RFF Featured Photos

[RJBender]

Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Ray. I made the correction. 😉

 

[Toby]

I can understand why you switched to a RF, Toby. Did you get tired of locking up the mirror before every shot with the Pentax?

R.J.

You don't have to lock up the mirror all the time you just have to remember that the lowest usable shutter speed is a highly flexible 1/250 hand held 😀

 

[jaapv]

The Barnack camera was designed as a general purpose 35mm pocket camera, as are its successors the Leica Ms ...... Richard

I just found this one to be pedantic about, Richard 😛. Actually the Barnack camera was originally conceived in 1913 as an exposure meter for cine film. It swiftly turned in one of the most versatile communication tools ever devised, that is true.🙂

 

[Kin Lau]

DENT]​

Can we talk about these cameras on RFF?

Contax G2 (auto focus)
Olympus XA 2(scale focus)
Rollei 35 (scale focus)​

​

Yes. Jorge did create a P&S forum here, but it's not getting a lot of activitiy.​

 

[VinceC]

>>Some characteristics of rangefinder cameras create special challenges:
No DOF preview.
Rangefinder has to be precise.
Parallax errors with longer lenses.<<

If you've done much SLR shooting, it's easier to visualize depth-of-field with various RF lenses. That's an advantage we have over our ancestors.

On the other hand, switching to rangefinders ended up giving my a greater feel for depth of field and focus ... Instead of seeking the precise focus as I did on an SLR (and constantly twisting the lens back and forth to make sure I've got it) I tend to be more purposeful about using the scales on the lens to select the boundaries of focus I want within my picture.

The rangefinder has to be adjusted precisely, but the focus on lenses 35 and wider requires much less precision when you're taking pictures.

 

[RJBender]

If you've done much SLR shooting, it's easier to visualize depth-of-field with various RF lenses. That's an advantage we have over our ancestors.

On the other hand, switching to rangefinders ended up giving my a greater feel for depth of field and focus ... Instead of seeking the precise focus as I did on an SLR (and constantly twisting the lens back and forth to make sure I've got it) I tend to be more purposeful about using the scales on the lens to select the boundaries of focus I want within my picture.

The rangefinder has to be adjusted precisely, but the focus on lenses 35 and wider requires much less precision when you're taking pictures.

With the SLR, you can't see what's in the background unless you preview DOF or use the lens stopped down. That's definitely WYSINWYG when you see everything at f/2.8 and your film is being exposed at f/11.

You're right. A 35mm lens at f/8 doesn't need the same precision in the rangefinder that a 50mm lens needs at f/2.

R.J.

 

[Kin Lau]

With the SLR, you can't see what's in the background unless you preview DOF or use the lens stopped down. That's definitely WYSINWYG when you see everything at f/2.8 and your film is being exposed at f/11.

You're right. A 35mm lens at f/8 doesn't need the same precision in the rangefinder that a 50mm lens needs at f/2.

R.J.

This also depends on the focusing screen. Older SLR's with dimmer, coarser screens don't show as much "in-focus" as newer brighter screens. Oddly enough, I have a Contaflex Super (from the 60's) where asides from using the focusing aid, everything looks deceptively in-focus...it's almost like using plain glass instead of ground glass with a microprism collar.

 

[hoot]

If I pick up Street Photography,

Tessina.

The perfect street camera choice. Inconspicuous, TLR, spring wound motor wind, quiet. Drop into your pocket and its out of sight. Makes a IIIf look way-big, but Minox negatives make it look huge.

From this website: "The camera [...] produces 14x21mm images on 35mm film which is reloaded into special Tessina cassettes." Isn't that somewhat of a hassle when you shoot a lot of film, as most people do in street photography?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Not with modern scanners, breathes new life into it. The images are also mirrored onto the negative so you scan/print them turned over from normal. And if you shoot a lot of film, you can stuff more of those petite cassettes into your pocket without being noticed. The cameras and cassettes are still made. Just as small as a Minolta 16, and easier for shooting from the hip.

Adjective

* S: (adj) incorrigible (impervious to correction by punishment)

 

[hoot]

Thanks... actually I meant loading those cassettes sounds like a hassle. Then again, many people load regular 35mm cassettes, so there shouldn't be too much of a difference.

 

[DougK]

Yes. Jorge did create a P&S forum here, but it's not getting a lot of activitiy.

That's kind of a shame, as in many ways I have more fun shooting with my P&S cameras and spend more time with them than any of my other cameras. In fact, I'll be picking up a friend's Canon Elph (the Jr., I believe) and giving it a new home today.

 

[taffer]

That's kind of a shame, as in many ways I have more fun shooting with my P&S cameras and spend more time with them than any of my other cameras. In fact, I'll be picking up a friend's Canon Elph (the Jr., I believe) and giving it a new home today.

In fact, I'm sure many of us use our RFs with wide angle lenses in a very P&S way. Scale focus, hip shooting, etc.

 

[Doug]

In fact, I'll be picking up a friend's Canon Elph (the Jr., I believe) and giving it a new home today.

DougK, I hope you have fun with that... Yesterday I uploaded one shot from my Elph Jr. This is the model with non-zoom 26mm f/2.8 that takes APS film; see pic of mine below. The results aren't up to the bigger cameras, but it's really easy to have with you all the time.

 

[TPPhotog]

Sorry I just wanted to get the 100th post on this thread 😀
Simple things and all that LMAO 😉

 

[Doug]

Sorry, Tony, to have caused you to miss it!

 

[TPPhotog]

Arrrr but ..... your post is 101 according to the front page Doug 😛 LOL

 

[desmo]

RF is just all round great

RF is just all round great

I guess the thing is that the RF concept is just all round wonderful and takes some of the best pics in any situation.
The design lends itself to symmetrical lenses with little distortion as well as the obvious benefits of the rangefinder system for bright and quick framing of the subject.
I'm mainly a people shooter myself but I also use RF for scenics.
What aren't they great for?: shots where perfect alignment is vital? Closeup?