50 quid rangefinder recommendation

[SensorChip]

Hi.

I currently have a thread running on a problem with my Konica Auto S2. But I'm thinking that I may be in the market for something else also.

I'm interested in something with a similar lens to the auto S2 but a little smaller or lighter or both. Budget is a big issue, under 50 quid on eBay sort of thing.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

 

[clarence]

If you're looking for a similar class of rangefinder, there are plenty of used fixed-lens compact rangefinders out there. Canonets and the Olympus compact rangefinders come to mind, as do the slightly bigger Yashica compacts. If you're looking for the smallest compact rangefinder for that price, it would be the Olympus XA.

I'm sure you'll receive a lot more recommendations. The hardest part is deciding on one!

Clarence

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi andy,
You might wan to check out the classified's here rather than use eBay. The Bay does tend to be rather a lottery. If you are looking for a fixed lens rangefinder around that price bracket, I would look at the Canonet QL GIII, the Olympus 35RD or the Konica S3. Others may chip in with other suggestions.

Kim

 

[pesphoto]

Hi andy,
You might wan to check out the classified's here rather than use eBay. The Bay does tend to be rather a lottery. If you are looking for a fixed lens rangefinder around that price bracket, I would look at the Canonet QL GIII, the Olympus 35RD or the Konica S3. Others may chip in with other suggestions.

Kim

I'll double that notion of buying here rather than ebay. Unless you enjoy "fixer "uppers" that youre likely to get on ebay.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Notwithstanding the recent grumblings about the golden boy of cheap compact RFs, the Canonet QL17, I think that it's a good choice. If you don't mind shutter-priority AE, that is.

I agree with the above posts -- buy your RF from someone on here. My QL17 came from Ebay and it needed new light seals and some TLC. Would have been cheaper to spend $100 on a good one.

 

[PeterL]

Hi,

I bought myself a Zorki with 50/f3.5 Industar-22 lens for €50 in Poland. But if you can't fondle it before you pay, I wouldn't recommend this camera. I've played with a few that were in pretty bad condition before stumbling over this very nice one.


Peter.

 

[Nick R.]

I think that photos made with Yashica GS or GSN's have a similar look to those of the Konica Auto S2, so if you like that look, try it. I also think that for color shooting the Konica Auto S3 and Canonet QIII have a similar look and are better than the other two. The XA also produces good color shots but its viewfinder/rangefinder was too small for me to use comfortably. If I knew I could get a good one, I'd try a kiev for the price you want to spend, but I had to buy two to get one good one. Good luck in your search.

FWIW, I've actually owned and used all the cameras I've mentioned.

 

[wintoid]

Smaller and lighter for me means Olympus 35RC. I've got one and I'm not really using it, but I haven't really reached the ready-to-sell point yet. There's just something wonderful about it.

I think mine was about £30 on eBay. I personally got on with it far better than the QL17. Only criticism is f/2.8 max really.