Vintage Camera - Ricoh Mirai Zoom 35-135mm Film Camera with Camera Bag

The Ricoh MIRAI was introduced to the world in 1988.

MIRAI means “future” in Japanese and moving into the future was the mission.  This completely new camera class is a mixture of SLR and compact cameras.  Because it bridged the gap between the two, this new type of camera was marketed as a “bridge camera”.

The concept here is clear and simple.  Ricoh has created a sophisticated, fully automatic SLR with a fixed AF zoom lens which ranges from wide-angle to light telephoto.  The entire ensemble also has an in-built flash and is particularly compact.

When the MIRAI is switched on, it always performs a start-up ceremony.  The lens extends a bit further and internally in its body the noises give the impression that an army of small servo motors and gears seems to prepare the camera for its use.

The film insertion happens fully automatically with a similar soundscape.  Assuming you have inserted a film cartridge with DX coding, you can now start taking pictures.  This happens completely intuitively and doesn’t need any explanations.

You can easily control the focal length with the right index finger, aim at the object to be focused, press the shutter button to the first pressure point to save the setting, correct the crop and finally release the shutter.

Technical Specifications

Lens

Zoom Range:35 mm – 135 mm
Lens Speed: F4.2 – F5.6
Minimum Focusing Distance: 1.2 m
Macro Distance: 1.2m – 0.49 m (by Focus Aid)
Macro Magnification: 1/4.9 (at 0.49m)
Macro Type: Tele Macro
Filter Size: 52 mm
Front Lens Diameter: 44 mm
Lens Construction: 15 Elements in 13 Groups
Lens Retraction: By 8 mm (When Main Switch is Off)
Zooming: Power Zooming

Viewfinder

Type:TTL Type
Magnification: × 0.80 (at 50 mm)
Field of Coverage: 87%
Screen Information: Matt Only (Not Interchangeable) with AF Frame; In Focus, Too Far, Too Close, Strobe Charge (by LEDs) F-Stop; Shutter Speed (pulsates as slow shutter warning), Exposure Over, Under, AE Lock, Macro, Exposure Compensation

Light Measurement

Mode:Automatic Back Light Control Mode; Center-Weighted Average Mode
AE Lock: Yes
Exposure Compensation: + or – 4EV
EV Range: EV4-20
ISO Setting: 25 – 5000

Focusing

Type:TTL Automatic Focusing Single AF Type
AF Distance Coverage: 1.2 m – inf.
AF Range: EV4 – 17 (without Beam Illuminator)
Beam Illuminator: Automatically lights in low light up to about 5.5 m
Focus Aid: Possible by Power Focusing; at Macro Mode Use Focus Aid for AF

Exposure

Mode:Program AE with Automatic Shift Capability (35 – 44 mm: Wide, 45 – 70 mm: Standard, 71 – 135 mm: Tele Program); Manual Program Shift Possible with Up/Down Button Bulb

Strobe

Type:Flash Matic Type Built-in
Shooting Range: Wide: 1.2 – 5 m/Tele: 1.2-4.0m (ISO 100 Negative Film)
Pop-up: Manual Pop-up
Sensor: Yes When Popped-up
Fill Flash: Possible by Fill-Flash Button
Strobe Effective Range: Can be checked before Shooting
Additional Strobe: Can be attached (G. NO. 30)
Synchro Speed: 1/100 sec.

Shutter

Type:Focal Plane Type
Speed: 32 sec. – 1/2000 sec. and Bulb

Outside LCD Panel

Focusing Distance, Focal Length, Film Loaded, Film Set, Continuous Winding, Average Metering, Self Timer, Fill Flash, Exposure Counter Battery Condition

Control Buttons

Covered:Exposure Compensation, Manual Rewind, BLC/Average, Bulb/Auto Exposure, Single/Continuous Winding

Others

Remote Control Socket:Yes
Databack: Can Be Attached
Self-timer: 10 Seconds
Battery: Lithium (CR-P2), or AAA × 4
Size: 135 mm (W) × 126 mm (D) × 81 mm (H)
Weight: 1010 g