Tag Archives: Custom

Jun 14 2013
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Veneered Cameras

Ricoh 500G – Custom Veneer #2!

I really enjoyed converting the Minolta Rangefinder from a leather to wood veneer cover so I decided to buy another cheap rangefinder and give it another go.

This week’s custom camera is a Ricoh 500G produced in the early 1970’s with a f2.8 Rikenon lens and even has an 8 second self-timer. You can find these fairly easily for under $20’s, not counting shipping if you’re going to buy it from eBay or something like that. Only two photos but when I put a battery in it I’ll be sure to show some photos I’ve taken with it.

It’s a solidly built camera with a metal body and according to a lot of the reviews I have read, it takes really sharp photos so I’m really excited to use it. It’s got a great feel when it’s in my hands.

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Jun 10 2013
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Film Camera gets a Makeover

Remember that Minolta Hi-Matic F I posted the other week?

Well, it doesn’t really look like that anymore.

If you’ve never heard of the company Ilott I highly suggest you check out that guy’s work. He refurbishes old film cameras and gives them new life with a new wood veneer cover instead of the faux-leather that’s on most old film cameras. If you’ve ever worked with veneer you should not it’s really not that hard to work with, and this guy refurbishes $30 cameras, services them, and put’s a veneer on them and charges $2000 for his work, even though it is magnificent, I wouldn’t say it’s worth all that.

So I decided I’d give it a little trial run on that Minolta I have and I think my results are pretty darn good for my first try.

I’d love to hear everyone’s comments and I’d really like to do a few more of these or maybe some custom orders once I get the hang of it.

Thanks again,

John Kirby

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