Suggest a tiny RF full-frame for me

[xwhatsit]

Just got into this camera lark, bought a Minister D, spent a couple of weeks trying to make the shutter go with the help of some very nice people on this forum. Seems to be working now, took it camping with me this weekend, shot a couple of rolls so we'll see how it turns out when I pick up the photos tomorrow. Probably full of light leaks!

Anyway, it's a bit of a problem, these cameras keep turning up on Trademe (New Zealand homegrown copy of eBay) for tiny sums of money. I accidentally bought a Electro G for $NZ35, then last night accidentally bought a Lynx 1000 for $NZ30 (will be interesting to see how it compares to the Minister D, seem to be similar in some respects).

I had also spied the cutest little thing, a Petri Color 35 for $NZ12.50. I did a bit of research about it and decided I really wanted it. Unfortunately so did a lot of others to my surprise (not many people showed interest in the Yashicas), and in the last two minutes the price went frmo $NZ12.50 to $NZ90.50 and I dropped out. Later I learned that it's probably worth even more and I should've kept bidding.

Anyway, these big Yashicas look like fun but I'd also love a tiny compact like the Petri. Is there any others I should be looking out for? Not so keen on a plastic modern-style XA or somesuch; I know, very shallow of me.

I'd love a rangefinder as I don't fancy my focusing skills without one but I understand these are thin on the ground in such small sizes so I suppose I could learn to use a scale-focus. Really would like a full-frame as I'm going to be taking my film to the pharmacy to be printed for the moment at least.

Thanks very much!

 

[-doomed-]

What about a canonet OL-17 GIII , not super tiny but small enough and its got a great lense

 

[xwhatsit]

What about a canonet OL-17 GIII , not super tiny but small enough and its got a great lense

I'll keep an eye out for one; the QL-19 seems to pop up far more frequently and for a fraction of the price. Is it that much of a step down?

It would be nice to have something pocketable. I didn't realise the QLs were small, I thought they were about the same size as the Lynx series; it's hard with pictures though, I thought the Electros were much smaller but they're even bigger than the Lynx 5000!

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Anyway, it's a bit of a problem, these cameras keep turning up on Trademe (New Zealand homegrown copy of eBay) for tiny sums of money. I accidentally bought a Electro G for $NZ35, then last night accidentally bought a Lynx 1000 for $NZ30


!

As you are so accident prone - I'd be inclined to just see what the next one turns-up! 🙂

 

[maggieo]

The Olympus XA is a fantastic camera! I've had one for almost thirty years.

 

[Finder]

You may enjoy a Kodak Retina. There are Rollei and Minox 35mm cameras that are cute as a button.

 

[xwhatsit]

The Olympus XA is a fantastic camera! I've had one for almost thirty years.

I know, they seem like great cameras, but half the appeal for me (being a young fellow growing up with plastic-y crap P&S and then plastic-y crap digital P&S is the solid hunks of metal the 60s/70s cameras have, with a lens sticking out the front with rings and levers and knobs. Awfully shallow I know but as I'm a terrible photographer I have to take some kind of superficial joy in the appearance and operation of the thing 😀

 

[Al Patterson]

Leica CL, if you have the money. Canon QL-17 GIII if you don't.

 

[xwhatsit]

Leica CL, if you have the money. Canon QL-17 GIII if you don't.

Bugger all money to spend on this -- and anyway, like my motorbikes, I take great joy in buying some cheap and cheerful and ancient and using it every day for something useful.

While I'd love a Leica, it'd be good to learn if I can even take photos first.

I see plenty of QL-28s pop up all the time too. f2.8 isn't really that bad, considering the sort of crappy P&S cameras I've always used before. Is the QL-28 and QL-19 that much of a poorer camera than the QL-17 (which seems to be rare as anything in this part of the Pacific).

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I know, they seem like great cameras, but half the appeal for me (being a young fellow growing up with plastic-y crap P&S and then plastic-y crap digital P&S is the solid hunks of metal the 60s/70s cameras have, with a lens sticking out the front with rings and levers and knobs. Awfully shallow I know but as I'm a terrible photographer I have to take some kind of superficial joy in the appearance and operation of the thing 😀

An interesting outlook...but would it not be more beneficial to concentrate on becoming less of a "terrible photographer" than having more things to fondle at night?.....er....forget that!...this is RFF!🙄....Keep the pictures coming fellas!🙂

 

[xwhatsit]

An interesting outlook...but would it not be more beneficial to concentrate on becoming less of a "terrible photographer" than having more things to fondle at night?.....er....forget that!...this is RFF!🙄....Keep the pictures coming fellas!🙂

I know, it sounds terribly silly. But then again, I choose to ride decrepit old kick-start single-cylinder bikes with leaky carburettors and drum brakes and don't focus particularly on riding fast or with great flair.

Besides, the XA looks far too reliable and trustworthy and I'd never get to pull it to pieces 😛

I'm going to buy a compact then no more cameras, at least until I learn how to develop and print (and take more than glorified snapshots).

 

[StaaleS]

I have an Olympus 35 RC, it's very small. And of course there is always the various Barnacks, the Leica models made before they came up with the M series. Wider than the RC, but you can mount different lenses... actually Barnacks are not that much smaller than Leica Ms but they feel as if they were 🙂

 

[maggieo]

I know, they seem like great cameras, but half the appeal for me (being a young fellow growing up with plastic-y crap P&S and then plastic-y crap digital P&S is the solid hunks of metal the 60s/70s cameras have, with a lens sticking out the front with rings and levers and knobs. Awfully shallow I know but as I'm a terrible photographer I have to take some kind of superficial joy in the appearance and operation of the thing 😀

Then I guess it's time for one of these:

 

[xwhatsit]

I have an Olympus 35 RC, it's very small.

Now that looks interesting. There's one very cheap right now, possible dodgy shutter but I've been there once already so I'm not too afraid.

Then I guess it's time for one of these:

Yeah, if only I could find one. Have been Googling and looks like the QL19 isn't too far off one (apparently the QL28 is a bit rubbish).

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Ummm, just acknowledge that you don't like photography and love cameras. It will save you a lot of future angst and you won't have to worry if the things actually work. 🙂

 

[xwhatsit]

Ummm, just acknowledge that you don't like photography and love cameras. It will save you a lot of future angst and you won't have to worry if the things actually work. 🙂

Ahahah. Well, I have three cameras so far, and am yet to pick up my first rolls of film.

Really, I just love old mechanical things. Fixed up an old Singer sewing machine for Miss Xwhatsit, rebuild old motorbikes, slowly restoring a Mk.I Mini. The actual using of such objects after fixing them... well that's secondary 😉

 

[shadowfox]

Really, I just love old mechanical things. Fixed up an old Singer sewing machine for Miss Xwhatsit, rebuild old motorbikes, slowly restoring a Mk.I Mini. The actual using of such objects after fixing them... well that's secondary 😉

You sound like a perfect candidate for FSU rangefinder cameras 😀

Search around here on RFF for "FED, Zorki, Kiev", you'll get drama, humor, fawning, and yes, thousands of tinkering tips and tricks.

I have three of those and I love them. The smallest one I have is a Zorki 1.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Ahahah. Well, I have three cameras so far, and am yet to pick up my first rolls of film.

😕 - I seem to recall your opening nonsense...sorry! OP! - telling us about the two rolls you shot while camping...and you are/were picking the pictures up tomorrow?. ( you need a good memory - on forums!😀)

 

[capitalK]

The Ricoh rangefinders are tiny with a nice little 40mm f/2.8 Rikenon lens. I used to have a Ricoh 500G and now have a Ricoh 500RF. I don't use them often but they take up almost no space in the bag, have coupled focusing and an automatic mode (if you want it) with full manual override.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

The Ricoh rangefinders are tiny with a nice little 40mm f/2.8 Rikenon lens. I used to have a Ricoh 500G and now have a Ricoh 500RF. I don't use them often but they take up almost no space in the bag, have coupled focusing and an automatic mode (if you want it) with full manual override.

you are just encouraging him now!:bang: