Ricoh 500 ST

Ricoh 500 ST with SP-Winder image by Jörg Krüger (Image rights)

In 1980 Ricoh presented four new models of the popular "500" compact camera series for 35mm film at the photokina in Cologne: The 500 ST and the 500 ZF, both viewfinder, the latter one without self-timer. The 500 RF and 500 ME, both rangefinder, and the latter one with multi-exposure facility and battery check button. Otherwise those cameras share the same body, lens, exposure system and the remaining specifications. All cameras were made in Taiwan and were available in black and silver. As innovation against their predecessors more plastic parts are used, especially on top, the X-sync socket was dropped, and they are prepared for the use of the Ricoh SP-winder. Since Ricoh had a long tradition in making spring driven film transports, the SP-winder was no exception. If you turn the wind-crank on the bottom 20 times, you'll have enough power to advance the film for 10 frames. The 500 ST can be seen as the follower of the 35 ZF with self-timer.

Specifications

• Viewfinder camera for 35mm film
• Lens: Color-Rikenon 2.8/40, 4 elements in 3 groups
• Zone/scale focusing
• Mechanical shutter, 1/8 to 1/500 s and B
• CdS exposure meter, EV 6 to 17 at ISO 100
• ISO range: 25 to 800
• Bright frame viewfinder with parallax mark, 0.49x magnification
• Needle indicates f-stop, under- and overexposure
• Minimum focus distance: 0.9 m
• Exposure control: shutter priority AE when f-stop ring set to "A"
• F-stop can be selected also manually, whereby the exposure meter always indicates the correct f-stop
• Self-timer, approx. 10 s, cannot be canceled
• Filter thread 46 mm, CdS-cell inside filter thread
• Hot shoe for flash photography
• Dimensions: 111 x 71 x 55 mm
• Weight: 365 g
• A 1.3 V mercury cell is required, e.g. PX675
• Setting the shutter speed ring to "B" switches off the exposure meter