Ricoh's XR-7 — aperture-priority AE SLR with finder readout, Pentax K mount, 1981.
The Ricoh XR-7 is a 35mm film SLR made by Ricoh and released in 1981 as a higher-specified member of the XR line using the Pentax K bayonet mount. It featured a viewfinder display with an analogue-style exposure readout and sat toward the top of Ricoh's aperture-priority range. It was aimed at enthusiasts.
It is a single-lens reflex for 35mm film using the Pentax K bayonet mount. The XR-7 offers aperture-priority automatic exposure with a manual option and through-the-lens metering. It uses an electronically controlled shutter and depends on a battery for its metered and automatic modes. The viewfinder shows exposure information via a readout typical of the period.
The XR-7 suits students, general, street and travel photographers who want aperture-priority automation with a more informative finder and the K-mount lens choice. Its display makes it easy to confirm exposure at a glance. Its strengths are the finder readout, auto exposure and lens compatibility; its limits are its reliance on the battery.
When buying used, confirm the camera powers up and that the auto and metered modes and finder display 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 flat battery leaves this electronic body unable to shoot normally.