
ISO only, automatic exposure with compensation, parallax and distance
indication in the viewfinder, X-cube socket with automatic aperture
according to distance set
Camera front. Lens, compensation switch around the CdS cell, viewer.
Seen
from above. X-cube socket. If you put a cube, the camera sets to 1/30
speed and the aperture couples to the distance setting. Distance
setting ring around the shutter release with a cable release socket.
Set to "L" the shutter release is blocked, but the camera can't be
switched off. So the CdS cell always works. To prevent battery drain,
put the camera into a dark case and take out the battery when no film
is in the camera.
Back view. The
viewer has frame marks with parallax indication, a distance indication
via symbols and a needle to indicate the amount of light. The
window will show the film type and the frame number, when a cartrigde
is inserted.
Seen
from below. Tripod socket. Film advance lever.
Camera
film compartment open. The CdS cell needs one V 625 battery, but the
camera fires without battery. I don't know which speed/aperture it
uses. I did not find a manual
A nice point and shoot camera, small and light.
This
camera is very easy to use, move the distance setting from "L" and it's ready.
It has no
manual settings, everything is perfectly automatic. You have only to
focus and frame, which is easy via the bright finder and an easy
focussing scale in the upper part of it. If the needle moves up, exposure is fine, if it stays down, the
camera will use slow shutter speeds and may under-expose or needs X-cubes After taking
a picture, you have to advance film and cock shutter via the lever under the camera. Putting
a film is easy as well,
you drop the film into the compartment, advance to the first frame and
that's it. There are no slow speeds for night photos. Seen
its size and weight it's one of the best 110 camera choice if you
don't need special features.
It's
a very good luxury point and shoot camera
with good picture quality, good quality
finish in very small and light pocketable body.