Fun Rangfinder Recomendations

[golferboy08]

I currently have a DSLR and my workflow is digital. My whole life that's all iv'e really known. I find I get caught up in the instant gratification of a LCD pane. I want to step back and get a 35mm Rangefinder. I want a fun camera that is very reliable with superb quality and a sub-Lecia price tag. I need something compact so I can always keep it with me, big SLR's with Gadget bags get cumbersome. I would appreciate any suggestions.

 

[rover]

Welcome to RFF

Have a look at the Cameraquest site for tons of info.

You may find that your needs are for a $100 (or less) compact RF.

http://www.cameraquest.com/com35s.htm

 

[chris91387]

hello and welcome.

do you want/need interchangeable lenses?

if not, i love my ql17 and 35sp. lots of fun, good results, not expensive to get in to.

good luck.

- chris

 

[JoeFriday]

hey golfer.. nice to have you here at RFF

I second the idea of a fixed-lens compact RF.. a Canonet, Olympus or Minolta HiMatic are all very fun little cameras.. easy to use, small enough to always have handy (so you take a lot of pictures).. and fun to point out the amazing images you capture with such a 'cheap' system

I'd probably start with a Canonet or a Yashica GSN.. if you find you want more in a camera, you can step up into other options pretty easily.. but the 'basic' cameras are big on fun, too

 

[kully]

Could I recommend the dinky little Olympus RC?

Small enough to carry in Speedos (I've tried).

 

[oftheherd]

Sorry, inadvertant double post.

 

[oftheherd]

Could I recommend the dinky little Olympus RC?

Small enough to carry in Speedos (I've tried).

😱 😱 😱

😀

Welcome Golfer. You've gotten good advice above. Especially the Canonet QL17, as it is also compact. I'm not sure it will fit in a speedo though, if that should happen to be a requirement.

 

[chris91387]

is the olympus rc smaller than the sp?

i have the trip which is pretty small but i dont really like the lack of focus ability. trying to figure out if your focusing on a "two person symbol" or "mountain range" is a little too adventurous for me.


- chris

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

i love ... 35sp

- chris

Welcome 🙂

I'll second or third the recommendation of the Olympus 35SP (see www.cameraquest.com for the full review).

well-built body, sharp lens/excellent bokeh, relatively inexpensive at $100 to $150 depending on condition and color.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Small enough to carry in Speedos (I've tried).

As much as I cherish the european ways, there are certain practices I'm glad the colonies haven't adopted yet 😛

 

[SuitePhoto]

I'm in exactly the same boat (for pretty much the same reasons) and I decided on the Bessa R.

I looked seriously at the Canonet but two things turned me off from that camera - the light meter doesn't work unless you have it set in the Aperature priority setting, which means you have no meter in full manual mode. And the camera was originally designed to be used with mercury batteries that are no longer available. You can use a modern 1.5v but the light meter has to be adjusted to work properly with that new battery. Too much to worry about for a 'fun' camera.

Take a look at the Bessa R at CameraQuest.com - fully manual, but still has a light meter and plenty of old school vibe. I want the average criminal that would have taken notice of my big SLR to not look twice at my 'old' camera. Street shooting with impunity!!

 

[golferboy08]

thanks for the suggestions

i want a compact camera although it being able to fit in a speedo is NOT a requirement

 

[kmack]

In my experience there is nothing more fun than a Barnack style camera with a collapseable lens. Find a nice user Leica IIIC/F or a Fed/Zorki 1. They are small, fairly light and rugged enough that cockroaches will be discovering photography using barnack style cameras long after the human race has exterminated itself.

 

[kully]

is the olympus rc smaller than the sp?

i have the trip which is pretty small but i dont really like the lack of focus ability. trying to figure out if your focusing on a "two person symbol" or "mountain range" is a little too adventurous for me.


- chris

Yes, the RC is smaller than the Trip (I have one of those too).

It's the same height, and the body is the same thickness. But it is shorter lengthwise and the lens protrudes less.

However, an RC viewfinder is nowhere near that on the VC Bessa's. If you can afford it and don't mind the extra bulk - go for one of those.

However II, the bessa shutter is much much louder.

 

[Kin Lau]

Olympus XA. The clamshell cover and aperture priority makes it very handy.

You can always just set it for f5.6 and hyperfocal and it works like a P&S as well.

 

[Stanton]

I'm with Kin Lau -- Olympus XA. Great lens, (35mm, f2.8) aperture priority, fits in a pocket, no need for lens cap, and a tiny A11 or slightly bigger A16 flash if you want. Check the Cameraquest site for information on these.

 

[GeneW]

Lots of fun cameras, both high end and low end. FSU cams are fun. Fixed-lens RF's definitely are. Bessa's are fun. I guess we could list about every brand of RF camera ever made 🙂

I would add Yashica Electro 35 (plain, G, GS, GSN etc) to the list. Larger than a Canonet but fun to use and has an excellent lens.

Gene

 

[w3rk5]

I'd get a Zorki 1 with a collapsible lens. It's small, light, and fits the hand perfectly. Some other kewl features are separate rangefinder/viewfinder and that it's a bottom loader. It takes a little more effort to use, but that's the fun part of using it. Well, at least I think so. 🙂