jjs87
Newbie
Recently bought a lot of 3 camera's. Mainly bought em because of the zeiss ikon box camera which seemed fun. But after googling the 2 other camera's the ricoh 500GX seems to be a pretty decent camera. When i bought the lot i planed on selling the 2 other camera's since i dont want start a collection here. Camera is in mint shape but feels flimsy next to a FED 2L should i give this camera a chance?
Btw what would be a good price to sell one? Dont seem to find any on ebay?
Btw what would be a good price to sell one? Dont seem to find any on ebay?
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farlymac
PF McFarland
What is really nice about the Ricoh 500G/GX camera is you can operate them without a battery. I may be wrong, but the only difference between a G and a GX is a double-exposure feature added to the GX.
PIA to repair/CLA though. You have to really tear the camera apart to do any work on it, as it is constructed in a front half/rear half style, so anything that needs to be done entails removing the leatherette.
It is on par with a Konica C35 as far as size is concerned, but with the added capability of full manual control, or automatic. Great little camera to put in the pocket for a stoll down the path, or to do street photography. And, it's a rangefinder too! Not one of those zone focusing pretenders like the Yashica ME (which I happen to own a couple, and love them). I also have a 500G, but it is in dire need of a seal replacement that I haven't gotten around to yet. So I'm looking forward to getting it in shape here shortly, as soon as I can clear the bench of an old folder 6x9 that is in the process of being rebuilt.
You don't see many of the GX model on eBay because there weren't that many produced, and folks tend to hold on to them. Check the sales record to figure a decent price, but I recall that when I was trying to get one, the auctions would go crazy high. Then one with a BIN price just a little lower would just sit there, and I would suppose that was from the bidders thinking they could still beat that on an auction.
PF
PIA to repair/CLA though. You have to really tear the camera apart to do any work on it, as it is constructed in a front half/rear half style, so anything that needs to be done entails removing the leatherette.
It is on par with a Konica C35 as far as size is concerned, but with the added capability of full manual control, or automatic. Great little camera to put in the pocket for a stoll down the path, or to do street photography. And, it's a rangefinder too! Not one of those zone focusing pretenders like the Yashica ME (which I happen to own a couple, and love them). I also have a 500G, but it is in dire need of a seal replacement that I haven't gotten around to yet. So I'm looking forward to getting it in shape here shortly, as soon as I can clear the bench of an old folder 6x9 that is in the process of being rebuilt.
You don't see many of the GX model on eBay because there weren't that many produced, and folks tend to hold on to them. Check the sales record to figure a decent price, but I recall that when I was trying to get one, the auctions would go crazy high. Then one with a BIN price just a little lower would just sit there, and I would suppose that was from the bidders thinking they could still beat that on an auction.
PF
jjs87
Newbie
camera came with a battery in it which still seems to work. Also came with a 46mm uv filter meaning the lens is untouched. And it still had its original leather case and neckstraps. Although the neckstrap is just plain annoying and you dont seem to be able to remove them without damaging them.
Is there a reason people hang on to them? Is it because they are rare or because they deliver nice pictures?
The camera:
Is there a reason people hang on to them? Is it because they are rare or because they deliver nice pictures?
The camera:
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capito
silver halide punk
I had one and liked it pretty much. Typical Ricoh, small and really usable. I digged the diamond-shaped RF patch, which I haven't seen on any other camera.
It really simply is a fun camera - but for me, it lost out to the Revue 400SE, which has a much better lens.
It really simply is a fun camera - but for me, it lost out to the Revue 400SE, which has a much better lens.
jjs87
Newbie
I decided to let it go. I already have plenty of camera's that don't get used enough. Ill put it up on ebay later.
farlymac
PF McFarland
It's all a matter of preferences. Nothing wrong with that. Hope you find something you really like, and get a good price for your GX.
PF
PF
skírnir
Member
Did you put it up on ebay? I've been looking for a black GX for some time; I hope I didn't miss this one!
dct
perpetual amateur
It was my first RF camera. And I still use it from time to time, having no other compact fixed lens RF available.
First thing I've done was changing the awful plastic necstrap by a new one. Forget the old eyelets and mount new ones.
Does the Rikenon lens make good images? I guess... yes!
That's why it was a keeper for me.
btgc
Veteran
Long travel of release button and springy sound after were reason I gave mine away. Otherwise it's nice camera, also has metered manual mode - not usual in this type of cameras.
skírnir
Member
That's a nice one, dct! It was my first camera too, so my interest is mere nostalgic. I agree with btgc that the springy sound is very annoying, but apart from that, I love it.
I replaced it with a Canonet ql17 G-III, but I miss the compact size and the metered manual mode of the Ricoh.
I replaced it with a Canonet ql17 G-III, but I miss the compact size and the metered manual mode of the Ricoh.
dct
perpetual amateur
I'm thinking of a X100 as a digital compact replacement camera...
jjs87
Newbie
Otherwise to what i said before i decided to keep the ricoh. Ordered some lightseal foam, proper (weis) battery and im looking for a yellow filter now. Will load some efke 100 in it when its ready and see what it does.
@dct where did you get the strap looks good!
@dct where did you get the strap looks good!
That's a nice looking camera!
I have a chrome 500G, nice- but that Black finish, wow.
I have a chrome 500G, nice- but that Black finish, wow.
dct
perpetual amateur
It was just a commodity cloth strap from one of the bigger photo malls here in Zurich. It is not especially for new or old Ricohs.
The salesperson had a hard work fuzzling around with different tools until he managed removing the eyelets of the original plastic strap