Compact RF without framelines, manual control, big viewfinder?

[paniolo]

Hello,
is there a camera with the mentioned functions?

I realy like RFs, have tried all the big names, but I am still not satisfied.
PLEASE dont hurt me, but I have noticed myself today looking for the most compact and lowweighted SLR, arggh

WHY`?
- I like the tunnel view.

There was a time when the groundglass of my Canon 20D fall out, I could see directly through the lens, everything was sharp.
What a funny time 😉
After falling in love with RF's, I have to say, that I realy like the idea, but not the conversion.


I bet you guys know a camera that is compact, manual, a lens around 35-40mm and most important: has a big and bright viewfinder without framelines.


I thought about a Bessa R, but the viewfinder is greater than 35mm, perhaps nice for 28mm, but too wide for 35mm.
Also the body is a bit too large. Ive holded a R3A once and found it a bit too heavy, maybe the to me unknown Bessa R with taped VF could make it.

In terms of compactness I realy like the CL and its nice operation, but the viewfinder magnification is a bit too small for me.

Great would be around 0,7x-8x

I know there are external viewfinders, but I dont like to use them.

I hope to finaly end my endless search for the best camera soon or I will realy get insane.


Regards
Tobi

 

[Brian Legge]

Tape over the illumination window for the framelines (or modify them to remove the framelines) and you can add a bunch more options. 🙂

 

[paniolo]

Yes, completly right,
I use the CL with a nice 35mm and taped illumination window, but the magnification is too small for my spiritual blabla.

The thing about removing framelines interests me,
there is a piece of glass with framelines added to it.
So I would only have to scrape them off, right?

 

[Brian Legge]

Its often a little metal mask with the framelines cut out. The cut out parts can be taped over to remove one or all framelines.

 

[KyleCharles]

I can't think of anything that would meet your criteria in a rangefinder. But if tunnel view is what you like, I would suggest a small SLR like a Nikon FM2n with a Voigtlander 40mm F2 Ultron. This combo is basically just as compact as a rangefinder and meets all of your criteria.

 

[paniolo]

Kyle, SLRs are not my thing, but thank you.

@Brian, sounds like a Kontur Finder.
I would like to try out a Bessa R.
The VF of the Zeiss Ikon is just awesome, so it should be comparable with the Bessa R, right?

 

[besk]

I use a Leica auxiliary finder on my IIIf. The camera is a rangefinder with manual controls. Does that qualify?