Sub $40 rangefinder

[cambolt]

Hello everyone,
Not sure this is the right place to post this...
I want to try some street (ish) photography, and my SLRs are too "clunky". Anyway, it looks like I may be a rangefinder convert, so I'm looking for a cheap rangefinder available for (ideally) under $50. I know this may be a big ask, but I'd like a built in light meter, and aperture priority or metered manual mode. Preferably a lens reasonably close to 50mm, with half decent speed.
Any recommendations?
Thanks!

 

[Mablo]

Yashica G-series (G/GS/GT/GTN) rangefinder camera would fit the bill. You don't find a better camera for the price.

 

[PatrickT]

Yep, Yashica GSN. Perfect starter camera, and they're cheap! Not to mention the glass is fantastic 🙂

 

[cambolt]

I can't seem to find a yashica rangefinder of any sort on ebay for under $120
http://shop.ebay.com.au/i.html?_nkw...hica+gt&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
I live in Australia so these things may be slightly rare down here!

 

[xwhatsit]

I can't seem to find a yashica rangefinder of any sort on ebay for under $120
http://shop.ebay.com.au/i.html?_nkw...hica+gt&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
I live in Australia so these things may be slightly rare down here!

That's crazy money. I'm in New Zealand: we don't use eBay, we have our own homegrown copy, Trademe. Plenty of Yashicas pop up there all the time. Recently they allowed Australians on the site to buy and sell (a.k.a. lowering their standards 😛). Of course shipping costs a bit more, but it's not too hideous to Australia.

Right now here's a few I'd consider (not a fan of the Electros personally, I find them "clunky" like your SLR):

Yashica Lynx 1000 (price is a bit high, though)
Yashica Minister I f1.9 (older, long focus throw, but if in good condition then a winner)
The famous Canon Canonet QL17 GIII (price will likely go very high though)
Ricoh 500G (slower f2.8 lens, but very well regarded)
Minolta Hi-Matic 9 (brilliant lens!)

You'd probably want to give any of those a brief going over and clean. But the same would go for any Electro from eBay (pad of death, etc.).

Shame it wasn't a month ago! I would've sold you my last Electro GSN for that sort of money. It was working well, too!

 

[Brian Legge]

I've used a bunch of fixed lens rangefinders over the last year. Lots. And the biggest lesson over all is that almost every one of them has strengths and weaknesses.

Almost any of them will work wonderfully for you if you find a working camera in good condition. And thats the tough part - many of these cameras have gone 30-50 years without service. Some deal with it better than others. Any of the well known cameras in good condition can make a great user.

 

[Greyscale]

For a budget rangefinder, I would recommend either the Konica C35 or the QL17's less expensive sibling, the Canonet 28. Either should be found for $40 or less.

But also consider a scale focus camera. You won't find anything less clunky than an Olympus XA2, and they should fall well within your budget.

 

[btgc]

It's rather hard to choose a RF in this range, assuming it hasn't been CLAed. If one is ready to fix some issues of camera advertised as "can't say if it works" or explicitly stated as having issue of some sort then choice becomes very wide.

For practival needs I'd suggest to go straight to mechanical camera like Olympus 35RC (small) or Yashica Lynx 5000 (bigger but super smooth). Forget most of models with built-in AE mechanism (exception is 35RC with soft release) as they they don't provide smoothness of true rangefinder camera and finally you'll end up with Leica.

Electro Yashicas are nice (I own a pair) but I sold large body Electro G35 (GS and GSN share same body) because it is too large and ergonomics is just not up to level. It's clunky not smooth. But it has very good lens. And Electro line suffers from sporadic electrical issues, so you may hit good sample and may get battery sucker and quit hobby because of "they never work like they should" feeling.

OK, Electro 35GX and 35CC are nice small cameras with fast lenses and AE but they command premium (definitely over $50 if you aren't lucky enough to find them in forgotten store bins or in attick). Only way to compensate still is ISO lever thus not very practicall unless this is your only fixed lens rangefinder and you happen to use it often enough to get used to this.

Lenses? they differ to some extent but when I get a keeper it doesn't depend whether I've used sub-f/2 or f/2.8 lens. It all depends on me and obstacles, and ergonomics of camera help me to blend with it. I've never got keeper because of faster lens or lens with more elements or coatings. So simple.

 

[cambolt]

I can't find an olympus on ebay. As I said, before no electro yashicas either 🙁. The only lynx on ebay is $120! Can you recommend anything else? Would it be a good idea to put a shoe mount light meter on a canonet and use it in manual mode?
Cheers

 

[batterytypehah!]

Check out our host's write-up of compact RFs (mostly Japanese) on http://www.cameraquest.com/com35s.htm

Matt Denton covers a bunch here: http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/rangefinders.html

40 bucks with AE, yeah, you're cutting it a little close. Most of what you'll find will have cosmetic issues at the least, and rotten foam seals.

Do you really need the auto? Personally, I'm not a fan. Also, as has been said, you may be better served with a scale focus camera. Set it to hyperfocal, take a couple of light readings for bright and shady spots, and snap away. You won't nail every exposure but you'll be more likely to catch the moments you're looking for.

 

[OlliL]

There is a Olympus XA in the classified for 35$.

Great camera!

 

[Snacks]

I'd start here:
http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/09/17/80-film-cameras-for-under-50-dollars/

(They also did a $50 Film Development article, which I followed myself.)

 

[ZeissFan]

The Konica C35 Automatic is a nice little camera and probably will need new foam seals.

Sometimes, you can find the Rollei XF 35 for less than $50 and doesn't have any foam seals.

Also, on occasion, you can find the Olympus 35 RC for less than $50, and it will need new foam seals.

Sometimes, you can find a Konica I for $50. No foam seals. It's very "old school," but it has a nice lens.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Two more things I thought about:

1. Stephen started this sub-$50 ebay RF thread a couple of years ago: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77821 Pricing is probably no longer accurate, plus you being in Oz makes quite a difference, of course.
2. Petri! Not AE but metered manual. I have never used one but by reputation they're decidedly "also ran." Loads of them available; I understand this is because lots were sold to US military personnel serving overseas. Dirt cheap as a result. I believe the two models that meet your specs are the 7 (various generations) and Racer. There's also the Color 35E which is fully auto. (The original, full manual control Color 35 goes for more than you want to spend, I think.)

EDIT: Sorry, the Color 35 series are scale focus, actually.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Since you're in Australia (somewhere) try to find a copy of "Photographic Trader" magazine (yellow cover) in a newsagents and you'll find lots of stuff there. Maybe not exactly what you're asking for but there will be useful contacts and leads to follow up.
I had a Minolta Himatic a few years ago which had a 2.8/40 lens of great quality - you might have a look for something like that (Google it for model details) or if you can get to one of the CAmera Fairs in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney or Brisbane you'll probably find something on one of the dealer tables.

 

[caperunner]

neoca $54 good camera on aus ebuk now.
grab this. won't regret it. value may increase.

dave

 

[illuminati_02]

I've found some great deals at thrift shops if you have any locally. A Yashica Electro 35 GSN for $5, Agfa Super Silette Automatic for $3, Holga for $2. Yesterday I just acquired a Minolta Himatic S and it is my favorite find yet. It was practically new in the box, marked at $7.99, but it had the right color tag for 50% off. After running a test roll of APX100 through it, I am in love. AE, scale focus that works well, very sharp, very contrasty 38mm f2.7 lens. The only complaints are you cannot adjust f-stop or shutter speed, it is all automatic, but in use it works really well, especially for street shooting. The only noise is a faint click that I can barely hear. Plus it has that plasticky, unassuming toy camera look, which is perfect for the images it is capable of.

 

[kpas]

olympus 35 rc