Rugged, weather resistant, fast fixed 34 mm lens, simplicity, auto-focus, panorama, auto loading, auto rewind, date model available, 2 inexpensive AA batteries, leather carrying pouch, early film rewind

No mode choices

The Ricoh RW-1 auto focus 34 mm f/2.8 is probably the easiest Point and Shoot compact film camera I have used. The photographer has virtually no creative options available - other than composing the image - but in good photography that really is 95% of the battle. Compose a picture. Press the shutter half way for a moment and then press fully. If the scene requires more light the flash will attempt to illuminate the scene. I tested the early 1990's RW-1 camera in a shoot-out against a Nikon D70 digital. Eighteen outdoor scenes were shot on both the Ricoh and the Nikon. The results of those comparisons are displayed here . The Ricoh RW-1 clearly acquitted itself admirably producing high quality 35 mm film images. This is easily the most reliable camera I've used in this class and rivals in image quality and functionality the Yashica T4 and Pentax PC35AF-M - two other fixed lens compact cameras I've used.