Ricoh

Ricoh's roots goes way back to the Riken research institute (abreviation of Rikagaku Kenkyūjo, 理化学研究所 - Physico-Chemical Research Institute) and the Riken foundation (1917). In 1927 the Rikagaku Kōgyō K.K. (理化学興業㈱ - Physico-Chemical Development Co., Ltd.) was created in order to market products derived from the research work of the institute.

On Feb 6, 1936, the photographic paper division became Riken Kankōshi K.K. (理研感光紙㈱ - Riken Sensitized Paper Co., Ltd.) and was placed under the responsibility of Ichimura Kiyoshi (市村清), who is thus considered as the founder of today's Ricoh.

In 1937, Riken Kankōshi bought the company Asahi Bussan and its associated manufacturing facility, producer of the first 35mm cameras made in Japan - Olympic and Super Olympic. Asahi Bussan started the distribution of Olympic cameras in 1934 and released the Super Olympic in 1935 - 1936.

The company finally took the name of its products, becoming Ricoh (K.K. Rikō, ㈱リコー) in 1963.

Ricoh Auto Half

1960s

Yoshi

30 Mar 2023

Ricoh auto half e2 front view

PENTAX Film Project Club House Diary vol. 1

Yasushi Nishimura, Keisuke Nagoshi, Makoto Iikawa, Takeo Suzuki

George

18 Mar 2023

PENTAX Film Project Club House Diary vol. 1 – Barfout magazine Tokyo

www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp

PENTAX launches a new film camera project

Developing new film-based products along with camera fans

Yoshi

20 Dec 2022

PENTAX launches a new film camera project

Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō Ricohl Mod. I

1940

Yoshi

11 Jun 2022

Riken Kogaku Kogyo Ricohl Mod. I Ricoh medium format 127 film camera

Lomo LC-A vs Ricoh GR1

1990, 1999

George

5 Jul 2020

Lomo LC-A 1990 vs Ricoh GR1 1999 — compact rangefinder 35mm film cameras

Ricoh XR Rikenon vs SMC Pentax-M 3.5/28mm

George

3 Jul 2020

Ricoh XR Rikenon & SMC Pentax-M 3.5/28mm side view

Ricoh XR Rikenon 2.8/135mm PK

George

3 Jul 2020

Ricoh XR Rikenon 2.8/135mm 35mm film SLR lens

Ricoh XR Rikenon vs SMC Pentax-M 2.8/35mm

George

3 Jul 2020

Ricoh XR Rikenon & SMC Pentax-M 2.8/35mm side

Ricoh XR-1

1977

George

2 Jul 2020

Ricoh XR-1 manual 35mm film SLR camera made in 1978

Ricoh XR500

Ricoh XR Rikenon 3.5/28mm

George

2 Jul 2020

Ricoh XR500 XR Rikenon 3.5/28mm