My daughter needs a film rangefinder for School! Something tough and long lasting!

Sending a daughter to a school in France and only 700GBP left in the budget ? Have never heard of a school asking for rangefinders, are you sure she is not trying to be fashionable with the coolest looking retro camera on earth?

Schools sometimes ask for a film camera, most cases because they still teach darkroom in the first year and some of them actually even lend you the film equipment in this digital age. A school insisting on rangefinders, sounds suspicious or extremely pretentious to me.
 
International said:
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Now I have set a budget of no more than £700 for the body. ... She would prefer to buy a new camera rather than used (I think this may be due to OCD, she always sees mistakes and scratches on everything, a used camera would be the end of the world for her even though it would be much cheaper for me... ...
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I think this would make it a Voigtlander R3. You with have enough for a 50mm lens too.
 
What focal length is she after? And does she insist on a built-in meter? For that matter, as others have said, why not a Nikon F? Hell, I think I'd sell her an M4-P with enough room for a lens in the 700 quid. Or an F. But a new(ish) Voigtländer would be fine.

Where in France, as a matter of interest?

You, and she, might care to look at http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps rf.html, about choosing and using RF cameras.


Cheers,

R.
 
such a dad a d700+lens!
my dad had offered me for my 20s a Olympus Om2n and a 50f1.4 i was happy for years.

ZI and Zeiss lens aren't cheap!
 
Peter S said:
Sending a daughter to a school in France and only 700GBP left in the budget ? Have never heard of a school asking for rangefinders, are you sure she is not trying to be fashionable with the coolest looking retro camera on earth?

Schools sometimes ask for a film camera, most cases because they still teach darkroom in the first year and some of them actually even lend you the film equipment in this digital age. A school insisting on rangefinders, sounds suspicious or extremely pretentious to me.
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No, £700 is what I am willing to pay for her rangefinder. I bought her a 70-200mm for Christmas which she dropped and broke. I can't pay for stuff and have her break it or loose it. Photo equipment does cost a fortune!

You think it's odd the school would ask for a rangefinder? Is my daughter lying to me because of some Leica Envy? I think I'm going to call the school to check...
 
If my daughter wants to go into Art, Think I'll enroll her in this school and send her over with a Nikon SP, 35/1.8, 50/1.4, and 85/2.
 
What about a screwmount Leica? You can get them at reasonable prices and the excellent period lenses that go with them like the Summitar, Summar and Elmar are not too expensive either. There is a great looking combination of a IIIF Red Dial and a 2.8 Elmar or Summaron (I can't tell) currently listed on Ffordes.com for a paultry 450 quid... Get her that and a Zeiss Ikophot, I know I'd be delighted.
 
I think that you should tell her that she can get a used Leica or a new Voigtlander Bessa, and let her pick from there. If you go for a Bessa, go for the R2A or R2M. If you go for a Leica M, I'd recommend an M4, M2, or an M6 if she needs a meter. I wouldn't recommend a screwmount Leica. They are excellent and beautiful, but she will find an M easier to use.
 
I checked out an M6 bought by an RFF member before forwarding it overseas. $900 for an M6, fresh CLA, beautiful condition. Added a Voigtlander 35/1.7 Ultron with adapter for under $300. Nice outfit, reasonable prices- thanks to Digital.
 
International said:
No, £700 is what I am willing to pay for her rangefinder. I bought her a 70-200mm for Christmas which she dropped and broke. I can't pay for stuff and have her break it or loose it. Photo equipment does cost a fortune!

You think it's odd the school would ask for a rangefinder? Is my daughter lying to me because of some Leica Envy? I think I'm going to call the school to check...
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I think I would have called the school when a D700 was said to be required for the course. OTH if she had to pay for the gear out of her own pocket there might be less breakage?

Bob
 
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How about send her the £700 and let her make her own choice... If she finds herself short of the cost of what she wants, then that summer job sounds good. Ultimately she's the one who has to be happy with the choice...
 
triplefinger said:
Voigtlander R3 A or M
Reliable, not too pricey.
Solid
Easy to load and rewind.
Aperture priority metering on the R3A

great camera and my personal favorite modern rangefinder.

The age of the leica, the expense, the difficult loading, the maintenance likely required and the lack of metering (on most) make it not worth it.

All rangefinders must be treated with care, misalignment of the RF will happen if dropped. That is a universal truth.

Good luck!
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Not very universal. Never happened to me in 40+ years. And some of my Leicas have dents from being dropped and banged.

Cheers,

R.
 
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