JPN.CAM

Ricoh / 1962 / Compact

Ricoh Auto Half

A spring-wound half-frame compact designed for carrying, sharing, and making a roll last twice as long.

filmmade in Japanpocketable

Editorial placeholder visual / rights-safe until a licensed image is attached.

Overview / 概要

Why Ricoh Auto Half matters.

It belongs to a distinctly Japanese tradition of small, social, mechanically charming cameras.

Design & context

A vertical shooting format and sculptural front plate give it a personality that modern pocket cameras rarely attempt.

Buying today

The model family is broad; confirm the exact variant, light seals, transport, and meter before purchase.

Key specifications / 仕様

The details.

Released
1962
Production
1962–1970s
Brand
Ricoh
Brand country
Japan
Format
Film
Film / sensor
35mm half-frame
Camera type
Compact
Lens / mount
25mm f/2.8
Focal length
25mm
Maximum aperture
f/2.8
Autofocus
Fixed-focus variants
Viewfinder
Optical
Flash
Accessory / built-in on some variants
Weight
410g

Still to verify for this record: Manufacturing country · Made in Japan flag · Shutter range · ISO range · Dimensions · Battery / power · Weather sealing · Original MSRP.

Notable features

  • Half-frame format
  • Spring-wound advance
  • Compact metal body

Known issues

  • Condition varies significantly on the used market.

Source record

Every field should be traceable; open a source to check the evidence boundary.

Reference set attached
  1. 01

    Ricoh Auto Half reference record

    Wikipedia · Reference index

    Supports: model identity, release era, format, and commonly documented specifications. Accessed 2026-08-12.

    Open source ↗
  2. 02

    Ricoh archive / product context

    Ricoh Imaging · Brand archive / context

    Supports: brand history, product context, and source ownership trail. Accessed 2026-08-12.

    Open source ↗