The Ricohflex TLS 401 is definitely a sturdy and cool-looking film SLR. It's interesting and can be a good camera to have in one's collection. This one was the boyfriend's and I got a chance to test it before he did.
This camera came out in 1970. What makes this Ricohflex camera interesting is its changeable waist-level and eye-level viewfinder. There's a knob on top of the viewfinder that allows you to change the viewing setting. Although this feature makes the camera bulkier, this can come pretty handy in shooting. You don't need to squat when shooting short subjects, like little children.
The camera gives you a lot of control, being manual. So you have the freedom to up your shutter speed or aperture depending on your needs. With the 1.7 f lens, the camera takes sharp and crisp images. I love how some of the photos came out. This can be a great camera for taking portraits.
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| My little model wannabe. * |
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| Roadside vulcanize. * |
Be careful in loading your film in the Ricohflex TLS 401. It can be tricky and it's quite different to the other film cameras I've used. I wasted around a month of shooting with the Ricohflex thinking that the film was properly loaded. Unfortunately, it wasn't. I wanted to cry and stab myself when I found out I lost a whole month of photos. Aside from that this specific unit had a hazy viewfinder. Focusing your subject can be a challenge and nearly impossible at night.
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| Kitty eyes. * |
I guess the only problem I had with the camera is that it is REALLY heavy for me. I'm a small girl and this camera weighs as much as my usual work handbag. It also looks big on me. This makes it an impractical camera for daily shooting. However, it can be a sturdy camera that can withstand the daily grind, if you're up for it.
* photos taken with Centuria DNP 400 film
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