Favorite rangefinder-related magazines?

bmattock

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Personally, I really find that I prefer the British magazines. Amateur Photographer is an expensive subscription here in the USA, but it comes out every week, and it's fantastic! Also, it has monthly articles by Ivor Mantanle, who has my undying respect and admiration for his books and articles on classic cameras!

Other favorites - Practical Photography, Black & White, Shots and every so often, "What Camera?".

It seems all the camera magazines are going to 'Digital' this or that now - lots of new magazines on the stands, and most of them nearly worthless or just full of ads.

So, what's YOUR favorite rangefinder reading material?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
Definitely "What Camera", Outdoor Photographer and Shutterbug. Digital is fine, but will never replace the fun factor and anticipation of film.
 
wierdcollector said:
Definitely "What Camera", Outdoor Photographer and Shutterbug. Digital is fine, but will never replace the fun factor and anticipation of film.

I like both OP and SB, of course! But dang, the dearth of photographic-related decent periodicals inside the USA has me bummed out. I look at the British mags - there are a ton of them, and many are quite good, and Great Britain has such a small population compared to the USA - what gives? And I look at the ads in the back - they have camera clubs galore, they have contests and awards, they just seem to have more interest in cameras and photography as a nation than the US does.

They have laws providing for compensation (real compensation, not a free roll of film) when a lab messes up their shots or loses them (which has happened to me more often than I'd care to admit).

A real shame for them is that their cameras cost them far more than they cost here in the US!

So why are their magazines so much better than ours?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
bmattock, a very good question. I have often wondered the same. It seems it is that way with their computer magazines also.
 
afa as mags go, i don't really have any favourites any more.
i buy only if there is something in particular that catches my eye on the cover or table of contents.
i do like that the black & white mag from england also.

joe
 
I was thinking of picking up "Black and White" magazine. Do you have more info on "What camera?"

I just want a good film magazine...

I also just subscribed to SHOTS. WOW, cool mag!!! Thanks for that....
 
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Black & White (UK) is the one I purchase regularly on the newstand. I pick up the occasional issue of B&W (US) and LensWork when there are photographs I want to study. I don't read any digital mags -- the content on the web seems better.

I have seen Black & White Enthusiast (Australia) on the newstand but haven't read one yet. Any opinions on this one?

Gene
 
I enjoy Ag magazine very much. It includes good articles about both traditional B&W and colour photography AND about the digital darkroom. It also focuses on the techniques and compositional side of photography and not on the technical (camera hardware) side. It's published 4 times a year, it's not expensive (not even to have it delivered from the UK to Holland), and for me it pushes the (my) envelop.
 
I cancelled all my subscriptions about 7 years ago...US magazines
just re hash the same old subjects every few years and now the
are at least 70% ads for rip off camera stores other than a few
good ones...The British ones are much better, l give them a look
now and then.
Rob
 
I haven't subscribed to a US photo mag in many, many years. There was a time when I had "Modern Photography" and "Popular Photography" subscriptions but it's been at least 25 years ago.

I sometimes pick up a copy of "Shutterbug" but rarely even look at any other photo mag. I've seen all of the psychodilic and distorted pictures I can stand. I see much better pictures right here on the RFF.

Walker
 
Well I will consider myself lucky (mag wise) after all your comments as I am based in the UK.

I get Amateur Photographer, Practical Photography and my new issue of Black & White arrived yesterday. Of them all I prefer B&W as it shows work by photogs and not just 'how to' articles and tests. It's the one that I reckon will appeal to most of you here. I once met the editor at the Museum of Photography in Bradford at a Martin Parr exhibition an she was a real fan of film and black and white film at that!.

A couple of weeks ago Amateur Photgrpher had an isssue dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Leica. Included 9 pages of the History of Leica cameras and comparing the models, 4 pages on the design of M-range lenses, 4 page test of the 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M Asph lens, plus articles from photogs Roger Hicks, Ian Berry, Mike Maloney, Tom Stoddart & David Bell on why they 'Like a Leica'. You guys would've loved it.

Paul
 
g0tr00t said:
Anyone get this? I have subscribed, but not gotten any issues...

https://www.rangefindermag.com/index2.tml

Rangefinder Magazine is published for professional wedding and portrait photographers. It has nothing to do with rangefinder cameras at all.:(

I "subscribe," sorta.

A while ago there was a post somewhere offering a coupon code for a free three issue subscription. I figured, why not...

Well, it has been free, I have never been billed, I have never paid anything, and I am still getting it, it has been well over a year now...

It is a very good magazine, the photography is excellent and some of the stories about photographers and there work are interesting. In general though, it is way over my head, definately aimed towards pros.
 
rover said:
Rangefinder Magazine is published for professional wedding and portrait photographers. It has nothing to do with rangefinder cameras at all.:(

Oh, thats what I get for reading the first sentence. I see "free" and I see "rangefinder" and my brain goes into YES YES YES mode....

Thanks....
 
I just dropped my subscription to Pop Photo after a long long run that started with Modern Photo long before they merged. I used to subscribe to Aperture, American Photographer, and Camera Arts. Camera Arts was my favorite until it bit the dust... though do I understand rightly that there's now a current mag with that same name?
 
I'll second the choice of Amateur Photographer. If you read Ivor Matanle every month you will see a list of that month's camera fairs in the UK. Many more than I think that we have here in the Colonies. Photography is apparently a much bigger hobby there than here. They've recently added a weekly column by Roger Hicks. Agree with him or not, he's always an interesting read.

Has anyone read camera shopper? It's a thin newsprint mag that is $20 for 10 issues a year. It's full of classified ads from a few collectors (one is the publishers husband and I'm sure that the mag exists to give him a place to advertise his wares) occasionally for some very interesting, well priced cameras. Each issue also has reviews of two or three collectible cameras, club, and show listings and comments on exhibitions.
 
I have to agree many of the best mags are coming out of the UK now. B&W is good, Lenswork is a good one too.
 
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