Irresistible draw of the rangefinder...

[aussie]

Dear All,
I've been a manual SLR man for a long time but have been feeling the relentless tug of the rangefinder for a while. I have diverse interests including mountaineering and working with racehorses and like the idea of being able to carry around a small, robust no-nonsense camera for unexpected photo opportunities. Can anyone offer me some advice to set me on the right path towards camera choice?
Priorities are: small
robust
reasonably inexpensive (want it to be something I'm happy to carry
around everywhere and not worry about loss or damage..)
something I'll be happy shooting for several years to come and that
won't disappoint somebody used to decent SLR images
Any suggestions?? Please don't tell me I'd need 4 different cameras to fill the above order...
Cheers
Pete

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Four different cameras that meet your requirements.

Canonet G-III QL17
Konica Auto S2
Yashica Electro GS
Minolta Hi-Matic 7

They're all reliable, and people in this forum have used them all at one time. I can't sell my Canonet (it was my first RF camera) but went and sold my Konica and Yashica before going for Leicas. Those cameras were the best school and preparation one can have. The Canonet, mostly, is easy to find, not always in good shape though, but a joy to use. So is the Konica (and the VF is a glorious thing). The Yashica was too big for my taste, but the camera is very functional and efficient.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[JoeFriday]

hi Pete!

we might need a little more input before making a recommendation.. do you want a fixed lens camera that fits in your pocket? how about price range? there's stuff out there selling from $30 to $300 (or more) that would work for you.. what situations do you foresee using it in?

 

[RichardS]

There are about a half dozen different models of the Yashica Electro that might suit you as might a FED 2 which is fairly small.

Dick

 

[Kin Lau]

Welcome Pete,

I think metering might be the biggest problem/question. Do you need a metered manual or match needle type metering (there aren't any), or are you comfortable with Sunny 16 and/or a separate meter.

Also, which slr system are you using right now, and how "small" of an RF are you looking for?

 

[Fred]

Welcome Pete to the RFF,

From the information you've given I guess you 'might' want an interchangable lens RF having been used to SLRs, the RF lenses tend to be smaller and lighter than the SLR brethren as they don't have to worry about communicating with the body for aperture stop down etc. So my suggested options do not include the fixed RF cameras

OK, following that assumption, some options are:

Leica M2 or M4, quite inexpensive (comparatively) and easy to get CLA'd so it should last many many years more. Plenty of spares around.

Leica M6, more expensive but has TTL meter. This is handy should you wish to shoot transparency film with little exposure lattitude.

Any FSU camera, cheap to buy but later models are bigger with arguable quality control consistency.

Minolta/Leica CL (mechanical) or CLE (electronic), have not been made for a while so spares may be thin on the ground. The CL is the preferred animal for me.

Konica Hexar, I've read good reports but these are no longer made. An option maybe other members can tell you more about

New Voigtlander Bessa R2a/R3a series, pretty well made and a lot cheaper than a late Leica and a warrenty helps as well. The shorter rangfinder base will only reveal itself if you close focus with wide apertures using longer (90mm) lenses faster than F3.5. Aperture priority auto as well.

If I were you I'd probably go for the Bessa. I'd prefer to go for a Leica as I'd use it regardless but they are more expensive.

Either way RFs' lead to GAS.

Have fun choosing.

 

[RayPA]

If you'd like one camera that you're going to have for years, then you may want to consider staying away from the fixed-lens cameras. They are good, and inexpensive, but once you get going with a RF, you're prbably going to want to try different lenses. As Fred, stated, you're going to get GAS. For price/performance (and new with a warranty, even), you should seriously consider one of the Bessas. They are really good RF cameras that leave enough $ in your pocketbook for you to acquire some glass. 🙂

🙂
Oops! BTW, welcome to RFF. You've landed in a great place. We know all about that irresistible draw you are referring to.
🙂

 

[RML]

As Fred, stated, you're going to get GAS. For price/performance (and new with a warranty, even), you should seriously consider one of the Bessas. They are really good RF cameras that leave enough $ in your pocketbook for you to acquire some glass. 🙂

If you buy a Bessa, don't forget to buy the ever ready case as well (if it doesn't come with it, which IIRC it doesn't)! The part that covers the body protects the camera very well and gives you a nice soft but firm grip.

 

[aussie]

Thanks folks for your advice. I can see this forum is going to prove invaluable over the next few years!!
To tighten up my requirements a little, I guess 'small' means to me something smaller than my SLR and can fit in a largish jacket pocket...
I suppose interchangeable lenses will suit me best longer term
Something with in-camera metering
Price-wise perhaps anything under the $500-600 mark
I'm not averse to the 'vintage' feel and look of some of the old cameras..

Is there anything out there that fits the bill? No-one mentioned the Russian rangefinders which I've heard quite a bit about; are they worth considering?

Thanks again,
pete

 

[Terence T]

You just described the Bessa range of cameras, from the R to the current R2a/R3a. Price range about $150 for the R, $350 for the R2 and $500 for the R2a/R3a. The R is LTM while the others are M mount. All come with a built in meter. The R2a/R3a have the convenience of an aperture priority mode. The cosina voigtlander range of lenses also represent a good deal for your money, typcially costing from $200-$600 for most models. Can't go wrong with a Bessa.

 

[RML]

Is there anything out there that fits the bill? No-one mentioned the Russian rangefinders which I've heard quite a bit about; are they worth considering?

Of course the Russians are worth considering... but... they have their drawbacks: tiny VF, teenytiny RF patch, awkward knob to rewind the film, setting shutter speed is a little tricky, awkward film loading.

Pros are, of course, a wide range of available LTM lenses (the Russian Jupiters and Industars being very good and very cheap), nearly indestructable build (though not always very sophisticated build quality), very cheaply available.

I, personally, like the FED-2; it looks so nice! But for working I'd use a Zorki 4K with its wind lever (though it still has a rewind know) and its larger and brighter VF.

I'm currently looking to buy my first Kiev, so I can't say much about them.