Ricoh's XR-2 — aperture-priority AE SLR, Pentax K mount, electronic shutter, 1977.
The Ricoh XR-2 is a 35mm film SLR made by Ricoh and introduced in 1977 within the XR line using the Pentax K bayonet mount. It sat above the manual XR-1 as an aperture-priority automatic body, part of Ricoh's early K-mount range. It was aimed at enthusiasts wanting automatic exposure.
It is a single-lens reflex for 35mm film using the Pentax K bayonet mount. The XR-2 offers aperture-priority automatic exposure with a manual option, using through-the-lens metering. It uses an electronically controlled shutter and depends on a battery for its metered and automatic operation. Exposure is shown in the finder for both auto and manual use.
The XR-2 suits students, general, street and travel photographers who want aperture-priority automation with the wide K-mount lens choice. The auto mode speeds up shooting while manual control remains available. Its strengths are the automatic exposure and lens compatibility; its limits are the reliance on the battery to operate.
For used buyers, confirm the camera powers up and that auto and metered modes respond, since the electronic shutter needs the battery. Check the foam light seals and mirror-damper foam for perishing, test the shutter, and inspect the battery compartment for corrosion. Verify advance and rewind, check the prism and screen for haze, and note that a dead battery leaves this electronic body unable to shoot normally.