The Ricoh 500G is a compact 35 mm coupled rangefinder from the early seventies. It pairs a practical lens with a fully mechanical leaf shutter and a simple meter. This article walks through every control and feature in plain language so you can use it with confidence and know what to check when buying one. I include notes on the sibling models 500GX and 500ME at the end.
Watch the video of the Ricoh 500G review on YouTube
What the camera is
Ricoh introduced the 500G in 1972. It is a metal bodied, fixed-lens rangefinder with manual exposure and shutter-priority auto exposure. The shutter is a Copal leaf unit that runs without a battery. The battery only powers the meter. The meter reads through a CdS cell mounted on the lens rim so it meters through filters correctly.
Lens and focusing
The lens is a Rikenon 40 mm f2.8. The filter thread is 46 mm. The focus scale shows meters and feet and focuses from about 0.9 m to infinity. The 40 mm focal length is a very usable field of view for everyday work. It sits between 35 and 50 and suits streets, travel, and portraits at moderate distances.
The rangefinder uses a central patch in the viewfinder. Align the double image for accurate focus. Framelines include marks to guide composition at closer distances.
Exposure modes
You can shoot in shutter-priority auto exposure or in full manual.
In shutter-priority set the ring to A and choose a shutter speed. The needle in the viewfinder shows the working aperture the camera will use. If the needle points into an under or over range, select a different shutter speed. In manual set the aperture on the ring and choose a shutter speed yourself. An M flag appears in the finder to confirm manual operation. butkus.org
The ISO range is on the lens barrel and covers typical speeds used with negative film. The common range listed for the camera is 25 to 800. Some materials show 64 to 800. Expect both to appear in period literature and on web references.
Shutter and speeds
The Copal leaf shutter offers Bulb and speeds from one eighth to one five hundredth of a second. There are no one quarter or one half settings. The leaf design keeps vibration and shutter noise low and allows flash sync at any speed.
Flash
You get both a hot shoe and a PC socket. Because this is a leaf shutter the camera can synchronize electronic flash at all marked speeds. For flashbulbs use slower speeds as specified in period documentation. The hot shoe is a direct contact type and the PC socket allows a corded flash.
Viewfinder
The finder is simple and effective. It shows bright frames, a rangefinder patch, meter needle, and the M flag in manual. The patch is on the small side compared to premium rangefinders of the era, but it is accurate when clean and aligned.
Meter and power
The meter was designed for a 1.35 V PX675 mercury cell which is now obsolete. Practical replacements are zinc-air hearing-aid cells marked 675 or a silver-oxide 357 or SR44 with exposure compensation. The meter is always on when the shutter is set to a speed. To reduce drain set the shutter to B and keep the lens capped when the camera is not in use. That storage tip appears in the instruction manual.
Self timer and controls
The self timer is a mechanical unit of about eight seconds. The shutter release is threaded for a cable. Film advance is a single stroke lever with an automatic reset frame counter. Rewind uses a folding crank. Loading is straightforward with a standard take-up spool and generous sprockets.
Size and weight
Expect a very compact body that sits well in one hand. Typical dimensions are close to 110 by 75 by 56 mm and the weight is about 420 g depending on trim and batch.
Common service points
Light seals usually need replacement. The originals degrade into sticky foam and cause leaks around the door channels and hinge. A simple seal kit or thin adhesive foam fixes this in an hour with alcohol and cotton swabs. Check rangefinder alignment, shutter speeds, and meter response with your chosen battery solution before shooting.
Ergonomics are the main complaint. All the rings live on the lens barrel and can feel cramped, especially the aperture ring near the body. This is normal for the series.
How it handles in practice
With auto exposure you pick the speed and watch the needle. With manual you read the needle as a guide and set your own f stop. The 40 mm lens is sharp stopped down and pleasant wide open for daily use. The leaf shutter allows quiet street work and full speed flash sync for fill in bright sun. The small top speed of one five hundredth and the ISO limit near eight hundred restrict wide open daylight work with fast film, but a two stop ND filter solves that instantly.
Siblings and what changes
The Ricoh 500GX is a later sibling with useful extras. It adds a multiple exposure lever, a battery check, a shutter lock, and small flags that show film loaded and shutter cocked. The imaging pipeline remains the same. The 500GX is widely noted as the last of the line made in Japan and is often considered the most refined version of the series. The 500ME is a different later variant with fewer enthusiast features and is usually less desirable.
Buying checklist
- Check the light seals and plan to replace them.
- Confirm rangefinder alignment at infinity and at close focus.
- Dry fire at all speeds and listen for even steps from one eighth up to one five hundredth.
- Test the meter with your chosen battery. If using a 1.55 V silver-oxide cell, verify against a known meter and adjust ISO if needed.
- Inspect the aperture ring and speed ring for smooth movement and positive clicks.
- Inspect the pressure plate, sprockets, and take-up spool for wear.
Conclusion
The Ricoh 500G is a simple and capable tool. It gives you a useful 40 mm lens, a quiet leaf shutter that needs no battery, and a straightforward meter for auto or manual shooting. It is easy to service, inexpensive to buy, and pleasant to carry every day. If you like compact rangefinders and want a camera that teaches fundamentals without getting in the way, this one earns a place in the bag.
Key references for specifications and operating details
Ricoh 500G instruction manual on Butkus for exposure, battery guidance, and flash use. butkus.org
Camera-wiki page for core specifications such as shutter range and ISO range. camera-wiki.org
Stay wide. Stay wild. Stay analog.