Poll: Favorite Line of Classic Japanese FLRF

Poll: Favorite Line of Classic Japanese FLRF

  • Minolta Hi-Matic Line (Too Numberous to Mention)

    Votes: 31 9.5%

  • Yashica Lynx Line

    Votes: 21 6.5%

  • Yashica Electro Line (GT, GTN, CC, GX, GL)

    Votes: 72 22.2%

  • Konica Auto S Line (S2, S3)

    Votes: 32 9.8%

  • Fujica

    Votes: 9 2.8%

  • Canonet Series, including the GIII-17

    Votes: 60 18.5%

  • Olympus "35" (RD, SP, RD)

    Votes: 74 22.8%

  • Yashica Minsiter Line

    Votes: 4 1.2%

  • Olympus Trip

    Votes: 10 3.1%

  • Konica II, III, IIIa

    Votes: 12 3.7%
  • Total voters
    325
I really liked my Vivitar 35ES, which is quite similar to the Minolta 7sII and the Konica S3, and all made by Cosina. Not quite sure where to put my vote!
 
I don't know which to choose...like benlees, I'm enjoying my Vivitar 35ES immensely right now after not having used it for a few months; I just bought a Minolta 7sII case for it and since they're basically the same camera, it fits perfectly. At the same time, my GIII QL17 is one of my favorite cameras ever so I could choose that one. But then there's the Yashica Lynx 1000, and the Fujica Compact Deluxe, or the Minolta AL or Minoltina AL-s...see what I mean? On any given day any one of these might be the best to me. All of the Hi-Matics I have are amazing, as are the Konicas S2 and S1.6. The Olympus 35 cameras, from the 35-S 1.8 to the 35DC, are also outstanding performers. I like all of them too much to choose one, but I would probably narrow my choices down to the Olympus 35 line (beginning with the early models up to the later ones) or GIII QL17.

Andy
 
I picked my Canonet QL17gIII. The build quality of my Yashica GSN is a piece of crap compared to the Canonet. The Yashica is also clumsy & a bit bulky. The Canonet fits really nice in the hands. Never used any of the rest so I can't speak for them.
 
How can you choose? Love these cameras and the discovery that one can make high quality images with inexpensive RF cameras is what brought me here in the first place.

Somehow I don't love the Canonet as much as others do, it is a nifty little camera but I don't like the lens that much for color.

The Electro GSN has an amazing light meter and the image quality is stunning, I adore the strange sound of the shutter on long exposures. But it is a bit of a tank and you never know what speed you are shooting.

Of the Japanese fixed lens cameras I actually own, that leaves the Oly 35 sp, not too big, not too small, great lens and a spot meter too, so I'll choose the Oly with the Electro 35 GSN a close second.
 
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I liked the Lynx cameras, just because I prefer having easy control over both shutter speed AND aperture. Even though I loved my GSN and Canonet's - the AE drove me nuts.

The Lynx 5000 is a perfect camera to keep in the glovebox. Cheap. Durable. Great lens.

And of course, the Lynx 14 has that lovely big 1.4 on it.
 
The Konica III is of near-Leica quality. The IIIM has a 100% very bright viewfinder, along with a very sharp lens. The camera ruggedness is that of a Leica.
 
Is VF of Konica III similar to those of KAS/KAS2 rather? I read that IIIA/M have very bright, though these are most rare and expensive from bunch.
 
I have a lovely little Cosina rf that cost me 99p she sits in the glove box of the car, I think its the same as quite a few others I have a chinon thats more or less the same. the other fixed lens im really fond of is the Canonet 28. I love that they are small and almost valueless yet are really not bad in the iq dept.
 
btgc said:
Is VF of Konica III similar to those of KAS/KAS2 rather? I read that IIIA/M have very bright, though these are most rare and expensive from bunch.
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The III has a different viewfinder from the IIIM/IIIA. The M and the A have a superb finder. They cost around $200-$250 in clean condition. This is not bad for such high quality built and high lens performance.
 
As anyone familiar with my post will know, I really like the Hi-Matic 9 and several of the Hi-Matic line. I also have a Hi-Matic F and a 7sII. These are both great cameras and each compliment the line in its own way. The F is a great point and shoot rangefinder and the 7sII gives a great amount of control. At the later end of the series, I have a very nice Hi-Matic AF2 with the accessory lenses and it is a great camera in its own right. Easy to use but it still delivers nice pictures.
 
I voted for Olympus. I have an RC and a DC but use one that is not mentioned here very often, the early Auto. A well built and top quality camera. Most of the Japanese RF cameras have something good to offer.
 
rogue_designer said:
I liked the Lynx cameras, just because I prefer having easy control over both shutter speed AND aperture. Even though I loved my GSN and Canonet's - the AE drove me nuts...And of course, the Lynx 14 has that lovely big 1.4 on it.
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Kinda funny. I agree 90%. The SS thing in the GSN didn't drive me "nuts" but I just prefer a manual camera. Interesting results. I'm not sure I can pick just one. Love the lens and the tiny size of my Konica S3. Love the all manual approach to the Lynx 14 - a simple light that tells you if you're over/under but it's a 100% manual camera with shutter speed easily controllable on the lens barrel... and 1.4 lens on the Lynx. You can literally use this as an aperture priority camera like the GSN if you tran youself to leave the ap set and change the shutter speed setting using the meter light to guide you... but it does have some heft to it (LOL).

And the metered manual and the interesting images from the Fujica Compact Deluxe. This camera - once or twice per roll just surprises you with a surprisingly interesting image. It's Summar-ish(?) in a way. Love that.

I have no idea what camera I would vote for, and it's my own poll. Maybe the Fujica. Dunno.
 
NickTrop said:
Kinda funny. I agree 90%. The SS thing in the GSN didn't drive me "nuts" but I just prefer a manual camera. Interesting results. I'm not sure I can pick just one. Love the lens and the tiny size of my Konica S3. Love the all manual approach to the Lynx 14 - a simple light that tells you if you're over/under but it's a 100% manual camera with shutter speed easily controllable on the lens barrel... and 1.4 lens on the Lynx. You can literally use this as an aperture priority camera like the GSN if you tran youself to leave the ap set and change the shutter speed setting using the meter light to guide you... but it does have some heft to it (LOL).

And the metered manual and the interesting images from the Fujica Compact Deluxe. This camera - once or twice per roll just surprises you with a surprisingly interesting image. It's Summar-ish(?) in a way. Love that.

I have no idea what camera I would vote for, and it's my own poll. Maybe the Fujica. Dunno.
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Strange that we agree so much on this.

Given everything, though, if I could only have one...the Olympus RD. Probably the closest I have come to a 'perfect' fixed lens rangefinder from that era.

Still have a soft spot in my head for the Agfa Karat IV, though...
 
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