Ideal sub $200 RF for available light

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DanZulu

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Hello,

I've been experimenting with an Olympus 35 RC that I bought very cheap recently, and I'm beginning to appreciate rangefinders because of its size and quiet operation. I would like to find a RF that has a larger aperture, but doesn't cost more than $200, lens included. Such a thing may not exist, but I wanted to ask those who know more than I do. Thanks in advance.

Dan
 
There's the Olympus SP... and several other fixed-lens leaf-shutter models with f/1.7 and f/1.4 lenses.
 
ChrisN said:
Yashica Lynx - f/1.4. Well under $100.
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Yes indeed!

Also a Zorki 5/6 - very crisp viewfinder and long rangefinder base - with a good J-3 or a J-8.

Cheers, Ian
 
Konica Auto S3, when you can find one (there is one on you-know-where as I write this). Always under $200, though sometimes not much under (I paid about $135-145 for mine, and wouldn't advise paying much more than that for a decent one).


- Barrett
 
I've used some of the cameras described above or similar models, and I can't really recommend them for long term serious use. A very basic Canon rangefinder or user Leica Thread Mount body plus decent fast lens (say 50mm F1.4) would be one way to go, but is not within your budget ($400 might do it with careful eBay hunting).

Have you considered an SLR ? For instance, a good Canon FTb-QL body and a decent 55mm F1.2 FL lens can be had on eBay easily for less than $200. You can take handheld photos in room light with this setup using ASA 200 film wide open and still get sharp results. The camera and lens quality are also superb and won't let you down.
 
The CV Bessa R and 50/2 lens now on the classifieds looks like a possible solution to your problem if you can get by for a while with an F2 lens (use ASA 400 or higher for handheld work). The Bessa R is a great camera IMO (and many here agree, but not all)
 
David Murphy said:
Have you considered an SLR ? For instance, a good Canon FTb-QL body and a decent 55mm F1.2 FL lens can be had on eBay easily for less than $200. You can take handheld photos in room light with this setup using ASA 200 film wide open and still get sharp results. The camera and lens quality are also superb and won't let you down.
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This is a great SLR, but it is larger and heavier than most rangefinders. I would recommend the Olympus OM-1 as the most rangefinder like SLR.

I am also suprised that the Canon QL-17 GIII has not been mentioned yet, has a small fixed lens 40mm f1.7. You can probably find one for $40 to $60.

But, if it were me shopping, I would buy the Canon P with 50mm F1.8 listed in the classifieds here for $400. I know it is twice what you want to pay, but you are going to end up with more than one rangefinder any way, may as well get a good one to start off with.

Wayne
 
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You imply but don't say you want a camera with a built in meter. If that is so, you are probably constrained to some of those fixed lens RFs mentioned above. Nothing wrong with them either by the way, as you no doubt have already found out, other than the fixed lens. If you already have a hand-held light meter, then your choices expand greatly. Many of the FSU cameras would then be within your budget. You might find that a solution under your budget even if you had to purchase something like a Gossen Luna Pro. The have been holding to a certain value, but I think you could still do it.
 
Wayne R. Scott said:
This is a great SLR, but it is larger and heavier than most rangefinders. I would recommend the Olympus OM-1 as the most rangefinder like SLR.

I am also suprised that the Canon QL-17 GIII has not been mentioned yet, has a small fixed lens 40mm f1.7. You can probably find one for $40 to $60.

But, if it were me shopping, I would buy the Canon P with 50mm F1.8 listed in the classifieds here for $400. I know it is twice what you want to pay, but you are going to end up with more than one rangefinder any way, may as well get a good one to start off with.

Wayne
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Good points all. I've seen some P's go for $250 on eBay with a 50/1.8 -- quite a bargain if they are working as claimed.

FYI the FTb-QL is a little heavy, but the P, while compact, is not that light either. It's built like a miniature steel brick -- very solid (I like that feel).

I think OM's are wonderful too -- an OM-1 + 50/1.4 is a good combo for small, inconspicuous photography. SLR's are of course notable louder.
 
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Did you want a manual?

Did you want a manual?

lubitel said:
Revue 400SE or Vivitar 35ES with 40mm 1.7. A little hard to focus in the dark but not impossible.
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It'd be good to note that these 2 cameras, some of the Yashicas listed and the Konica are automatic and have no manual override.

Actually the Revue 400SE and Vivitar 35ES, I believe, were copies of the Minolta Hi-matic 7sII which IS fully manual. I'm not quite sure why they took out the manual option and made it auto only. Perhaps it saved them money and allowed them to sell it cheaper?


Anyways, if you're going to use it long term, you may want to make sure whatever you get can be shot in manual :)
 
Wayne R. Scott said:
I am also suprised that the Canon QL-17 GIII has not been mentioned yet, has a small fixed lens 40mm f1.7. You can probably find one for $40 to $60.
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The QL17 GIII has become my primary low light camera, and probably will be more so now that I've been able to recalibrate it to meter properly with ISO 1600 film.

You will see these all over the usual place, but the quality ranges from excellent to abysmal.

Another one I have and like is the Mamiya Super Deluxe. Mine has the f1.7 lens, but there's a more elusive f1.5 version out there too. These pop up every so often at the usual site that we love to hate. :)

The Canon is smaller and has shutter-priority auto-exposure (which does work quite well in most cases, actually) but lacks the match-needle mode and has a low speed of 1/4.

The Mamiya has match-needle exposure only, but goes down to 1 second.
 
a pre 1973 Kiev 4a and a J-3 would be my choice of a $200 or less available light shooter.
 
I think the Yashicas mentioned are good suggestions. Only thing I don't know about the GT is whether you will know how long the shutter will be open -- I think of those cameras as being pretty automated.
 
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