Rangefinders Everyone should have

CleverName

CleverName

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In a recent post I said that anyone who visits this site regularly should own a Canonet QL-17 GIII. They are great cameras, relatively inexpensive, and there are a lot of them out there.
I would also include the Yashica GSN in the list for the same reasons.

I'm wondering, what other cameras would you guys put on this list?
 
My Olympus 35RC and 35SP fall into this category. The two together were less $100.

My latest find is a $50 Kodak Retina IIIc, which has a 50mm Schneider-Kreiznach Xenon that is every bit as good as the Zuiko on my Olympus 35RD. The Retina, which was slightly less than half the price of the RD, came with an ungainly 80mm attachment that will get a trial run as soon as I can find a bargain on an accessory viewfinder.
 
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Konica C35, Minolta Hi Matic E, Konica Auto S/Wards AM 550, Ricoh 500 G, Fed 3, Zorki C or 6, Kiev 4, Contax lla, Nikon SP, Leica (any style), Canon P (or I'd risk offending someone), Petri Color 35, Pax M3, Olympus 35 Sll, and just to be quirky, either a Taron Marquis or a Mamiya/Tower 18A. Hey, you asked, lol. If I forgot anyone's favourite, please feel free to pelt me with cabbages. Now if this were an SLR forum.....
 
Oh yes, Retinas included, sorry. I can feel those cabbages already.
 
The full sized fixed-lens RF cameras with F1.7 and F1.8 lenses are cheap, fun, and sharp. The Minolta Hi-Matic 9 can be bought for under $25 and gives first class results.
 
I find I like the Konica much better than the Knoica S3 Joe. Just kidding, you can taunt me about the Olympus. It should have read SP, not Sll, lol.
 
If you prefer electric shutters, also include Canon Canonet 28, Fujica GE R, Ricoh EL Nica, Petri ES Auto, and Vivitar 35 EE.
 
I believe that everyone should at least try a 120 roll film folder - coupled or uncoupled rangefinder. There are lots of them out there for really reasonable prices - Isolette IIIs and Speedex Specials are much fun and if you can find a clean Super "X" from any maker clean and cheap, snag it and run.

And always remember, the ANSCO versions are almost always the same camera as the Agfas without the ebay premium ... ;)

William
 
Anything in the Konica S series, preferrably with a working meter. Kiev.
 
Having toted one around for over 15 years now, I think everyone should own an Olympus XA. It's tiny and you can literally carry it in your pocket and it has a sharp Zuiko 35mm/2.8 lens.

Gene
 
Gene is right. Of the 35mm range finder cameras with electronic shutters, the XA is my favorite - dim range finder patch, tiny little film speed lever and all.

William, do any of those 6x6 folders have electronic shutters? :angel:
 
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<PBTHZZZZZZZ> as a certain Mr. Cat would say. But I'd dearly love to have 15 minutes with Kobayashi-san to ask for one... ;)

William

Edit: my Speedex takes up very little more room than my wifes Olympus and has the advantage of 6x6... Fits the pocket of my 501's quite well.
 
Oh, Mr.Bill t. Cat to be sure...

:angel:

William

(and, yes, that's a d#*n good page on the cameras)
 
I can't believe it! I agree with every single one of the choices above! I was astounded to see the Olympus 35 S II listed, (ok so it was a typo) but YES! This is the ONE Olympus that Richard "Mister Olympus" Silfver over in San Francisco has yet to feel the need to collect - and yet it is such a fine little machine!

The HiMatic 9 for sure, the XA is one not to miss, folding 120 cameras absolutely - the Nettars and Isolettes are so much fun!

I would add only one more - and I understand that no one else has this fetish but me - the Agfa Karat IV with the Xenon 50mm f2 lens. Ugga bugga, that's a fine camera.

Own one ONCE and you will understand. I pity da fool who don't buy one of these beauties (in my best Mister T voice).

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
The olympus sp and konica s3 are both great, but I would not classify them as a bargain when compared to a Canon ql-17, olympus XA or yashica gsn. Thanks to ebay the olympus sp and konica s3 are horded by ebay sellers. I see them quite frequently at flea markets and garage sales, however the seller always tries to get more than they can on ebay. They are also not nearly as common. I say the canon g-III is the cheapest and the yashica gsn is the most common. The olympus XA is a much cheaper option than the Olympus sp. It sells for a lot less on ebay and most flea market sellers and garage sellers thinks its a junk point and shoot.
 
I would put my vote in for a Yashica Lynx 14e/IC. Incredible Yashica glass, huge f 1.4 max aperture and almost silent leaf shutter. Totally manual, so don't sweat it if the meter doesn't work (most of them don't). Capable of taking incredible low light pics almost completely unobtrusively (shutter is quieter than my M3) when appropriate (i.e., ballet, dance, orchestra/recitals). I say "almost completely unobtrusively" because it is "not a small camera." But at least it's big and heavy enough to scare away the usher so you can continue to enjoy the ballet/concert (just kidding!):) Can be found (relatively) cheaply on that not-to-be-named virtual auction site.
 
The Ricoh 500 G for it's "pocket-a-bility" and the Konica S2 for it's SUPER sharp lens!
 
You folks have mentioned many worthy rangefinders, but I can't buy into the notion that I should own one of each type. That seems like a collector's mentality to me. I think there is something to the old adage about the wisdom of gaining mastery over your tools. Having a multitude of different tools to do basically the same thing only complicates matters.
 
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