New to rangefinders

[pmazer]

I've been taking pictures of various things for the past about year and a half. My camera is a Canon 300D, but I want to start using rangefinders for street photography. I'm wondering if I should buy a cheap rangefinder to start out or save my money to get a better camera in a few months?

 

[laptoprob]

Start with a simple easy one to get the feeling. Canon GIII QL is a famous one. Abundant and affordable. There are ofcourse many others in that category.
Afterwards, if you know better what you want, start hunting!

Rob.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Yeah, as I said. You could start with a FSU rangefinder if you want something that will pose you a challenge and throw you right into the wonderful world of screwmount interchangable lens rangefinders. You could also go for the cheaper, simpler things and get a Canonet or a Yashica. The best camera for a beginner is something that will allow you to get used to how the focusing works and allow you to really, er, focus on that. In that case, I'd choose either a Canonet GIII QL17 or another of the same type. It is a mix of auto and manual controls.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Caveat: while the Canon GIII QL is famous and well-regarded, there are also repair issues with some of them, and finding a place to get it fixed may be hard, depending on where you live, so consider that if you're in a tight budget. I'm not saying they're bad, I'm saying be prepared.

There are other great alternatives, like Stephanie said, the Yashica Electro is one, but it's going now for big bucks on ePrey. You could also consider the other less-thought of alternative: a Kodak Retina. Has a great lens, could be had for cheap, and makes you a non-ditto head. Great deals on ePrey.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

The Retinas are going up too, actually. Maybe a Minolta Hi-Matic?

 

[cp_ste.croix]

Get a GSN...a bit bigger than the QL17, but way cheaper in my experience (discounting the $1600 one) The GSN was my first RF and it is a great camera, it was a shock how great that lens is.

 

[Biggles]

As the others have said, don't be afraid to start with a cheap one to see if you like it.

BUT.

For your first rangefinder, I suggest you make sure to buy a bright, clean, expensive-feeling viewfinder with an inexpensive fully-functional camera attached. A World Class body with a dim, grimy finder that hasn't been cleaned in fifty years and that you just can't focus easily will turn you off this discipline faster than DEET on skeeters. However, if you like the way the world looks through a big clean rangefinder window and can react to it quickly, your pictures will reward you no matter how cheap the lens.

Read the board, ask some questions, get some opinions; write some notes and model names on actual paper. Put the paper in your pocket. Then go to a few second-hand dealers in your area, and (literally) look through the merchandise. Handle the damned things. If nothing else, it can be a pleasant and educational way to spend a Saturday morning.

 

[varjag]

Welcome pmazer!

My strong Kiev bias forces me to suggest you, uh, a Kiev 🙂 Built like a tank and usually free from RF alignment issues. You'd have no ability to take LTM lenses, but Kiev/Contax bayonet takes it's own array of (mostly good) glass, made by KMZ, Carl Zeiss and lately Cosina Voigtlander.

But here's plenty of folks experienced with different lines equipment, and their advice is likely to be good as well.

 

[rover]

All fine cameras, but 30 years old with lots of quirks. The Bessa R is selling in a kit with a fine lens for $399. More $ than the other choices, but it is new, will have a better finder than the others, and is not so expensive that you may not feel compelled to sell it if you wish to upgrade in the future.

 

[ErnestoJL]

Welcome to the forum PMAZER!
Suggestions: Kiev 4 (with a sometimes usable lightmeter attached), Canonet QL19, Yashica MG1 or Electro 35 GT/GSN, Zorki 4K, Contax IIa or IIIa, Minolta Hi-Matic 9s or 11, and so many others which Im´m sure won´t disapoint you in any way. Of course, there are Leicas, and Konica Hexar, Contax G...but your wallet must be a little thick to go that way!
A fine choice but within reasonable limits of expenditure is the Cosina/Voigtländer Bessa R3A, or R2A, which are perhaps the best of both worlds: new cameras, old styled but with up to date tecnology inside. They feel like any one of the other cameras mentioned, but a span of 50 years in design and innovations make them something to think for a while.

 

[simonankor]

My first was a Ricoh 500GX... I'd happily recommend trying out a 70s fixed-lens RF as long as you check the viewfinder/rangefinder are clean, clear and bright... I still use the old Ricoh from time to time, the lens is somewhat amazing. A very underrated camera!

BUT...

If I did it all over again, I'd spend a bit more and get a Bessa to start.

 

[wyk_penguin]

All fine cameras, but 30 years old with lots of quirks. The Bessa R is selling in a kit with a fine lens for $399. More $ than the other choices, but it is new, will have a better finder than the others, and is not so expensive that you may not feel compelled to sell it if you wish to upgrade in the future.

GET THE LEICA! 😀 (and stop worrying about upgrading the body, only the lenses... :bang: )

No, to be real, I think the FSU cameras are great. Fully manual. Often without a "functional" (i.e. correct within 3 stops) lightmeter. It really helps your skill in composing and watching the light. Though you may only get 10 photos per roll at the start. 🙁 Gets you to pay attention to the details.

But in my opinion you'd have to unlearn what you've got from your automatic SLR. :bang: Which may be good or bad.

 

[pmazer]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I decided to shell out around $50 for a good condition Zorki-4 to start off with. It should be fun!