A few quick questions

[kmarriner]

Hello,

I have just stumbled onto this forum today and have been reading around for a bit. But there are a few questions that I can't seem to find the answers for.

I have been thinking about getting a rangefinder for a while now, but I was not able to find out which would be a good starting one yet. I am trying not to spend a truckload, and probably won't be buying for at least another few months, but I have always liked to be prepared.

Now being as I am only 21 I came into cameras in the 90s, I shot film with cheap kodaks and such. Sometimes getting to use my dad's canon slr. However I never even got to touch a rangefinder.
I also never developed film, in those days it was either taken to a local lab or done by a friend of my dad.
Recently I have been shooting digital slrs like everyone seems to now a days, I shoot motorsports, portraits, and other types of sports. But I have always loved street photography done in B&W film, ever since I was a kid.
And I have always been fascinated by rangefinders.

So I come to you, as someone who has never shot a rangefinder (but does have film experience..albeit somewhat of a long time ago), and never developed film ( but looking to possibly do it) for advice.


I guess my main questions would be, where should I be looking for a decently priced, "good" quality rangefinder?
What is the B&W film of choice for street photography these days?
And also, if I wanted to develop myself, what equipment would I need?

Thank you,
Kevin

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I guess my main questions would be, where should I be looking for a decently priced, "good" quality rangefinder?
What is the B&W film of choice for street photography these days?
And also, if I wanted to develop myself, what equipment would I need?

Thank you,
Kevin

1) In the classifieds here, on KEH.com, or on eBay
2) Tri-X, baby! Or its cheap twin, Arista Pro 400.
3) Some Rodinal or D76, a lightproof bag, a metal tank with Hewes reels (or a plastic Patterson system), some stop bath concentrate, some fixer concentrate, a bottle of Kodak photo-flo, and some graduated cylinders and funnels.

I was in your position a couple of years ago, and this forum made me go berserk. Now I walk around all day with a Leica.

 

[Ken Ford]

Hi, Kevin! Welcome!

I guess my main questions would be, where should I be looking for a decently priced, "good" quality rangefinder?

Can you live with a fixed lens? There are many fixed lens RFs that would be great for you to try. Yashica and Canon in particular made great ones that wouldn't cost much. If you find you like the RF and film world, you can always come back to the trough. Look in the classifieds here to start.

What is the B&W film of choice for street photography these days?

IMO Kodak Tri-X or Ilford HP-5, both 400 speed films.

And also, if I wanted to develop myself, what equipment would I need?

To process film, a tank and reels plus the chemistry is the absolute minimum. Are you planning on enlarging yourself, too?

Another option taken by a lot of people is to shoot a C41 process B&W film like Kodak BW400CN or Ilford XP-2 Super. You can have it processed and scanned at a lab and then do your own prints at home using your PC.

 

[pagpow]

If you haven't gone to cameraquest.com, and hit Classic Camera profiles, you should. That will give you a lot of information about fixed lens RF's, Leicas, FSU etc. Then you can continue with google searches on the ones that look most attractive to you.

I have found the classifieds here very useful for acquiring fairly described RFs at a range of prices and conditions. Good luck.

 

[kmarriner]

Thank you guys.

I will look into the classifieds, keh and ebay.

Fixed lens is fine with me, I am shooting for a 35-50, somewhere in that range.


How costly would it be to do my own enlarging?
I'd love to do it myself, but if it gets too costly, it may be better to have a lab do it.


If anyone has any other information for me, I'd be glad to read it. I am a sponge.

Kevin.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Thank you guys.

I will look into the classifieds, keh and ebay.

Fixed lens is fine with me, I am shooting for a 35-50, somewhere in that range.


How costly would it be to do my own enlarging?
I'd love to do it myself, but if it gets too costly, it may be better to have a lab do it.


If anyone has any other information for me, I'd be glad to read it. I am a sponge.

Kevin.

Dear Kevin,

Silly-cheap. Take a look at my website, especially the 'how do I...? section: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps howdoi.html

Tashi delek,

R.

 

[Derek_Teixeira]

I am in the same spot as you, so I will certainly keep my eyes on your replys! 🙂

 

[david.elliott]

I guess my main questions would be, where should I be looking for a decently priced, "good" quality rangefinder?

Depends what your budget is. But you can check out the classifieds, ebay, keh, adorama, igors camera, tamarkin, and even craigslist.

What is the B&W film of choice for street photography these days?

Choices vary. Also, in large part, it depends upon whether you will be shooting during the daytime or at night. If during the day, you want a low iso film i.e. acros 100. If at night, would need a high iso film, i.e. neopan 1600. For something at a medium iso, tri-x 400. But there are LOTS of options.

And also, if I wanted to develop myself, what equipment would I need?

-Changing Bag
-Can Opener
-Scissors
-Developer (diafine is great for beginners. it is what I used to start, and still use now too)
-Thermometer (if not using diafine)
-Fixer
-Photoflo
-Binder Clips
-graduated cylinders
-developing tank with reels
-distlilled water
-a watch
-containers for your chemicals

I think thats it.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[kmarriner]

Thank you again for the suggestions.

I am still looking around.

Dear Kevin,

Silly-cheap. Take a look at my website, especially the 'how do I...? section: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps howdoi.html

Tashi delek,

R.

Roger, I looked at your site and I couldn't seem to find anything on enlarging.

What do enlargers cost?

 

[david.elliott]

You might luck out if you look on craigslist. People sometimes give away (or charge very very little) for enlargers and other darkroom equipment.

 

[kmarriner]

You might luck out if you look on craigslist. People sometimes give away (or charge very very little) for enlargers and other darkroom equipment.

I will give that a look.

Can anyone offer some fixed lens models I should be on the lookout for?

 

[Ken Ford]

Here's a good overview page from the Barkeep's site:

http://cameraquest.com/com35s.htm

(Stephen owns RFF, CameraQuest is his commercial operation and informational site.)

 

[JohnyD]

i dunt think buying a cam in ebay is the best choice . i always go to 2nd shops and local forum to buy one where you can touch and feel what you are going to buy before you make a decision , and also you can ask for some personal warranty from them .

hope this helps