Ricoh's compact fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder — CdS meter, shutter-priority auto, 1972.
The Ricoh 500G is a compact fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder from Ricoh, introduced in 1972. It belongs to Ricoh's popular series of small rangefinders from the early 1970s that paired a coupled rangefinder with a CdS meter in a pocketable metal body for general photography.
This is a coupled-rangefinder 35mm camera with a fixed lens and a leaf shutter. A CdS meter provides metering and the camera offers shutter-priority automatic exposure as well as manual control, so the meter and automation need a working battery. Focusing is by the coupled rangefinder and the leaf shutter operates within the lens.
The 500G suits users who want a small, capable rangefinder with automatic exposure for general, street and travel photography. It is genuinely pocketable and quick to use, with the option of manual control, making it a versatile everyday film camera.
When buying, confirm the CdS meter and automatic exposure respond with a fresh battery and check the battery compartment for corrosion, noting many were designed for mercury cells. Inspect the lens for haze and fungus, verify the rangefinder patch is present and aligned, test the leaf shutter for sticking, and check light seals and film-advance feel.