Rangefinder with wideangle framelines

[VisualDarkness]

This is a question that my brother asked me but I don't really know of a good fit.

He got a Vito CLR and now he would like another rangefinder that isn't too expensive with a couple of wishes. It's hard to combine them all though.

- Solid build (he said better than Smena 8m atleast 😉 )
- Coupled rangefinder
- Interchangable lenses
- Window and lenses at about 35mm or wider is preferable
- Easy to adapt to Sony A7 lenses
- Little battery dependence
- Not that expensive

Right now we have checked:
- Zorki 4-6 as FSUs, beating out Kiev due to the lens mount.
- Voigtländer Prominent model III for a good price, I got spare lenses for it. All working ones have gone too expensive the last month, have they doubled in price lately?
- Some of the 70's compacts like the Canon QL17
and some more....

Do you got any other suggestions I should point him to?

 

[ZuikoAndHisM3]

If he's looking for a Wide Angle film Rangefinder there is only one that calls to mind. Voigtlander R4. Has framelines for 21/25/35 and something else (?) but uses the Leica M mount. The Voigtlander Leica lenses are incredibly good value for money when it comes to M Mount Glass. Also metered.

 

[VisualDarkness]

If he's looking for a Wide Angle film Rangefinder there is only one that calls to mind. Voigtlander R4. Has framelines for 21/25/35 and something else (?) but uses the Leica M mount. The Voigtlander Leica lenses are incredibly good value for money when it comes to M Mount Glass. Also metered.

The problem is that they cost just as much as getting an old Leica, way out of his student budget sadly.
Something is going to have to go on the list but the higher the price the more likely he will call it a no go.

 

[VisualDarkness]

He also is tempted by a Contax G1 but missed out on a good deal.

 

[AndersG]

If projected framelines and cost are the priorities and if 35mm is wide enough then maybe a Canon 7?

It is rather big, though, and the 35mm frameline does not combine well with glasses (for me).
I keep my 35mm lens on a FED 2 with a turret finder instead - much smaller view but I can see all of it and the turret finder does have (sort of) "framelines" and show slightly more than just the frame.

 

[VisualDarkness]

If projected framelines and cost are the priorities and if 35mm is wide enough then maybe a Canon 7?

It is rather big, though, and the 35mm frameline does not combine well with glasses (for me).
I keep my 35mm lens on a FED 2 with a turret finder instead - much smaller view but I can see all of it and the turret finder does have (sort of) "framelines" and show slightly more than just the frame.

He has tried my Prominent and don't wear glasses so I think he will see the framelines. I linked him to the Canon 7 now.

 

[C. D. Keth]

Konica RF has framelines down to 28mm.

 

[ZuikoAndHisM3]

Konica RF has framelines down to 28mm.

Though apparently out of his budget.

 

[farlymac]

Leidolf Lordomat C-35 has framelines for all four lenses (35,50,90,135), and a built-in meter, though it's hard to trust a selenium these days. Unfortunately, I doubt that you'd ever find an adapter to use the lenses on anything digital.

C-35 is the one on the left.

Lordomat Grouping by br1078phot, on Flickr

PF

 

[nhchen]

Leidolf Lordomat C-35 has framelines for all four lenses (35,50,90,135), and a built-in meter, though it's hard to trust a selenium these days. Unfortunately, I doubt that you'd ever find an adapter to use the lenses on anything digital.

C-35 is the one on the left.

Lordomat Grouping by br1078phot, on Flickr

PF

Actually I've seen one recently: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Leidolf-...-Mirrorless-EOS-M-Mount-Adapter-/171245257880.

And also the Agfa Ambi Silette has and excellent rangefinder window with selectable framelines for 30, 50 and 90mm lenses.

regards,
nathan

 

[citizen99]

The Kodak Retina III S ticks most of the listed requirements except adaptability to Sony A7 lenses.

- Solid build (he said better than Smena 8m atleast )
Yes

- Coupled rangefinder
Yes

- Interchangable lenses
Yes, but...
... the complete lens is in front of a leaf shutter - quiet, but bulkier than cameras with focal plane shutter.

- Window and lenses at about 35mm or wider is preferable
It has framelines for the 35mm but not the 28mm

- Easy to adapt to Sony A7 lenses
No

- Little battery dependence
No battery dependence. It uses a match-needle selenium meter, utilisation is manual and optional.

- Not that expensive
Possibly.
It is complex, with some quirky operating procedures. You would want to buy from, or accompanied by, someone who can demonstrate that it is working correctly; you might get a bargain that way.

 

[bastian a.]

I would patiently try to find a cheap Bessa R (if 35mm is wide enough) for about 150-200€ and a Color-Skopar 2.5/35mm for about 200€ - a good lens and a very good finder in a good camera (although made of plastic).

The cheapest alternative - and not a bad one - would be a small SLR like a Pentax MX or Olympus OM-1.

 

[YYV_146]

The R4 isn't that expensive...just wait for a user body to show up 😀 They are well built and can take a bit of mileage.

What you get in vf coverage you lose in focusing accuracy, though. Fine with a 21mm or 28mm, but not ideal for 50 or longer

 

[sweathog]

I would patiently try to find a cheap Bessa R (if 35mm is wide enough) for about 150-200€ and a Color-Skopar 2.5/35mm for about 200€ - a good lens and a very good finder in a good camera (although made of plastic).

I second this opinion. That exact combination was my standard for a long while.
The other advantage of the Bessa R is the fact that it is LTM so can take the FSU lenses (a good Jupiter 3 is a sublime thing), and of course the old Leica lenses.
As to whether they can be adapted to A7 I've no idea, I would bow to the wiser members of the RFF for that answer.

 

[rjschell]

Here's another vote for the Bessa-R & 35 Skopar. The widest brightline frame is 35mm, but if you don't wear glasses the full finder window is about 28mm. The viewfinder is a beautiful thing. The ltm mount allows you to use relatively cheap Leica & other screw mount lenses. I paid $275 for an excellent condition body from KEH.

 

[farlymac]

The Kodak Retina III S ticks most of the listed requirements except adaptability to Sony A7 lenses.

- Easy to adapt to Sony A7 lenses
No

Somewhere along the way I have seen Deckel mount adapters, but probably for m4/3.

PF

 

[VisualDarkness]

Somewhere along the way I have seen Deckel mount adapters, but probably for m4/3.

PF

I got a deckel adapter for my Pentax cameras to mount my Ultramatic lenses.