Koni Omega Rapid 100/200

[actorlife]

Hello!

I'm a new member here. I'm looking to get my first Rangefinder. Something somewhat compact. I've been reading the Koni Omega Rapid 100/200 is a good start. I'm trying not to spend too much, less than $250.00 US. One of the reasons I want one is because of the optics and manual focus(need more practice).

Thanks!

 

[JasonC]

What is you definition of compact? Koni Omega Rapid 100/200 are bricks. However, the lenses are very good.

Jason.

 

[actorlife]

I've heard they were like 4 pounds Jasonc, maybe I can gain some muscles.

 

[actorlife]

I'm open to other suggestions.

 

[JasonC]

Has to be 6x7? 120 folders are most compact. TLRs are lighter than Koni Omega.

Jason.

 

[venchka]

I had one. Made some money with it shooting weddings. The 90mm lens is/was the best lens I've ever owned. That includes a lot of brands including Leica, Nikon, Canon, Mamiya TLR, Pentax 6x7, etc. I would welcome one back in a heartbeat. I had the 100 and I can't remember if it had interchangeable backs. I think that feature belongs to the 200. In a perfect world I would find a 200 and a couple backs and the 90mm lens at a garage sale for $5.

The camera would be an awesome old school press photographer style street camera.

 

[shadowfox]

I have a chance to use one recently, the frames are overlapping about half an inch on each side. The winding mechanism needs to be CLA'd. Apparently this problem is quite common, so be prepared.

 

[actorlife]

Any other recommendations?:bang:

 

[SDK]

Perhaps a Fuji GS670, GS690 or GSW690 would be compact and certainly lighter. The Bronica RF645 is wonderful.

 

[Abbazz]

Or, if you need more flexibility, at the expense of weight, why not an older Fuji G690? The G690 series (G690, G690BL, GL690/GM670) have an interchangeable lens, with a collection of nice glass ranging from 50mm to 180mm. These cameras are rather uncommon -- and the lenses even more-- but they do appear from time to time on eBay (beware of the crazy prices from some sellers) and Keh. There are a few bodies, the 100/3.5 lens and even the 65/5.6 lens available on Keh right now.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[denishr]

If absolute portability (weight) is a must, then a Rolleiflex (or any other lighter TLR - excluding a Mamiya) is your only option - but it's not a rangefinder.

I'm not sure about prices of other MF rangefinders (Fuji is a good idea, not sure about the price, though - I think the body alone is more than $300).

For the price, a used Koni Omega with a 90mm lens can't be beat. You can find a good kit for less than $200 sometimes, so for $250 you should be able to get one in EX condition.... It is heavy, though...

 

[Abbazz]

I'm not sure about prices of other MF rangefinders (Fuji is a good idea, not sure about the price, though - I think the body alone is more than $300).

There is a G690BL with its 100/3.5 lens on Keh available for $465. The body alone is $364 or $235 for a camera with a missing eyepiece (if it's the plastic bit around the finder which is missing, then it's only a cosmetic flaw). The 100/3.5 normal lens is $126 and the 65/5.6 wide is $819 (this one is very rare, never having been imported into the USA).

Cheers!

Abbazz