jyl
Just learning to focus
Are there any *** affordable *** rangefinders that have (built-in or optional) a motor drive?
I mean, I'd like a Nikon SP with S36, but I'd like a lot of things that I can't have.
I mean, I'd like a Nikon SP with S36, but I'd like a lot of things that I can't have.
Huck Finn
Well-known
Konica Hexar Rf was discontinued in 2003. Can still be found new, for example www.photostop.net or www.camerawholesalers.com
Contax G2, an autofocus rangefinder, still available new.
Both can be found on the used market, as can the Contax G1.
I'm not sure what affordable means, but both cost far less than a Nikon SP.
Contax G2, an autofocus rangefinder, still available new.
Both can be found on the used market, as can the Contax G1.
I'm not sure what affordable means, but both cost far less than a Nikon SP.
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Gordon Coale
Well-known
There are always the manual motor drive trigger winders on the Bessas.
jyl
Just learning to focus
I guess if I already had a Leica M, then the add-on motor drive would be affordable:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=details_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=210057&is=REG
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=details_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=210057&is=REG
furcafe
Veteran
Re: Rangefinders With Motor Drive?
For practical use, I would 2nd the recommendation for the Hexar RF.
However, if you're looking for something vintage & purely mechanical, then your options are pretty limited. For full-frame 35mm, AFAIK, there's the Robot Royal & Bell & Howell Foton; both have spring-wound motor drives & are system cameras w/interchangeable lenses. Neither may meet your definition of "affordable," but of the 2, I believe the Robot Royal is less expensive, albeit still pricey (a quick eBay search turns up 1 that fetched $569 US, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15234&item=3857168344) & more commonly found (Fotons w/the standard 2"/2 Cooke Amotal start @ around $750 US).
For practical use, I would 2nd the recommendation for the Hexar RF.
However, if you're looking for something vintage & purely mechanical, then your options are pretty limited. For full-frame 35mm, AFAIK, there's the Robot Royal & Bell & Howell Foton; both have spring-wound motor drives & are system cameras w/interchangeable lenses. Neither may meet your definition of "affordable," but of the 2, I believe the Robot Royal is less expensive, albeit still pricey (a quick eBay search turns up 1 that fetched $569 US, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15234&item=3857168344) & more commonly found (Fotons w/the standard 2"/2 Cooke Amotal start @ around $750 US).
jyl said:
furcafe
Veteran
A follow-up clarification. The full-frame Robot model is the Royal 36.
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
Don't forget the spring-wound Leningrad, although it's a bit peculiar and cranky.
It does have the advantage of a nice multi-frame finder, and it has a standard L39 threaded lens mount... although the range of lenses you can actually fit is constrained by a decorative ledge over the mount flange, which physically interferes with lenses whose base diameter exceeds 1-15/16" (which rules out a lot of long and/or wide-aperture lenses.)
It does have the advantage of a nice multi-frame finder, and it has a standard L39 threaded lens mount... although the range of lenses you can actually fit is constrained by a decorative ledge over the mount flange, which physically interferes with lenses whose base diameter exceeds 1-15/16" (which rules out a lot of long and/or wide-aperture lenses.)
Hexar AF (as well as RF) is motorized too, isn't it? And in medium format, the Fuji GA645 series all feature an integrated motor winder.
I like the trigger winder on my Bessa. Better than a motor in some respects, such as that you can wind it whenever you wish, not just immediately after an exposure. And it's quiet, doesn't use batteries.
I like the trigger winder on my Bessa. Better than a motor in some respects, such as that you can wind it whenever you wish, not just immediately after an exposure. And it's quiet, doesn't use batteries.