Cheap film rangefinder for street photography

Thanks again for everyone who has responded. I think my understanding of what I need comes from what I'd be looking for in a SLR - fast lens etc. I may not fully appreciate what sort of solution would be best.

I think something wide would be nice (for creative effect if nothing else) and I think coming from a large lens on a 350D most things should be small. It's more about not looking expensive or proffesional I think rather than size.. something discrete can be large.

Toby
 
I think you can hand-hold the RF at slower speeds than the SLR, so that might help make up for slightly slower lens. Me, I like small. My favorite camera to date is still the Olympus RC, despite the f/2.8 and limited speeds. It's not perfect, it doesn't even come close to "having it all". But I like it anyway.:) Probably partly coz it's one of the few cameras I got from the 'bay with no problems/not needing repair work. They go for $30-50USD in ebay, I think.
 
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I think i'm going to go for a Olympus SP, i've been offered one after someone read this thread. Think it's the best suit for my needs.

Cheers guys!

I'll post some pics when I get snapping.
 
Congrats! Careful. It can become a passionate hobby.

Enjoy your new camera and share some pictures with us. We even like to see the classic, look what just came in the mail (w/pictures of course).

All the best and welcome to rangefinders!
 
I'm surprised the Olympus 35SP isn't recommended as much as the Canonets. After reading this thread, I looked into it a bit. It seems like it might be bigger, but spot metering (!) on an old rangefinder is GREAT. Ditto for a light meter that works in manual exposure mode. Ditto for f-stop & shutter speed displayed in the finder.

Olympus Zuiko lenses are second-to-none.

Slightly OT: I have a 20x30 print of a 427 Cobra that I shot on Kodak ISO 25 speed film with a Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 many years ago. It is very sharp, and hard to believe it came from 35mm.
 
tobyprice said:
I think i'm going to go for a Olympus SP, i've been offered one after someone read this thread. Think it's the best suit for my needs.

Cheers guys!

I'll post some pics when I get snapping.
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Oh my! I can't believe I almost miss this thread completely, I can see that Trius has done it again :p

I started out with Olympus SPn (biggest), and now I have a Canonet GIII QL17 (heaviest) *and* a Konica Auto S3 (smallest).

My Olympus addiction aside, I can now honestly say that Olympus 35 SPn is still my favorite. I am simply not blown away by the images coming out of the Canonet. I am more impressed by the results from the Konicas (I also have a similarly-tiny-sized albeit with slower lens Konica C35).

Still, sharpness-wise, nothing beats the zuiko lens on the 35 SP(n), so my recommendations would be (not that you still need it):

Image quality: Olympus 35 SP, Konica S3, Canonet
Size and handling: Konica S3, Olympus 35 SP, Canonet
Build quality (heft and construction): Canonet, Olympus 35 SP, Konica S3
 
tobyprice said:
...I think coming from a large lens on a 350D most things should be small. It's more about not looking expensive or proffesional I think rather than size.. something discrete can be large.

Toby
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To some extent, size is relative. I'm just astonished that the Konica Auto S2 is heavier than my Leica M6. At 725 grams, the S2 is not only heavier than my M6 with Canon 35mm F2 (580+107=687), but also larger.

Anyway, best of luck with your "new" Olympus RF cam!
 
tobyprice said:
I.............However I fancy getting outon the gritty streets of Nottingham (England) and having a go with some fast film and wide lenses. I don't want anything pricey (partly because I'm a poor student) but also because mugging is always possible.................

Would you advice any of the cheap Russian import cameras/lenses?.............

Toby
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Toby,
In my opinion Russian combo is not the best idea, only because once you have a good working combo it will not be easily replaceable. With Russian gear it is not that a good working camera fitted with a good working lens, once gone no problem, next !

This problem is not only Russian but common to many many old cameras, the lovely Canonets for instance.

I mean to say that owning well adjusted old gear is an issue of a lot of luck, or money, and once you have it you will be either afraid to loose it or regret it a lot if mugged.

Nevertheless, from all what I know, and specially taking into account there are many folks here with more experience than me, I would vote for the Yashica Electros. It seems to me that against many other cameras, these are among the most readily available in good condition. Meaning you loose one - you can pick another in similar good condition.
And for better availability and lower price, the chromed models, not the black ones.

My two lirettas.
Cheers,
Ruben
 
Jeremy Z said:
Another idea: find a clean, used Canon 28mm f/2.8 for your 350D, and if you don't like the style of shooting, at least you'd have a top wide angle lens for your current rig. The 350D is about the same size as a Canonet, but the lens protrudes more.
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dSLRs have a "crop factor". Basically their sensor is smaller than a frame on 35mm film. There are a couple of wideangle zoom lenses made for DSLRs.

Whatever you do, don't forget the tri-x and hc-110!
 
Jeremy: The aperture and shutter speed are not displayed in the SP(n) viewfinder, only EV. They are displayed in the RC, however. Can't remember if the RD has the display, as no one has donated or sold one to me for cheap. :D

Shadow: Just doin' my job.

Earl
 
Trius: Good catch, you're right, I mixed it up between the RC and the SP.

reub: "Multiplication Factor" is more like it. You're right. With the 1.6X factor, he would need more like a 16mm. That means either a slow, kit zoom or $$$.$$ For some reason, I didn't think of that, even though I have a DSLR myself with a 1.5X factor.
 
Bill58 said:
My suggestion is a Bessa L or Minolta CLE w/ a 25 Canon (vintage) or Voigtlander Cosina(now discontinued). For example, set the aperature at 5.6 and focus at 8 feet, then shoot away from 5 to 23 feet. It's amazing. See http://www.dofmaster.com/doftable.html.
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Bill, that page is awesome. Thanks for posting it. I'm going to print one out for each of my fixed-lens rangefinders.
 
Older: A Yashica Lynx or Electro; or a Canonet (batteries, an issue)
New: Bessa T with C/V or other screw-mount glass.

You could also look for an older Retina - -GREAT lenses. But can be finnicky in cold weather.
 
I think the Bessa T/WA combination is a great idea. The L would work, but without an RF, you're more limited.
 
I'm set on the Oly 35 SP. Display is of EV and then you set it on the lens. There is no communication of this through to the veiwfinder. However spot metering and small size and weight should be perfect.

I have a 30mm 1.4 for my DSLR which serves for the lowlight work.

Thanks

toby
 
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