Review: Ricoh 519M (1959)

[eckmanmj]

This is the Ricoh 519M, a really nice 35mm rangefinder made by Rikon Optical Industries of Japan in 1959. It was the followup to the popular Ricoh Five-One-Nine, but included a selenium light meter integrated into the main body.

The camera has an excellent 6-element f/1.9 lens, a large and bright rangfinder, a meter, and Ricoh's unique bottom mounted trigger film advance.

Check out my review for more info and some sample shots.

http://www.mikeeckman.com/2017/08/ricoh-519m-1959/

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[hilltime]

What a fantastic and comprehensive review. I also have a 519M in primo condition, but unfortunately with so many cameras collected, I have not used in a long time. I think Ricoh was very underrated with their series of cameras which I believe started with the 500, but I would agree, this model was the culmination of this lineup and performs as well as any of this style of fixed lens rangefinders. Good Job!
Gary Hill

 

[mich rassena]

I had a Ricoh 500 and got some great slides from it. I think there was something wrong with it, because it would tear out sprocket holes on every roll, sometimes requiring me to rewind the film prematurely. So I sold it, but I want another one or a 519. These cameras seem under-valued when compared to something like a Yashica Electro. And the Ricoh doesn't require hard to find / expensive batteries.

The bottom wind always made a lot of sense, and I enjoy the same on my Retina and Anscomark.

The rocking focus took a bit of getting used to, but if you held the camera right, it was incredibly easy to nail focus quickly. I wouldn't call it ergonomic exactly, but it made keeping your hands on the side of the camera easy, rather than bringing one forward to the front to turn a focus ring.