Best focusing rangeFinder; Fixed lens; sub $150

[dnk512]

Hi all,

I am interested in improving my reangefinder focusing experience. I have used Konica S3 and Canon GL17III. Both are fine performers, but.... The S3 has higher ragnefinder contrast while the GL17III has higher rangefinder magnification. Is there a similar performer with high magnification and high contrast (in its rangefinder window)? Oh, I would love it if it has full manual (non-battery) control, too.

Potential units I am looking into are the Olympus RD and the Olympus SP.

Thank you in advance,

dimitri

Note: I know that my buget of <$150 excludes lots of great rangefinders.

 

[Kin Lau]

I find the GIII QL17 pretty good. These cameras are over 20 years old, so a good cleaning may be required, and would likely help quite a bit.

 

[bmattock]

Minolta Hi-Matic 9. Just one opinion in a city of 'em.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattock

 

[Pherdinand]

I have here a Minolta Hi-Matic 9, a Yashica GSN and a Canonet QL17GIII; i checked. Really, i see no big difference between them. All three have about the same magnification, i can look through them in pairs with both eyes and make the two images overlapping. The most contrasty rf i think is the one in the GSN, followed by the Minolta (which is the brightest from the 3 in the non-rangefinding region). The GSN viewfinder is somewhat smaller vertically, including the red/yellow arrows on the top.

They all are cleaned inside and outside. As said above, you should make sure the inner surfaces are not fogged. You can see it if you look into the vf from a distance (10-15 cm).

 

[Pherdinand]

By the way, the GSN has only aperture priority, no full-manual.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

There is a Hi-Matic 11 up for sell in the 35mm Classified's now. It has full program and shutter-preferred auto modes. No Full manual.

The Konica S2 has a big, bright viewfinder and has framelines that change size as you focus. This gives the correct field-of-view with distance. You just missed one in the classifieds here, but can get a good look at it.

But, as Pherdi points out, the Canonet QL17 G3 has a first rate viewfinder/rangefinder. If you have not had yours cleaned, you are missing something.

Canonet VF cleaning:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/582

 

[Roman]

I just checked a number of my fixed-lens RFs (Konica S2, Yashica Lynx 5000 & Electro 35, Oly 35RC, Minolta HiMatic 7S & 7SII), and did not find big differences concerning focussing, either.
One camera stood out abit, though - and strangely it was the oddest one among them, the Russian Sokol 2 Automat: a rather big camera with a slow (2.8/50), but good Tessar-type lens, and full manual as well as automatic mode - the viewfinder is not particularly large or bright (it has a greenish tint, like the Yashicas), but contrasty, and somehow the twin pictures coincided much more convincingly than on the others, they almost 'snapped' in focus - I guess the reason is the Sokol's rather wide rangefinder base legth...

Roman

 

[RichardS]

You might try the Kiev 4 or 4A. It has a wider rangefinder base so it should be easier to focus, but I've never seen much difference in focusing cameras such as the Yashica Electros, FEDs, Zorkis and the Kiev. One problem with the Kiev is that one of the rangefinder windows is located in the perfect place for your fingers to cover it.

Dick

 

[pangkievrange]

kiev 5

pangkievrange

 

[Rob]

The Konica S2, Minolta Himatic 9/11 have been the best rangefinders for me. Big, bright and easy to focus. The GIII is good too, but small. Amazing difference in the clarity and ease of focus once they are cleaned and adjusted properly for vertical/horizontal alighnment. I found that with the GSN in bright sunlight I was getting a lot of distracting light in thru the two arrows on top of the camera and covered them with black tape. Maybe I was missing a baffle in the RF on mine...

 

[peter_n]

Completely agree with Rob about the GIII. I got a Canonet for next to nothing on eBay and shipped it right away to Essex for a CLA. It came back the day before yesterday and I am stunned with how clear the viewfinder is. I just know I'm going to love this camera... 🙂

 

[wlewisiii]

kiev 5

pangkievrange

I agree, this is a great camera that can be found in your price range. Keep an eye open for a later one (sn: 72xxxxx +) and you'll get a big bright finder with paralax corrected framelines for 50 and 85. The outside edge is sized for 35mm as well. It's wonderful to use it. Earlier ones have only the 50 line, but are otherwise just as good.

William