The User's Review: Ricoh Caddy Half-Frame 35 mm Film Camera, Released in July, 1961

The first image is from Page 130 of the Popular Science April 1962. The Caddy was sold at USD 54.95 (more than $423 today).

The specs: Ricoh 1:2.8 25mm lens; Seikosha B 4 8 15 30 60 125 250, f16 11 8 5.6 4 2.8 (at bottom), EV 5 - 16 (on the top) aperture-shutter assembly; Light meter ASA12 25 50 100 200 400, and EV 4-19; Focus distance marks 1 1.2 1.5 2 3 5 10 ∞ m; Viewfinder with macro marks but without distance/range indicator; frame counter S 1 4 8 12 ...72. Top-mounted cold shoe; dials for film advance/shutter cocking (under the film door on right side) and film rewinding (on top, retactable); front PC terminal.

With the dedicated UV filter on the lens, the lens cap can't be put on.

Turn the dial to set ASA inside the meter's window

Unlike other focus-fixed half-frame cameras from Ricoh, Caddy's lens can set the focus distance although no any info, except the normal and close-up frame ranges, shown in the finder. The camera's winding/shutter cocking dial is located close to the right side bottom, right under the film door.

This camera was well built, but with the dedicated UV filter, the lens cap can't be put on. When you buy or use a Ricoh Caddy, make sure that its shutter still work well since its speeds are often off.


For more info on Caddy, please visit its page on the Ricoh website.