Does anyone here prefer scale focus cameras over rangefinders?

[Godfrey]

Not surreptitiously... but at the same time my main goal at this point is to get good candid shots of the kids, and its amazing how lifting the camera up to eye level grabs their attention, so the less I have to do once it is up there (and thus the quicker I get the shot), the better the chance I get the picture I want.

The Rollei 35 is perfect for this. The controls were all laid out to be operated at waist level ... Set exposure and focus, raise to eye and shoot, put camera down. Very unobtrusive.

Don't go for the 35SE or 35TE models: they have LED metering indicators in the viewfinder which ruined the handling for me. As well as being obnoxiously bright and distracting. The original match needle on the top deck was a better design.

 

[Rogier]

I am just curious, I know that cameras like the Rollei 35 and the Vito B can be very good cameras, but are there people here who prefer shooting with scale focus cameras over a rangefinder?

--
Bill

I love my HOLGA's and am amazed by the results.

 

[Merkin]

Not surreptitiously... but at the same time my main goal at this point is to get good candid shots of the kids, and its amazing how lifting the camera up to eye level grabs their attention, so the less I have to do once it is up there (and thus the quicker I get the shot), the better the chance I get the picture I want.

--
Bill

Practice shooting without bringing the camera to your eye. A digital is good for this, as you don't have to burn a few rolls practicing. You will be surprised at how quickly you get the hang of 'shooting from the hip.' I tend to shoot horizontal orientation from about chest height, and vertical orientation from a bit over belly button height. Vertical orientation is a bit easier, as I find that the camera tends to find a level horizon a bit more naturally that way. You can also experiment with holding the camera in different ways. I often find myself holding a camera by the bottom and tripping the shutter with my thumb when shooting this way.

 

[Kenj8246]

I have two scale focus cameras. Both Zeiss, an Ercona 6X9 and a 6X6 521/16 Ikonta. I would love to use them more but can't seem to get the hang of scale focusing. I think I just need to practice with them more but I sure hope the 'little light' goes on at some point. They both make excellent images when I manage to get it right.

Kenny

 

[kuzano]

Don't fret....

Don't fret....

Not to highjack the rollei v. petri discussion,

Don't fret... you didn't hijack the thread. It was not actually originated about the comparison of the Petri Color 35 vs the Rollei 35.

If anyone hihacked the thread... I did. The thread was originally about zone focus compared to other focus methods.

Frankly, the answer to the original post came from other posts in the thread. The first order of business is to find a camera that meets your requirements, in regard to size, and image qualities....but with a distance scale on the lens.

Then break your distance scale down into three/four zones on the distance scale. Then become adept at distance estimates. You only have to master the middle of the three/four zones. Practice will take care of that.

Once you have that taken care of, you can Zone focus any camera, whether it be zone, RF or SLR. Even old front cell focusing folders work this way.

A camera repair person where I live had a small repair shop (more like cabin) on his property. The property was covered with small Jack Pines... usually trunk size tops out at 6-8 inches on Jack Pines, but they grow close together.

Outside his shop window, he had focus targets mounted at 5 feet, 15 feet and 50 feet, on the jack pine trunks, for when he worked on the focus of cameras.

The nice thing about using zone focus in this way is that you can then use interchangeable lens cameras, whether RF or SLR, as long as you buy lenses that have distance scales on the focus ring.

 

[KenR]

I have a Zeiss Ercona to use as a backup camera for my medium format gear - purchased from certo 6 earlier this year - nice, sharp lens but the lefty shutter release is a bit weird for me.

 

[Krosya]

I was always skeptical about the scale focusing and didnt care for scale focus cameras. I also am very anal about RF focus and therefore try to do it just right, which at times did cause me to lose a shot.
Well, a couple of months ago I went on a vacation in Italy and brought RD1S and Hexar RF - two of my favorite cameras. While on this trip, I was given a nice Rollei 35S. I heard much about it and wanted to try it for a long time, but since its a scale focus camera and rather expensive one - never got around to buy one myself. Now I got one as a present - perfect chance to try it out. Again - I was skeptical about it. Plus I didnt want to miss some shots, as this was a trip I wanted to make sure I have some nice photos from. So, at first I used my Rollei just occasionally. But as I used it - it was such a pleasure to handle I used it more and more. Still - not too much - as I didnt even know if it worked properly. I seemed to, but until I could see the results - I didnt want to put too much trust into it.
Well, when I got home and got photos developed - I was thrilled - this little camera lived up to it's fame and now I take it with me almost all the time. I still need to master the art of scale focus, but even as it is - I manage to guess it pretty well in most cases.
So, I cant say that I FULLY prefer it to RF, but I do absolutely love to use it and for many travel pics, where you just set it to infinity and shoot - it was a perfect camera with a superb lens. Far better than I ever expected. So, IMO, choice of the camera when it comes to scale focus photography may be important when you try to determine which you prefer better.

 

[hausen]

Really like my Rollei 35 and am watching a 35S on KEH at present. My 35 is always in my briefcase and there is a real freedom in zone focusing I find. Also I find it helps when I use one of my Ms after using my 35 because I have used that guessing distance muscle and that quickens things up with M. Do I prefer it though that is impossible to answer because it all comes down to the situation you find yourself in. In relation to whether you should buy one, go for your life.

 

[DNG]

If the camera has a 35mm lens or shorter, then a scale focus is ok.
For me.

 

[farlymac]

I have a couple of scale focusing cameras that I prefer over some rangefinders, because they have such nice lenses. But I'd rather be able to have the focusing assist, instead of taking the time to determine the distance, look at the lens barrel for the setting, and then hope the subject is still in sight.

PF

 

[f6andBthere]

This is where the little Leica screwmounts shine IMO. With a collapsable lens they're small enough to go in a pocket and if you want to scale focus fine but there is always the option of the rangefinder for guaranteed accuracy.

 

[bitfeng]

Where Petri Color 35 turned me off is its roll-out design of the lens. Tooooooooo slow compared to Rollei 35's pull-out design.
Still have a black Petri Color 35 with a fungus lens. Probabaly won't use it again, not because of the fungus (which gives me a soft rendering), but because of the roll-out design.

I am not suggesting you forego the Rollei if you so desire, and yes, more and more people are finding the Petri Color 35 desirable and valuable. In fact there is currently a D model on eBay and it is prices SOOO right. As I said, I sold mine for $450 probably 7-8 years ago. Have not seen another on eBay since, although I do not follow the Color 35 continuously, as I have mine in the bag. However, I may pull the trigger on the D now available having seen this rare bird.

So, I am not saying the Color 35 is a better or worse camera than the Rollei and I respect personal choice. My personal choice is to opt for the underdog camera when I find them in good condition. In this case the Petri is a lesser known quantity.

I doubt if many of us ever use these small scale and rf focus cameras as a primary photography tool, and I also doubt whether any of us ever carry these camera's "All the Time" and justify the purchase on that.

So, no intent on my part to change your choice. I simply wanted to point out a reasonable alternative to the Rollei, and my choice, for what that is worth.

Enjoy your purchase, please.

 

[lxmike]

Interesting responses so far 🙂. The main reason I am asking is that I am in the process of getting a Rollei 35 so I can have a camera I can keep with me most of the time. That being said, the Rollei 35 seems to have a rather dedicated following and rather high prices compared to most fixed focus cameras.

Just curious, have there been any reasonably famous photographers who used a scale focus camera to take many of their best pictures.

--
Bill

I know David Baily used to advertise the Olympus Trip in the 1970s, apparently he rated them highly,

 

[shadowfox]

I learned scale focusing with the Olympus Trip.
Finally get a hang of it to this day, still prefer the Trip to other cameras.

I had a Rollei 35 S once, but I found it to be too cumbersome in real use. The Trip is much simpler.

Olympus EC and EC2 also rated highly on my list as easy to use scale focusing cameras with good glass.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Scale focus is my norm even though I normally shoot with a ZI rangefinder and a 28mm Biogon. It just allows me to not have to worry about focusing when the ideal photo op exists for only a fleeting second.

One can know the focus distance from the location of the focus tab if one shoots with the same lens consistently. It is not necessary to be able to see the distance scale on the lens. I find I can hit 1 meter, 2 meters, and 5 meters accurately just by feel. Infinity is a given.

This photo of a Santeria (Afro-Cuban religion) ceremony was made in a 1 1/2 x 2 meter hut illuminated by a candle. I did use flash but could not see anything otherwise. I set the focus by feel of the focus tab and the aperture by counting click stops. I could not even see through the ZI viewfinder but picked the moment by sighting over the top of the camera.

 

[rwintle]

I am fond of scale focusing and use it by necessity on my Voigtländer Brillant TLR and Agfa Silette LK... both of which I love. I also use it by necessity on my Yashica M, which was built as a rangefinder but on my copy.... isn't, due to some piece of the rangefinder screen gubbins having come adrift and rattling around in the viewfinder box.

I think my "forgetting to focus" rate is about the same for scale-focus and rangefinders though.

 

[Godfrey]

I am just curious, I know that cameras like the Rollei 35 and the Vito B can be very good cameras, but are there people here who prefer shooting with scale focus cameras over a rangefinder?

It depends on what I'm doing. Any time I'm shooting hand held with the Hassy SWC or Perkeo II, etc, I'm working the focus zone and shooting differently than if I were shooting with a precise, accurate focusing tool.

I work both ways fluidly, regardless of whether my camera is scale focus only, RF or SLR. Many times it's easier to just estimate and set a distance.

G

 

[Ko.Fe.]

If you are smart enough here is no preference, but convenience and it depends.
Street photography with 35mm prime, you'll nail it with practice anywhere between MFD and infinity even at 2.8 with scale. Never have problem with my XA for it.
50 2 or wider, is where RF comes handy.
In other words, if you are capable to get it in focus with DOF which is written at normal lens, you'll do it most of times by scale, which is quick. RF is helping, but takes longer time. On sunny side of the street RF is useless, at the dusk it might be the key.

 

[3rdtrick]

I have been using my Polaroid Speedliner that I converted to pack film. Although I am getting quite comfortable with the scale focus and enjoying the camera, I still prefer my rangefinders.
Pete

 

[rovnguy]

Olympus XA-4, Minox 35GL and Voightlander L. There is a time and place for each. And they bring me good results.