Ricoh 500, a nice surprise

[Brian Legge]

I recently picked up an older Ricoh 500 and shot my first roll with it. To be honest, I mostly picked it up as an ergonomic experiment; I was curious about the lever winding on the bottom would work for me.

In practice, the camera just felt a little large in my hands so I doubt I'll hold on to it, but the lens makes letting go a challenge. I was surprised by both the sharpness and the general rendering quality I got out of the lens, particularly given how little I've seen about it and its low cost.

Here are a few initial shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/4870003089

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/4870003267

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/4870616698

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/4870616272

 

[btgc]

There were times when one had to hunt to find bad camera, I rationalize. I use Five-One-Nine - bottom wind lever and focusing ears are handy. I like rectangular shape with cut corners. Think before you let it go.

 

[PMCC]

There's a lot to like about the Ricoh 500 and Five-One-Nine. The bottom wind is not just an over-leveraged add-on, but completely integrated into the design of the camera and thus a smooth and elegant mechanism. The dual ears on opposite sides of the focusing ring are ergonomically superior to the usual single finger-tip lever, and the viewfinder with brightlines and parallax indicators (latter on 5-1-9 only) is bright and snappy to focus. The Five-One-Nine's 45mm/1.9 lens -- a 5 or 6 element design -- is superior to the 500's basic but capable 45mm/2.8. Both equipped with a Seikosha MXL shutter (1 -1/500 +B), very solid all metal construction and engraved markings throughout. It takes $20 - $80 (thin market, erratic prices) to pick one of these up -- a little more than pocket change for a classic meterless fixed RF with cool mechanical features. Lots of fun to shoot, with very good performance.

 

[paulfish4570]

I am thinking it is a keeper, Brian.

 

[Armoured]

I'm increasingly thinking the Ricoh lenses are perhaps the most underrated out there. And the cameras are no slouches either.

 

[btgc]

I like some of Ricoh SLR lenses, too. Some of them are rebranded makes from other makers and other seem to be Ricoh's own brews.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I LOVE that first photo.

 

[zosta]

I love it too.

Very sharp.
Some sample of Neopan 400@800 in HC110
F16 rule.

 

[shadowfox]

Brian, this one is a winner 🙂

Ricoh knows how to make a good lens for sure.
And I personally think they rival Olympus in terms of coming up with weird/out-of-the-box designs.

 

[Brian Legge]

Thanks. As I wasn't using the camera much due to ergonomic differences between us, I sold it. I think the buyer was just looking for an interesting decoration though - I found that out after the fact. Sad as the results from the camera were wonderful.