any half frames with rangefinders?

[v3cron]

i have a fujica half, which is capable of some really stellar images, but i do miss focus on some wide-aperture shots. are there any half frames out there with a rangefinder? autofocus would be cool as well (i'm inspired by the konica aa thread. if only i could find one), but small size and fast, fixed optics are very important (sorry, samurai). i don't want an slr pen f or a konica auto-reflex. well, i do, but i don't want to spend the $$$.

thanks!

 

[Benjamin Marks]

There is an insanely expensive "Leica 72" (that is, 72 exposures on a roll) but it was produced in pretty limited numbers. I think Gandy has a write-up of it on Cameraquest.com.

Ben Marks

 

[shadowfox]

Christopher, if you find one, let me know. I can't 🙂

 

[drewbarb]

What, 24x36mm isn't small enough for you?

 

[saxshooter]

I wonder how hard it would be for DAG or Sherry to make a half frame M. You would think it just involve putting some sort of mask in behind the shutter curtain and re-jigging the advance so that it only advanced half a frame? Then I guess you'd have to somehow mask your VF, since re-doing the brightlines would probably be tough. Perhaps a modified Olympus XA? Hmmm....

 

[v3cron]

What, 24x36mm isn't small enough for you?

i consider that mammoth!

 

[v3cron]

I wonder how hard it would be for DAG or Sherry to make a half frame M. You would think it just involve putting some sort of mask in behind the shutter curtain and re-jigging the advance so that it only advanced half a frame? Then I guess you'd have to somehow mask your VF, since re-doing the brightlines would probably be tough. Perhaps a modified Olympus XA? Hmmm....

oh my. so...very...tempted...

i just have to ask. i'll report back.

 

[trittium]

The Robot Royal is not quite 1/2 frame but takes 24x24 frames (400-1000)
There is Zeiss Tenax with a rangefnder that also takes 24x24 frames (500-1000)
Ducati rangefinder is also a far out option (1000+)

 

[pshinkaw]

I think the Leica 72 was the only one with an actual manually operated rangefinder. However, the Konoica AA35 was a half-frame autofocus. It has an unusual oblomg shape that made it look superficiallt like a disc camera.

Also the Yashica Samurai series was an zoom autofocus SLR half-frame.

-Paul

 

[rogue_designer]

not an rf - but the Olympus Pen F was an SLR, which would fix your focus problems.

There was a ducati 1/2 frame RF
http://www.subclub.org/shop/ducati.htm
and from Gandy's site (and previous thread here)
http://www.cameraquest.com/ducati.htm

There was also a half frame version of the Leica M4-2

More information on other models can be found here:
http://www.subclub.org/shop/halframe.htm

 

[v3cron]

oh my. so...very...tempted...

i just have to ask. i'll report back.

DAG won't touch it due to their workload. great idea, though!

 

[saxshooter]

DAG won't touch it due to their workload. great idea, though!

I wonder what Sherry Krauter at Golden Touch camera would say! Aside from these two "Leica experts" you may have to search for an "old school" camera tech who'd be willing to tinker with a camera (let's say an Olympus XA -- cheaper for experiment) to make it half frame for you.

 

[chambrenoire]

I can't believe no one mentioned the Yashica Samurai half frame 🙂 Not a RF but has auto focus and stuff.

 

[CameraQuest]

i have a fujica half, which is capable of some really stellar images, but i do miss focus on some wide-aperture shots. are there any half frames out there with a rangefinder?

thanks!

The only RF half frames I am aware of are now very rare and extremely expensive collector's items:

the Nikon S3M
Leica 72
special half frame versions of the Leica M2, M42 and M4-P.

Stephen

 

[le vrai rdu]

Fed micron is a RF , It cost about 15->30€

 

[cmedin]

The Micron 2 is indeed a rangefinder. (It's also a full frame...)

 

[le vrai rdu]

The Micron 2 is indeed a rangefinder.

unfortunately, as I am looking for one it seems that it is not an half frmae, still he is very small

 

[le vrai rdu]

voilà 🙂 that's it

 

[kuzano]

Here is the Konica IIIM mentioned B4....

Here is the Konica IIIM mentioned B4....

Pacific Rim is reputable... good people. They have a Konica IIIM with mask on eBay right now. Here is the link, and it's on a BIN. Step Up. It may be a long time before you see another. ( Of course, if you buy it ... two more will pop up )

http://cgi.ebay.com/KONICA-IIIM-WIT...ryZ15236QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have a Samurai. It takes great pics, Auto focus works well. Very sharp lens. One thing I like about it is that it looks like a small videocam, which seems to put people off a lot less than a camera.

 

[Sam R]

I had a Leica 1/2 frame prototype in my hand once. There were apparently twelve made in Midland Ontario

Sam