New-ish reasonable rangefinder camera?

[David Hughes]

Looking at cameras with RF focusing but not manual controls, there's the Konica C35, Yashica 35-ME and Mamiya 135EE.

One of the Werra range is a rangefinder and manual and could be your best bet but they are unconventional and that may put you off. Also it's best to search for one with the instruction book, lens cap and lens hood as it is a system.

Some of the first ones I mentioned need batteries and that means the mercury battery problem; meaning Wein cells or an expensive adapter. Again, you'll need to do a bit of research.

The trouble is, they are all film cameras and that means - as any young lady will tell you - you need to kiss a lot of frogs before one turns out to be a prince...

Regards, David

PS And what about a meter?

 

[Dpingr1]

The whole range of Voigtlander/Cosina Bessa rangefinders are from the late 1990s and 2000s, and are generally excellent but hardly inexpensive. If I knew what they would eventually sell for used, I'd have bought a crate of them back in 2003 or so. Close to your budget, the Bessa T is a rangefinder (but no built-in viewfinder) and the Bessa L (no built-in VF or RF; scale focusing only, so use a wide lens like the Heliar 15mm). But if you're willing to back up into the 1960s and 1970s, fixed-lens RF cameras are cheap and plentiful, with models from Zeiss Ikon, Petri, Yashica, Voigtländer, Minolta, many others. Those can be had for $20-50 easily. All had good lens/cheap lens options -- spring for the good lens. Most look cool -- use them till they break, and put them on the shelf for instant hipster cred.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Yashica GSN Excellent lens but needs simple battery modification

 

[p.giannakis]

There is also the choice of Kiev rangefinders. They seem to be within the price range but it can be a bit of hit and miss regarding reliability.

 

[Erik van Straten]

A Nikon S2. One of the best cameras around. As a lens the Cosina S Skopar 50mm f2.5. These used to be very affordable. I don't know the prices now. This would be my choice.



Erik.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

A Nikon S2. One of the best cameras around. As a lens the Cosina S Skopar 50mm f2.5. These used to be very affordable. I don't know the prices now. This would be my choice.



Erik.

"I'm looking to spend around ~$100 on a rangefinder. I'd like it to be manual focus, manual exposure if possible, of course film." Forest_rain

 

[Vince Lupo]

If having the ability to interchange lenses isn't that important (though I believe there are wide-angle and telephoto adapters available), I'd suggest a Ricoh 500, either the first, second or third type. It's a well-made camera, has a great rangefinder setup, has a cool bottom trigger wind, and examples in like-new condition can be had for under $100.

 

[agentlossing]

Has no one mentioned the Ricoh 500G? Perfect fit for what you're looking for, rangefinder focusing, shutter priority or manual exposure, light meter and nice sharp 40mm lens.

 

[wwfloyd]

...I once bought a Retina iib in working condition for A$20 because the seller said it was kaput - the film counter had to be reset to '0' to make it work...

I'll be darned, you just fixed my Retina IIa.

It had been about 25 years since I bought if for $8 at a flea market. I had shot a few rolls of film with it, but not used it since. Couple years ago, I got back into film, and wanted to use it... but, it seemed to have succumbed to the common Retina wind gear affliction I'd read about. Since I "knew" what the problem was, I didn't put any effort into looking for other possibilities.

 

[Pál_K]

A common Retina IIa failure is the exposure counter advance. The flat spring is weak and breaks. Replacements, other than from a donor camera, are ridiculously expensive (~US$50, I think).

That is just one opportunity for people with 3D printers to provide much-needed parts at lower cost.

Another opportunity is the aperture-activation ring in the Maxxum 7: it's plastic, weak, and breaks.

 

[charjohncarter]

I have a Bessa R, purchased from Camera Quest. And it has been great, but if I didn't have LTM lenses before I bought I would have bought a Bessa 2A (at least that is the one I think I would have cashed for). Any way the one I want is the same as the Bessa R BUT with an 'A' selection on the shutter speed so you just do the aperture you want and shoot. The camera auto-decides the shutter speed. Also check the frame line selection for the lenses you want to use.

 

[rfaspen]

Forest_rain,. Where are you located?

 

[David Hughes]

There is also the choice of Kiev rangefinders. They seem to be within the price range but it can be a bit of hit and miss regarding reliability.

That's a good idea as the lenses are a lot cheaper and the early Kiev 2a is a very pleasant camera to use, especially with the Jupiter-8 on it.

Reliability is not the word for a camera that could be 70 years old. It depends a lot on how the owner used and maintained it. Alas, most film cameras started to be neglected when digital reared its ugly head and everyone rushed to get one...

Regards, David

PS The Werra with the RF is the model 3.

 

[maartenmoerman]

Get a Canon P / 7 as others have stated. They could easily pass for a 70s/80s camera if that look is what you desire. Best bang for buck with regards to rangefinder cameras IMHO.

For metering, use an app on your phone. Lux on the iPhone is cheap, and works very well for me, even with slide film.

 

[punkzter]

Why not something like the Canon QL17 GIII? It can be shot manually, and I bet you can find one for around $100

 

[das]

I would get the Minolta 7sII or something. A compact fixed-lens rangefinder from the 1970s will let you know pretty quickly if rangefinder photography is for you. For $100, your choices are limited. I personally would not go for any of the FSU cameras -- too hard to find a good one and the later you go, the uglier they get. It's not a bad idea to spend a little more money and get a good, used rangefinder camera that can take interchangeable lenses -- that you can sell for what you paid for it (as long as you don't abuse it). As people have pointed out, the Bessas are good choices.

 

[David Hughes]

... I personally would not go for any of the FSU cameras -- too hard to find a good one and the later you go, the uglier they get...

But that applies to almost any camera make and model. You have to do a bit of research into the cameras and a bit of research into the sellers. There are one or two about who can be trusted and give a guarantee; and a few who specialise in (say) old USSR made cameras. The feedback on ebay is a good place to start.

My experience, and I am not alone in this, is that a FED or Zorki or Leica that has been looked after and so on will be a good - if old fashioned - camera.

I used to say that my Leica II and my FED looked and felt the same in use but these days the FED is still OK but the Leica is needing a little attention. There's nothing unusual in that as it happens to all cameras and depends on when they were last done and how much use they get. It's a pity you don't get repair and usage log books with cameras like you do wit aircraft.

The real problem is how easy it is to get them repaired at a reasonable cost. Worse still, as problems go, are those repaired by the owners who have read about how easy it is on some forum...

Regards, David

PS If you don't believe me do a thorough search on what people ask about (say) Leica M6's and 7's.

 

[GulfCoastPhotog]

If you want to spend less, but older, the Argus C-3. Easy to work on and good pics IMHO , I used one for years, use to buy non-working and rebuild them to resale. Good luck in your search.

David

 

[CLAdictic]

I bought an Olympus PenEE in 1964 in Vietnam. Small, compact and accurate. Fixed lens, built in light meter. Three distant settings, close, mid-range and distant. A great camera with the ability to coax 72 exposures out of a 36 exposure roll.