How did you get into rangefinder cameras?

Found an old camera in my neighbor's trash.* He said, "You want that old camera? It's not working; Take it if you want it."

"It" turned out to be a Canonet QL 17 in the case with a Canon D flash. I added a new battery and light seals. Haven't looked back since.

*Why was I looking in the trash? I was walking my dog and she stuck her nose in it.
 
I came to range finders by way of a digital coolpix 880, purchased a couple years ago. The camera fit my purposes for some web things I was (and am) still working on. The imediacy of image capture to computer really is amazing. I was able to review a lot of pictures almost instantaneously - no turn around time trips to the lab. The web stuff was adaquate enough (but just barely). Very shortly the web became the least interesting to thing me. The quick turn -around- time afforded me a sense of a personal visual narrative, previously unacertained in other media. Trips to the developer would never have happened. What is it that I want to hold still long enogh to look at? One needs/ learns to be patient. Well, um, enter my interest in film , because digitals won't do it for a good spell.

The funny thing is --is that I am the proud owner of three rf's by way of ebay. - none of which are operable at the moment. Which still puts me in a position of a wannabe. Really, I don't relish the idea of camera repair, but one does what they must. I'll get there. Every camera formatt (eh, em time) has it's limits, but There are some absolutely wonderful, sometimes even stunning portfios produced by members on this site that tell me that this is a rich formatt to pursue. And a wannabe might not be a bad place to start!
 
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got my first when someone listed an olympus ec on ebay under slr cameras. i guess because it wasn't listed under rangefinders nobody bidded on it. got it for about $15. camera was in mint condition (seller offered me $30 if he didnt have to sell it; i assured him his baby found a good home with me). as summintar stated i was amased by the simplicity of the camera and the excellent images it takes. i love this model for street photography because it has zone focusing. have since aquired as many of the old classics as i can afford (canonet, rollei, olympus). they all are great cameras and conversation pieces with younger people who only know point and shoots.
 
My mother's cousin gave me a Polaroid Swinger for high school graduation at age 17 - 1967. I really liked it, but soon chafed under its inherent limitations and high cost of film. I commandeered Dad's Retina 1, which he hadn't used in years. My friend Roger taught gave me an old GE light meter, taught me the basics of exposure and also B&W darkroom work, and away I went. I became an avid amatuer at that point.

After a year of using the Retina, I retired it and bought a used Nikon F, Photomic T (I just found the receipt for the long-gone Nikon a few weeks ago).

I liked the Nikon a lot, but in 1973, I got a copy of the recently-revised "Leica Manual" by Morgan (or is it Morgan & Morgan?) That book caused me to be fascinated with Leicas, and by September of '73, I bought a Lecia IIIc and Serenar 50mm lens at Olden Camera in NYC. A year later, I bought a collapsible 50mm Summicron, also at Olden.

Over the next few years, I used the Leica extensively, even as I sold the Leica and bougth some OM-1's, lenses, etc. I eventually bought a DS M-3 and a Minolta CL.

Sadly, I sold all my cameras around 1980-81 - getting married, buying our first house, and raising a family brought other priorities.

Twenty-plus years later, in late 2001, I decided to plunge back into my old hobby. Leicas were much to expensive for me by then, so I started collecting and using Soviet rangefinders. My favorite is now the FED-2 series, especially the next-to-last model, characterized by dual Latin/Cyrillic logo, vulcanite covering, and strap lugs. I also very much enjoy my Kiev 4 and Kiev 4a.
 
Around 1958, when I was a junior in high school, I purchased an Argus C-3 from a classmate for five dollars. It was my first rangefinder camera. In 1960 I upgraded to a Japanese Beauty Super II with a fixed 45mm Canter f 2.0 lens, a truly wonderful little rangefinder camera and lens which I bought for $35 via mail order. This was my main camera until 1970 when I bought a Canon FT-QL (another great camera). From 1970 to around 2002 I only used Canon SLRs (manual focus). Now I am getting reinterested in rangefinders, especially Russian ones which I have purchased on eBay such as the Fed 1g, Zorki 4, and Kiev 4am.
 
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I got interested when I figured out I could either use a rangefinder or I could take out-of-focus pictures. I just can't do ground glass focusing unless I spend lots of time doing it. The Rangefinder is instant, and I trust it. I've not been let down, except by the Contax G2 and that only because I didn't have a great understanding of the system first.
 
Another tool in the toolbox

Another tool in the toolbox

I have a nice Nikon SLR Outfit I am satisfied with. Been shooting 35mm since 1969 when I bought a Minolta SRT 101 and a 58mm f/1.4 with my paper route earnings. It replaced a viewfinder 35mm from sears which I loaned to a girl and never got back. Which replaced a Kodak instamatic 101. Remember the flash cubes? I date myself. I like shooting the Nikon for many things. It is what I take when the the task at hand is photography. But there is a need that the Nikon and quiver of lenses just does not fill. That being a stealthy street camera which does not shout PHOTOGRAPHER to all around. Its true, people hardly notice the Olympus 35 SP and are not alarmed by it like they are when I have the Nikon and its 28-70 f/2.8 and SB 28 speed light mounted. It has been great and I have been collecting some nice photos with it. That RF with its fast f/1.7 lens and the appropreate film allows me to take available light photos without flash which adds to its stealth. Another use for the range finder is in near infared photography. I like to use opaque IR filters and on an SLR that means I can not see my composition. But with a range finder it not a problem. The SP does not have a "R" on its focusing scale nor the hyperfocal markings. But my Yashica LYNX does so I use that for the IR shots. I find that the RF is on my sholder or in the car quite often as it is easy to carry. And the images I get with it are as good as I am getting with my Nikkors. Just not as fast nor as versital. Those fast pro zooms are a tough act to follow.
 
After using my Yashica SLR during college, and graduating to a Nikon FG in the early 80s, I drifted away from photography for a while. My entre' into classic cameras was an Argus C-3, purchased about 1993. Since then I have acquired a couple Retinas and, most recently, a Kiev IV.

Rangefinders can be a lot of fun, but they are not for every purpose. SLRs clearly have the edge in versatility.

My primary focus is on Zeiss Ikon cameras. I think that the Contaflex series of SLRs is the greatest thing since the sexual revolution. Yet the lure of Contax (or Commie Contax Copies) and compact, high quality rangefinders continues. I just need a good deal on a Contax IIA......

Mike
 
my memory is so bad, but someone had one for sale here awhile back. would have bought it myself if i had the money.

joe
 
I used twin lens reflex cameras rather than single lens reflex cameras to shoot weddings because the medium format SLR cameras were too noisy for my taste. Even though I loved the 2¼ square (6x6cm) medium format TLR cameras, when I finally replaced them I decided to switch to the slightly larger 6x7cm and 6x9cm formats. It was at that time that I made the switch from the quiet TLR to the quiet rangefinder.
 
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As a female geek (yes, we are around) I got into rangefinders when I bought my Mamiya 6. Decided I wanted a more hand-holdable MF than those square boxes out there. Fell in love with it. Not too hard to make the adjustment from SLR for me. Then I discovered "classic cameras" via ebay. Got two wonderful Art Deco cameras (including a kodak Bantam Special that could kill someone if aimed correctly). I just love how well these old cameras are made. (probably the archaeologist speaking here). The other factor is the search for the ever-larger negative. Hence my newest town, Crown Graphic 4X5. Lovely machine. Since I'm much more partial to BW than to color, these old lenses give me the effects I want. Digital just leaves me cold--although I have no problem with other people using it I have no interest in it. I do scan and do some "proofing" with computers, but since I'm after BW I am teaching myself wet darkroom stuff. It's more real.
To me, at least.
 
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