Ricoh RZ-700s

Introduction: The Ricoh RZ-700s at a Glance

The Ricoh RZ-700s is a pocketable analog camera that takes care of nearly every decision for you. You load a roll of 35mm film, frame your picture with the zoom, press the shutter button, and the camera deals with focus, exposure and flash by itself.

In the camera's own documentation it is described as a fully automatic 35mm AF compact zoom. There is also a date version of this model, which can print the date onto the film frame.

Because the technical choices are made for you, your attention shifts to the light, the subject and the moment to press. With a limited number of frames on a roll, each shot carries more weight than a tap on a phone.

Design Roots and Historical Background

A compact built around automation

The RZ-700s belongs to the family of automatic zoom compacts that made 35mm photography easy for everyone. Its lens is built into the body, there is no interchangeable glass, and no manual dials ask you to choose an aperture or shutter speed.

Few controls leave little that can be set wrongly, which helps if you hand it to a friend. The trade-off is limited creative control.

Lens shutter and a bright-frame finder

This model uses a lens shutter, meaning the shutter mechanism sits inside the lens rather than as a curtain in front of the film. Cameras built this way can stay small, even with a zoom lens attached.

Composition is done through an optical viewfinder of the reverse Galilean type with an Albada frame. In simple terms, you look through a small window and see a bright outline marking what the film will record.

Key Technical Highlights

Zoom lens and focusing

The lens covers 35mm at the wide end and 70mm at the long end, built from 5 elements in 5 groups. The widest aperture is about f/5.6 at 35mm and about f/11.2 at 70mm, so the lens becomes noticeably slower as you zoom in. Favor bright conditions at the tele end.

Focusing is handled by an active autofocus system, which means the camera sends out its own signal to judge distance instead of reading contrast from the scene. At the wide setting it can focus from about 0.8 m to infinity. Remember that closest distance before stepping in too far.

Exposure, film and flash

The shutter is a programmed electronic one, so the camera picks speed and aperture together. Film speed is not set by hand: the camera reads the DX code on the cartridge, in two zones, ISO 100 and ISO 400.

The built-in flash reaches from about 0.8 to 2.5 m at ISO 100 at the wide setting, and it needs roughly 7 seconds to recycle between flashes. The flash modes include auto, red-eye reduction, fill-in flash, flash off and slow synchro. Continuous shooting and infinity settings are also on offer. A self-timer with an LED indicator waits about 10 seconds before it fires.

• Lens: 35-70mm zoom, 5 elements in 5 groups.
• Focus: active autofocus, about 0.8 m to infinity at wide.
• Film speed: DX code, ISO 100 and 400 zones.
• Power: one 3V lithium battery, CR123A or DL123A.
• Flash: about 0.8-2.5 m at ISO 100 (wide), around 7 seconds recycle time.

Modern-Day Use Today

Where the RZ-700s excels

The RZ-700s is at its best as a grab-and-go film camera. It suits anyone who wants real film results without learning exposure theory.

Use it for:

• Everyday snapshots of friends, family and travel moments.
• Casual street photography where a small camera attracts little attention.
• Introducing a newcomer to shooting on 35mm film.

Practical shooting tips

A few simple habits help with any automatic compact:

• Use daylight whenever you can, and choose ISO 400 film if the weather is dull.
• Press the shutter button halfway, if the camera allows it, to confirm focus before the final press.
• Wait for the flash to be ready again before taking a follow-up picture.
• Keep your fingers clear of the lens and the flash window.

Buying and Maintenance Guide

What to check before buying used

Inspect a used example carefully before you pay:

• Look through the lens at a bright light for haze, scratches, dust or fungus.
• Run the zoom from 35mm to 70mm and back several times, listening for hesitation or grinding.
• Open the battery compartment and inspect the contacts for green or white corrosion.
• Fire the flash and check that it charges and that the ready signal appears.
• Look at the film door, hinges and latch for cracks, and at the foam or rubber seals for stickiness.

Ask the seller whether the camera has been tested with film. A short test roll is the best proof that everything works.

Power and battery

The RZ-700s takes a single 3V lithium battery in the CR123A or DL123A format. One battery replaces a set of AA cells.

• Buy a fresh battery from a reputable source rather than an unknown bargain pack.
• Take the battery out when the camera will sit unused for months.

Basic care and accessories

A few simple photography accessories help:

• A soft case or pouch to protect the lens and the flash window from scratches.
• A microfiber cloth and a small air blower to clear dust without rubbing the glass.
• A dry, cool storage spot away from sunlight and damp.

Conclusion: Simple Film Photography, Handled for You

The Ricoh RZ-700s is a straightforward way to shoot 35mm film. A 35-70mm zoom, active autofocus, programmed exposure and a built-in flash cover typical snapshots.

If you want an easy film companion and accept that the camera decides most settings, a carefully checked example is a pleasant choice. Test the lens, flash and battery contacts, then load a roll of ISO 100 or 400 film.

Ready to explore cameras like the RZ-700s? Browse our analog cameras and pair them with photography accessories at DutchThrift.com. See also our reviews of the Ricoh RZ-900 AF Multi, the Ricoh RZ-3000S Date and the Ricoh RZ-115.

Sources: original Ricoh RZ-700s instruction manual (multilingual PDF).