The Ricoh 500 is a 35 millimeter rangefinder camera. It was first introduced in the 1950s and was fairly advanced for its time. The Ricoh 500 is still a favorite of camera collectors. These cameras have held up well over their lifespan for the most part, and they still take high-quality and interesting photographs.
Lens and Shutter
The Ricoh 500 comes equipped with the Riken Ricomat lens. This lens has a focal length of 4.5 cm and supports shutter speeds between 1/10 and 1/500 of a second, plus a bulb function for custom exposure times. The lens supports f-stop values of 2.8 through 22.
Mechanics
This camera is different than modern cameras in terms of mechanics. Users must manually adjust two focus levers to focus the camera. The image will usually show as a double when it is first framed. The two levers can then be adjusted until they merge into focus. Both the shutter speed and f-stop controls are located on the lens as adjustment rings.
Film
The Ricoh 500 uses traditional 35mm film. This film must be advanced manually through the camera using the "triggermatic" action level located on the top of the camera. This winding action also cocks the shutter into place for the next shot. This camera uses older ASA and DIN classifications and does not have predetermined settings for various ISO film levels due to its age. You'll need to find your film's relative ASA/DIN value using a converter to properly set up the camera.
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