Konica Auto S2 vs. Minolta Hi-matic 9 vs. Canonet QL-17 GIII vs. Yashica GSN

[btgc]

Problem with all of them is - they all are good in it's niche. I'm still standing on Lynx 5000 as "best RF for general use, hands down, tails up". Konica S2 is next to Lynx, superb lens, not so smooth controls and AE mechanism makes release dependant on soft release, GSN is also fine and it's very small brother Electro 35 MC is (mkey, no RF) - yes, they shine because of "Av and be there". Don't have a Canonet, so not mention it. RC waiting for light seals, but size and feel makes it candidate for carry-around candidate on par with MC.

In a word - one mans meal is others poison....yeah, this means just try them and see what works better for you. I recommend to jump into while film is here for reasonable price.

 

[NickTrop]

Um Nick... how many of these are in your "hobby room" ? : D

LOL - I only own one 🙂 And it's not the one I use the most! I've amassed to many cameras, and I'm not really a "collector", so the others I "rotate" or have certain films in them.. I work at a school and have a display of candids of students that I update every few months with color and black and whites I've shot. GSN - no flash, ambient light, quite, very fast in operation and I can get the DOF and DOF effects I want because of precise control over aperture. It also has the most sensitive meter, meters up to ASA 1000, and has way more choices (640, 520) if you want to rate your film "in between" stops. NO other FLRF provides for this, which is why I think the GSN is a serious photographic tool by design.

It's the best designed film camera for candid ambient light and low light photography, which is why I use it where I use it. It's funny the "no flash" comments I get all the time. Pictures look so much more natural this way. The lens is very nice but I think all the FLRFs during their heyday had great glass, which I find overrated a bit. They were all - for the most part, 6 element/4 group (except the Oly SP and Yash Lynx 14, which were 7/5) Planars with 40-45mm focal lengths... which, even in the 60's, 70's, it was hard to find a bad one.
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[Al Patterson]

So, there you have it. Strong recommendations for every camera on your list. The members of RFF are glad to be of service 🙄

Well, if he listens to us and sticks around, he'll probably end up with all of them anyway...

 

[JeffGreene]

Like Al said, GAS begins with the acquisition of fixed lens rangefinders. The illness then progresses to Leica/Zeiss levels. The final stages end with medium/large format cameras. Fortunately for me, I've learned that I can take bad pictures in any format! 😀

 

[Windscale]

indesertum,

The above replies probably gave you all you need to know about these cameras. You should decide based on your own needs, such as, what kind of pictures you would most often take, etc. Of your many cameras, I would most seriously consider the Canon QL17. The Konica S2 will be in second place as it is heavier. I say this because these models can work manually (without batteries). I always use a handheld meter (and have it checked once every 2 or 3 years) as I never trust old built-in lightmeters because capacitors and resistors may have their values displaced over the years. Generally I do not trust electronics. So, for me, the GSN, though a very good camera, is out. The RC is light, but only has a 2.8 lens which is not as good as the ones in the QL17 and S2. If you really want to go Japanese, you can try the Minolta 7SII. This is light and has a very good lens comparable to the QL and the S2.

 

[narsuitus]

I use the Canonet QL-17 and the Minolta Hi Matic 9 because with the exception of the light meter, both will work without batteries and I prefer battery-independence.

 

[ruben]

Dear Friend,

Although different, any of these cameras may become your best camera
if instead of looking for the abstract "best" one, you look for the best available sample.

In other words keep your list at hand, be flexible minded and fish the best sample you can find, be it minolta, canon or whatever you have mentioned.

Of course "best sample" is a compromise between your budget and the actual working condition of the camera.

Offer and demmand of the brands in your list is very much randomal.

Cheers,
Ruben