Best fixed lens RF viewfinder?

Best fixed lens RF viewfinder?

  • Olympus 35SP

    Votes: 81 7.4%

  • Olympus 35RC

    Votes: 56 5.1%

  • Olympus 35RD

    Votes: 20 1.8%

  • Olympus XA

    Votes: 53 4.9%

  • Minolta 7s

    Votes: 30 2.8%

  • Minolta 7sII

    Votes: 40 3.7%

  • Canon QL17 GIII

    Votes: 206 18.9%

  • Konica Hexar fixed lens

    Votes: 201 18.5%

  • Konica S3

    Votes: 46 4.2%

  • Yashica GSN

    Votes: 162 14.9%

  • Other

    Votes: 193 17.7%
  • Total voters
    1,088
What elements make for a bright viewfinder? My Canonets (QL17) are the best I have in that class but even they are very difficult to use in low light. My Lynx 14E, which I bought for low-light work, turned out to be almost impossible to use even after a CLA by Hama but I think it is because the patch itself is faded or something. The patches are so difficult to see in low light that my rangefinders are actually substantially slower in focusing than an SLR.

I've never even held a modern Leica so I'm not sure what the gold standard viewfinder actually looks like in practice but I was wondering why manufacturers didn't try to make the finders substantially larger and brighter with oversized windows and glowing patches or something. Were there any aftermarket solutions to increase brightness and contrast substantially?

These days I use the Hexar AF for inside clubs and such and have just skipped the squinting entirely.
 
I have 1/2 that list. Konica S2 is my choice, but beware that many have loose barrels.

The Bessa R VF is _much_ better.
 
AFAIK the Olympus 35RC is unique among compact 35 rangefinders
in that it displays both aperture and shutter speed within the finder.
There's never a need to look away to change an exposure setting.

Viewfinder brightness and rangefinder are pretty good too, if serviced.

Chris
 
Of the ones I've owned, I find the Canonet QL17 GIII the best of the bunch -- better than the Oly 35RC I once had and better than my Yashica Electro 35. The rangefinder patch is easiest to see on the Canonet. All three are pretty good though.

Gene
 
I just bought an Oly RD to try out and I may get a Canonet QL17 GIII as well. When the RD comes I will let you know if it is better than the RC. I think the Yashica is too large for me. For some reason I am really attracted to smaller. There are lots of votes for other but some didn't post to tell what camera they are voting for.

I guess in the end if I am looking for a really good vf I will have to go with a Leica or a Bessa. The fixed lens viewfinders are good but not in this class.

Just out of curiosity how does the CL compare to the viewfinders on the list? I haven't seen one for 20 years and I can't remember.
 
I carry the Hi-Matic 9 with me everywhere I go. The viewfinder is a bit squinty to me, but not much worse than any other I've used (very bad eyesight and very thick glasses, so viewfinders in general are a problem). The VF is clearer and the focusing is easier than on the 7sii, which I also own (both been cleaned).

I'd say that the glass is better, as well, though I know that wasn't part of the original question.
 
Just out of curiosity how does the CL compare to the viewfinders on the list? I haven't seen one for 20 years and I can't remember.


the finder on my cl is very bright and easily viewable.
i think it's brighter than the m3 i have.

joe
 
ChrisPlatt said:
AFAIK the Olympus 35RC is unique among compact 35 rangefinders
in that it displays both aperture and shutter speed within the finder.
There's never a need to look away to change an exposure setting.

Viewfinder brightness and rangefinder are pretty good too, if serviced.

Chris
Click to expand...

i had my original, to me, 35rc cla'd a few years ago and the finder brightened considerably.

joe
 
I don't want to sound like an ass, but why does everybody care that much about the viewfinder?

I have 2 minolta hi-matic 7s and 1 minolta hi-matic 7. They are my most used cameras. I have 25 rangefinders and probably 60+ cameras, so I think that does mean something.
 
Wimpler said:
I don't want to sound like an ass, but why does everybody care that much about the viewfinder?

I have 2 minolta hi-matic 7s and 1 minolta hi-matic 7. They are my most used cameras. I have 25 rangefinders and probably 60+ cameras, so I think that does mean something.
Click to expand...

Why would someone care about the VF?

It makes shooting more pleasant when you can see things clearly. The difference between my old Fuji 35mm P&S and my RF645. . . enormous. I can't walk around with my eye in the viewfinder of the Fuji, but the RF645 is very easy on the eye. It makes composition, focusing, and just looking through the viewfinder more comfortable.
 
Wimpler said:
I don't want to sound like an ass, but why does everybody care that much about the viewfinder?

I have 2 minolta hi-matic 7s and 1 minolta hi-matic 7. They are my most used cameras. I have 25 rangefinders and probably 60+ cameras, so I think that does mean something.
Click to expand...

I asked because I am curious. A good viewfinder really makes the photo experience more fun for me. I know that the Leicas and Bessas have better viewfinders but I am curious whether these less expensive cameras have viewfinders that can come close.

I have an RC with a cleaned viewfinder and I am not totally happy with it. It is pretty good but not great. So I figured I would ask those who own the other fixed lens rf cameras to help compare the quality of the finders. Most of the fixed lens rf cameras are smaller and quieter than their larger cousins.

I didn't ask about these so that things wouldn't get too confusing. The other qualities of a camera that are important to me are shutter noise and size. These are 2 things that I love about the RC. The Bessas seem to fall short here, but I am only speculating as I have never handled one. I owned an M2 (sold it in a moment of weakness years ago.), but the RCs shutter is a whisper compared to the Leicas. I live in a small town pretty far from any large camera shops that might have rf vameras on hand. So I am relying on the good folks here to help.

Sorry for rambling. Have a lovely day.
 
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