cmedin
Well-known
I am curious as to which cameras you find have the best and easiest to focus rangefinder. I know some are notorious for dim/soft spots, and some are supposed to be bright and snappy.
What's YOUR favorite?
What's YOUR favorite?
back alley
IMAGES
i have a short memory...for me the zi, followed by the r4...the cle..then the leica m3...the canon p.
this would be my 35mm rf experience
this would be my 35mm rf experience
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I prefer the M2 as a camera but the M3 has to be hard to beat in this department. Far better than my other M's incuding the M8! 
My Kiev II impresses me in spite of the rather 'peering through a tunnel' perspective!
Let's mention best focusing FSU's as well or is that hijacking the thread? :angel:
My Kiev II impresses me in spite of the rather 'peering through a tunnel' perspective!
Let's mention best focusing FSU's as well or is that hijacking the thread? :angel:
cmedin
Well-known
By all means, let's hear all feedback possible! I found my Kiev 4 a little hard to focus in very bright outdoors light, but other than that it seems great and very easy to use...
I found my Kiev 4 a little hard to focus in very bright outdoors light, but other than that it seems great and very easy to use...
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
By the way the question is worded I would assume (yes.. that NAUGHTY word) that you mean which rangefinder camera has the brightest viewfinder window and/or the least flare resistant rf patch.
Because I could say that any RF with the 15mm Voigtlander on it is the "easiest" to focus since it is not RF coupled and the DOF scale when at f11 is pretty much from 2 feet to infinity.
Based on RF patches and basic clutter in the viewfinders that I've used however the "easiest" would be the M3 and then the R3A followed up by the M2 and then the M7. The Canonet was a bit dim. The Leica IIIc was far too small. The Olympus XA wasn't much bigger.
Cheers
Dave
Because I could say that any RF with the 15mm Voigtlander on it is the "easiest" to focus since it is not RF coupled and the DOF scale when at f11 is pretty much from 2 feet to infinity.
Based on RF patches and basic clutter in the viewfinders that I've used however the "easiest" would be the M3 and then the R3A followed up by the M2 and then the M7. The Canonet was a bit dim. The Leica IIIc was far too small. The Olympus XA wasn't much bigger.
Cheers
Dave
yarinkel
yarinkel
Among the rangefinders I own(ed), from easiest to most difficult:
Zeiss Ikon, Canon P, Bessa R, Mamiya 6, Mamiya 7
But it is not so different between the models as to become a determining factor.
Zeiss Ikon, Canon P, Bessa R, Mamiya 6, Mamiya 7
But it is not so different between the models as to become a determining factor.
ferider
Veteran
Outside in bright light the R3A. Inside in semi-dark the M3. For self portraits the 15 Heliar
cmedin
Well-known
Sounds like the M3 is pulling ahead so far... Dave: your assumption would be correct. My 25/4 is real easy to focus too, and the viewfinder is nice and bright. But I've played with a few proper rangefinders and noticed there's a large difference in ease of use there, so that's why I want to hear others' experiences.
But I've played with a few proper rangefinders and noticed there's a large difference in ease of use there, so that's why I want to hear others' experiences.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I meant to mention that the M I like least is my M7 ... I can't believe that fifty years down the track from the suberb M3 Leica got it this wrong. It flares in all sorts of conditions ... and yes I know I can have the thing modified to fix the problem but why should I have to spend more money on an already expensive camera to fix a fault like this?
Consequently it gets little use!
Consequently it gets little use!
M
Magus
Guest
Post deleted by posters request
GeneW
Veteran
Of mine, best: M2 -- not bad: Bessa R -- dim: Fed-2
Gene
Gene
fraley
Beware of Claws
Well, for the underdog -- the Zorki 4 has a 1:1 ratio viewfinder, with a diopter, and a bright focusing patch. No framelines, that's the only drawback. Also I don't know if it has parallax correction.
mascarenhas
Established
Like ferider, I find the R3A easier in with brighter subjects, and the M3 easier when it's dimmer. I think it's the golden tone of the M3's patch vs the more neutral R3A. But my M3 is a teensy bit off in the vertical, and I am too lazy to procure a small screwdriver and fix it. God protect me from ever looking into a ZI viewfinder.
photogdave
Shops local
M4 - bright, uncluttered, 35mm framelines visible, doesn't seem as flare-prone as my M6.
matt fury
Well-known
My M4 takes the cake over everything else I've used, but I've yet to get my hands a on ZIkon. I wear glasses, so lots of RF's are a pain the ass for me. I do like my Minolta 7s better than the QL17 GIII I had, though. and my Retina IIa's rf patch is pretty good, but the vf is squinty overall. I put a roll through a new MP once, and it didn't seem like the RF was an improvement over my M4.
TheHub
Well-known
Konica Auto S2
Yashica Electro 35 GS
Baldamatic I
Canon P
Those are my favorites. My IIIf is a nice shooter, but not the easiest to focus ...
Yashica Electro 35 GS
Baldamatic I
Canon P
Those are my favorites. My IIIf is a nice shooter, but not the easiest to focus ...
nasmformyzombie
Registered
M3 hands down.
raid
Dad Photographer
The M3 is King here.
Other than the M3, I have liked using the RF focusing with the Canon P.
Once I get the Konica IIIM, I may make it my second choice.
Other than the M3, I have liked using the RF focusing with the Canon P.
Once I get the Konica IIIM, I may make it my second choice.
aizan
Veteran
they're all dead easy to focus, except for ones whose viewfinders are dimming with age.
T
tedwhite
Guest
In order of brightness of RF viewfinders and ease of focusing:
1. Bessa R and M6. (Dead tie. Used them both last Sunday during the same
shoot and could see no difference)
2. Yashica Electro 35 GSN
3. Kiev 4AM (bright enough, but the patch is a bit pale)
4. Zorki 4K (not bad for an old FSU)
5. Leica IIIf (OK, but having to look in two different peepholes defeated me)
6. Olympus XA (great little camera, and I do mean little, but works much better
zone-focusing and using the viewfinder to frame)
7. FED 2 (After two rolls in sequence I had severe eye-strain. Dim viewfinder
and an elusive patch. However, the camera worked fine and the old
Jupiter 8 surprised me, and with the colllapsable FED 50/3.5 you could stick
it in your pocket. Ond day a local cop looked at my jacket pocket and asked,
"Hey, Ted, are you packin' heat?" "No," I answered, "just a Russian camera."
I was promptly arrested.)
PS: I have a Canonet 19 and a Minolta Hi-matic coming in the same box from
Memphis. Will report on those later.
1. Bessa R and M6. (Dead tie. Used them both last Sunday during the same
shoot and could see no difference)
2. Yashica Electro 35 GSN
3. Kiev 4AM (bright enough, but the patch is a bit pale)
4. Zorki 4K (not bad for an old FSU)
5. Leica IIIf (OK, but having to look in two different peepholes defeated me)
6. Olympus XA (great little camera, and I do mean little, but works much better
zone-focusing and using the viewfinder to frame)
7. FED 2 (After two rolls in sequence I had severe eye-strain. Dim viewfinder
and an elusive patch. However, the camera worked fine and the old
Jupiter 8 surprised me, and with the colllapsable FED 50/3.5 you could stick
it in your pocket. Ond day a local cop looked at my jacket pocket and asked,
"Hey, Ted, are you packin' heat?" "No," I answered, "just a Russian camera."
I was promptly arrested.)
PS: I have a Canonet 19 and a Minolta Hi-matic coming in the same box from
Memphis. Will report on those later.
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