Looking for a 35mm rangefinder fully manual camera

R

rowghani

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Hey guys,

I've been shooting MF for the past 5 years but recently had a look at my old 35mm slides and felt nostalgic to shoot 35 again. I am looking for one with a full manual option. Price is a consideration so I know there is the M series from leica but that's unfortunately too expensive. I was thinking of a Canon QL 17 but that's fully automatic from what I remember. Many a Minolta CLE is my best option considering the price? A fix lens one is ok as long as I can shot it fully manual. I was thinking of an old Zorki. Thoughts?
 
What about a Canon 7 or similar Canon rangefinder? I've handled a couple, they are very nice fully manual cameras. Better than a Zorki, in terms of build quality and probably reliability.
 
What's your budget? Do you need/want the ability to change lenses?

Since you were thinking of the Canon QL 17, perhaps consider the Olympus 35 RC. 42mm f/2.8 fixed lens rangefinder. Has automatic shutter priority, but with full manual over-ride.
 
The Canon QL 17 offers full manual control. It just doesn't offer metering in manual mode.


The meter works in shutter-priority mode and you have AEL (auto-exposure lock) by pressing the shutter button halfway down and "trapping the needle." You choose the shutter speed and it shows in the finder the aperture that is being activated. You can override that setting by locking the exposure or by setting the aperture manually.


If you choose to use a separate meter or you are able to "eyeball" the exposure yourself, you can use the camera in manual mode, in which case no battery is required.


This is typical of most RF cameras of this genre.


- Murray
 
Buy recently serviced LTM Leica. Or buy one cheap and send it for service.
Lenses are plenty.

Prepare to sped a fortune on slides.
 
I really like my new-to-me Leica iiif. It works like a fine mechanical watch. You can get a nice one for $300- $400. A separate viewfinder really makes it great but adds a another hundred or two. If not that, a Canon rangefinder would be my next choice.
 
A clean CL with a fresh CLA plus a CV 40mm Nokton Classic will set you back ~$800.

It's fully manual with a meter - and in my book - it's a real Leica.
 
I second the CL but good luck finding one with a working meter.
If you would go meterless take a look at FSU stuff. It’s still inexpensive and the lenses are really good.
 
Kodak Signet 35 - excellent 44mm f/3.5 Ektar lens.

About $50 in good condition w/working rangefinder.

SIGNET35.jpg


Sample images:

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/for...odak+Signet+35
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/for...odak+Signet+35
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/for...odak+Signet+35
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/for...odak+Signet+35
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/for...odak+Signet+35

And... http://www.sample-image.com/kodak-signet-35/
 
A good Leica IIIc (et al) would be my recommendation. One must be careful however, I now own 4 as the addiction never seems to fade.
 
To me, a manual camera as one that does not require batteries to operate.
I am a big fan of manual/mechanical cameras.
The manual rangefinder cameras that I use include:
Leica M6
Canonet QL17 G-III (left)
Minolta Hi-Matic 9 (right)

I can focus, adjust aperture, adjust shutter speed, and advance the film without batteries in the camera.

All three use batteries for their built-in light meter; however, I can focus, adjust aperture, adjust shutter speed, and advance the film without batteries in the camera.


Manual Rangefinders by Narsuitus, on Flickr
 
I'd go for a Kodak Retina IIIc (little c). Great Schneider 50mm F2, should be able to get a working one under 100. They are solid well made cameras and can still be serviced.
 
canon p for sure-you can easily find bodies from japan for under 200$ and you can always find super cheap russian lenses for it for under 100 for 50 and 35... so with 300 bucks you have all you need. plus canon has metal curtain so it means less chances for leakes than leica or russian ones (i had leaks bkth in my m4 and my wife on m6 and i maybe once had it in russian one even), also you will get better viewfinder than any ltm camera. so dont even think about any other interchangeable. if you want fixed lens then canonet 17 or 19...
 
If we are talking fully manual and not Leica then we are talking about cameras that will be 20, 30 or even more years old. That means that the budget should include a reasonable amount for repairs, checking and so on as you never can tell with second hand cameras. Of course it is possible to buy from dealers and get a guarantee but they never seem to have the one you want in stock...

You mentioned the Minolta CLE which is an all electronic camera and so may well be difficult to get repaired should it succumb to something. I'd suggest the manual with a built in meter version, meaning the Leica CL. It's a very pleasant camera to use, especially with slide film as the meter is centre only and can, of course, be ignored and used fully manual. It was designed around mercury batteries and adapters are available to run the meter off of hearing aid batteries. Do some research and you'll find the meter is nowhere near as bad as the internet rumours.

Looking at the Zorki range you have the conventional Zorki-6 which I would recommend on account of its age alone but other features are desirable like the strap lugs, lever wind, dioptre adjustment, wide RF base and so on. The other old USSR made work horse people like is the FED-2 and that has the same advantages but winds on the film with a knob instead of a lever. Both benefit from finding and studying the instruction manual.

As for lenses for the Zorki and FED, anything with Industar or Jupiter on it will be OK but you should be aware that a lot of people are keen on do it yourself repairs and so on to USSR made cameras and lenses and often end up ruining them. Again a dealer or budget for checks etc is the answer.

You should also take Kostantin's comments about the cost of slide film to heart and remember that slide film is the acid test of exposure correctness.

FWIW, I own and use everything I've mentioned and like them. I also own a lot of other RF's that I've not mentioned; film and digital...


Regards, David
 
Last edited:
CMur12 said:
The Canon QL 17 offers full manual control. It just doesn't offer metering in manual mode.


The meter works in shutter-priority mode and you have AEL (auto-exposure lock) by pressing the shutter button halfway down and "trapping the needle." You choose the shutter speed and it shows in the finder the aperture that is being activated. You can override that setting by locking the exposure or by setting the aperture manually.


If you choose to use a separate meter or you are able to "eyeball" the exposure yourself, you can use the camera in manual mode, in which case no battery is required.


This is typical of most RF cameras of this genre.


- Murray
Click to expand...

Thats perfect. I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. Yes I will be using an external meter so its fine with me. I thought these cameras did not have manual override. I think I will go with the olympus 35RC!
 
Thanks to all for the info. I was under the impression that the Canon QL and the olympus rc could not be operated without batteries. That solves my problem. I will pick one up as soon as I can. All the best.
 
The OP had mentioned the QL17, which is fixed lens of course. Most of the suggestions have been interchangeable lens cameras, so I'm not sure he wants to spend too much. A Canon P would be a nice option and not too much money if he wanted interchangeable lenses, but then you're dealing with the cost of a lens too.
 
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