Help with Ricoh 500G

[Ed Weatherly]

I just lucked into a very clean Ricoh 500G Rangefinder camera. The rangefinder/viewfinder seem nice and bright and the glass is flawless. The only downside is the meter isn't working. It looks like a previous owner left a battery in too long and it corroded. I cleaned the battery compartment with a little vineagr and a pencil eraser and got it fairly clean.

I am not sure what battery, or voltage it takes. Does anyone have this info? If my initial cleaning isn't enough to resurrect it, do you think it's worth having professionalyy worked and if so, who do you recommend?

Thanks,

Ed

[pdh]

It originally took a 1.35V PX675 mercury cell - these are no longer available.

You can replace it with a Wein Cell which will work flawlessly (look on Amazon or eBay), or you can stick in an alkali 1.5V cell, but then you'll have to calibrate your ISO setting as the different voltage will throw it out (probably it'll meter a stop or two over)

You need to be sure the light seals are OK, if not Jon Goodman can supply a kit.

I expect a professional refurb or CLA will cost two or three times the price of a perfect one from eBay or wherever. It's not a good enough or rare enough thing to make too much of a fuss over (by which I mean spending more than it's worth) in my opinion.

I own one of these, and it's a neat little thing. I've got some nice snaps from it, but I use my XA more.

EDIT Of course remember the battery is only for the meter. You can still take photos without a battery fitted.

[Ed Weatherly]

PDH, thanks for the reply! The camera has had new light seals fit so it's ready to go. I will likely shoot mostly b&w film so I can easily process at home. I think I will re-learn sunny 16 and just use it. It may become the camera that goes in my fly fishing bag.

How do you feel about picture quality? Is the lens pretty sharp?

What, in your opinion, is a decent price for a perfect one?

Thanks,

[pdh]

I'm no expert Ed, I just happen to have one!

but ... oh ho, what's sharp mean ?

I honestly don't know. "the internet" says the 500G's Rikenon is either very sharp or mediocre.

The way I shoot doesn't really lend itself to worrying about lens sharpness too much as I'm often underexposing wide open at barely hand-holdable shutter speeds without support of any kind.

here's a sample anyway, on Fomapan 100 and stand-developed in Rodinal:




To me, a good price for a camera is really the amount either I'd be happy to receive if selling or the amount I'd be happy to pay if buying.
So in my case for one of these, about £30 I suppose. But this little camera was sold under many different brand guises, so as well as Ricoh I believe there are Agfa and Konica and maybe Vivitar versions, and some are "rarer" than others and I've seen them on eBay for silly prices.

Inserting a small square of blue lighting gel over the LH part of the viewfinder helps the contrast of the rf patch, by the way, and makes focusing a bit easier.

hope this is in some way helpful ... I'd agree, just use it with S16 and I'm sure you'll be able to get decent shots and enjoy it.

[Ed Weatherly]

Thanks PDF, this has been very helpful!

[Ed Weatherly]

I meant pdh but auto correct is apparently smarter than me!

[Skulls Road]

I scored a cheap 500GX last week but unfortunately the rangefinder patch didn't move. So I took it apart only to be incredibly confused. Looks to be too complicated for me to repair on my own. Picked up a 500G for $20 and hopefully this one works.

[xxloverxx]

The lens is alright. Nothing to go crazy over. It's good for what it is though*—*a small, light camera that you can carry everywhere.

[ChrisPlatt]

The 1.3V size 675 zinc-air hearing aid battery is still available.
It's much cheaper than the Wein cell.

Chris

[dct]

Originally Posted by Ed Weatherly

How do you feel about picture quality? Is the lens pretty sharp?

What, in your opinion, is a decent price for a perfect one?

Thanks,

Congratulations on your new camera. Image quality is very good. Have a look at this other 500GX thread.

[Ed Weatherly]

Thank you all for the inputs!

[steveniphoto]

i got mine for $10. the battery compartment is corroded on mine too but im using it on full manual.

[Ed Weatherly]

Originally Posted by steveniphoto

i got mine for $10. the battery compartment is corroded on mine too but im using it on full manual.

that's about all I can do with mine. It doesn't look like the cost of repair would be worth it. I am looking forward to getting the first roll developed, maybe this weekend if I finish the roll that's in it.