Ricoh 500G rangefinder adjustment advice

[Carlsen Highway]

Okay, I have this wee little ricoh 500g, all is fine with it in every way, except the rangefinder patch was out of alignment, booth horizontially and vertically.

A little research told me where to find the ajustment screw for the horizontal movement, which I have fixed, it now will focus properly.

But, I still have a problem with the verticle alignment which is out by about a third of the rangefinder patch bit. For the life of me I cannot find how this can be done anywhere. It is nothing obvious. I have not dismantled the camera completely to figure it out, because I cant figure out how to get the lens off the front of it, although I can see how the front plate - and the top plate would come off should I be able to do that.

(Them screws are very tiny and I dont want to strip them either, I have been taking them out with the blade of a pocketknife so far...)

Is there anyone who has done this on this model Ricoh before?

 

[Nickon51]

Ricoh 500G rangefinder adjustment advice

The vertical adjustment screw is in the viewfinder compartment. It is accessed from the top of the camera. If you are lucky you may be able to reach it from an access hole under the flash shoe. If not you will have to remove the front of the camera, then the topcover, then the rangefinder cover.

If you are unlucky and have to remove the top cover, proceed as follows. Peel back the leatherette and remove the two screws on either side. You will need to remove the aperture ring and the shutter ring grips. The front should just lift over the lens and off.

Open the back and all 4 top cover screws are now exposed. Remove the wind lever, rewind crank and flash shoe. Lift off the top to reveal the rangefinder cover.

Here are some photos showing the top after the flash shoe is removed. The adjusting screw is the small black one inside the compartment. The access hole is the small hole to the left of the flash shoe screws.

Cheers
Greg

 

[Carlsen Highway]

Ricoh

Ricoh

Greg - thank you very much for that post.

 

[pb908]

Hi, I just re-open my 500gx to see the adjustment screw, i see 2 potensiometer near wind lever area, are there any clue about these ? Are there any way to calibrate metering system to accept LR/SR44 type battery (1.5V). i assume 500G and 500gx is the same.
Right now I use one LR44 battery and I need to adjust iso ring to 400 for iso/asa 100 film.
Advice please..Thanks!

 

[Nickon51]

Ricoh 500G rangefinder adjustment advice

Hi PB.

Here is the wiring layout for the 500G. I haven't done any calculations yet, but it may help. Let us know if you get anywhere.

Cheers
Greg

 

[pb908]

Great man !! I'll tweak my 500gx tonight, let's see if I can recalibrate it for 1.55V LR/SR44, I think by lowering 22Kohm pot, it will draw more current so the meter (hopefully) get the same current. 4.7Kohm then use to set linearity..just quick though..let see ..

Thanks a lot Nickon51!!

 

[kip_55]

Any idea the value of the Cds cell, mine is only a few ohm and the meter go to the top and no reaction on the light, suspect it has a short cut inside

 

[Casidosmetros]

Hi! Bought a 500g a week ago. Same problem over here. As soon as I put the battery on the needle goes straight up to f16. Even with the lens cover on. I've been told its the cds. Any suggestions?

 

[seany65]

Hello everyone, it's me, necroposting yet again!

I have a couple of 500GX's and I use sr44 (1.55v) in them. In the first, the meter worked as I would expect and the needle went to the battery check mark when I pressed the check button. Unfortunately a while ago the needle became "sticky", and it has recently developed the "slow rangefinder spot movement when focusing on infinity" problem. My second, which I bought to replace it, also behaves how I would expect even with an SR44 battery in. I've not put a film through yet though. Unfortunately, it doesn't focus to infinity as well as my first one.

I found this thread (from google) by trying to find out how to adjust the rangefinder. There is a small metal screw just above the top film guide rail and just below the viewfinder, and I'd read somewhere that it is the way to make one of the adjustments to the rangefinder. I unscrewed it and there is a smaller brass screw inside, but I couldn't turn it, so I don't know what effect being able to turn it would have.

Also, while the camera meters did/do work with 1.55v batteries, I'm not sure whether this means they would over expose or under expose. It may not matter much as film latitude may disguise what the meter is doing, but I'd like to know, so if anyone can help it would be much appreciated.