So I just got my first rangefinder...

[Major Tom]

On a side note, thanks for reminding me of KEH. I'll be able to get some accessories from them.

CameraQuest... heh, um... not exactly in my budget.

I think I've found two suitable lenses here from members, so thank you all. I should be shooting within a week or two!

 

[Scrambler]

Go for it! And do keep your eyes out. Like PatrickCheung I have benefited from good luck and ugly metal around decent glass.

 

[Bingley]

Congrats on the Canon IVSB2! I've got one and really enjoy shooting w/ it. It's a robust camera, just as well made as its Leica Barnack contemporaries, and has that nice vf magnification for precise focusing.

As for a lens, I would recommend scouting KEH for a Canon 50/1.8. These are still underpriced and excellent quality, and would be "correct" for your camera. kEH has a chrome version of this lens, bgn grade, for sale currently for under $200. I've bought bgn grade lenses from KEH and the optics were fine.

Two other 50 lenses that I like to shoot on this camera body are the CV Skopar 50/2.5 and the Leica Elmar 50/3.5. You can find them in the $300-400 range, but that may be over your budget. Russian glass can be very good -- I really liked a Jupiter 3 I borrowed once -- but sample quality is hit or miss.

 

[Major Tom]

Congrats on the Canon IVSB2! I've got one and really enjoy shooting w/ it. It's a robust camera, just as well made as its Leica Barnack contemporaries, and has that nice vf magnification for precise focusing.

As for a lens, I would recommend scouting KEH for a Canon 50/1.8. These are still underpriced and excellent quality, and would be "correct" for your camera. kEH has a chrome version of this lens, bgn grade, for sale currently for under $200. I've bought bgn grade lenses from KEH and the optics were fine.

Two other 50 lenses that I like to shoot on this camera body are the CV Skopar 50/2.5 and the Leica Elmar 50/3.5. You can find them in the $300-400 range, but that may be over your budget. Russian glass can be very good -- I really liked a Jupiter 3 I borrowed once -- but sample quality is hit or miss.

Funny enough I am getting a Canon 50/1.8, just not from KEH. I'm curious what a good Jupiter 3 can do. Do you have any scans from it?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I've been playing around with DSLR for a bit and I've quickly found that using it in public is unseemly at best and usually impractical. I don't have $1k just lying around for a nice mirrorless and I've also been very curious about film so I decided to get a rangefinder.

I just got (perhaps unwisely) a Canon IVSB2... but without a lens. I anticipated finding serviceable Leica screwmount lenses would be somewhat difficult, just not this difficult. I've more or less given up on eBay (while keeping one eye open) and so far local shops don't have them.

So I'm contemplating the following:

1. Sit tight and wait for a lens to pop up.
2. Cut my losses and get an M-mount rangefinder (Bessa R2 maybe?)
3. Get a Contax G1 w/lens.
4. Get a Konica III.

Meanwhile I am going to look at the classifieds here. Let me know what you think. (And I already know I'm an idiot 😛)

I have same feelings with my DSLRs on public for street photography.
Same reason why I went back to film RFs for this subject.

Here is no problem to find working LTM Leica on e-bay.
Took me some time and one month ago I purchased clean, fully working IIf. Paid $230 inc. shipping.

Check Classifieds here, check your local shops and classifieds.

Bessa R is possible to find on e-bay for $250 or less. I have one. Technically it is superior to any film Leica, IMO. It just not as sexy as Leicas, but it is very nice camera.

Black in color, small, with black lens on it and not so noisy sutter it is good for street photography. Takes some collapsible glass too.


FED 50 3.5 on Bessa R. by Ko.Fe., on Flickr

My street most easy to use, good results, camera is Olympus XA.
$70 on-ebay, very, very good japanese camera. True, everyday with me, tool.

FSU, recommended often, looks attractive, but cheap gamble. Lots of sellers on e-bay are clueless. I have to rehaul completely several cameras, which I purchased as " fully working".

Funny enough I am getting a Canon 50/1.8, just not from KEH. I'm curious what a good Jupiter 3 can do. Do you have any scans from it?

Use Flickr search engine, should give you few thousands pictures in return.
I prefer white J-8.

 

[farlymac]

My favorite Russian is the Industar I-26M, which came on the FED 2-C, though I used it on my Zorki 1D-B.


Scenic 1 by br1078phot, on Flickr

PF

 

[Major Tom]

My street most easy to use, good results, camera is Olympus XA.
$70 on-ebay, very, very good japanese camera. True, everyday with me, tool.

FSU, recommended often, looks attractive, but cheap gamble. Lots of sellers on e-bay are clueless. I have to rehaul completely several cameras, which I purchased as " fully working".


Use Flickr search engine, should give you few thousands pictures in return.
I prefer white J-8.

Thanks for sharing. I will say that eBay still seems like a good place to get bodies as you suggest, but lenses are a somewhat different story.

From what I've seen here vs eBay it appears the price ratio is (roughly) 1:2 respectively for Russian lenses. You're right about Russian lenses being somewhat of a "crapshoot" as many lenses of the same name were produced in many different factories with varying degrees of quality.