Questions from the Rangefinder Impaired..

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MrCoffee

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Hi Everyone,

Ok, so if ya couldnt tell from my subject line, I am having a bit of trouble with my two Rangefinders. I have a Yashica Electro 35 and a Minister-D. I like them both alot, except, 1) I cant figure out what battery to put into the Minister-D, and more importantly, 2) my pictures suck.

I have been using a lot of SLRs over the years, mostly Canon for AF, and Nikon or Olympus for MF. But I cant seem to get using a rangefinder down. Focus and exposure are always off, much different then what I had in my head they should look like.... etc.

Is there are good place to start learning how a rangerfinder operates, like a Rangerfinder for dumbies?? I would rather research it myself then post a lot of newbie questions.

Thanks!
MrC
 
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It's best to start with something with fewer variables, i.e. something that you know works without quirks.

One of the biggest mistakes made by would be music students (or the parents of) is to buy a cheap instrument 'to see if he likes learning it'.

Usually one end up buying a clarinet that squawks and squeeks even for a master, or a guitar with hopeless intonation and impossible action. It's guaranteed he will fail and never 'like it'.

I would find some completely manual range finder that is light tight and is known to focus well. Now doesn't that sound like an old LTM Leica or Canon?
 
I went through similar issues. I ended up selling the first rangefinders I bought and then buying used from this forum.
When a seller here says it works, it generally does.
I still don't know if my first cameras were off, or if I just got better over time.
 
Electro is good to start with because it's good and simple to use...and later to return to because...it's good and simple to use. There can be some cameras between.

I got first decent RF pics with Electro and this gave me some confidence that 40 y.o. gear can give good output. So I'd suggest first sort out Electro issues. Really, maybe your copy has some flaw ?
 
MrCoffee said:
...

Is there are good place to start learning how a rangerfinder operates, like a Rangerfinder for dumbies?? I would rather research it myself then post a lot of newbie questions.

Thanks!
MrC
Click to expand...

Play around with the search option here on RFF. It might surprise you what beginner questions have already been asked and answered. You might also check a good used book store with a photography section, or amazon.

In the case of the cameras you have, they are both well thought of by many members. Many have them, or something similar (they just aren't talked about as much any more). Personally, I am not a favorite of fixed lens rangefinders unless I have a specific reason to want to carry one. Such as I want to take a camera, but doubt I will use it, or specifically want something small, or I am just in the mood for the Canonet or the Olymput SP. I tend to feel restricted with them most of the time.

Considering what you have been accostomed to using, that may be your problem too. I didn't feel that way so much with the Yashica MAT I had, nor with the Super Press 23. I think that was because I was compensated with the big negative. Plus, I knew someday I would get other lenses for the Press 23, and I did.

Feeling restricted shouldn't account for OOF photos, unless you aren't taking time to really focus, or you are inadvertantly fiddling with the focus while you do something else. But it sure could accout for not being satisfied with your results if your framing isn't as concise as your are used to.

I noted what you have been used to using. Part of the problem may be in your frustration, you are just shooting to burn film because you aren't seeing what you want in your viewfinder. Silly sounding, isn't it? But I have found myself doing that. To paraphrase, sometimes if you can't be with the camera you love, you just have to love the camera you are with. 😀

Use the search and ask questions if you want. Mostly people here will be glad to help.
 
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On the Yashica electro 35...do you have the proper battery? Go to the www.yashica-guy.com He explains that the Yashica needs a battery insert for the current battery. That may solve your exposure problem. Shooting very tight can sometimes be a problem as you are not looking through the lens. Focusing is basically the same with the fucus in the center of the viewfinder. Now, since you have been using an Olympus and probably the OM series...that would be a big change. The OM has a split screen which is very easy to focus...and, of course, auto-focus is very simple. Rangefincer focus is more like the old Nikkormats. If you get the Electro to work properly you will find that the lens on it is extremely sharp. As far as number 2....that's a personal judgment...maybe you are being a little too harsh on yourself too quickly...good luck.
 
I 2nd the Yashica Guy suggestion. I purchased a battery converter from him for $12.00 (including a new battery), and my Lynx 1.4 works like a charm.
 
MrCoffee said:
Hi Everyone,

Ok, so if ya couldnt tell from my subject line, I am having a bit of trouble with my two Rangefinders. I have a Yashica Electro 35 and a Minister-D...................... Focus and exposure are always off, much different then what I had in my head they should look like.... etc.
.............
Thanks!
MrC
Click to expand...

Hi MrCoffee,
Most of these cameras, which are fifty, sixty years old, need some fixing in the best case, or a full overhaul.

Some times you are lucky and get a perfectly working sample, but these cases are not the rule.

I would warmly recommend you to start your RF voyage with the right foot, i.e. with an absolute new camera. In case you are not particularly sensitive to having an absolute silent camera, you can select Cosina Voigtlander bodies for around $500 (folks kindly don't chase me if I am not uptdated)

As for the many interesting questions about rangefinder photography you can browse the very subforums at the front page of RFF, or even better give a deep dive into www.cameraquest.com, whose owner serves as chief bartender of RFF. Great site.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
Well, I have a Bessa and they are good, but they are as noisy as an SLR for my money, and whatever gains I have in reliability, I lose when walking about clacking like a demented castanet player each time the shutter is invoked and awakens the dead.

Buy a cheap rangefinder and send it out for a CLA. That way you're covered. YMMV, of course. If I ever need a hearing aid, I'm sure it (the Bessa R) will not irk me as much as it does now.
 
Jim,
Kindly let me disagree with your CLA project. The reason is simple: you have to be very knowledgeable of the camera you are sending to CLA, in order to check afterwards the work done.

Secondly, you have to be knowledgeable of the camera and the shop you are sending it to CLA.

This is not a good start, although it has been the start of many of us.

As for the Bessas noise, a brand I do not own, I have been specially following the issue of noise and read that latest models have improved a lot. I am aware that even these are not Leica like silent, but here the whole isssue depends upon MrCoffee's taste. A leather half case may further reduce noise.

Cheers
Ruben
 
Hi Everyone,

Thank you all very much for your advice and suggestions. I suspose I should have given more details on the RF and my issues. First off, the cameras (both) were purchased off the classifieds on this forum, and I have no reason to doubt the sellers when they said fully functional. The Electro 35 looks like it came off the factory floor yesterday, it is that clean, I can't find a single flaw on it. I also have gotten one or two really good pictures from the Eletro, but that is the exception, not the rule. The battery and adatper were purchased from the Yashica-guy before I started using it.

The reason I wanted to get started using a rangefinder are many, but most of all, I love my SLR's but I wanted to try something more. At some point I plan to get a higher end RF, but my father had a M-II for years, which he told beautiful pictures with. My youngest dropped it and damage it and now I have it out to hopefully be repaired (been gone a year). The gentleman who is working on it has a wonderful rep on Photo.net for repairs, so I have no doubts he is doing whatever he can. The connections that has me wanting to use a rangefinder, strictly emotional, because I miss my Dad. That is my other reason for using the Yashica's. And honestly, I cant really afford more equipment at the moment.

Anyways, the goal is to challenge myself to learn something new. To improve my overall skills, and hopefully to look at things differently. I have searched a lot for information on rangefinder operation, but most of what I have found (outside of this forum) has been geared toward the PTBD fully auto RFs or the new Digital RF.

I appreicate all the suggestions, and I will keep searching. I posted a nice shot of my RF having lunch with me the other day in the cameras and coffee thread 🙂
 
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The Minister-D was designed for a PX625 mercury cell; you won't be able to get one, but if you think the old metering cell might still work (it seems unlikely), try doing a search, here, for PX625 to see how others have worked around the lack of that battery. As it's uncoupled, anyway, I just use my minister-D with a light meter -- like the Sekonic Studio Deluxe -- that provides an EV reading along with the usual exposure calculation. It's more accurate than the Minister-D would be at this point, and I just dial the reading in on the barrel of the Minister-D (I love that design, but it makes it hard to adjust creatively (for me) for some reason). I've gotten pretty good exposures from that camera this way.

I had a $30 GSN CLA'd for $95 -- but I'd already used it for long enough to understand that it was well worth the cost. Keep fiddling with the Yashicas; you'll learn to love 'em.

good luck.
 
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