New to Film Rangefinders (what to choose?)

[Rikaro]

Hi guys. I am pretty new to all these film rangefinders. But for some reason i'm really into these lately (probably because of their portability and size)

Little history about me:
19 yr old kid wants to play film now
-owned a DSLR digital rebel (300d) for a year
-then just now i have a Canon 5d (using the 50mm F1.4 and 24-105 F4L mostly)
-want to do some film than digital (B&W/C doesn't matter)
-willing to spend cheap only (ACAP!! as cheap as possible haha) <should be around the $200 range w/ lense)
-i'm used to all these automatic functions and ease of these new DSLRs i want to go full manual now.
-just something that i don't have to carry something as big as my DSLRs
-shoots low light a lot (big or decent Aperature)
-either wide angle 20mm or portrait range
-LOVES vignetting (is that a good thing or what@!? 😛)
-if you have one for sale, then POST!!!

please help me out . I'm still all confused about this rangefinder thing haha
why manual rangefinder when a 5d with 50mm f1.4 is3200 can shoot pics at night with no effort at all?

 

[sf]

Why? Because when you want a camera, like other things in life, you want the real thing. You don't always know it till you know it, if you know what I mean. But when you know it, you really, vehemently know it. With a cherry on top.

For you . . . . a Holga. Or look here : http://www.okvintagecamera.com/cameras.html

No DSLR looks this good with a Guinness. Actually, no DSLR looks this good. Period.

 

[FrankS]

Look here: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16509

 

[Byuphoto]

Try an FSU(Zorki, FED,or Kiev). You can get from a 28 to a 135 and still have reasonable quality. A Jupiter J3 or J8 lens is fine and I have even used an Industar 61 with good results.

 

[pesphoto]

I just devel0ped my first rolls of TriX taken with my new Bessa R. Full manual and the meter is spot on. I didnt even bracket once. HIghly recommend! More reliable than the older Russian cameras and 70's rangefinders. Though a good GSN of Lynx is a good way to go also for under $100.
You can get a Bessa R with 35mm for $200 on ebay if you look hard enough.

 

[ZeissFan]

please help me out . I'm still all confused about this rangefinder thing haha why manual rangefinder when a 5d with 50mm f1.4 is3200 can shoot pics at night with no effort at all?

This speaks more to "why bother with film" when you can get instant feedback and good-enough quality with digital.

With film and particularly with rangefinders, you begin to retake control of the process. Instead of relying on the camera to do everything with you as merely a button-pusher, you need to consider the entire process: aperture, shutter speed, focusing, etc.

This is not to say that you can't get good photos with digital. Certainly you can. And if all you want is to take good photos, then there is no reason to try film.

If you want the ability to use a particular type of color or black and white film, depending on the circumstance., to not have to worry about histograms and matrix-exposure, focusing points, etc., then you might give film a try. You give up immediate gratification.

There are two sides here, and both have their benefit and drawbacks. I don't require the advantages of digital. Don't need it, don't miss it.

 

[darkkavenger]

Yes go for a FSU (former soviet union) rangefinder like the Kiev, Zorki or Fed... you'll start with something sturdy and fully manual... and very cheap! After a while, you'll feel the meaning of G.A.S. attack! 😀

 

[dgray]

Rangefinders are not at their best at "20mm or portrait range." If this is a firm requirement for what you want, then the price goes up considerably because of the need for interchangeable lenses. Fixed lens rangefinders are a great way to start - cheap (WAAY under $200), small, light, and sharp lenses. For wide angle lenses you need an external viewfinder added to the hot shoe on top which changes the whole dynamic of the camera. Portrait lenses require you to frame in a relatively small box in the viewfinder, unless you get a specialty viewfinder with a higher magnification - but again that is out of your price range. Your comparison to the 5D with a 50/1.4, though, appears to imply that you use that combination, so maybe you are comfortable with a standard angle of view? If so, I'd agree to pick up a Canonet GIII QL 17 as a first rangefinder. From there you can tell what you like and don't like and move on to find what fits your style best (focal length, more/less automation, interchangeable lenses, viewfinder mag and brightness....). For $75-100 give it a shot, and if you don't like it you can always sell it again for the same price.

 

[Rikaro]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate all the help here.
Reason i might be moving to film is because of the Canon DSLR's dynamic range
Yes you do get all the high iso shooting and 'ease to use'... but i just want something small and fun 😛

So, you guys are talking about FED, Zorki etc
how do they compare to the Canonet QL17 III, and the Leica M3 etc? What are the major differences when they use the same quality film, and lense?

btw, i just saw a Canon 50mm F0.95!!!! Shouldn't be a sharp lense, but damn i want one!!! (just because it's BIIIGGGGG AP.)

 

[vincentbenoit]

why manual rangefinder when a 5d with 50mm f1.4 is3200 can shoot pics at night with no effort at all?

You said it yourself: portability. Other reasons, from the top of my head: unobtrusiveness, ability to see outside of the frame while composing the shot, freedom from batteries, optically superior wide-angle lenses (non-retrofocus design), the distinctive look of fast B&W film, the legacy of many great photographers (keyword: Magnum), being part of the RFF community...
BTW I'm not sure what you mean by "with no effort at all"... Do you use your 5D in green square mode? 😀
Cheers
Vincent

 

[Rikaro]

^
Av and Tv mode doesn't count does it? 😀
if you have used one, you'll see what i mean 😉

 

[w3rk5]

Hi and welcome Rikaro. I dunno how the FSU cameras would compare to the Canonet QL17 III, and the Leica M3 etc. My bro has a Konica S2 and a Minolta Hi-Matic 9 that I got to play with. Both work perfectly, but I'd rather shoot with any of my FSU's instead. To me, my FED's feel sooo much better. Because of that, I think it helps me create better images. I'm sure they are built better than most FSU's, but I wouldn't say FSU's are less reliable or durable. The key is to get a solid working one. The Russian's have a saying that goes something like this, "Make it simple, make it strong, and make it work".

I've had good experience buying from alex-photo, cupog (both from *bay) and Oleg . Good luck and have fun with whatever you decide to get. It's all good. 🙂

 

[peter_n]

Rikaro welcome to the forum! 🙂 Hightly recommend the Canonet GIII QL 17. Terrific fixed Canon 40mm/f1.7 comes with it and loading film is a snap! Put a WTB post in the Classifieds here and see if you get an offer...

Vincent - the M6 arrive yet?

 

[aizan]

20mm? how about a 24mm? fuji natura has a 24mm f1.9 lens.

 

[Rikaro]

i just brought a Canonnet GIII QL w/ 40mm F1.7 for $50
is it a good deal?

 

[peter_n]

If its in good shape, yes. 🙂

 

[ZeissFan]

You'll likely have to replace the foam seals.

 

[dgray]

Yes, that's a good deal, but for that price it probably does need new seals (a litle messy but easy to do by yourself) and it probably needs a new battery. Do a search for the battery issue because there are lots of opinions and work arounds, but the short of it is that the mercury battery it originally used is no longer available or legal, so you'll need to get a Wein cell or have the camera converted to take a modern battery. The Wein cells don't last as long as other batteries, but they are cheap and a good way to start off until you decide what you really want in a rangefinder.

 

[satbunny]

Bessa R with a 35mm or a 28mm lens.
Or go wide and do the Bessa L and 15mm lens.

It'll all have to be second hand and might break the budget.

You're 19 and can afford a 5D? phew..

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I was 17 when I bought Photoshop. 😉

I think the best thing for a person getting into rangefinder photography is to try it out with a fixed lens camera first. A Fed or a Zorki is also a good way to go. Then you get the lust for the Canons (P or 7), the Leicas (M2 or M3 for me), and that lovely Zeiss Ikon.