Canadian Rangefinder Forum Club meet

[rbsinto]

Last Saturday there was an informal gathering of the Canadain Rangefinder Forum Club here in downtown Toronto. I read about the meeting here at RFF and attended just out of curiosity. About nine people showed up with about twenty or twenty-five cameras, mostly Leicas. My three Nikons, one other S2 and a Cosina Voigtlander Something or Other made up the total Japanese rangefinder contingent.
I got to play with various M models, and I have to admit, while I love my S3s and SP, I've never seen any Nikon rangefinder whose viewfinder even remotely compares to that the Leicas. They are incredibly bright and clear, and even my really good S3 doesn't even come close.
Would I switch? No. I like the Nikons and mine are more than bright and contrasty enough to shoot with. But I must admit it. Those Leica folks make a pretty nice camera.

 

[jonmanjiro]

And to think that a Zeiss Ikon finder is even brighter than any Leica finder 😀

What surprises me is that of the several Leica bodies I've owned or handled (M3, M6 TTL, M7), the one with the best focus patch is my M3 from 1961! Isn't technology supposed to improve going forward?

P.S The M3 focus patch is more clearly defined, but I still find my SP 2005 just as easy to focus, and more precise thanks to the long focus throw of the Nikon.

 

[leicavidom]

Nikon focus throw and ageing/tired eyes....

Nikon focus throw and ageing/tired eyes....

Hi Jon.I entirely agree with you on the focusing of Nikon RF cameras,which is especially relevant when using wide aperture lenses (Zeiss 50/1.5 S included) All the best,Ivan.