Ricoh 500 and the illusive SP-Winder.

[B-9]

I've been hunting thrift shops and antique stores for years (literally) and I've never ran into any Ricoh RF's

So I finally jumped on a 500ST (scale focus) with the hard to locate SP-winder from a eBay seller in Japan. (Now they'll pop up everywhere 😉

While I'm waiting, would anyone care to gloat on their Ricoh RF's?

I've been collecting compact RF's for a few years now, having a very large stash of Hi-Matics (7,7ii,9,F,FP, etc) along with a very worn Vivitar 35ES and a handful of Konica C35's. This will be my first Ricoh in the bunch!

Can anyone elaborate on my model 500st?
How rare are these SP-winders? This is the first I've seen.

I've already found the manual on Butkus (Big thanks to those guys!)
From what little I've read, they are loud and cumbersome, anyone care to argue the point?

I for one think it's a great idea! Like having a plastic Mooley motor!

 

[Fixcinater]

I'm not much for the fixed lens RFs in the world so I can't help with the motor question, but I'm pretty certain there is a Ricoh in one of my local thrift shops. I could go check it out and see what model it is, if you'd be interested in having one relayed to you. Not quite the same as finding it yourself, I know, but let me know.

 

[PMCC]

Not familiar with the 500ST, but it's my good luck to have a Ricoh Five-One-Nine (yes, it's spelled out) with a fast 45/1.9 six-element lens, CRF, dual focusing levers and bottom trigger film wind. Wonderful looking, old-school beast build, and dandy shooter: http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00YO2H

 

[Scrambler]

I've been hunting thrift shops and antique stores for years (literally) and I've never ran into any Ricoh RF's So I finally jumped on a 500ST (scale focus) with the hard to locate SP-winder from a eBay seller in Japan. (Now they'll pop up everywhere 😉 While I'm waiting, would anyone care to gloat on their Ricoh RF's? I've been collecting compact RF's for a few years now, having a very large stash of Hi-Matics (7,7ii,9,F,FP, etc) along with a very worn Vivitar 35ES and a handful of Konica C35's. This will be my first Ricoh in the bunch! Can anyone elaborate on my model 500st? How rare are these SP-winders? This is the first I've seen. I've already found the manual on Butkus (Big thanks to those guys!) From what little I've read, they are loud and cumbersome, anyone care to argue the point? I for one think it's a great idea! Like having a plastic Mooley motor!

I missed this 1st time around.

Elusive are they? I picked one up attached to a 500ST (scale focus for those who don't know) a few years back. Louder than any other camera I've seen, 11 frames when fully wound. It's a novelty but I found it wore thin quickly.

It's still in the cupboard: this is reminding me that it could be rehomed to someone who might feel more love.

 

[btgc]

Not familiar with the 500ST, but it's my good luck to have a Ricoh Five-One-Nine (yes, it's spelled out) with a fast 45/1.9 six-element lens, CRF, dual focusing levers and bottom trigger film wind. Wonderful looking, old-school beast build, and dandy shooter: http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00YO2H

Ricoh F-O-N and later 500G, GX and scale focus models are like Mercedes and Chevrolet. Lens on later models could be OK but overall feeling is waaay behing those early models. In fact I couldn't force myself to clean up 500GX and passed it to someone interested in film rangefinder.

Winder for later models is really rare thing, I have seen it for sale just once or twice so if someone is into collecting Ricoh it is interesting item.

 

[farlymac]

I've got a 300 that I consider a good shooter.

Pile #2 by br1078phot, on Flickr

It's not as highly built as the 500 and F-O-N, but solid enough. It's also a top winder.

Ricoh 300 Front by br1078phot, on Flickr

Here's how it compares to the F-O-N by size.

Ricoh 300 and Five-One-Nine by br1078phot, on Flickr

PF

 

[Clark.EE]

I picked up a 500 ME this week.
Very nice little camera. (currently on the evil bay).
The light seals were almost as hard to replace as on a Bronica EC!
In the instructions (original) that came with it there was a picture of it attached to said winder.
I cant imagine they broke any sales records with it.
Bizzare in the extreme....
In most of the posts about the later ME's etc. they are quoted as being inferior to the earlier G.
They look, outwardly at least, exactly the same to me?
What are the differences?
I was quite impressed with the Camera, it all works like a dream...........