Fixed-lens cameras: 50mm or greater?

[broadie]

Hi there,
Can someone recommend something in the way of a fixed-lens rangefinder that has at least a 50mm lens? Were any ever made in the more "tele" range such as 55, 57 or 60mm, etc? I'd like a little more reach than the "wide-normal" range that seems to have been the norm, but I won't be too hopeful as I'm guessing this is likely an improbable find. Thanks tho!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

In 35mm format? I think the closest you're going to find in the fixed-lens category are 40mm and 45mm lenses. The only one I can think of would be the Yashica Electro 35, with its 45mm f/1.7 lens.

I'd be interested to hear of anything out there longer than 50mm.

 

[Trius]

I have a Tower 51 that has a 50mm/f2.8 Steinheil. Not a common camera, and I have my first roll in it right now, so don't know how it performs. The viewfinder is pretty dirty so it's not exactly an efficient shooter right now.

The Konica S and S2 have a 47mm lens. The Minolta 7s is 45mm. I think some of the less common RFs (e.g. Balda, etc.) may have 50mm lenses.


Trius

 

[GeneW]

Because they're not common, one thing you could do is get a decent Zorki model with a Jupiter 8 50/2 and simply not change lenses. They're not much larger overall than the larger fixed-lens RF's like Yashica.

Gene

 

[broadie]

So just to respond: Yup, I'm talking about 35mm. And I'd like to stick with fixed-lens rangefinders because I absolutely love the quietness of their shutters--I have an Electro 35cc and the subaudible click is so sweet, especially if you are in a sound-conscious environment.
I just thought now that one possibility is a classic Yashica Electro with the tele-converter lens attached. Anyone have any experience with that setup?

 

[Trius]

I haven't tried the Electro with teleconverter, but I have one for my Oly SPs. Haven't really exercised it yet. Maybe this weekend. Setting the focus takes another step, so it's not a rapid process.

Trius

 

[wlewisiii]

Perhaps one of the RF's that used a leaf shutter would work? You could consider a Kodak Retina IIC/IIIC/IIIS, or a Voigtlander Prominent or other similar cameras.

William

 

[captainslack]

The original Canonet has a 45mm lens. So does the Minolta A5.

If you're looking for a 50mm lens & a quiet camera, why not give a FED 1 or Zorki 1 a try? Or even a Barnack Leica, if you've got that much money to spend? The shutters are damn quiet on these models and the built in viewfinders approximate 50mm. If you get the FED or Zorki, it'll more than likely come with a collapsible lens, too.

 

[wierdcollector]

A very quick check of my shelves full here seems to indicate most cameras came with 35 to 48 mm lenses. A few exceptions are Kodak 35 both RF model and non-RF model, most of my Voigtlanders, a couple of Tower (rebadged Illocas) RF's, Agfa Sillete SLE, and of course most of the Argus C3, C4, Markfinder etc. Hope this helps. OOPS, also Ciro 35. All these cameras had 50mm lenses.

 

[CleverName]

I just thought now that one possibility is a classic Yashica Electro with the tele-converter lens attached. Anyone have any experience with that setup?

It's more trouble than it's worth. I think it works out to about 60mm focal length which is what you are going for BUT, you have to focus through the viewfinder then transfer the distance the lens says to the tele lens to get the photo in focus. If you did a lot of small apertures or zone focusing it might work, but otherwise it's terribly inconvienient. I had a wide/tele set and I gave it away.

 

[Kin Lau]

I have a Century Graphics 35 (made by Kowa) that's a 50/3.5 in a fix lense, leaf shutter RF. The Retina IIa is also a 50, a nice 50/2 Xenon.

Some of the Retina's have interchange lenses, and are leaf-shuttered with that "click", so you can get longer lenses such as a 75, 85, 100 or longer.

Check with Bill Mattocks about the Braun Paxette. I believe that's also a leaf shutter, interchangeable lense RF with options for longer lenses.... and Bill probably has them all 🙂.

 

[wierdcollector]

My original Paxette is 45 mm but my Paxette Automatic is 50mm so perhaps you're right Kin.

 

[wierdcollector]

Even Tower 57 and 57-A are 50mm.

 

[Kin Lau]

Found it... it's called the Braun Super Paxette II... check here http://www.cameraquest.com/braun.htm for more info.

Apparently Bill's got 30 of them.

 

[bmattock]

Check with Bill Mattocks about the Braun Paxette. I believe that's also a leaf shutter, interchangeable lense RF with options for longer lenses.... and Bill probably has them all 🙂.

Sadly, yes, I do. I don't have *all* the rangefinder-coupled lenses made for the range, but otherwise...

Yes, it has a leaf shutter, very quiet - just a hint of a snick sound. Very small camera too. I've got 135 lenses for it - coupled 85's are a bit harder to find (Telexons). Definitely hard to find a body in good shape, and the bloody top of the camera as it turns out was GLUED on (found out when I got tired of poking and prodding and sacrified one to the Dark Teutonic Gods to find out how to get the top off to clean the bloody rangefinder).

Super Paxette - an aquired taste. And after getting that taste, one discovers it was like building a taste for Pabst Blue Ribbon - hardly respectable in polite company.

But I still collect them.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Kin Lau]

The ACE is quite an intriguing camera... thanks for the link. Here's another one in English http://www.biofos.com/cornucop/ace.html

 

[tedwhite]

Forget the tele and wide angle add-ons for the Yashica Electro 35 GSN (I have one, and it is THE quietest shutter ever). By using them you ruin the quality of one of the finest lenses out there.

Ted

(Gave my set away also)

 

[bmattock]

The ACE is quite an intriguing camera... thanks for the link. Here's another one in English http://www.biofos.com/cornucop/ace.html

Don't forget the redoubtable Anscomark M, or the well-regarded Aires V. Both had leaf shutters, removable lenses. And then, the Agfa Ambi Silette. Not to leave out the famous Kodak Retinas, even if they were front-lens only replacements. The Zeiss Contina IIa and III offered the Pantar lens which was also front-element replaceable for a 85mm or 35mm cell. The Voigtlander Vitessa T used the Deckel-mount often seen in various forms for both leaf-shuttered SLRs and Rangefinders of the day.

I'm sure there are more, but these spring immediately to mind. Of them, I have only the Continas and a broken Anscomark M. The Vitessa T was probably the most capable of the lot, leaving aside the Retinas, which interchanged front cells only.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

Forget the tele and wide angle add-ons for the Yashica Electro 35 GSN (I have one, and it is THE quietest shutter ever). By using them you ruin the quality of one of the finest lenses out there.

Ted

(Gave my set away also)

Have to agree with that assessment. The various and sundry add-ons don't add much, but take more. And the only thing that stops the GSN from being the single best fixed-lens rangefinder ever is the electronic-controlled stepless automatic shutter. If I could set shutter speeds on my GSN, I'd be in hog heaven. A great, great, lens, though.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Kodak Retina cameras had 50mm fixed lenses up until the last models, that went to 45mm.

The Retina IIIc and IIc are good choices, with F2 and F2.8 lenses respectively. The front module removes and you can get a 35mm and 80mm lens for them. But they maintain the compact nature of a true fixed lens camera. The IIa has the same Xenon lens that is truly fixed.