Current Fixed Lens RF Collection - Yeah! Boo!

JeffGreene said:
I've followed your discussion of your Konica III's elsewhere. How do they compare lens-wise? As mentioned earlier, I just acquired a new S2 and am looking forward to using it today!
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Jeff,
I find the lens of the S2 more "modern", which is due to using newer methods in lens coating and so on. Both cameras have razor sharp lenses. You may see differences when using color film. The IIIM has a 100% viewfinder that rivals that of an M3.
 
My cameras are in my sig. If I had to pick a favorite I'd have to go with the Canonet 28. Yeah its slower than the QL17 and GSN but it just produces georgeous B&W shots that I adore.

My XA is, as other have mentioned, my go everywhere, bottom of the bag camera. It is an amazing bit of kit!

The GSN is fun too but man its a chunk and I really have to be in the mood to use it.
 
I'll do one of my favorites:

Petri 7s

Lens-90%yeah
body-yeah, but not subcompact
focus knob-yeah
no hot shoe- boo
no auto mode-1/2 boo
shutter sound- 2xyeah
cocking sound-boo
viewfinder-yeah
only 400 ISO (ASA)- for me no problem but probably a boo
film loading-boo
meter-3x yeah (needle match in the viewfinder and on top of the camera
aperture ring-5xyeah-no clicks, easily changed with index finger while
looking in the viewfinder .
Selenium meter-yeah-no battery but if it quits it's over.
filter size 52mm-yeah for me I have some of these filters.

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Well, everyone else is showing pretty pictures of their favorite Fixed-Lens RF's, and I want to join the party.

My Canonet Pair, the Panda QL17 👎 and Chrome GIII. Both have very sharp lenses. Only "boo" is lack of meter in manual mode.

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Konica S2, Sharpest lens. Only "boo" is no Off switch for battery.

If you like fixed-lens RF's, get a Konica S2. The lens is the best of the bunch.

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And the latest addition, a Ricoh 500. Solidly made, have the first roll in it now.

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No scimping on Chrome and Brass on this Ricoh!

All of these were in need of some "TLC". Flood clean the shutters, clean the Viewfinders, light seals, etc. The most expensive of the bunch was $25. All tested have given great results.
 
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nick, i have the same Sigma 24mm lens in minolta autofocus mount.
Got it for 50 euro.
The thing focuses as loud as a car engine, but it works well and is brutally good optically (sorry just trying to use this buzz-word, the "brutal", in positive sense).
And it can focus to 1:4 size!! and it is still very good at f/2.8 and 1:4 size!
The legend of "good wide angles are better and cheaper for rangefinders" is just a legend. Maybe it was true 50 years ago. Not now.
 
On the other hand, there is only ONE single camera that NEVER let me down. There is one camera that has consistent quality whenever I don't screw it up myself. All the others had "issues" that i did not know from the beginning, or failed at some point, or brought inconsistent results, or proved not to be to my liking ergonomically.

Not the yashica GSN. Never. Whenever i use it, i wake up with a few shots on the roll that are just top of my photography.
 
I had a slew of nice "compact" fixed-lens 35 cameras
courtesy of Greyhoundman but recently sold most of them.
I came to realize that anything (other than my Bronica or Pentax)
that doesn't fit easily in my chest pocket just wouldn't get used.

I still have a bunch of pocket 35's:

Contax T
Petri Color 35
Minox 35ML
Sears Mini 35 (Ricoh FF-1s)
Olympus XA, XA2, XA3
Pentax Espio Mini (UC-1)

Chris
 
Hmmmmm....Y'all have made great cases for appreciating a pretty good range of cameras. Several are on the "A" list of many shooters. My shelf carries...

Vivitar 35 ES
Canonet QL17
Canonet QL17 GIII
Canonet QL25
Canonet 28
Kodak Signet 40
Konica Auto S2 (needs fixin')
Minolta 7s (needs fixin')

All have strong positives, and I'm not sure I can name a favorite. They're all good shooters, and any "negatives" are simply character differences. Different strokes, eh?

Regards!
Don
 
Nick, I like your style. And camera collection. The Yashica lenses can yield just as good a result as any leica glass when in good hands. I have seen lots of crappy images with Leica equipment. Who needs it!
 
Don, What is wrong with the Konica S2 and Minolta 7s?

I can take crappy pictures with any camera. Fixed-lens or Leica M3. Doesn't mean I'm giving up the Signet 80 or the M3!
 
I "only" have three, but they're good ones:

Konica S2 -- brilliant for all the reasons Brian stated above. Cost me less than $30.

Canon Q17 GIII -- brilliant for all the reasons Brian stated above. Cost me less than $80 (w/ new seals, and a Canonlite flash as well). A great street shooter b/c of its small size and sharp lens. Also works well as a fast 40mm lens w/ body attached, as part of a two camera kit.

Olympus XA -- Maybe my favorite, but that's because it was my first rf. I'm the original owner. Still works great. The iconic pocketable rf.
 
Heavy Metal Thunder

Heavy Metal Thunder

While I'm new here, I have a small collection of fixed lens RF:

Konica Auto S2
Canon QL17 III
Minolta 7S
Minolta 9
Yashica GS
Yashica GSN - while not manual - you just gotta love these!

The Minolta 9 had a stuck shutter and I picked it off Ebay for $19 with free shipping. A little shutter cleaning and she works like new. Love the bright view finder. However, I did succumb to the dark side and now have a Canon 7 en route. Man - how I love the feel of a metal 35! Of course they all need the light seals replaced, but hey that's part of the fun.

For what it's worth - both my Minolta 7s & 9 have an off switch. It's on the ASA selector. I believe the Konica S2 is supposed to shut off when the lens cap is in place - operates under the no light therefore no current principle. I operate under the no battery-no current option.

Ken
 
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I live in fixed lens land (but I'll one day have a Zeiss ZM)

Minolta hi-matic E
Minolta hi-matic 9
Samoca 35 LE
Yashica Lynx 14
Yashica Lynx 14E
Konica Auto S2

They're all brilliant. The Hi-matic E has been an awesome performer for me. It's great cause it's fast working with it, just focus and shoot. I like that sometimes, just concentrating on the scene/composition.

Steven
 
Ken Smith said:
While I'm new here, I have a small collection of fixed lens RF:

Konica Auto S2
Canon QL17 III
Minolta 7S
Minolta 9
Yashica GS
Yashica GSN - while not manual - you just gotta love these!

The Minolta 9 had a stuck shutter and I picked it off Ebay for $19 with free shipping. A little shutter cleaning and she works like new. Love the bright view finder. However, I did succumb to the dark side and now have a Canon 7 en route. Man - how I love the feel of a metal 35! Of course they all need the light seals replaced, but hey that's part of the fun.

For what it's worth - both my Minolta 7s & 9 have an off switch. It's on the ASA selector. I believe the Konica S2 is supposed to shut off when the lens cap is in place - operates under the no light therefore no current principle. I operate under the no battery-no current option.

Ken
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Welcome, Ken!

Love that S2! It's a great camera; you just have to remember to keep the lens cap on when not using it.
 
I'm a little late to the party I know, but here is the extent of my RF collection.

I grew up shooting my dad's Leica's, but there's no room for that kind of nonsense on this grad student's budget. I picked up an Oly 35RC on ebay -- after some new light seals, a good cleaning of the viewfinder, and some gorgeous blue kid leather from Morgan Sparks (www.cameraleather.com), I've got a pretty sweet little camera.

The problem is that now I've also bought a Rollei 35, and I barely missed out on a Vivitar 35ES. I fear where this is leading me...
 

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Finn said:
I'm a little late to the party I know, but here is the extent of my RF collection.

I grew up shooting my dad's Leica's, but there's no room for that kind of nonsense on this grad student's budget. I picked up an Oly 35RC on ebay -- after some new light seals, a good cleaning of the viewfinder, and some gorgeous blue kid leather from Morgan Sparks (www.cameraleather.com), I've got a pretty sweet little camera.

The problem is that now I've also bought a Rollei 35, and I barely missed out on a Vivitar 35ES. I fear where this is leading me...
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Welcome to the forum and GAS!!! Let's pray that you escape its clutches, remain rational and enjoy watching others in its clutches. :bang:
 
JeffGreene said:
Welcome to the forum and GAS!!! Let's pray that you escape its clutches, remain rational and enjoy watching others in its clutches. :bang:
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Thanks, although it's already pretty bad with my steadily growing assortment of Pentax glass and bodies. A couple of years ago I innocently bought a K100D, and now I'm honestly considering a FOURTH film body...it's that first fix that gets you hooked, I guess.

And forgive the noob inquiry, but GAS? Can I assume it is related to the afflictions known as LBA (lens buying addiction) and CBA (camera buying addiction)?
 
My fixed-lens RF cameras include the Olympus 35SP, 35RC and XA, plus the Yashica GX.

If there was a fire, I'd let everything burn before I relinquished my 35SP.
 
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