Description
Vintage Ricoh 500 G 35mm Compact Rangefinder Film Camera – Untested
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The Ricoh 500 G is a compact 35 mm coupled rangefinder camera, first introduced by Ricoh in 1972.
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It uses standard 135-format film (i.e. “35 mm film”), producing 24 × 36 mm negatives.
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The lens is a fixed-mount Rikenon 40 mm f/2.8 — a versatile “normal” lens that sits between classic 35 mm wide-angle and 50 mm standard perspective. Wiki+2
Key Features & Specs
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Focusing: Coupled rangefinder, focus from about 0.9 m (≈3 ft) to infinity.
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Aperture: f/2.8 to f/16.
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Shutter speeds: Mechanical shutter, ranging from 1/8 s to 1/500 s, plus “B” (bulb mode) for long exposures.
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Exposure modes: Shutter-priority auto-exposure (the camera sets the aperture based on your shutter-speed selection), or fully manual if you prefer full control.
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Metering: CdS light meter (lens-mounted), shown via a needle in the viewfinder to indicate proper aperture — useful even when using manual settings.
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Flash & Sync: Accepts external flash — has hot-shoe + PC sync. Because of its leaf shutter design (shutter in the lens), flash can sync at all speeds (useful for fill-flash or creative lighting).
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Other: Self-timer, tripod mount, compact and relatively light body (~420 g) — so it’s easy to carry.
What It’s Good For (and What to Expect)
What it does well
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The 40 mm lens gives a natural perspective — good for street photography, travel, environmental portraits, everyday snapshots, and general “walk-around” shooting.
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Rangefinder focusing + compact size make it discreet and quick — ideal for street-style, documentary, or travel shooting.
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Leaf-shutter design + flash sync at all speeds = flexibility with flash (especially for indoor or low-light), and often quieter than SLRs of the era.
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Shutter-priority mode gives a nice balance: you set shutter speed, the camera picks aperture — handy for quick shots; or full manual control when you want creative flexibility.
