small rf w/ 28mm?

cool camera.

but because this is a half frame, the 28mm isn't wide angle--it's more like the equivalent of 45mm for a full frame 35mm camera.
 
You got that right jazzguy. The Canon Demi series are very good half frame cameras. But they are not rangefinder cameras. Focusing is done on a scale, so you either have to guess or measure.
 
But they are good half-frames. The lens is so flat it fits in a pocket or portfolio easily. At f8 you heard;ly need to focus at all.

Does anybody know of a half-frame 35 that has a rangefinder? As far as I know thay are all scale focus, zone focus or SLR's.

-Paul
 
Paul, I don't think there's been a half-frame with rangefinder other than a rare Leica model.

The diagonal of the 24x18mm frame is 30mm, compared with 43mm for 24x36. So a 28mm lens is a wide normal giving about the same angle of view as the 40 on my CLE.

For some reason, the choices of normal lens for the Pen F were 38mm f/1.8 and 40mm f/1.4. I recently found a 25mm for mine, and it's quite a change to finally have a wider angle, though certainly not very wide!

Good for Ricoh in offering the dedicated 21 and 28mm cameras. I understand they're still sought after.

But, y'know, the Fuji GS645W and GA645W have dedicated 45mm lenses which give a field of view similar to that of a 28mm lens on 24x36 format. The cameras are small and light, AND you still get a big juicy 42x56mm frame size!

Diagonal of that frame is 70mm, for a 1.63 multiplier compared to 24x36. So a 45mm lens comes out equivalent to a 27.6mm in the small format.

How's that for a nice alternative to a Ricoh GR1?
 
There is also Nikon S3M (http://www.subclub.org/shop/halframe.htm)
"In 1960, Nikon decided to try their hand at the half-frame market. Too bad they chose to modify a Nikon S3 rangefinder. This was to be the only half-frame that Nikon would make. So it had all of the S3 features. It took Nikon lenses from 21mm to 1000mm. Speeds of B, 1 - 1/1000. Rangefinder focusing. No meter. Manual exposure control. Black and chrome bodies were available. Even a detachable motor drive was made. Less than 200 were made and they are very, very pricey today. "
 
I'd second the recommendation for the GR1s/v I have the v model, which is the only camera so far that I have paid any real money for, and don't regret it at all. The pictures are superb, and it is so tiny that there is no excuse not to have it on you all the time.

The only down point (IMO) is the focussing - it can hunt, but with the ability to set focus at 1,2,3,5m or infinity and apeture priority, this rarely poses a problem. It even is civilised enough to wind the film to the end at first, so pics that you have already taken are safer, and it makes it easier to test the other half of a film in a totally manual camera.

David
 
I was the one looking for a 28mm RF. I didn't get anywhere with the post. There were some accurate suggestions for some great AF 28mm pocket cameras, but they were all out of my budget. Does anyone have any suggestions now? I am looking to spend around $100
 
I think you're out of luck unless you can find an XA-4 at a bit of a discount. Truthfully, I think you're going to have to budge from your 28mm requirement and bump it out to 35-42mm.
 
I have to agree: I think at that budget you're going to have to look at 35mm focal length, and you're basically limited (if you can call it that) to the Olympus XA. The Yashica Electro 35 CC is the only other rangefinder with a lens that wide, and it'll be hard to find and out of your budget, I think. I've heard very very nice things about the XA, though, so it'd be my choice. In fact is *was* my choice, and any day now I'll have one!

Apart from that, a Voigtlander Besa L with the 21mm would be the next cheapest option, I guess - but others here know more about that than me!

Cheers,
Steve
(I was thinking the same thing originally, as I didn't have the money to shell out for a good 28mm lens for my SLR, which got me into looking at RF's in the first place!)
 
The only pocket camera with a wide-ish lens for under $100 is the Olympus mjuII - called the stylus epic in America. Excellent lens for the price, though not the level of control which I'd hope for.

David
 
"The Yashica Electro 35 CC is the only other rangefinder with a lens that wide, and it'll be hard to find and out of your budget, I think." -I just got one for eur40 in perfect condition, incl. battery. But it is rare, indeed.

Good 28mm prime lenses for slr's are cheap (f/2.8 to f/3.5 range) and not bigger than 50mm's. Of course, the full body+lens will be quite big. But it can be had for way less than $100.
 
I have been checking Ebay for another Nikon Lite-Touch. It is hard to believe that there or more Nikon SP's listed than this recent P&S camera!
 
Pherdinand said:
"The Yashica Electro 35 CC is the only other rangefinder with a lens that wide, and it'll be hard to find and out of your budget, I think." -I just got one for eur40 in perfect condition, incl. battery. But it is rare, indeed.

Good 28mm prime lenses for slr's are cheap (f/2.8 to f/3.5 range) and not bigger than 50mm's. Of course, the full body+lens will be quite big. But it can be had for way less than $100.

Ah, well you see, $40 euro is ~$110 or $120 Australian, you see. 🙁

So we can both be right! 🙂

Cheers,
Steve
 
Zenza Bronica in 1981 issued a 35mm RF camera called VX-1 w Zenzanon-V 28mm 2.8 (8-element in 6 group), also a VX-2 w a 40mm 2.8 and VX-1 Tele w a Zenzanon-V 85mm f4.5.
Hard to find now.
 
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