Overview

The Ricoh FF-9 is a 35mm moderate wide-angle ultra-compact camera that was released in 1988. It was also released as FF-7. It is a basic camera with some extra features.

Features and Operation

Its main features are:

35mm F3.5 Ricoh lens, 4 elements in 4 groups, autofocusAutofocus (AF) is an optical system that uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus on an automatically or manually selected point or area. The process of autofocusing generally works as follows: • An autofocus processor (AFP) makes a small change in the focusing distance.
• AFP reads the AF sensor to assess whether and by how much focus has improved.
• Using the information from (2), the AFP sets the lens to a new focusing distance.
Autofocus systems can be found on film and digital cameras. More with focus lock, min. focus 0,8m

Electronic shutterEither mechanical and/or electronic shutters are possible. Mechanical systems can use a leaf (or iris) shutter or curtain shutter. In digital cameras a third alternative is also possible: the electronic shutter. This works by activating and then deactivating the CCD so that no further light can be recorded, regardless of whether light is hitting the CCD. The shutter controls the exposure time, which can range from thousandths of a second to several minutes or more. Fast shutter speeds freeze action, slow speeds are more suited to stationary subjects. A tripod is recommended for slow exposure shots to avoid camera shake, or IBIS. More, 1/4-1/400

Size 121x64x44, Weight 220 gr. without battery

100-1600 ISOInternational Organization for Standardization represents the film’s (or sensors) sensitivity to the light. The higher the number, the more information will be captured. 400 ISO film is more sensitive to light than 200 ISO film by 1 stop., automatic DX coding, self-timer, automatic film advance, continuous mode (1 fpsFPS stands for frames per second and determines the speed at which a camera can take photos/frames. It is especially important for sport and wildlife photographers, who may need to be able to shoot rapidly to make sure they capture perfectly-timed images. More FPS is considered an advantage and can be a differential factor in choosing a camera. More), TV screen mode, remote socket, Auto BackLight Control for subjects over 3m or Daytime Synchronization by flash within 3m, interval mode (1 shot every 60 sec.)

The TV mode allows you to tale a photo of the TV – not sure why I would want to do that.

This camera is easy to use, move the on/off slider, the cover opens and it’s ready. AutofocusAutofocus (AF) is an optical system that uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus on an automatically or manually selected point or area. The process of autofocusing generally works as follows: • An autofocus processor (AFP) makes a small change in the focusing distance.
• AFP reads the AF sensor to assess whether and by how much focus has improved.
• Using the information from (2), the AFP sets the lens to a new focusing distance.
Autofocus systems can be found on film and digital cameras. More is responsive and works well. Putting a film is easy as well, you drop the film, tear the film leader up to the mark and that’s it. The camera winds it automatically. It has quite some manual settings if needed, the menu is very easy to access on a LCD screen, but the mode button (on the side of the strap) needs fingernails or a pointed tool. Auto flash setting at start, which is the case with most ultra compacts.

There is no dedicated flash off mode except night infinity and TV screen mode, but the camera does not activate the flash if the subject is more tha 3m away. Night photos are limited because of 1/4 sec. min shutter speedThe time a camera sensor or film is exposed to light when taking a photo. More. Daytime Synchronization activates either Auto BackLight Control for backlit subjects over 3m or synchronization by flash within 3m.

There are several modes which are hard to find on other models: Multi exposureThe amount of light that reaches the film (or camera sensor). It determines how light or dark an image is. The exposure of an image is determined by the aperture, shutter speed, and film speed (ISO). During exposure, the sensors or chemicals on the film in analogue models, are subjected to the light outside the camera for a certain time. More mode, Continuous mode (1 fpsFPS stands for frames per second and determines the speed at which a camera can take photos/frames. It is especially important for sport and wildlife photographers, who may need to be able to shoot rapidly to make sure they capture perfectly-timed images. More FPS is considered an advantage and can be a differential factor in choosing a camera. More) until the film ends, Interval mode (1 shot every 60 sec.) until the film ends and TV mode to capture pictures from a TV screen (1/30 fixed speed, F4). The remote socket takes either a cable release, an infrared sensor or even an audio (noise) sensor.

It’s a point and shoot camera with a moderate wide-angle lens, good picture quality, in a still pocketable body. Point and shoot at its simplest while good picture quality end plus some experimental modes. These cameras can be found quite cheaply and given its mini size it is easy to take everywhere. It’s a carefree camera.

The FF-9 is powered by a single CRP2 battery.