just get chrome 500GX

[pb908]

Hi, just grab an old chrome 500GX from local store, need to do some rework on the foam, and wondering is there any way I can open the top cover to clean the rangefinder ??

the camera it self small, the chrome is very-very nice looking, well built, it is not as "empty" as lynx, it is small and solid, similar feeling to GIII QL17 I have, and I already open front lens element and clean it, looks like new now, except I can't open top cover to clean rangefinder area.

well, lynx itself is a nice one (just get an old 14E lynx with clean optics & working shutter), well built, but I just feel that beside the weight and big size, there is some emptiness inside, or maybe the weight is more balanced to the front, that makes body of camera feel "empty" or light
it is so well built that make me hard to find where the screws are !!!

I think I need to open the front panel (whole front metal panel to get access to screws to open top cover)
are there any help/hints ?

Regards
BK
"LX, KX, MX, and now LynX"

 

[pb908]

Well, no response yet?

finally I managed to clean my 500GX rangefinder. And to do it is harder than open top cover of GIII QL17.

to do it, I need to remove self timer lever (turn ccw while holding the lever) peel front leathere and multiple exposure ring(just glued there), remove speed ring handles so then I can remove aperture ring plates. There are 4 screws on the front body plates, after unscrewing it, I can slide front plates out and have access to top and bottom screws area. And then carefully remove top screws, and unscrew one screw on advance lever, remove rewind lever, and easily i can lift top cover up.

really long way to go, ha..ha..

 

[pb908]

After playing few day with this GX, I just realize that on Manual Mode, metering still working (needle move to tell you the correct aperture) !! Something rare on small & fix lens RF !!

rangefinder view is nice, if I switch from auto to manual aperture, there is 'M' letter on the viewfinder, multiple exposure capability is another plus point, build quality is better than my GIII, I am happy with my 500GX..

any other opinion on your ricoh 500G/M/RF series?

regards,
BK

 

[ChrisPlatt]

The very similar Ricoh 500G was my first adjustable lens camera.
Its sharp lens and accurate meter helped get me hooked on photography 30+ years ago.

I have used many cameras since but the Ricoh is still quite special to me.
Enjoy yours! 🙂

Chris

 

[oscroft]

Congrats on your purchase, the 500GX is a great little camera.

 

[pb908]

yes, thanks !!

a friend of mine offers me 2 Ricoh GX-1 in black colour, for me it looks similar to 500GX, it has multiple exposure, shutter lock, self timer, and the same 40mm rikenon lens. I think the differences is the top flash mounted area looks like plastic (like ricoh 35rf), and looks like there are no "front plate metal cover" like 500G/GX but it use top metal cover (for me, it is a 500ME, but in different name). let see if my RF buying addiction force me to have it 😀