RF645 needs a temporary replacement

[sf]

This is something that must be posted at least once a week, but I gotta ask :

What is the best film RF that I can find for under, say, $400. I need to send my RF645 off, but refuse to be cameraless, and need something to fill the void while it is gone.

I really like the Contax T3, but I have never actually seen it in person, tried it, etc. HAve only read about it.

I want a non-zoom camera with a decently fast lens. No slower than F3.5. Really want something pocketable. That might be actually necessary.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Leica Minilux.

 

[Photar]

How about staying with 6x4.5? This one looks really nice:

Maker: Voigtländer
Type: Bessa 46 Baby Bessa
Condition: A-
Prod. Year: 1939

new, never used 4. 5x6cm Bessa with Skopar 3. 5/7. 5cm, attached yellow filter, mint ever-ready case

Price: EUR 220 (Leicashop Wien; no affiliation etc.)

 

[micek]

A 1970s fixed lens rangefinder, such as the Olympus 35 RD. Small, portable, well built. Fast, sharp 40mm f1.7 lens. Cheap. Canon, Konica, etc produced similar cameras.

 

[Richard Black]

Check out the Yashica GN thread, lots of great photos. I had one but found it a bit larger than I want. So I found the Vivitar 35ES, pocketable, sharp lens, descrete. It is similar to the much more expense Minolta version. My wife had a Olympus X2 without the r/f, but the XA is quite a wonderful camera and would fit your needs.

 

[Lear]

Contax T Original

 

[peter_n]

What went wrong with the RF645?

 

[sf]

Well, nothing went wrong with my RF645 yet, but the viewfinder is making a creaking sound - sort of a plasticky sounding creak as the lens barrel moves in and out which implies that the sound is somewhere between the coupling cam and the eyepiece. Happens with both lenses. Has been doing this since i first got it a month and a half ago - no problems, as my review shows. But, this sort of thing generally leads to failures inside the camera because sound is just the release of energy, and creaking means that energy is building up and releasing in jolts - the creaking goes "tick..tick....tick.......tick.............tick..................tick" as the lens moves out from the body, releasing energy that is built up with the spring in the cam lever as the lens moves in. I am preparing to send it in, but don't want to be unable to compete in the most recent contest, so I will need something to replace it for a bit.

I might even just rent something exotic from Glazer's Camera in Seattle whenever I really feel like taking pictures. At $35 for a day or two with the Mamiya 7II and lens, that might not be a terrible thing. Could spend 70 bucks and get some nice rolls out. And I wouldn't call it money into thin air because I'd get a pile of beautiful 6x7 frames that my scanner could have a fun time with. Though, from a purely financial perspective, it makes more sense to invest in a little friend for my camera.

 

[peter_n]

Hmmm, creaking - very peculiar. I was actually fairly interested in this cam a while back but couldn't come to terms with the vertical viewfinder. I think I'll just stick with 35mm, I'm pretty happy with my Leica stuff...

Good luck with the fix! Will you have to send it back to the UK?

 

[sf]

No, I will not have to send it back to the UK because of the international warranty - I can send it to a service place here in the states or to their headquarters in New Jersey and they will replace the body - or so they say having not seen the camera yet. I have read good things about their service though.

 

[RObert Budding]

My RF645 has worked perfectly so far. But I had my framelines switched from 135mm to 100mm under warranty. It only took 8 days, including shipping time. I hope your repair is as fast.

Robert

 

[sf]

OK, here is what i have looked at so far :

Leica Minilux
Contax T2,T3 (prefer the T3 because it is smaller)
Yashica Electro GSN, Lynx 14 - not small cameras. The GSN is huge.
Various Mamiya rangefinders


Actually, I really don't want anything that will exist on any level that the RF645 inhabits. I don't want to bring anything else into the picture that will consume my attention away from the RF645. Both cameras must be uniquely useful.

Thus, something pocketable with a fast lens and AF, since the RF645 is none of those things.

T3 . . . . I really like its looks. I am attracted to getting a P&S digital . . . but that would not be the right move, spiritually, and there could be permanent psychological damage. But the Casio EXZ750 takes nice movies. Could be cool. Useless for the contest though, and yet another throw-away cameram which I hate.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

What about that one camera...the one with the 24mm f/1.9 lens? Any interest in wide angle?

 

[sf]

Gotta have a close to normal lens - no shorther than 38mm . . . Actually 45-50 would be ideal, but the T3 is 38mm and i like it. Now I just have to find one that doesn't cost $800.

I suspect that I will end up buying something like the Olympus Epic with the fixed lens. Just because it costs so little and everything else I've seen is either too expensive or too big. I am waiting to see where an auction goes with a Lynx, though.

 

[Nick R.]

Hexar AF is the best camera that can be had for ~$400. It's the only 35mm camera that I still shoot since I got my Leica.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Olympus XA? Tiny, good lens, uses readily available batteries, manual focus. 35mm lens.

And yeah, I've been looking over the Lynx 14...thought about selling my Canonet 28 in favor of picking up one of those. It would compliment my other beast of a Yashica nicely, at least once I get the MG-1 fixed.

 

[wlewisiii]

The little oly is a heck of a camera. This isn't RF, Epic instead, but it was such a great shot I posted it here to share it anyway... 😀

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/pho...to=195&cat=3444&sortby=d&sorttime=999&way=asc

William

 

[sf]

Is $150 too much for a MINT and CLA'd Canonet QL17/GIII ?

It is awefully tempting, since a CLA costs close to that anyway.

And for those who have owned it, how do you like the focusing performance?