135compact.com       110 cartridge ultra compact cameras       Ricohmatic 110X Pocket Deluxe


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


jpg/110_ricohmatic_110x_IMG_20221116_101036.jpg
Camera front. Lens, compensation switch around the CdS cell, viewer.

jpg/110_ricohmatic_110x_IMG_20221116_101051.jpg
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.

jpg/110_ricohmatic_110x_IMG_20221116_101102.jpg
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.

jpg/110_ricohmatic_110x_IMG_20221116_101113.jpg
Seen from below. Tripod socket. Film advance lever.


jpg/110_ricohmatic_110x_IMG_20221116_101138.jpg
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


jpg/110_ricohmatic_110x_IMG_20221116_101204.jpg
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.

back