Thrifted This Ricoh Camera … What Did I Just Find? 

 

I’ve been looking for a point-and-shoot film camera in second-hand shops for a while. They don’t come up as often as you might think. I finally came across this Ricoh FF-9S point-and-shoot. If you’re thinking about thrifting a camera too, here’s a quick checklist of things to look out for:

 

• Check the overall condition of the camera’s exterior — lots of scratches or dents? It gives you a good indication of how well it’s been taken care of, and how likely it is to work.

• Check the lens — is it scratched or mouldy? The viewfinder doesn’t need to be perfect.

• Open the back and check the condition inside. Are the light seals intact?

• Open the battery compartment and look for any corrosion.

• Check which battery and film the camera takes — are they easy and affordable to find?

• If the camera is operational, take a few shots to test the mechanism.​​