Best Rangefinder

For the money? Well, obviously the Leica MP, only current production Leica made the old fashion way. Wait, no, the Bessa T, cheap as heck and longest RF base. Wait, no, the Bessa R2A, most gitzmos and feaures for the money. No wait, the x-Pan, the Oly 35, the ZI, the M7, the Mamya 6, the Retina....

I think at the very least yo need to narrow down whether you want interchangeable lenses, and whether you are interested in maximum features for the dollar (e.g Bessa), or maximum quality (e.g. M4), or maximum neg size (e.g. Fuji).
 
DCB said:
First post and I know you all are like...."not this topic again"...but mine is a little different.

What is the best rangefinder film camera for the money?
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Welcome to the forum!

Your question is only a little different in so far that you are asking it from your point of view.

What you are asking is what rangefinder camera will be best for me, with the means I have at my disposal.

On the plus side you have stated film camera, so that narrows the field slightly (in that we can rule out the Rd-1 series, Leica M8,8.2,M9,M9P,M and MM).

However, acting on subliminal information provided, the camera you are looking for is a Leica IIIc :p
 
Just bought a Canon Canonet QL17 G-III. Should be here Monday or Tuesday....can't wait!

Peace
 
No one has mentioned the Yashica Electro 35. Hard to find a camera with such a great lens for so little money.

But I agree with the easier post that ultimately the responders' biases will influence their answers.
 
My best rangefinders for less bang of bucks are a Yashica Lynx and Argus C-3, also they are the only rangefinders I own. I like the results from both cameras but would love to try others if I had the extra funds.

David
 
wolves3012 said:
Everyone's trying to give you an answer but most are falling into the obvious trap of bias. Everyone has their likes and dislikes and what they believe is important.

Best for the money still leaves the question of "how much money?". Even if it were possible to say that camera-X represents best value for money, it's no use recommending it if it's beyond your budget.

Do your homework, think about what features you need and what you'd like to have. What sort of photography do you like? What format? Film or digital? (from the OP it looks like it's film).

Finally, remember than if you are buying second-hand you need to research what reliability is likely to be and what service will be needed and at what cost.

The best for your money may well be very different from my choice. I'll throw in a suggestion (biased, of course) of a Kiev 4A that's been serviced or is known to work well. Not the widest selection of lenses (especially if you're drawn to very wide-angle lenses) but a good enough selection for what RFs are good at, at a bargain price and good optical quality. Not a huge investment for a starter either.

EDIT: The best RF for your money is the one that a) you can afford, b) has the features you want and need and c) you actually use and get satisfying results from.
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Welcome
The best reply you gonna get on this one is........
worth repeating and reading again the above:D
 
A budget rangefinder will probably be not very new and the trick is to get one in fabulous condition. So it is not so much the make and model but the condition it is in. The small Canon rangefinders are fabulous cameras.
 
My favorite and can be found cheap if you look long enough are the Kodak Retina cameras. A good working Retina IIa with S-K 50mm f/2 lens or the Retina IIIc/C with the f/2 lens can't be beat..

Another one I recently started using is the Voigtländer Vitessa T. Too bad most eBayers are proud of theirs based on the high prices they are asking...but you could get lucky like me and find one at a reasonable price..
 
Hi,

I don't know your budget, nor what you intend to use it for...

Anyway, here goes: FED/Zorki 1's a good copy with improvements of the 30's Leica II. Cheap to buy, coated lenses and the world famous Oleg does not charge a fortune to overhaul and repair them. But no meter and all the disadvantages of the 30's Leica (dreadful VF, no flash and difficult to load).

Then there's the FED 2 which is superior in every way and, with the Industar 26 on it a brilliant bargain. Plus it has a flash contact and is easy to load. There's also the Zorki 4 in both versions with good and bad points to them both. Lever wind but poor shutter speed dial printing vs. engraving without the lever wind).

Then there's Olympus, millions made but not all have manual settings and the meters may be past a reasonably priced repair. Plus the battery problem, try finding a couple of 640's with the right voltage for example. Anyway, an Olympus RF with manual available can be brilliant and cheap-ish.

Then the Olympus XA comes into the next class with the 35 SP, both sought after* and pricey but repairable and with knowledgeable technicians available to do the job. The XA has a sliding cover and so the meter cell may not be dead. Others rely on lens caps to preserve the meter and we all know how easy they are to lose or forget...

Also dirt cheap with battery problems and meter problems lurking for you to discover the hard way are the range of RF's made by almost everyone. With one or two exceptions cheap in ebay and, who knows?, you could be lucky. Beware of ones advertised as RF's as many ebay sellers think any camera that isn't a SLR is a RF. The Olympus Trip 35, Yashica 35-ME and some Ricohs often get labelled as RF's but aren't. But they are nice cameras...

Leicas, you can be lucky with them but a repair on a Leica can cost as much or more than the camera and lens did... Don't bother with pre-war ones as the lenses are uncoated and flare unless you are careful. OTOH, the IIIc's are plentiful and good work horses. A good one from the late 40's with a coated lens can be a bargain and work well in terms of the print. But they have the dis-advantages of the pre-war ones (VF's, loading etc).

I've ignored the Leica M series and CL and Minolta CLE as you are talking of budgets. You don't have budgets with them until you have hindsight and that can cost a fortune.

Personally, again with hindsight, I'd look for a FED 2 with the Jupiter 8 f/2 or Industar f/2.8 lens, plus a Helios external VF for those extra lenses; the 85 mm and 35mm ones are a bargain. And I'll wish you luck when you go looking for them.

Regards, David

* Sought after means people will offer rubbish for high prices and you won't find out until after a couple of rolls through them. Best bought from a dealer with a guarantee and higher price than auction sites.
 
I use this combo most:
Olympus XA - $50-70 - the only true RF, which is possible to take almost anywhere and anytime, due to its size and well protected lens. 35mm 2.8 lens, good IQ.
And Bessa R - around $200. Technically very advanced camera. It works with FSU 50mm, those are very affordable, with good IQ.

If you want only mechanical RF, cheap, where are some FSU RFs sellers, who gives warranty and cameras are after CLA.
 
The best bargain for the money is an Argus C3. You can find one for $10, and it will give you interchangeable lenses which is something no other camera in that price bracket can offer.

However I wouldn't advise getting one except for as an "just for fun" camera. I'm supposing you want something a little more serious.
 
+1 for the Olympus XA here. It is really really solid made and the IQ is superb. Plus its really tiny and the sliding door protects lens and meter, so as said, you can literally take it everywhere. I took mine skiing and on a boat trip. It just delivered.
 
Well, how about this. I bought a FED 2 for around 3 USD, another FED 2 around 13 USD and I do prefer them to my Zorkii 4K(bought some 20 years ago) or FED 3 or Olympus 35 trip or Olympus XA. Compared to my income today it could be equal to some man buying Leica MM with pocket money.:)
 
tunalegs said:
The best bargain for the money is an Argus C3. You can find one for $10, and it will give you interchangeable lenses which is something no other camera in that price bracket can offer.

However I wouldn't advise getting one except for as an "just for fun" camera. I'm supposing you want something a little more serious.
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The C-3 I am using now has the worst lens of any I have ever had and its pretty darn good. The photos do fall off toward the edges but I like the results.

David
 
I have never used an Olympus 35RC but the Canonet like mentioned are everywhere and cheap. I have recently bought one at a yard sale for $30.00. The lens really works well with B&W.
 
The one that you like the most....I don't think make or model matters too much, its just persoanl choice. I go with the one that appeals (as well as being affordable to me). It's got to be fun.
 
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