I'm searching for a 28mm Camera

[der.chris.tian]

Yes, and up to now I'm not totally happy with what I've found. I'd like to have a rangefinder that has a fixed 28mm lens (+- 2), no automatic film wind and shouldn't cost over 200-250 Euro. That's it, but I'm really having a hard time finding such a one.

Right now I'm thinking about an Olympus XA4 (not sure about the shutter release button yet) or maybe an old russian cam with an external Viewfinder plus a 25mm Snapshot Skopar (well, not really 28 and maybe too expensive) but maybe I'm just have a lack of information about a nice little fitting camera I don't know yet.

If you have an idea, feel free to tell me. Please. : )

 

[John Bragg]

Forgive the random translation on this french site, but I think the Canonet 28 fits the bill....

http://translate.google.com/transla...&hl=fr&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=/language_tools

 

[der.chris.tian]

Hey John,

although one could imagine the focal length of 28mm because of the model name, it actually has a 40mm lens. But thanks, nevertheless.

 

[aizan]

there aren't any. 🙁

 

[Didier]

Why MUST it be a rangefinder without auto advance? There are great compact 28mm cameras.

The Ricoh Gr-1 is an excellent camera with a tack sharp 2.8/28mm and sells for nothing (I believe i saw one going for less than $50). Another very great compact film 28er is the Nikon 28Ti. But this one is a collectors item with a cult status and might reach your upper limit. Another option is the fast 24mm/1.9 Fuji Natura S or the Minolta TC-1. And another possibility is a Bessa L with a used 28mm lens (Canon, CV, or other) and scale focusing. I did a lot of scale focusing with a 28mm lens. Or use a russian LTM body instead of a Bessa L.

Didier

 

[der.chris.tian]

Didier,
the motor wind is too loud for me. I owned the Ricoh once, but sold it because of that. A Bessa (or a cheaper Kiev, Fed,...) is eventually an alternative, but I don't find cheaper 28mm lenses. The only one I know is a Orion-15, but it has a min. aperture of f6. Not that good and actually not too cheap for that.

 

[John Bragg]

Does it have to be a rangefinder, or would an OM1 and 28mm Zuicko fit the bill..???

 

[sirius]

didier listed all i know about. why not go digital and get a ricoh grd? it has a 28mm equivalent lens, takes great pictures and is silent.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

The XA4 is a great camera. The shutter release is different but not at all a problem. It's like traditional Citroen brakes.

 

[charjohncarter]

If you don't mind scale focus try this: Bessa-R with a 28mm Pentax Screwmount. It works great, but you have to have an adapter

 

[ltketch]

If you don't mind scale focus try this: Bess-R with a 28mm Pentax Screwmount. It works great, but you have to have an adapter

Where would one get an adaptor?

 

[charjohncarter]

I bought a Leica to M42 adapto(e)r from Pentax. So, it is a 39mm to 42mm adapto(e)r. Then I added a Pentax M42 No. 1 extension tube (9.5mm). It is the perfect fit. See this: http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~westin/misc/mounts-by-register.html


Again, Pentax and Leica think ahead.

 

[charjohncarter]

Itketch, by the way I use my Zenitar 16mm (screwmount) with both my Leica IIIf and my Bessa-R, besides my many Pentax bodies. It is a lot of fun, practically no focus, and on the Bessa-R just dial in the exposure. Here is one with the Zenitar, unfortunately I abominate the film I was using. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=56694&ppuser=8685

 

[kevin m]

If you can live with a digital camera, the Panasonic Lumix line has Leica lenses that are '28mm' plus they have a 16:9 sensor.

 

[kttomi]

Yes, and up to now I'm not totally happy with what I've found. I'd like to have a rangefinder that has a fixed 28mm lens (+- 2), no automatic film wind and shouldn't cost over 200-250 Euro. That's it, but I'm really having a hard time finding such a one.

Right now I'm thinking about an Olympus XA4 (not sure about the shutter release button yet) or maybe an old russian cam with an external Viewfinder plus a 25mm Snapshot Skopar (well, not really 28 and maybe too expensive) but maybe I'm just have a lack of information about a nice little fitting camera I don't know yet.

If you have an idea, feel free to tell me. Please. : )

Fujifilm Tiara II / DL Super Mini

http://blog.xuite.net/jimmail/2005/3990237

 

[der.chris.tian]

Wow.. many answers.


John,
yeah I've heard that the OM1 should be kinda silent, but I haven't heard it yet. Do you think it's as silent as a rangefinder?

Sirius,
I really think about this from time to time, but in the end.. I'd like top stay with film for street-photography. Besides, the GR-D is quite expensive.

ClaremontPhoto,
nice to hear that. But well... There's no point of pressure, so that you can't put your finger on it, right? Seems stressful for me at the moment.

Charjohncarter,
huh, that's nice. If you can add this adapter to a Bessa, could you also add one to lets say an old russion like the Kiev 4? Isn't it the same mount? Does this affect the focal length? So did I get that right...? If I add such a m42 adapter I can add a m42 lens from my SLR to my rangefinder? I only cand find adapters that allow me to put m39 lenses on a m42 mount - so the other way around.

Kevin m,
hmm no optical viewfinder and no hot shoe to add an external one. Thanks, but not for me.

Kttomi,
it has a automatic film wind, right?

 

[oscroft]

yeah I've heard that the OM1 should be kinda silent, but I haven't heard it yet. Do you think it's as silent as a rangefinder?

No, it's nowhere near as quiet. The OMs are perhaps quiet by SLR standards, but my OM1 and OM2 still make an almighty racket compared to my Leica M6 or to any fixed-lens leaf-shutter RF.

 

[kttomi]

Kttomi,
it has a automatic film wind, right?

Yes,it has.Very quiet...

There is: "AF" / "Manual" focusing (0,35m - 0,4m - 0,45m - 0.5m - 0.6m - 0.7m - 0.8m - 0.9m - 1.0m - 1.2m - 1.5m - 2.0m - 2.5m - 3.0m - 5.0m - 10.0m - inf.) / "Snap(shot)" (~3.0m) / "Infinity" option on the camera.

 

[John Bragg]

It may not be as quiet as a Leica, but it is a well made discrete and very small camera by SLR standards and very capable indeed. I have two and although they dont get much use since I got my M6, I would never part with them...

 

[charjohncarter]

Wow.. many answers.


Charjohncarter,
huh, that's nice. If you can add this adapter to a Bessa, could you also add one to lets say an old russion like the Kiev 4? Isn't it the same mount? Does this affect the focal length? So did I get that right...? If I add such a m42 adapter I can add a m42 lens from my SLR to my rangefinder? I only cand find adapters that allow me to put m39 lenses on a m42 mount - so the other way around.



I don't know what a Kiev 4 is but if it is a 42mm Screwmount and it is a SLR lens then it will work. Pentax made an adapter that screws into Leica thread mount. Into that you screw a Pentax 9.5 (No. 1) extension tube, now you screw the Pentax or M42 Screwmount lens onto the two adapters. It does not effect the focal length. And I has work perfectly with all the lenses I've tried. Generally, you want to use wide angle lenses.