Hi everyone, could someone tell me what can go wrong with a Riga that would render it useless and irrepairable? I seem to remember someone giving this as a good reason not to use your treasured Riga but cannot find the thread. Secondly, those of you who do own a Riga; do you use it or just keep it in a case? Thanks, Duncan.

-- Duncan McMorrin (airborn@swipnet.se), March 07, 2000

Answers

Duncan, like any other old camera, if the lens grows fungus, or the mechanical shutter busted, the camera becomes useless--- there is no spare parts.

I don't own Riga, but I know people who own it keeps it as a collectible, only occasionally take it out for a spin drive, much like folks who own classical cars.

The collectible value of Riga far exceeds its picture taking value, as it has only a three element lens.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 07, 2000.

From what I've heard, the Riga uses a single shutter blade that is totally different from the dual blades used by every other model. This is probably the weak link in the Riga design, as the accuracy and dependability of the shutter is not as good as the modern designs. Of course, parts are very scarce.

-- James A. Jones (jaj01@gnofn.org), March 07, 2000.

It is not necessary to use Riga to achieve Holga look. There are the following alternatives:

1. Holga: $14.95
2. YN 300 $8.95
3. Micro 110 $2.95
4. Lomo 35 $11.95
5. Twin lens 110 $6.96

Although many of the listed cameras are 35mm camera, but one can cut out a 8x11mm section from the center of the negative (using center portion of larger format is a common practice in darkrooms )

The Micro 110 may be even lighter then a Riga.

Riga has great collector value

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 08, 2000.

Well Guys, it's been a while since I posted this question, so I thought I'd let you know what the result of the discussion was. I did a lot of investigating and found a few guys that can repair a Riga, should something go wrong. I then searched around and was lucky enough to find a Riga in almost new condition. I loaded it with Minopan 25 and off I went. The results were so good (or rather charming, grainy and extremely old fashioned, exactly how I wanted them) that I now carry that camera on my belt wherever I go and shoot it daily. I keep it in it's original case and that in turn inside a Victorinox knife belt case, affording it doubly protecion. My love with the camera is that here in Europe, the largest parts of our towns and cities and villages were built MANY years ago, often in the 15-1800s. My Riga almost manages to take me back to those days and produces period architecture results that I just can't get with a B or C or one of the modern Minox; those cameras are way too sharp, making the result too "modern" looking for my taste. So the result of this thread for me was that the Riga became the one Minox camera that travels with me everywhere. The camera has also functioned faultlessly and my light guesstimating seems to works 90% of the time.

All the very best, Duncan.

-- Duncan McMorrin (airborn@swipnet.se), July 12, 2001.