How do you use your rangefinder?

How do you use your rangefinder?

  • Family pics and everyday camera

    Votes: 407 58.4%

  • Professional work

    Votes: 77 11.0%

  • Landscape

    Votes: 247 35.4%

  • Street

    Votes: 432 62.0%

  • Don't use rangfinders at all

    Votes: 18 2.6%

  • Sports

    Votes: 15 2.2%
  • Total voters
    697
I'm going to start using my Kiev 4A as a rangefinder for my scale focusing folders, as the lens is marked in meters, as are my medium format folders.

Kenny
 
I generally like to carry it to appear pretentious and superior to lesser human beings, and it almost always works.

But seriously, I do like it as an everyday all-purpose camera. It's not ideal for long telephotos (longer than 135mm) and requires too much time for macro work.
 
Not that I'm complaining, but these days all of my gear (camera, bike, car, tools, etc.) goes in the category "family ____ and everyday ____". ;-)
 
so I am confused is the question how do I use my range finder camera or how do I use the range finder on my camera.
in the first instance I have both reflex and range finder digital cameras. I tend to do more serious work with the range finder camera. My cameras are M9 with old 35 cron old elmar C new 21 Zeiss and Cosina Nokton. Love them all. My other two cameras are the Panasonic g1 and gf1. I have the adapter to use my Leica lenses but its more work than its worth.
In answer to the second part how do I use my range finder it depends on what kind of shooting I am doing. If I am in no hurry I usually set the lens to hyperfocal distance for the aperteur. When shooting street I run the focus only once and stop no hunting. For street purposes it will be more than close enough. To get the greatest accuracy from my range finder on the Leica I use the split image function whenever there are straight lines in the subject and i require the utmost in focusing accuracy.
some times I just set a guestimated distance into the lens and bang away.
 
I only have a rangefinder as my digital camera, and only take pictures of people. Not a street photographer. Not try to do environmental portrait.
 
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125221

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125221

i use my Leica when i don't want the weight and bulk of an SLR.
No! Not a DSLR. Please don't even go there. The larger lenses, the possibilities of choice of lenses, all add confusion.
Leica for me is travel light. No extra lenses. It's the 50mm or the 35mm. One roll in camera. If only say 3~5 frames left, i bring an extra roll.The 50mm for me perfect.
i do street photography, travel, nature as landscapes, sports mostly of spectators..,portraits and documentary.
i prefer never to use flash unless a pro job.
Occasionally there arrives a problem, that only an SLR will achieve. One of those shooting a choir and part of the Symphony orchestra in a cathedral. It was 65' to the focus area, conductor, soloists, special singers. My 135mm Tele Elmar more than sufficient, but focusing a problem. i needed critical exact focus. Testing prior to event found slight inacuaracies made for wrong focus.My Nikon F with 135mm lens a far more accurate answer.
The joy of going so basic a pleasure.
 
Photography is my main retirement hobby. I use my cameras to have fun and every once in a while I take a picture that even I like. So, some days it's scale focus other days my rangefinders get the nod. Today I'm using my old Pentax ME super What the hey! It's all in fun. What did I do with my Agfa Karat 36? Maybe its time for a change.
 
Street, landscape, "take it every day with me" and family, sometimes.

I like how Boris answered to it. RFs - the pleasure to operate. And some of them feels nice just to hold.
 
I voted that I don't use rangefinders at all. But I used to and it was 60% "walkaround" photography, 25% professional photography (mostly for scientific publication), 10% family phogoraphy, and 4% land-(mostly city)-scape photography. And a percent undefined. Most of the ones I liked are in the 1%.

I hope to use an RF once again in the near future.
 
I voted "don't use rangefinders at all" because I no longer have any working RFs, but when I did, I used them for everything.
 
I use mine mostly as cameras, but because they're Nikons have on rare occasions used them as paperweights, hammers, back scratchers and once to kill a really big centipede.
 
RF for cycling photos?

RF for cycling photos?

I'm glad I read this. It's prompted me to ask what I've been wondering about.

Does anyone use a RF for moving/sports subjects? I cycle a lot and like taking photos during my rides. I've been happy with my iphone but have started carrying a point & shoot to use b&w film. Unfortunately the advance on it seems to be dying. Since there aren't any new p&s cameras I've been thinking about a RF to use, the Voigtlander R2M with a pancake lens.

Can anyone comment if this would be silly to attempt to shoot action type photos with a RF?

I haven't scanned negs yet but there are some ideas of the types of photos on my flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/ironsightimages

Thanks.
 
sjauch said:
I'm glad I read this. It's prompted me to ask what I've been wondering about.

Does anyone use a RF for moving/sports subjects? I cycle a lot and like taking photos during my rides. I've been happy with my iphone but have started carrying a point & shoot to use b&w film. Unfortunately the advance on it seems to be dying. Since there aren't any new p&s cameras I've been thinking about a RF to use, the Voigtlander R2M with a pancake lens.

Can anyone comment if this would be silly to attempt to shoot action type photos with a RF?

I haven't scanned negs yet but there are some ideas of the types of photos on my flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/ironsightimages

Thanks.
Click to expand...

There was a time in the world when 35mm shooters only had rangefinders to shoot with and did rather well, so I think you might be ok.
 
I might have replied to this before. Generally, I use it as a camera. Occasionally, I use it as a conversation piece or a way to remember my time overseas. And sometimes, it is a good way to start an argument in the household.
 
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