An alternative rangefinder camera

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dnemoc

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Hi Guys!

I intend to buy a really cheap rangefinder camera as an alternative to my Leica M4-P system. There are certain requirements, namely, it must have total manual operation capability, light meter not necessary, must be durable, preferably a little heavy, lens interchangeability not required, 35/50mm lens is okay.

I guess these stipulations narrow down the range of options quite a bit; probably there exists some underrated old German performer out there that I don't know about. Can anyone point me to some of those? Just in case you're wondering: I intend to take this camera to locations where the probability of losing the camera would be nonzero.

Best regards, and thanks in advance.
 
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An Agfa Karat 36 or IV is good. So too would be a Zorki 6 w/ Industar 50 and oodles of the Yashicas would do well. But I'd suggest that a Kiev 4AM w/ a good Helios 103 is as good as it gets for what you're looking for. Get one from someone reputable (Fedka, Oleg, etc) & you'll have a great inexpensive camera.

William
 
Sorry dnemoc - I misread: I thought you wanted interchangable lenses. In their absence I agree with rogue designer - the Lynx series offers remarkable quality and value. I commend your attention to the Lynx 14......

cheers, ian
 
Zorki 2-c(s) with j-12 and plastic russian finder. You can leave that on top of a parked car in the summer in rome and nobody will steal it, so long as the ratty case bottom is on.
It may actually prevent a locked bike in London from theft if somehow the zorki were firmly attached to the frame somehow.
 
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If you don't need interchangeable lenses, there are literally hundreds models of 60s and 70s fixed-lens rangefinders out there. that could fit your needs. The usual standouts are the Yashica Electro 35 and Lynx lines, the Canonet GIII GL17, and the Olympus SP and RD.

Personally, I have an Electro 35 GS and an Olympus SP, and find both of them to be excellent "knock-around" cameras, especially given the price (my GS was $15, and the SP cost me a whopping $75). The SP wins in the haptics department, and is a bit more "pocket-able" than the Yashica, but the super-low price and almost silent shutter action on the Yashica are both nice, as is the ability to shoot aperture-priority auto with shutter speeds lower than 1/15.
 
I second rcoder's suggestions.

I have personally used Olympus SPn (minor variation of the SP) which to me has the best optics (would love a comparison with your Leica), Canonet GIII QL17, and I am waiting for the arrival of a Konica Auto S3 which is said to be excellent also.

If you're looking for smaller bodies, Olympus RD, Minoltal Himatic 7SII, and again the Konica S3 will fit the bill nicely.

For the specs and reviews, check out Andrew Yue's site: http://www.ph.utexas.edu/~yue/misc/rangfndr.html
 
Thanks a ton guys!!! I'm overwhelmed by the quick response from so many of you. Thanks again. Your opinions have been most helpful. Just for the record, I thought about the Agfa Retina series, but the problem is that folders will quickly contract fungus in the wet climate where I intend to use the camera. This has happened before once with a relative of mine. Sorry rogue-designer 🙂

Best regards to all of you. Have a great weekend.
 
Konica Auto S2, Ricoh 500, Fujica V2, Kodak Retina IIa, Olympus RC, Minolta 7SII, Canon Ql-17 GIII, Canon Ql-19. I think that's about all that I have experience with.

Wayne
 
Based on FULL MANUAL control requirement , and not minding a little heft, I would suggest a Yashica Lynx 14. This is a 100% pure manual camera with both shutter speed control and aperture control on the lens barrel.

Major selling point? A double gauss 7 element, 5 group f1.4 lens (fastest lens ever put on a fixed lens rangefinder...) This design is similar to the 50/f1.4 Summilux. Though flare prone, it is optimized for wider apertures, surprisingly good wide open, and quite sharp by f4 on...

It also has projected framelines with parralax correction. The frame line shifts diagonally as you focus to correct. This is a serious camera, unique, smartly designed. Outstanding low-light performer.

No - it's not a Leica, BUT it can do two things a Leica can not by virtue of its leaf shutter design:

1. Synch shutter at all speeds (top 1/500)
2. Hand hold below the 1/(shutter speed) rule. 1/15 hand-held is certainly possible.

Based on not requiring a small camera - this one is rather large, especially its terrific lens, and requiring full manual control, not requiring interchangeable lenses I think this is your camera because

1. Others were designed as shutter priority with some type of manual override that usually cuts out the meter. This was designed to be a fully manual camera .

2. Poor man's 50/1.4 Summilux.

Lynx 14's come in two flavors. The "e" which has match stick metering and a meter on the top plate. The later 14 "IC" has over-under lights and did away with reading on top plate. In my experience the later "IC" lens improved coating, my "e" was rather flare-prone.

Do not expect this camera to work - you're lucky if you do. They're quite cheap - $10 - $30 dollars. Find the best sample you can and send it to Mark Hamma (google him) $80 for restoration, or PM Greyhound man here, who does a nice job fixing cameras on the side, and see if he's taking orders.
 
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