Film cameras
Ricoh SLX 500 User manual
User manual for Ricoh SLX 500. 14 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
14 pagesEnglish2.0 MB PDF
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Document details
- Brand
- Ricoh
- Model / document
- Ricoh SLX 500
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 14
- File size
- 2.0 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
FEATURES YOU'LL LIKE · Through-the-lens viewing ends accidental subject cropping ... you see your exact picture in brilliant viewfinder before you take it. · Through-the-lens focusing: Micro-prism image rangefinder plus focusing screen make extra-sharp pictures easier to take. · Through-the-lens system US exposure meter measures light with high degree of accuracy. · Single-stroke film-advance lever also winds the shutter, counts exposures and prevents double exposures. · Instant-return mirror automatically returns to viewing position the instant exposure is made - no viewfinder "blackout" to delay picture taking. · Automatic diaphragm you focus and compose with lens at its widest opening - prevents viewfinder dimming when smaller lens openings are selected. · Auto Rikenon lens lets you produce slides and prints of superior sharpness and color fidelity. · Focal plane shutter: A range of speeds from 1/30 sec. to 1/500 sec. plus bulb let you "freeze" swift action as well as take photos of excellent quality. * Hot Shoe makes it easy to take flash pictures with the electronic flash unit.View original page 2
Page 4 · Read text
FILM LOADING
Always load camera in shade, never in bright or direct sunlight.
Use good quality standard 35 mm (12, 20 or 36 exposures) film, color or black and white.
Press Shutter Release Button (D) to see that the shutter has been released. Pull Back Cover Latch (T) until
camera back clicks open .
Swing open camera back and place
film cartridge into Film Chamber (S).
To place film cartridge properly
make sure that the projected core of
the film cartridge comes to bottom of
camera
and rotate Film Rewind Knob (M)
back and forth so that Film Rewind
Shaft (Q) engages film cartridge and
film cartridge is seated in place
.View original page 4Page 5 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Pull tapered end of film across back of camera and insert into and
through any one of the slits of Film Take-up Spool (W). Rotate Film
Take-up Spool (W) by advancing Film-Advance Lever (C) to take up
film slack and check to see that the tip of film has been firmly hooked
onto Film Take-up Spool (W). Wind film and press Shutter Release
Button (D) each time until a set of sprocket holes on the film engage
Sprocket Teeth (Y)
.
Close camera back and snap it shut.
Advance Film-Advance Lever (C)
two or three times depressing
Shutter Release Button (D) each
time until Exposure Counter (F) is
set to "1", ready for your first picture
. Set the camera for the film which
you are using. To set film speed pull
up Shutter Speed Dial (B) and rotate
it until the ASA number of your film
is opposite the red marker
Check the instruction sheet packaged with your film for the correct ASA speed for that film. If you are using
German film, refer to Fig. 7 for the relation between ASA and DIN.
When you check the camera before loading the film, do not turn the sprocket or Film Take-up Spool (W) after
advancing Film-Advance Lever (C). Besides, do not turn the sprocket at 350 . degrees before advancing Film-
Advance Lever (C).View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
BATTERY LOADING
Unscrew Battery Compartment Cover (U) with a coin and remove it. Wipe off the surface of the mercury
battery (packaged with your camera) with cloth and place the mercury battery in the compartment with plus "+"
end up
(Fig. 8). Make double sure that the mercury battery was loaded
correctly and replace the cover. If the mercury battery is placed
incorrectly, the exposure meter needle will not move. The mercury
battery is the power source of automatic exposure system and will
last for about one year. Replace the mercury battery when the
exposure meter needle does not move in bright or direct sunlight
with Exposure Meter Switch (H) pressed. For replacement use
Eveready EPX625, Mallory RM625 or equivalent.
You must find a Wein-Air battery as a replacement to the mercury
batteries.
* The mercury battery may explode if disposed in fire.
CORRECT EXPOSURE
Correct exposure is achieved by setting the lens (f-stop) and shutter in correct combination for the film, subject
and lighting condition. As your SLX 500 camera has a built-in through-the-lens system CdS exposure meter,
you can adjust exposure with high degree of accuracy in the following manner.
1. Set shutter speed by rotating Shutter Speed Dial (B). A shutter speed ranging from 1/60 - 1/250 sec. will suit
your normal outdoor picture-taking and 1/30 sec. and "B" (bulb) for indoor. (Read "Setting the shutter"
carefully).
2. Rotate F-stop Ring (1) and set the lens at its full opening (Smallest number).
3. Hold your camera and look your subject through Viewfinder
Eyepiece (0). Then, press Preview Lever (H) and at the same
time turn F-stop Ring (1) until the exposure meter needle in the
viewfinder comes to horizontal position in-between "+" and -"
indicators (Fig. 9).View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
www.butkus.us
If the exposure meter needle is in the area of "+" indicator this is
overexposure. Select a smaller lens opening or a faster shutter
speed. If, on the contrary, the needle stays in the area of "-"
indicator
(Fig. 11), this means underexposure - choose a larger
lens opening or a slower shutter speed.
4. Focus the lens and release the shutter. For focusing the lens, refer to "Viewing and focusing".
You may set F-stop first and then shutter speed. Other procedure is same as above. This setting may be used
when you take a portrait or the like making your subject attractive with the back ground and the scene in front
of your subject blurred. How your subject stands out depends on F-stop setting (Refer to "Depth of field"). Hold
your camera firm or use a steady support like tripod if you have to use a slow shutter speed.
* Correct exposure may not be obtained when you expose the subject with your eye away from Viewfinder
Eyepiece (0) or with the sunlight in front of your because your face may reflect inside the viewfinder, which
will influence the exposure meter.
* Press Exposure Meter Switch (H) until it completely stops.View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
SETTING THE SHUTTER
Simply turn Shutter Speed Dial (B) until the desired shutter speed number is set opposite the white marker
(Fig. 12). Make sure the Dial is set at a click stop. Do not set
Shutter Speed Dial (B) in between two shutter speeds. Always set it
at a click stop. The shutter speed setting governs the amount of time
the film is exposed to light. "60" (1/60 sec.) is recommended for
subjects not in motion. Where motion exists, shutter speeds ranging
from 1/125 to 1/500 should be used.
To achieve maximum depth of field (area of sharpness in front of and behind subject), or when shooting in
poorly lit areas, 1/30 and B (bulb) are available. When using "B" (bulb), use a tripod or other firm support to
prevent blurring of the picture. When set at "B" the shutter will remain open as long as Shutter Release Button
(D) is depressed. The "B" setting is ideal for long night exposure using street lights or electric signs as a light
source, or under poor light conditions when flash cannot be used.
· Do not turn Shutter Speed Dial (B) with Shutter Release Button (D) pressed.
· Do not depress Shutter Release Button (D) with Film-Advance Lever (C) not completely advanced.
· Do not wind Film-Advance Lever (C) while pressing Shutter Release Button (D).View original page 8Page 10 · Read text
VIEWING AND FOCUSING
Look into Viewfinder Eyepiece (0) to compose your picture and focus the
lens. Rotate Focusing Ring (L) until subject becomes clear in the micro-
prism image, the center circle area
(Fig. 14). When your subject appears sharp in the micro-prism image, your
picture has been focused. To take the picture hold the camera as steady as
you can and press Shutter Release Button (D) slowly and smoothly. Since
you are viewing through the lens there is no parallax problem ... what you
are viewing in the viewfinder will appear in your picture. Even when you
shoot close-ups there is no danger of accidental cropping as may occur
when the viewfinder is above or to one side of the lens.
DEPTH OF FIELD
A portion of the picture in front of and behind your subject will also be sharp. If you wish to know how much of
an area will be sharp in your final picture, this can be predetermined in two ways.
Depth of Field Pre-viewer
Pressing Preview Lever (H)
will set the lens at the
corresponding opening you
previously set on F-stop Ring
(1) (Fig. 15 ) This will enable
you to preview the area of
sharpness in the picture before
you take it. The viewfinder will
become dark corresponding to
F-stop you previously set on F-
stop Ring (1). The Preview
Lever (H) will automatically
return to its original position
when you leave your finger off
the lever and the viewfinder
will become bright.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
www.butkus.us Depth of Field Scale After you have set the lens opening and have focused the camera, area of sharpness in front of and behind your subject can also be determined on the Depth of Field Scale (J). Locate on Depth of Field Scale (J) the two numbers corresponding to the f-stop you have set on F-stop Ring (I). The distance between these two f numbers of Distance Scale (K) will be the area of sharpness in your picture. For example, if F-stop Ring (I) is set at 8 (f8), about 3.5 - 10 m (11.5 - 33 ft.) will be in focus. When Focusing Ring (L) is set at 5 m (16.5 ft.) (Fig. 16). CHANGING THE LENS Your camera is equipped with a 50 mm Practica type thread mount lens, the focal length of which is proper for general-purpose picture taking. You may select additional Practica type thread mount lenses from wide range of Rikenon lenses which include extremely wide lenses through long focal length telephoto and zoom lenses. Rikenon lenses are made of selected high quality materials under severe quality control to give high performance and full satisfaction. To remove the lens, continuously turn the lens in a counterclockwise direction until it can be removed (Fig. 17). To insert another lens, turn the lens in a clockwise direction until the lens is secured in position. · Never change the lens with Preview Lever (H) pressed. FLASH PICTURES Your camera has Hot Shoe (N) on top of camera which permits you to use a direct contact type electronic flash unit and Flash Socket (R) on one side of body to enable you to use electronic flash unit with connecting cord. If your electronic flash unit is of direct contact type, simply mount it onto Hot Shoe (N). You only need to set the aperture to the correct setting via the dial on the flash unit, depending on the ASA of film used. The aperture setting depends on the flash unit's ability to output light depending on your distance from your subject. So in "manual mode" you must determine your distance and adjust the aperture via the dial on that flash unit.View original page 11
Page 12 · Read text
There are flash units that have an "Auto" setting (larger units may have two or three aperture setting in "Auto").
These units have electric eyes and will only output the needed amount of light at their "Auto" settings within
their "distance" abilities. This camera has a single hot shoe, some dedicated electronic flash have multiple
contacts on the hot shoe for that specific camera. These will most likely not work as the contact will be shorted
on this non-branded Ricoh hot shoe. There are flash units that allow the base to be changed to specific camera
models. There are "bracket" flashed that use a wire from the flash to the side of the camera as seen in Fig 19.
These are usually very powerful units, but provide relief to the "red eye" syndrome of a flash on top of the
camera.
(Fig. 18). No other setting is
necessary. If you have an
electronic flash unit with
connecting cord, mount the
flash unit onto Hot Shoe (N)
and connect the end of
connecting cord to Flash Socket
(R).
Regardless the type of
electronic flash unit, set shutter
speed at 1/60 or 1/30. Setting
the shutter speed at faster speed
than 1/60 will result in
unsynchronized picture.
· Flash Bulbs cannot be used
because only X contact via Hot
Shoe (N) or Flash Socket (R) is
available.
· Never deeply touch the central
part of Flash Socket (R) when
you use an electronic flash unit
by mounting it onto Hot Shoe
(N).
UNLOADING FILM
Always unload your camera in the shade, never in bright light.
After the last picture on the roll has been taken, depress Shutter Release Button (D). Press Rewind Button (V)
and lift up crank on Film Rewind Knob (M). Turn crank in a clockwise direction until the entire roll has been
rewound. Tension on the crank will decrease noticeably (Fig. 19). Open camera back by pulling Back Cover
Latch (T), and remove the film cartridge. Have film processed as soon as possible.View original page 12Page 14 · Read text
Net Lens F-stop Lens Lens Min Filter Angle Lb Weight
of
Lens Speed Control Sect Elem Focus Size
View
1000 g 2.20 lb
13 f8.0 Preset 4 4 40m 77°
500 mm 5°
14 600 mm 4° f8.0 Preset 3 3 l0m 90° 1.860 g 4.09 lb
15 800 mm 3° f8.0 Preset 4 4 18.0m 112° 2.370 g 5.21 lb
60 mm
16 40° f2.8 Preset 4 5 0.2m 58° 400 g 0.88 Ib
macro
135 mm
17 Bellows 18° f3.5 Preset 4 4 49° 200 g 044 lb
lens
18 Fisheye 180° Preset 6 9 260g 0.57lb
19. Bellows Attachment
For 135 mm Bellows lens has focusing knob for maximum sharpness at extremely close distances ... excellent
for extreme close-ups.
20. Extension Ring
Set This is used to photograph objects at extremely close distances. Rings can be used separately or in
combination depending upon distance from object you desire to photograph.
21. Microscope Attachment
allows camera to be attached to microscope for photographing objects utilizing microscope magnification. Plus
a broad line of other photographic accessories.
The following accessories are also available for your Ricoh SLX 500 camera.
22. Close-up Lens # 1 100 - 32 cm 23. Close-up Lens #2 50 - 24 cm
24. Bellows Attachment "A"
25. Deluxe Bellows Attachment "B" w/slide copier and focusing track
26. Extension Ring Set (Auto., 3 pieces per set)
27. Microscope Attachment
28. Diopter Adjuster, (-3, -2, +0.2, +1, +2, +3)
29. Eyepiece Magnifier, x 2
30. Copy Stand
31. Cable Release
32. Deluxe Hand Grip (Foldable bracket)View original page 14Related documents and language editions
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PDF verified 2026-10-10.