Ricoh 500g

[iKokomo]

I have a Ricoh 500G I picked up at a thrift store!!

I have an LR44 button battery and I was wondering how this affects the camera's light meter? I put it in and the meter seems to randomly move all over the place. (I press the shutter halfway 2x and in the same area and get 2 random readings, or I move the camera to different light sources and get the same reading).

I do not know if this is a faulty camera, the battery is not right for the camera or the battery is dying (no way to test it).

Also when I put the film in the camera and I advance the frame, the take up spool does not advance!

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[dbarnes]

I used to own a similar camera, a Minolta 7sII.

At this point in time, a hearing aid battery may be the best match to the mercury cell that your Ricoh probably was designed for.

But the erratic meter behavior isn't what I would expect from a simple battery mismatch.

And the take-up spool not turning sounds like a significant mechanical problem.

 

[Lflex]

The 500g was my first camera. I got it when I was 13, used it a lot but caringly for 4 years, and then it was worn out.
It was the least expensive rangefinder at the time, excellent value but certainly not the best made camera.
If the advance problem doesn't go away by playing around with the camera, I wouldn't waste more energy on it.