Ricoh 500G - Cleaning dusty viewfinder

[macgeorge]

Hi, I'm a newbie here. I bought a Ricoh 500G and am trying 1st roll now.

Appreciate it if anyone here can guide me to open up the top cover and clean up the dusty viewfinder.

Thanks🙂.

 

[farlymac]

It depends on whether you have the early or later version of the camera. To get to the viewfinder on the early version, you have to do a teardown of the front of the camera. Leatherette, lens, screws, and levers have to come off to be able to remove the front plate. I can't locate a repair manual, nor have I seen a teardown on anyones site, but this version is known to be very hard to work on. The later version had a mostly plastic body, with a more conventional design that was easier to repair.

PF

 

[macgeorge]

It depends on whether you have the early or later version of the camera. To get to the viewfinder on the early version, you have to do a teardown of the front of the camera. Leatherette, lens, screws, and levers have to come off to be able to remove the front plate. I can't locate a repair manual, nor have I seen a teardown on anyones site, but this version is known to be very hard to work on. The later version had a mostly plastic body, with a more conventional design that was easier to repair.

PF

Thanks for answering.

Despite the dusty viewfinder, the camera works great.

Here's a photo taken by the camera:

 

[farlymac]

Hey, thats some healthy grain there. Nice to see after all the digital stuff. Can't wait to get my 500G back in operation.

PF

 

[amhildreth]

Great thread. I just picked one up a few weeks ago, and am in the process of replacing the light seals before I shoot the first roll.