C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →rangefinder-35mm
The Ricoh 500G (1972–1977) is a fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder featuring a Color Rikenon 40mm f/2.8 in a Copal SVL leaf-shutter mechanism. The user selects a shutter speed (1/30s–1/500s), the CdS meter automatically sets the aperture for correct exposure (shutter-priority AE), or the photographer can override to fully manual. Rangefinder focusing couples through the finder's bright-line frame.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
The affordable alternative to the Canonet QL17. The Ricoh 500G delivers a sharp Color Rikenon 40mm f/2.8 lens, shutter-priority auto-exposure, and coupled rangefinder at a price point well below Canonet or Yashica Electro — making it one of the best-value fixed-lens rangefinders of the 1970s.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Lens | Color Rikenon 40mm f/2.8 |
| Mount | Fixed |
| Years | 1972–1977 |
| Shutter | 1/30s – 1/500s + B, Copal SVL leaf shutter |
| Flash sync | 1/30s (M/X) |
| Meter | CdS, shutter-priority AE |
| ISO range | 25–400 |
| Weight | ~470 g |
| Battery | MR9 / LR44 equivalent (1.35V) |
The Ricoh 500 series began in the 1960s and evolved through several generations. The 500G (1972) was the most refined of the line, refining the shutter-priority AE system and adding the "G" designation for the improved Color Rikenon lens coating. It sat in the market below the Canon Canonet QL17 GIII (1972) and Yashica Electro 35 series, offering similar functionality at a lower entry price.
The 500G was replaced by the 500ME in the mid-1970s, which added a self-timer and minor refinements. The entire fixed-lens rangefinder market contracted in the late 1970s as compact point-and-shoot cameras with zone focus displaced rangefinders at the consumer price tier.
The Ricoh 500G is one of the best-value film rangefinders available today. At $40–120 on the used market, it provides genuine rangefinder focusing and a sharp, respectable 40mm lens at a price well below Canonet or Yashica Electro equivalents. The leaf shutter provides quiet operation and flash sync at all speeds (not just 1/30s — X sync at leaf shutter speeds is effective at all speeds up to maximum).
For a photographer new to rangefinder film cameras who cannot justify a Canonet or Bessa budget, the Ricoh 500G is a legitimate choice.
Fixed Color Rikenon 40mm f/2.8, non-interchangeable. Filter thread: 55mm. No lens interchangeability. The 40mm focal length provides a slightly wide-normal angle of view on 35mm — similar to the Canonet QL17 40mm and the Olympus 35 SP 42mm. Accessory shoe accepts standard flash units; M-sync contacts provided.
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
View profile →C41
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
View profile →Ricoh 500G
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