Ricoh 500GX

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nomade

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One that fell on me from nowhere yesterday 😀, it's compact and in a good condition, a bit rusty though, i can't activate the auto mode or the exposure meter, it's seems that soemthing isn't working there...

The counter isn't working either, although it's winding, the range finder is pretty exact though and it's clean, and it was kept intact...

I love it, just those 2 bugs. Any advices?
 
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It's a nice camera. I used to have one but found the controls a little too small for me. The lens is quite good and if you can get the meter working, I think it has fully metered manual mode (someone please correct me if I am wrong). I hope it can be fixed.
 
My first 35mm camera! 1970's

My first 35mm camera! 1970's

The Ricoh 500GX is the "deluxe" version of the Ricoh 500G/Sears 35|RF.
It has a metered manual mode, and a sharp lens. Nice, cheap shooter!

Karl Bryan says these often require resoldering of some of the wires inside.
Every one I have ever seen also needed new foam on the camera back...

-Chris-
 
ChrisPlatt said:
Karl Bryan says these often require resoldering of some of the wires inside.
Every one I have ever seen also needed new foam on the camera back...

-Chris-
Click to expand...


Aha got it, the foam is still in a good condition though, seems to me that its previous owner didn't really use it that much...

Thanks people...
 
Finally I got also a one: Ricoh 500GX. My very first RF at all! It is in working condition and I'm fiddling around with my first Fujcolor 100 roll.

For only USD 50.00 there is one small drawback: The self timer is clamped. Basically it works: But only if you help the lever going back to the start position. It seems to be somehow stuck on its way to the shutter release.
Now my question:
Does anybody here have some knowledge where I have to start to get access to the self timer mechanism? It may be only some dirt coming from the foam over the years.
Thank you in advance.
Valentino
 
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Seem to think that the best advice over self-timers on older cameras was not to use them.
You could try it several times and see if it loosens up, but as you will probably not want to use it very often it isn't a great handicap if it doesn't work.
Perhaps a pity but reputed quite a nice lens.

jesse
 
I found one of these little Ricohs at the bottom of a box of junk cameras. The foam was rotted, but the meter and shutter operated properly when I put a fresh battery in it. I have so many cameras that I haven't had a chance to try it out yet.
 
Today here is a sunny day and I spent an hour around our village playing around with wide apertures, RF focussing and hyperfocal settings. It is a delight to FORGERT P&S and spend some time composing the image and doing mentally DoF calculations (no, it hasn't a DoF scale!). I got only 10 images in one hours!

Will take more shots next weekend at a dinner, triying available light situations. Many to do untill the 36 roll is filled up...

I agree with the thoughts about the self timer. It is not really important. It seems I should be lucky to find one with good working RF mechanics and metering electronics.

Will post my results as soon I have finished this roll.
 
A 500G was my first RF, too. They're great when they work. Unfortunately, the rewind mechanism went on mine, meaning I'd have to use a changing bag to retrieve my film.

Re: foam rot, it's a fact of life with probably all Japanese cameras of that era. At least it's dead easy to fix on the 500. One piece of black felt, cut to shape and glued with rubber cement, does the job.
 
500GX works!

500GX works!

dct said:
Will post my results as soon I have finished this roll.
Click to expand...

🙂

I'm really pleased of the results. Still processing the first images, but one post is already there

http://www.pbase.com/dct/image/132857925

Even at full aperture I still like the resolution of this old Rikenon. The bokeh may be a bit too sharp and detailed in the far background, but... hey, for 50 bucks! 😎
 
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dct, your PB account is under password!

Generally I had only one issue with 500G - somehow tough and long travel of shutter release, of course, compared to fully manual RF's. RF patch is smallish, but that's what they have.
 
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