Ricoh Singlex TLS - first impressions

[@williamsalati9851]

KZbin just served this up to me. Good look into this camera's origins esp. your comments on the Copal Square S shutter. I have a couple of variations of this camera and its Chinon and Cosina cousins. The Sears TLS was offered as the meterless Sears SL11 (second model, M42). Ricoh updated the camera as the Singlex 2 with the shutter dial moved to the top deck and restyled to look like the Nikkormat EL. The Ricoh and Chinon cameras have very similar mechanisms but different body castings and some differently manufactured parts. I don't have the older Cosina model with the front mounted shutter dial but the later models differ internally from the Ricoh/Chinon mechanism. Good catch on the original Konica Autorex and its front mounted dial. The Nikkormat geared a lever around the lens mount to the speed change shaft. The Topcon RE2 sported a front mounted shutter/ASA dial for its Copal Square shutter. Chinon and, I assume, most others coupled the top mounted dial via a bevel gear arrangement. The Canon EF used a cord and pulley mechanism to couple the dial to the speed change shaft. Always curious to learn more about these second or third tier manufacturers. Good Job!

[@trevorlevick1564]

Thank you for your research, very interesting!!!

[@klausrickert3607]

Mirror Lockup is featured! Hi Brian, thanks a lot for your well done SINGLEX camera-portrait, which is fun to watch! One thing should be corrected! The SINGLEX does have MIRROR LOCKUP! This function is nicely combined with its self timer! Launch it and observe the mirror! The Singlex is first locking up the mirror, then the self timer runs off and finally the shutter releases without any mirror-shake. Regards Klaus Rickert

[@mamulcahy]

I appreciate your reviews of lesser known cameras.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

If I can fill a knowledge gap, then I feel that's worthwhile. Thanks for your support!

[@TheManFrayBentos]

I have the Cosina Hi-Lite sitting in a drawer, that I only bought for the lens attached to it, about 15 years ago. Must get it out and give it some exercise with some of the M42s I have kicking around. They've only really been used via adaptors on digital bodies. The Hi-Lite feels like a nice enough camera, not cheap and nasty as so many budget ones later became. Relatedly, I also have the first Ricoh Singlex in its Nikon F-mount guise, another budget conscious effort that feels like a brick.

[@riversky33]

Your research deserves appreciation and respect! Thank you!

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Glad I could be helpful!

[@JustAsPlanned1]

Simple and reliable camera. Can also be used as a weapon because of its weight. Great review! I've recently discovered your channel and probably going to binge watch reviews of cameras I own.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Welcome aboard! Glad to have you along

[@georgehuman7253]

Great research as always! I had Sears I bought for 30$ with 50mm f1.8 made by Mamiya. There are some serious hidden gems out there on used market that people ignore. Thanks again Brian!

[@vincecarnevale4406]

Had one of these in the 70s,nice robust camera,paid $100. New with case at Ritz camera.SEARS also sold the same camera with no name on front plate.

[@johnruschmeyer5769]

Great video. I recently picked up a pair of Singlex TLS bodies (one Ricoh, one Sears) as part of a bundle. Both appear to be functional, including the meters. I'll probably replace the light seals, however, before running film through them.

[@milkyway6080]

My Cosina Hi Lite looks almost identical indeed. Can also be useful as a weapon. Mirror lockup is available, just set the self timer and there you go

[@benberube9180]

Very interesting history, this was my first SLR camera. Nice video!

[@stealthworx4371]

Brilliant as always.

[@GeorgeK356]

Good afternoon, Brian. There is another camera with the same shutter configuration, the Sigma Mark I, which I suspect is a rebadged version with a different, name etched, top plate. I have one in my collection and it's built like a tank, it's not the most sophisticated machine in the world, but if you want a camera that will withstand an explosion the Sigma would be high on the list.

[@france4322]

I think you might have missed one that was sold here in Europe. It was called Mirageflex 1000s I own one and a Ricoh singlex TLS they are almost identicle except the asa knob is on top of he camera. And the Mirageflex is very hard to find and a good quality camera.

[@callumrodgers2238]

Great video with lots of interesting history - cosina also put out some models labelled the Cosina SLR, which as far as I can tell is the same camera as well.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Thanks! I think this model may have been the first SLR manufactured by Cosina

[@DominicRulikowski]

The Olympus Pen F of 1963 had the shutter speed dial in the same position. It's actually a half frame SLR/

[@SchwarzPoet]

Hi Brian, so far I have been able to find a total of 24 cameras with your cameras listed here and all of them are labelled as they are on the cameras themselves: Ricoh Singlex TLS (I have omitted the Ricoh TLS 401, the further development of Ricoh.) Sears T-L-S Sigma Mark 1 Cavalier Five Thousand RTL Cosina Hi - Lite Reporter Hi - Lite Proloisirs Hi - Lite universa Interflex TL Carena 1000 Cosina SLR Porst uniflex TTL Porst reflex TTL Revueflex 1000s TTL Revueflex T Revue Superflex TTL Ifbaflex TTL Ifbaflex T 1000 Chinonflex TTL Chinon Prinzflex TTL Prinzflex Super TTL Chinon Riaflex TTL Kingflex TTL Focal 1000 TLX Argus STL 1000 (not the "Argus/Cosina STL 1000" these are two different cameras) Phokina Interflex T-L-S That's all I've been able to find so far. 😉 And when I search more intensively, I find more and more where sometimes only the brand label has been pasted over. 😁 The Cosina Hi-Lite is the worst. All other cameras with Hi-Lite behind them still have the original Cosina logo on the prism roof. In other words, the Cosina brand plate has been clumsily pasted over or removed and another brand name has been stuck on. 😱 Greetings from Germany Lutz

[@BriansPhotoShow]

That's very helpful, thanks!

[@SchwarzPoet]

@@BriansPhotoShow Always happy to help. 🙂

[@SchwarzPoet]

​@@BriansPhotoShow Addendum: Oh yes, evil tongues would claim that Ricoh, Chinon and Cosina stole from Konica, at least partially. Take a look at the Konica Auto-Reflex or the Revue Auto-Reflex. The Konica was marketed between 1965 and 1968 and can even be switched between full frame and half frame while you are taking photos, but also has the Konica AR mount. Apart from this interchangeability and the different lens mount, the extreme similarities are really noticeable and the Konica also has a metal blade shutter. There is nothing official about such a derivation, but the similarities are quite striking. 😉

[@babblingbrooksandgentlewat6277]

I just got this Ricoh, made in Japan single x tls, not a scratch on it! $6.00 at a thrift store. The battery compartment still has a plastic insert. Looking forward to trying out this and it’s Rikenon 50mm 1.7 lens in some BnW film. I am hoping to find a wide angle lens 🤞

[@jorgegomez-pi6fg]

It would be very interesting if you would review the original 1964 Ricoh Singlex which had a Nikon F mount, it was very different from the later Singlex TLS in M42 mount, and boasted the historical first Copal Square shutter. It was identical to the Nikkorex F. It is impossible to find a review of that camera on KZbin. There are currently none for sale on ebay and the information on the Internet is very scarce. It is a mysterious beauty. Apparently a few thousands were ever made.

[@andrewwilkin1923]

Hi Brian, correct pronunciation of Praktica according to my German friends. Prinzflex was a brand name of Dixons, UK. They bought the rights for the Miranda name in 1981 but I don't know who made the cameras and lenses, possibly Cosina? They also had sole distribution rights for Chinon cameras in the UK.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Really? So Praktica is properly pronounced with the accent on the first syllable? Good to know, thanks.

[@WiDucatiRider]

This was my first SLR camera in 1972 as a 16 year old. It was $99 and came with a f1.8 Mamiya lens. To this date it took the absolute sharpest pictures of any 35mm camera I owned including Konica Autoreflex T3, Nikon F2, Olympus, Canon etc. I think it must have been that f1.8 Mamiya lens. I thought I was moving up with the Konica and Nikon and f1.4 lenses in high school but I never recaptured the sharpness of the Ricoh with the Mamiya lens.

[@johnjon1823]

CPI December 1971 to April 2021 per the BLS: $100 then is 649.77 today, or basically $650 a 6.5 multiplier, which will likely pale in comparison to the latest printing press assault on the dollar. God bless them. Thanks for the very researched and interesting video, stay safe and away from the crazies; I will add you and yours to the list of my things to pray for. Best wishes!

[@andrewrothman7805]

Hi Brian. Although it's a half frame camera, the Olympus Pen F, FT and FV had the shutter speed dial on the front. I have a Sears TLS version of your camera, which is identical (except mine is black).

[@shamikchoudhury5924]

Brian...check out Ricoh 401. It's is similar to this camera but it has a waist level viewfinder in addition to traditional viewfinder

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Yes, I've seen ads for the 401 in the old magazines but I've never actually seen one.

[@christopherm9353]

Very thorough video! I have the Sears version of this camera in very good shape. I have yet to shoot with it but I’ll be taking it out soon. Thought I’d watch a few videos first. Thanks for the info!

[@vvmmm1]

Hi, I have a Topcon RE-2 with a speed dial in front like this Ricoh singlex tls

[@marydd4147]

Thank you!!! Can you possibly recommend an online business for accessories - I inherited the TLS 401 camera and lens only and can't wait to try it out - no case, no carrying strap, etc. Thank you again - appreciate your review.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

In North America, I'd recommend KEH.com, and in Europe I'd recommend Kamerastore.com

[@marydd4147]

@@BriansPhotoShow Thank you! I'll check these sites out.

[@cameratrav]

Fascinating, my Dad here in the UK had the Prinzflex TTL from the Dixon's store, he would have used it lightly and taken care, but it broke in some mechanical way, most Dixon's budget stuff broke.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Didn't Dixon's import a good bit of Soviet equipment for private labeling?

[@cameratrav]

@@BriansPhotoShow They did, I had a Prinzflex 500 as my Dad thought it was a more acceptable label than a Zenith E. It was reliable :-)

[@TheHatMusic]

@@BriansPhotoShow They did, but I think most of their Soviet kit was just sold under its own names. A friend of my Dad had a Zenit (I think it was a B) which was bought from Dixons. They sold a number of Zenit and Helios kit, but they also sold a range of Miranda branded Cosina SLRs which are surprisingly capable, if a little unrefined.

[@frankzappa3834]

I think Cosina also made these as the Argus STL 1000

[@frankzappa3834]

On a second watch, I realized you had it on the list!

[@gregorywalker4997]

super interesting. the research is very welcome. i've ordered one--very inexpensive.

[@heldersanches]

My fav M42 combo.

[@bublt4me]

Although not full frame, the Olympus Pen F had the shutter speed dial on the front. IMO, the Sears Roebuck version was the best looking one. Black, brass, and a cool logo was all I needed to buy it. It's a shame the cold shoe adapter didn't have a cushion on the bottom. Most TLS cameras I've seen have a horizontal dent where it would bend and sit, metal to metal, on the top plate.

[@MMSpan]

Kiev 17 and several follow ups (Kiev 19) also have the shutter dial up front.

[@ronaldsand3000]

It’s also missing a multiple exposure switch

[@BriansPhotoShow]

True, though in all fairness I don't think those became common until the 70s.

[@1973sonvis]

Great video! 👍🏻

[@sergeyrozum]

Kiev 17 and 19 look very similar and have similar features, except mirrored controls. But the coolest feature is Nikon F-mount.

[@guillermoperezsantos]

BTW, talking about "smal" brands Chinon has one od the very few M42 bodies with 1/2000 shutter speed.... the other 2 I know, are Fuji and ....... Mamiya!!!

[@bipolarluck]

Would you recommend the ricoh 500g?

[@iainmc9859]

Dixon's bit the dust in the financial crash of the noughties. Bought out by a rival electrical retailer Curry's. Curry's only sell big brand camera gear and always at a premium price.

[@bartwaggoner2000]

SRT 100 has a 50% premium?! I wonder if the Ricoh is less robust...

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I'll report what I find out; stay tuned. I had an SRT 202 years back; same chassis as the 100 plus some bells and whistles.

[@fosterhart2013]

I have tried researching this camera,now I don't have to . Anybody have a clue what camera a Rikenon 55 F1.4 almost a Nikon F mount goes to ?. Pretty sure a little modification would be Nikon mountable .

[@klofisch]

at least it has a great lens on it :D

[@guillermoperezsantos]

Ricoh and Chinon are the only m42 at a decent price, Prakticas are the new "Pentax" price-wise :S

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Really? Weren't Praktica's dirt cheap until very recently? Is this a recent phenomenon?

[@ericajimenez4150]

Incredible detailed knowledge. I own the camera and the (in Germany) associated lens Auto-Rikenon 1:1.7/50mm. It's my favorite lens. For a long time I have been trying to learn more about the origin and history of the lens. Is it a Ricoh or Riken-institute design? Who was the manufacturer? Obviously, it is a Biotar type with 6 elements in 4 groups. And I think it's better than its role model. Brian, maybe you can help.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I believe that Ricoh made their own lenses, but I'm not 100% certain. It's not really a "collector" brand, so there is very little information available online.

[@ericajimenez4150]

@@BriansPhotoShow Thanks for the assessment. I think Ricoh is unfairly neglected. The lenses are among the best ever. From the triplets and Tessar-types of TLRs to the 6- and 7-element-lenses of the SLR cameras.

[@morpheus6330]

It kinda looks like my Revueflex T

[@BriansPhotoShow]

It is your Revueflex T. It's the same design licensed from Chinon.

[@JanneRanta]

Hows that lens?

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I've only shot one roll with it so far. It focuses down to 33 cm so it's nearly a macro lens. Sharpness seems pretty decent, though I'll withhold overall judgment until I have some more experience with it.