Evil rangefinders

[colinh]

I've just added up what I've spent on Leica RF gear.

😱

What's so weird is that I still love my Contax RTS II, with Planar 85/1.4 more.

🙁

That viewfinder, coupled with the thought-controlled shutter release.

*sigh*


colin

 

[payasam]

Photographer's heart too large for monogamy?

 

[ywenz]

My SLRs out numbers my RF. I hardly ever put the two at the same place when I'm away. I don't know what I'll find when I return.

 

[kshapero]

I've just added up what I've spent on Leica RF gear.

😱

What's so weird is that I still love my Contax RTS II, with Planar 85/1.4 more.

🙁

That viewfinder, coupled with the thought-controlled shutter release.

*sigh*


colin

What is thought controlled shutter release?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Thought-controlled shutter release? That is evil.

 

[erikhaugsby]

What's really evil is the mind-control that the Leica (I/A/Standard) has over everybody else in getting them to believe it is a real rangefinder...common sense be damned!

 

[colinh]

What is thought controlled shutter release?

Ah. I'm glad you asked... 🙂

The RTS II doesn't use the shutter release to activate the meter (it has a separate button for just checking/locking exposure). That is, there's none of this, press a bit to activate the meter and auto focus, then press all the way to release the shutter.

Basically, if you breath heavily on the button, it takes a picture (I exaggerate a little).

What it's really like though is, as soon as I think of moving my finger, it goes click.

I love it.

With other cameras it's "squeeze gently. Come on! A bit more. Keep it steady... are we there yet? How far do I have to push this bloody button? wobble, wobble, click."


colin

 

[MartinP]

I have a couple of 139Q's (the oldest one for around 25 years now) and have to agree that the RTS-pattern shutter release is perfect. I wonder why most other camera ranges try to have the one button do several things badly ? Sighhhhh . . . .

 

[gb hill]

Ah. I'm glad you asked... 🙂

The RTS II doesn't use the shutter release to activate the meter (it has a separate button for just checking/locking exposure). That is, there's none of this, press a bit to activate the meter and auto focus, then press all the way to release the shutter.

Basically, if you breath heavily on the button, it takes a picture (I exaggerate a little).

What it's really like though is, as soon as I think of moving my finger, it goes click.

I love it.

With other cameras it's "squeeze gently. Come on! A bit more. Keep it steady... are we there yet? How far do I have to push this bloody button? wobble, wobble, click."


colin

I like that idea, but do you have to hold the button down to lock in the exposure. The Canon AE-1p has a button like that but you have to hold the button in. It's actually more of a stop down button. I don't ever use it.

 

[colinh]

I like that idea, but do you have to hold the button down to lock in the exposure. The Canon AE-1p has a button like that but you have to hold the button in. It's actually more of a stop down button. I don't ever use it.

No. There's a rotating thingy around the button (which is on the front of the body) that locks the exposure in if you like.

I didn't mention that, of course, the camera does measure the exposure when you trip the shutter (unless it's locked in).

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/contax/contaxrts2/index.htm

colin