My Rangefinder search...

mrv said:
Jumping into this RF post instead of starting a whole 'nother one on the same topic ~
I'm mulling purchasing a small RF, something that if it gets abused while biking/camping, I won't be stressed by being out a chunk of change.
I've got a heavy Minolta Hi Matic 7. About 4 years ago I had the lens off to clean the aperture and shutter. I got it working again, but de to biking, it's been sitting for quite a while, and not it's some what stuck again.

I also have my dad's 60s ish Voightlander Vito B. It works. I'd prefer not to abuse it, or accidentally drop it in Lake Superior kayaking (kayaking very close to shore, of course....).

So as I ponder something small, I'd love to hear from users of:
- Olympus Trip 35 - seems super simple. Easy to spot the focus range. No shutter speeds to over think. Maybe find a way to 'trick' the 'no pic red flag' thing for shooting after dark.
- Fujica 35 Compact - seems more flexible than the Trip 35. More shutter speeds. Bulb setting.
- Olympus 35 RC (after reading through this thread) -- seems like a flexible, compact, Olympus option.

The Canonet QL looks appealing, but bigger than the 35RC option. I think.
As far as I can tell, these options keep me under $175 USD. Seems OK for a beater camera - a quiet 35mm beater!

If someone says something like -- maybe a new Kodak Snapic A 1 thingy! I might consider it. I'm not keen on the batteries being require though.

OK - thanks. I'll finish getting this account set up and maybe post some snaps from the Minolta and Voightlander in the gallery thing soon.
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Olympus Trip 35, no manual exposure, no override. Best used as a daylight only snapshot camera, I don't recommend.
Fujica 35 compact, possibly decent (appears to have manual exposure modes)
Olympus 35 RC, manual exposure, manual shutter speeds. Very good option. Do remember, better to buy a serviced one.
The Canonet GIII7-QL is also a good first rangefinder.
 
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boojum said:
That is such a sweet camera. I shot the Leica version for a few months when I was living in Montreal and loved it. A really nice package and from what I read the Minolta version is the better. Happy shooting.
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Had both. They're actually identical, body-wise. The only real differences come down to whether you have the M-Rokkor lenses or the Leica -C lenses, there it depends upon specific examples of each lens.

G
 
boojum said:
That is such a sweet camera. I shot the Leica version for a few months when I was living in Montreal and loved it. A really nice package and from what I read the Minolta version is the better. Happy shooting.
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The Leitz Wetzlar version went through some "upgrades" during its production (including the plastic tip on the advance lever) - these are all incorporated on the Leitz Minolta version. They are otherwise identical mechanically.
 
Godfrey said:
Both of you might look at a Kodak Retina IIIc. You can often find these in excellent condition for under $100, usually with a non-working meter. Another $150-190 for a full service and meter repair and you have a camera with a lens that is the equal of the best Leica M 50mm lenses, a folder so it is compact and easy to carry, and truly excellent quality through and through. You can even get 35 and 85 mm lenses for them.

It's a far better-made camera than most of the fixed lens compacts of the 1960s and 1970s, and has outstanding lenses. (Most US delivery models have Schneider lenses, many European delivery models have Rodenstock lenses; either are excellent performers.)

G
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There is also the Retina 111S which has decent lenses from 28mm to 135mm, automatic frame change in the viewfinder and a beautifully quiet compur shutter which makes it a great street shooter. Our head bartender gives it a good write up on his site. The only negative is that it is so well built that it is really heavy for its size!
 
nikomax said:
There is also the Retina 111S which has decent lenses from 28mm to 135mm, automatic frame change in the viewfinder and a beautifully quiet compur shutter which makes it a great street shooter. Our head bartender gives it a good write up on his site. The only negative is that it is so well built that it is really heavy for its size!
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Never heard of the IIIs, interesting, THANK YOU!
 
jay1155234 said:
it's a bad camera! very few were reliable! sad. The Minolta version better but a little better from awful?
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Jay, What makes you say it's a bad camera? I had one in the 70s and used it without issue on climbing trips on big mountains in Alaska. A few years ago i bought 75 anniversary model....which someone eventually offered me plenty of money for (after DAG replaced the meter cell). Don Goldberg opines that they're much more reliable than people give them credit for. He also has parts to repair them. The one below was given to me (w both lenses) by a friend. It's an early Leica version that had never been serviced & works like a charm. It had been dragged all over the world through the Alps and as far as the Karakorum. It's a brilliant small travel camera. What's your experience with the model that you dislike it?

IMG_6792.JPGIMG_8532 2.jpg
 
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Muggins said:
Did you get it?

The Trip 35 mentioned above isn't a rangefinder but it is a very capable little camera - David Bailey did use them for some of his published works, it wasn't just the adverts - and ridiculously simple to use. Plus if you are really lucky you can occasionally still pick one up for next to nothing - note caveats!
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So far I'm dragging my feet. Another Retina showed up on FB yesterday for $40. The leather case looks like it's been sitting on a shelf for 60 years. I just dropped them a note.
I think I've talked my self out of the Trip 35 since it's got two shutter speeds and no bulb.

I should up load some pics from my Minolta Hi-Matic 7s to the gallery. The problem with that is the shutter & aperture get sticky. I'm not motivated to disassemble and clean again. Obviously I'm not getting to a long term fix on it.

cheers!
 
What turned me off about the Retina IIIs was that it was no longer a folder. That plus the fact that I have little interest in ancient selenium cell meters...

I mean, after all, the joy of the Retina IIc is that it folds up and fits in my jacket pocket. Without that, i'd just carry a Leica M. 😉

G
 
Godfrey said:
What turned me off about the Retina IIIs was that it was no longer a folder. That plus the fact that I have little interest in ancient selenium cell meters...

I mean, after all, the joy of the Retina IIc is that it folds up and fits in my jacket pocket. Without that, i'd just carry a Leica M. 😉

G
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Yes, folders are great like that - means I can take a 6x9 hillwalking!
 
Bill Blackwell said:
The Leitz Wetzlar version went through some "upgrades" during its production (including the plastic tip on the advance lever) - these are all incorporated on the Leitz Minolta version. They are otherwise identical mechanically.
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Bil; I've never seen a CL without a plastic tip on the advance lever.
It was introduced in '73 & the M4 was well established and had that feature.....as did the M5 which had been introduced in 1971.
 
nikomax said:
There is also the Retina 111S which has decent lenses from 28mm to 135mm, automatic frame change in the viewfinder and a beautifully quiet compur shutter which makes it a great street shooter. Our head bartender gives it a good write up on his site. The only negative is that it is so well built that it is really heavy for its size!
Click to expand...
I would recommend a Retina IIIc over a IIIs. Retinas are properly folders. And I like the Retina II and Iic best of the folders, or a scale focus 1a or 1b. Our head bartender has great taste in cameras.
 
Muggins said:
Did you get it?

The Trip 35 mentioned above isn't a rangefinder but it is a very capable little camera - David Bailey did use them for some of his published works, it wasn't just the adverts - and ridiculously simple to use. Plus if you are really lucky you can occasionally still pick one up for next to nothing - note caveats!
Click to expand...

I've owned a few of these. They never failed me, and also gave me some amazing images in my rougher travels such as climbing volcanoes in Indonesia or the more strenuous bush walks I used to do in Australia. As time passed I moved them on, often as gifts to beginners who wanted to get into film without the complexities of buying entire kits. AFAIK at least one is still in use and that's 20+ years down the track since I gave it away. Not a bad track record.

Ten years ago they were going for < AUD $50 in the charity shops. I hadn't seen one for a long time until recently when one in what I can only charitably described as 'worn out' turned up in a local high-tone op shop - for $150. It's probably still there, tho' that shop does seem to operate on the principle that there's one born every minute.

This to say if you find one floating around in a charity shop or an old wares store with a reasonable price tag, give it a cursory inspection. If the shutter clicks, that means it's working. Buy it.

Of course the other P&S cameras some posters here have recommended, are all pretty good user gear. The luxury of choice prevails.
 
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