Best Glass

[d_ross]

yes Keith the LC is a manual only camera, it has a match needle meter with the button right under your thumb and a clickless aperture ring which means when you change shutter speed the aperture ring can move with it if you want, really cool feature. the Lens is superb, very sharp with typical Olympus resolution and an overall nice look. The viewfinder is bright and clear even in low light, the battery is obsolete but there is a modern replacement I use that works perfectly. All in all this is the best FL RF I have had including the Auto S2, Canonet, and Yashica Electro's. It's great to use, and typically Olympus well built. It's perhaps not the prettiest camera, but I think it's retro cool if anything 🙂 But then it's not what the camera looks like that counts, is it!

 

[sanmich]

Konica S2
minolta 7s
Yashica GSN

 

[Warren T.]

ok, i'll play too 🙂

assuming that they are in good working condtion:

Yashica Lynx 5000e
Canon Ql17 GIII

 

[rc50]

Le

Le

How about an Olympus 35 LE? Can it be used in manual mode too ?

again thanks a ton

Keith
SC

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Konica Auto S2 with its 45/1.8 has the sharpest lens of anything that I've used.

However, I'll have the first roll for the Walz 4.8cm F1.9 in this week. I'm betting the Konica still has it's 7 element in three group Sonnar beat.

Just got the test roll back from the Walz. It changed my mind.

New Answer: The Walz Envoy 35 with the 4.8cm F1.9 Sonnar formula lens on it.

I'll be scanning some negatives. After scanning the new 5cm F1,5 Sonnar conversion.

 

[rc50]

Great looking camera. What would one run in price ?

thanks a ton
Keith
SC

 

[Frontman]

I recently acquired a couple of Yashica CC rangefinder cameras. These little cameras have been outstanding performers. They are quite small and compact, have a very nice 35/1.8 lens, and use a commonly available battery. They also have the meter indicator located inside the viewfinder/rangefinder, so you can make adjustments very quickly.

Besides all of these things, the camera is very attractively designed, and comes only in a black finish. The CC is an aperture priority automatic camera, but I can add a little manual control my manipulating the lens-mounted ISO controls. The leaf shutter on these cameras is whisper quiet, much more so than on my Leicas.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Walz was well under $50 for me. I cleaned the viewfinder on it, and squirted a little Ronsonol into the Self Timer port. The slow-speeds (below 1/8th) were a little sticky.

How to Pop the Top on this camera:

http://ziforums.com/showthread.php?t=343

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Walz Envoy 35, 4.8cm F1.9 Wide-Open:

Stopped down to F4:

 

[rc50]

Wow very very nice. The color and sharpest are just beautiful...
Is that a Black breasted Red Bantam Rooster 🙂?

thanks
Keith
SC

 

[Sonnar Brian]

One of our neighbors has these birds as "pets". Occasionally, they take a little walk when they get outside of his yard. They came running toward me on this day, demanding attention. They are very cute.

 

[kitaanat]

One of our neighbors has these birds as "pets". Occasionally, they take a little walk when they get outside of his yard. They came running toward me on this day, demanding attention. They are very cute.

Oh, that's a nice camera. Thanks for share this. The lens diagram on top right is cool!

 

[racoll]

Of all the rangefinders I've used, the Konica Auto S2 has the sharpest lens. Its lens rivals some SLR primes and they are inexpensive. I got my last one for about $30 in excellent condition. The Canon QL17-GIII is also outstanding as well.

Andy

 

[Thebes]

There is a lot of sample variation, especially when you also consider their storage conditions during the last few decades. I've been happy with a Canon GIII QL17 and have recently picked up a cheap Minolta 7SII but I haven't printed or scanned its film yet.

Basically, you can expect that one Yashica will be better than a 7SII and with another of each you can find the opposite is true, etc etc. You may need to try several. You ought to consider trying them out from a source that offers return privileges.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

The Walz Envoy is a real nice camera.
The EV coupled aperture and shutter speed rings are a PITA though.

Chris

 

[elwrongo]

I think the Yashica Lynx 5000 or 14 fits the bill. The 5000 seems to come up for cheaper more often and is a little lighter too - just a little.

 

[andyr]

Hi Keith

See Stephen Gandy's omparison of 13 compact fixed-lens 35mm rangefinders at http://www.cameraquest.com/com35s.htm.

Andrew