Recommendation for Basic Everydaycarry?

ok, i must correct my needings.
after seeing that most rangefinders are about 400-500g, its doesnt make sense to look for something small and light for every day carry. if i take the camera with me its for some shootings. So how about some manual rangefindercameras for a low budget?
 
Canon ql17. Fast lens if you need it. Shutter is mechanical. Small yet has very nice ergonomics. Cheap as beans.
I love the Yashica Electro GX but it is a AE camera and battery powered beasts are not so appealing as constant carry cameras.
Both are the same size roughly and have 40mm f1.7 lens and bright clear VF/RF.
 
Between the RC and RD, I find myself taking the RD out much more.

I really like the fast lens and feel of the camera. I don't like changing the aperture at all, particularly when there is a hood on the camera. If I end up selling it, the aperture ring will be the reason. Incredibly frustrating as if it had the 7sIIs little stick at the bottom of the ring, it would probably be my perfect camera in that class.

That said, I need to shoot more with the RC. I think most of the time, I've been short on light, shooting it closer to wide open. I haven't given it a far chance really. Ergonomically, it works well for me but then evidently I have tiny hands or something. :)
 
A Leica IIIf or one of the Canon IV series with a 50mm lens would suit you well. Not too expensive, not too heavy and utterly wonderful dependable photo takers. Throw it in a coat pocket and you're set. No meter no automation but that can be a positive thing when you're taking pictures for pleasure.

Good luck with whatever you get!

William
 
You could try a russian FED with industar. All mechanic, no batteries, no meter, fully manual. As i like to say, all metal and glass. And they don't come any cheaper than that. You have a choice, a pack of smokes or a FSU in you pocket. Cheers!
 
You mentioned folders: Yes, a serviced one can serve you well for many, many years.

I would go with an Ikonta A 521/16. 6x4.5 negs will blow your mind. No rangefinder, no meter, all manual. But that's true of many compact 35mm cameras too. A good CLA'd one (no shelf queen but good to go and will last you a long while) will set you back $150 with Novar triplet and another $50 with a Tessar. Expensive? Yes, you can get them much cheaper, but then you'll need to send it off for a CLA, which will cost you $120+

Folders are however an acquired taste, so try one out and see if you can live with one. They are however super compact, at least the MF ones, compared to the size of the negative they provide you with. Oh, and they are basic

For more information on 120 folders: www.certo6.com

P.S. No relation to site owner at all. Just a satisified customer.
 
f16sunshine said:
Canon ql17. Fast lens if you need it. Shutter is mechanical. Small yet has very nice ergonomics. Cheap as beans.
I love the Yashica Electro GX but it is a AE camera and battery powered beasts are not so appealing as constant carry cameras.
Both are the same size roughly and have 40mm f1.7 lens and bright clear VF/RF.
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I second the motion on the QL17. If not in hand, it is close by and loaded with TRI-X. That covers all situations!!
 
Lobo said:
in that case i would prefer a ruger sp101, a beauty:p
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I carried only the best, the nickel H&K P7M8 (the "Leica" of handguns)...

For cameras I recommend the Canonet QL17. It has a great lens, and full manual control, and will work without a battery. Or you can try the Olympus 35 SP. It's a touch bigger than the Canonet, but with a better lens and a better meter. It too can be operated without a battery. Another interesting camera is the Konica C35 FD, it is very light and compact, and offers a fast lens and shutter priority operation. The fastest and easiest to use cameras would be the Yashica CC/CCN/GX/MC. The Olympus RC is a wonderful little camera, as is it's overpriced brother, the RD. I have several examples of every camera listed above (I sell them at my eBay store), but the one I actually carry is a Yashica CCN.
 
Forget 1970's RF's. Mom and Pop, shoot the kids stuff. Get a Leica IIIc or f, a 50, and enjoy. You get classic, quality and small size. What's not to love?
 
Zorki 1 with an I22? It's the lightest I can think of, save for the Rollei 35, and I don't really like that (maybe because I managed to break mine).

Not sure how much it weighs. My Zorki C with the I22 feels really light to me, but I usually carry a Zorki 5 with an I26m all day so I get used to it.

The Canonets are also good, but I've never tried one before…last year I was thinking about getting that one, then decided to get a Kiev instead.
 
Colt .45 ACP :)

If you want interchangeable lenses Olympus OM-1 OM-2n Nikon EM is small too

Leica 111 with a collapsible lens

I carry an XA everywhere and why not ... it's small cute and the lens is ok
 
Frontman said:
I carried only the best, the nickel H&K P7M8 (the "Leica" of handguns)...

For cameras I recommend the Canonet QL17. It has a great lens, and full manual control, and will work without a battery. Or you can try the Olympus 35 SP. It's a touch bigger than the Canonet, but with a better lens and a better meter. It too can be operated without a battery. Another interesting camera is the Konica C35 FD, it is very light and compact, and offers a fast lens and shutter priority operation. The fastest and easiest to use cameras would be the Yashica CC/CCN/GX/MC. The Olympus RC is a wonderful little camera, as is it's overpriced brother, the RD. I have several examples of every camera listed above (I sell them at my eBay store), but the one I actually carry is a Yashica CCN.
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The Leica of Guns:D thats great! i'll keep that.
well all of these cameras are jewels for its own. i watched several auctions on ebay and many of them gone for a good amount of money for a student like me. so i get myself a Agfa optima 1035 as a replacement for my Voigtländer VF101(http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1516386#post1516386)

sadly the Agfa is full autimatic and without the rangefinder. i'm waiting to have the time to test it.
i have an option for a small camera with rangefinder, but also full automatic:
http://www.optiksammlung.de/Porst/135L.html
so i dont know if i should buy it.
 
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After my Bachelorworks i had more time to test and use more cameras. The Porst 135L i bought (a Konica C35 like with Copal full automatic shutter and RF) had rusted batterycompartemend. After cleaning, soldering wires, polishing contacts it works with a hearing aid battery, but not very reliable.
And after using several differend normal size view- and rangefinder i'm again on my hunt for a smaller, compact RF or viewfinder; around the size of the Agfa Optima Sensor or my Porst 135L.
In competition are Agfa optima Sensor 1535, Rollei 35, Petri 35, Olympus RC and XA.
 
Rollie 35SE or S. Smallest you will get, extremely good lens.

Barnack with Elmar 50mm f3.5. Very small, feel amazing, great pictures, and you do not have to zone focus. Focus on early ones is wicked accurate because of the magnification. You can focus on eye balls and stuff like that.

Olympus RC is nice, but cheap.

Yashica CC is fun to use but lens is not... well not a GS/GT/GSN/GTN lens.

Canon QL17, nice while they last, then they break. Image is too cooking cutter though.
 
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