Best image quality from 5 35mm compact cameras

[btgc]

I'd grab one in confirmed working condition. Or very cheapest one otherwise, to make it working myself or sending out for repair. From here follows - in DIY route choose mechanical or electric variety, whichever you are comfortable working on. KAS3 and GSN are AE-only battery dependent cameras (flash mode with fixed 1/30 + variable aperture CAN BE a workaround, though isn't real manual mode).

 

[Frontman]

I have all five cameras, the GSN is the best performer, and is by far the best value. The GSN has a better lens than the other cameras, and, like the Canonet, it has parallax correction. For a cheap camera, Yashica used wonderful glass and coatings, unfortunately, Canon skimped in this department, and Canon's lenses are very susceptible to fungus, haze, and deterioration of the glass itself. Five of the last six Canonets I have repaired had lenses which were beyond repair, and required replacement of the front and/or rear lens elements.

The only perceived negative of the Yahicas are their battery-dependent shutters, and aperture-priority automatic operation. But so long as you have one with a good POD, and a fresh battery, you will be amazed at the results.

Too bad the Olympus SP is not on the list, it is probably the best fixed lens camera out there, only the Yashica comes close, but the Olympus has the benefit of a mechanical shutter.

 

[Pherdinand]

I agree, i like the gsn more than the ql17.
It is considerably bigger body though.

One strong point of the gsn versus the rest is, its shutter very accurately can run up to 30 seconds and you can set iso up to 1000.
This makes it a nice very low light camera.

In image quality, the yashica and minolta seemed to me to have nicer lens and more accurate meter, than the canonet. Never tried the koni nor oly.

 

[btgc]

Performance of cameras of this age highly depends on their condition, if they were cared for and serviced. Out of closet after 40+ years of sleeping no one is expected to be daily user. Inspecting them in person is the key to satisfaction, or factor in time and labor or costs to get it going.

 

[Matus]

I completely agree on the condition remarks. I used to have the Konica S3. It was a lovely camera, but the images it produces were just OK sharp. What can rob sharpness on cameras this light is hard shutter release. Once I've put soft release on the S3 it definitely brought some improvement.

 

[Solinar]

Performance of cameras of this age highly depends on their condition, if they were cared for and serviced. Out of closet after 40+ years of sleeping no one is expected to be daily user. Inspecting them in person is the key to satisfaction, or factor in time and labor or costs to get it going.

Ditto. It's a shame that most owners won't spend the extra bucks to put them back in like new condition.

From a serviceability viewpoint, the Olympus 35RC is one of the easiest to keep up with. The lens is sharp enough and with only 5 elements, plus decent coatings, the E. Zuiko offers good contrast, unlike the Canonet that I once used. My 35RC has been with me for 19 years.

The Yashica Electro 35 series - is also very easy to get service for.
http://www.camerarefurb.com/Services.htm

I used a Yashica Electro 35 GT for many years - very crisp images - but it is by far the largest camera of the group. - Plus, it lacks an exposure lock - which would allow the photog take a light reading off the ground or where ever and then hold the shutter release at its half-way point.

I did try out a Konica S3 for a bit. While the lens was better than most, the build quality seem a bit rattle-ly. The shutter release not nearly as smooth as my 35RC.

Last but not least, if you do get one of the above cameras that use the now banned PX625 mercury cell - bite the bullet and spring for a MR-9 voltage adapter.

 

[dmr]

Well, I'm kind of biased here since I own two of the GIII and I know the lens (and other workings) is of the quality that it will do a flawless 13x19 print using a 200-ish color film.

 

[Solinar]

If I had to vote for one of the five choices based on the lens alone - it would be for the Yashica Electro 35.

The Electro 35 is a large 35mm camera - It is about the size of a Cosina-Voigtlander Bessa R.

 

[jazzwave]

I love Konica Auto S2 and S3...amazing Hexanon lens

 

[splitimageview]

The S2 is another big camera, but has a big viewfinder with parallax correction. I've had it almost 40 years, my first 'real' camera. Just recently put it back in working order.

Shutter release action is important, as excessive travel or force can result in camera shake with these lightweight cams, which makes a quality lens immaterial.

The RD and RC both have very smooth travel and trip the shutter with just a little 'snick.' And there is no 'spring' noise to be heard like on the S3, 7S II, or 35ES, which all have very similar action.

The 35SP has a very long shutter release, 'spring' noise and vibration felt in the body. Press, press, press a little farther....keep pressing...there! Shutter has fired. I have five of these and they all feel exactly the same, so it's not due to random variation...

 

[nikku]

As others have said, condition is most important when considering one of the classic fixed lens rangefinders of the 70s. I've used all the cameras you listed, and my favorites are as follows:

Canonet for overall useablity (it's not the smallest, nor does it have the best lens, but it's a good all-around performer)
Oly 35RC for small size, and manual control, and it has an excellent lens for b+w film
Yashica for ultimate image quality (the Yashinon lenses were something special).

If I were to get another one of these beauties, I'd look for either an Oly 35RC or Yashica that had been totally overhauled.

 

[splitimageview]

All these cameras can be found for very little money, even free, if one is patient. But the initial cost is of little relevance, because virtually all will need service. The key is to find a knowledgeable, experienced, reliable tech. 🙂

 

[Brian Legge]

If you don't need manual, I'd suggest taking a look at the Olympus 35DC. It has the same killer lens as the 35RD without the reoccurring sticky shutter issue which requires periodic repair. Its also has a very quiet shutter release and solid build quality.

 

[Kent]

Really hard to say.

I used to have the Konika Auto S3, the Olympus 35 RC and a Yashica Electro 35 GS.
And the only one I still have is the Yashica Electro 35 GS.

But not because it is objectively the best one. I have a remote friend who really wanted to find an Auto S3 badly, so that one had to go. And although I liked the 35RC a lot esp. for its size, I sold it - I can't even remember why.

Anyway, the Electro 35 GS is such a great cam that I don't miss the other two a lot. 🙂

 

[Darshan]

I have used 3 of these 5 cameras and found my Yashica GSN to be the best. Even though it had limited manual control, the AE was pretty accurate. The best thing was the lens, I still cherish looking at some of the prints I made with that camera, they are gorgeous. Sadly, I gave it away a few years ago in the "Christmas give away", I wish I could get it back..🙄

 

[CameraQuest]

Hi,

I am looking into getting a fairly affordable rangefinder and stumbled upon a couple of recommendations that seem to pop up everywhere. However, it's hard to come by a comparative analysis, and was wondering if anyone here has had experience with some of the 5 models below:

- Konica Auto S3
- Canonet QL17 GIII
- Yashica Electro 35 GSN
- Minolta HiMatic 7SII
- Olympus 35 RC

If price and availability were not issues, which one would you go for? I'm mainly interested in image quality and camera build quality, but if anyone has had experience with these and has some other reasons to favor one or the other, by all means please advise .

Many thanks 🙂

All of the possibilities you list are nice cameras capable of good results however all of these cameras are from the 1970's - 40 plus years old now.

Real world comparisons are pretty much meaningless now because of all the things that may have happened to your test cameras, or did not happen to them, over those 40+ years.

Possible camera adventures include sitting in a closet neglected for decades, having repairs done by an inept DIYS tech, being dropped, being reassembled incorrectly, etc.

Luckily all your listed cameras are selling for bargain rates now. BUY THEM ALL, compare them yourself, and let us know which worked out best for YOU. If any of your prizes seems a real dog, I suggest replacing it with a better example before coming to a final conclusion about that model.

Stephen

 

[delible]

A feature of the Canonet that I believe has not yet been mentioned is the practical and effective dedicated flash, the Canolite D. It works very well and it is small.

 

[narsuitus]

I'm mainly interested in image quality and camera build quality, but if anyone has had experience with these and has some other reasons to favor one or the other, by all means please advise .

When I was looking for a small, quiet, inexpensive, and unobtrusive rangefinder that was capable of producing high-quality images without relying on batteries, I found two. Neither needs batteries for operation. Batteries are only needed for the built-in light meter.


Of the two, the Canon QL17 Giii is on your list. Therefore, I voted for it.


https://flic.kr/p/8XWY9C