The 'How many have you got' competition :-)

[bmattock]

Agfa Opitma xx35 (one of 'em)

AJ, I was just looking at your choices - the Agfa Optima was an interesting choice. I am presuming you mean the newer "Sensor" series, not the originals (although I am told they're fine cameras, just a bit common, and perhaps a tad ugly).

I have been following the Sensor series for awhile, waiting for the right one to come along. I like the looks, I'd love to have one. But although I could be mistaken, I think that only the 1535 is an actual rangefinder (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). The others are zone-focus only, to the best of my knowledge.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Another Jeremy]

Perhaps I'm a rarity, but I find the sleek, Braun-like appearance of the Sensor series attractive. There's an excellent website from this Dutch guy, Alfred Klomp, where he reviews it:
http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/optima1535/index.htm
Plus, as Alfred points out, it's got "a HUGE brightline viewfinder that makes them useful to people with glasses."

 

[bmattock]

AJ, we're talking about the same cameras. The Optima Sensor 1535 looks, as Alfred Klomp points out, somewhat like a shrunk down later-model Plaubel Makina. But again, I believe that the 1535 is the only actual rangefinder of that series - the rest being zone-focus. I like them too!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[pshinkaw]

I picked up a Sensor 535 last month on e-Bay. It does have a terrific viewfinder, but no rangeifnder. There is a symbol based zone focusing scale on top of the lens and a distance scale printed on the bottom of the lens. The Solitar lens is a 4 element, 4 group lens with the shutter located behind the rear-most element.

Mine has what seems to be the most common fault, the film will not advance. There is a complex linkage that allows the wind lever to serve as both the film advance and film rewind. Mine will rewind, but will not shift gears to advance.

Looks like it's going to be a complex project to fix. There are instructions on the web, but it looks daunting.

-Paul

 

[Heath]

OK, here is my collection. I will list all the cameras and if not a RF I will mention it.

Mamiya 35S2
Zeiss Ikon Contina 1 (viewfinder)
Voigtlander Vito B (viewfinder)
Voigtlander Vito CLR
Voigtlander Brillant V6 (TLR)
Yashica Electro 35 GSN
Yashica A TLR (TLR)
Ensign Selfix 420 (MF folder)
Kershaw King Penguin (MF folder)
Kodak Box Brownie Six 20 Model C ('nuff said)
Canon T70 x2 plus assorment of lenses (SLR)
Canon Eos 300D (DSLR)

I am also awaiting the delivery of an Agfa Sillette and bidding on an Ensign Selfix and Ful-Vue and a Kodak Retinette.

Heath

 

[Honu-Hugger]

One's too many and a hundred ain't enough...or something like that😉!

I really don't have many, but perhaps early stages of Alzheimer's because every time I attempt one of these lists I forget one -- usually the Rollei R35SE.

 

[FrankS]

Paul, Bill, and Jeremy,

I have on eof these cameras too, a 1035, which is scale focus (both symbol and numbers) and has a self timer. It's a great little camera for times when you don't mind giving up some control over speed and aperture settings.

 

[rover]

So far:

Voigtlander Bessa R
Konica Auto S3
Minolta Himatic 9
Canon Canonet, QL 17 GII

Wow, talk about a time gone by.

That is my original post in this thread. Where have I been since then, RF only?

bought Yashica GSN
then I sold the GSN
sold Himatic 9
sold Konica Auto S3
tried to sell the Canonet, but didn't, which is good.

bought a Bessa R2
sold the Bessa R
bought another Bessa R2 Olive with a 35 Summicron
sold the Olive R2

bought a Bessa R3a
sold the R3a
sold the R2

Bought a Leice M6TTL
still have the Canonet

So, there you have it. I now have only 2 RF cameras.

 

[rover]

Wait a minute, I have an Iskra and Bessa 66 too. The Iskra is definitely a RF, and the Bessa 66 is close enough.

 

[AndersG]

I bought my first RF only 4 months ago, but now my RF list has grown to this:

FED 2
FED 3b
Zorki 4
Konica C35 (out of order)
Yashica Minister D (out of order)
Yashica Minister 700 (out of order)

The FED 2 is my favorite and the last three are repair projects.
In addition to that I have also started to do my own B/W processing.

/Anders

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi,
I wish I hadn't looked at this thread. I only rediscovered the delights of RFs about 9 months ago and it has got a little out of control. Anyway some are "users", some are mostly "cabinet" and a couple need a little work but so far:

6 x Canonet early
6 x "New" Canonet
7 x GIII Canonet
2 x Konica S2
Oly 35SP
Oly 35RD
Oly 35DC

I must not buy a Russian, I must not buy a Russian, I must not buy a Russian :bang:

Sorry about that but I have to keep saying it

Kim

 

[jorisbens]

I've got 0 (not a typo) rangefinders, and i wont one (or two). Now i have the GDS (gear drooling syndrom), but that might rapidly change to GAS!

 

[back alley]

great idea rover

great idea rover

mamiya 6 x 2

olympus 35rc
olympus stylus

sold the mamiyas

now have a bessa r with 35 & 75 /2.5 lenses

also canon p (x2)
canon 7
w/ 35 (x2) - 50 - 85 - 100 - 135 lenses

still have the original oly 35rc plus another with a non working meter
still have the stylus

joe

 

[Pherdinand]

Hm. Nice RF "history", Rover. By the way, i still remember when we met on the rff chat once, and you have said, leica is not really for you hehe

As to my rangefinderdom, it started with a yashica GSN but has a few more servants now...
A second GSN,
Canonet QL17 GIII(gone on holiday)
-"- (busted top)
Minolta Hi-Matic 9
canonet 28 (anybody wants one?)
super ikonta 531/16 ( 😎 )
- and nice memories involving a contax IIIa with a sonnar 50/1.5 (my only real hardcore rf)...

Still have the minolta af slr system with the way cool 17mm etc...
And a pre-WWII rolleiflex, excellent picture taker.

Not a big collection, but i use them all.

 

[Tim]

ahhh yes. The bad thing about threads like this is that they make you look back and see just what follies you have committed over the last year or so.....

I started in Rangefinders with a Bessa R 18 months ago, largely thanks to the information and enthusiasm on this site. Since then that got traded for a Bessa R2, the Leica IIIf came along, the thought process went "What I really want is the quality of the IIIf with the features of the R2..." and it all went seriously downhill from there. 🙁

So now I have the M6 TTL, the IIIf, and a Contax IIa that I bought kinda by mistake.
However, along the way there's been a Olympus SP, a number of old Canonets and assorted other bits and pieces.

My big issue now is the dreaded Lens Acquisition syndrome; I keep on buying glass for the Leicas.......

 

[captainslack]

6 x Canonet early
6 x "New" Canonet
7 x GIII Canonet

Am I reading this right? You've got 19 Canonet's?!?!??! 😕

 

[captainslack]

I'm new rangefinders, but I can see I'm probably going to be sinking a lot of money I don't have into them in the future. DAMN YOU ALL!!!!! 😀

So far, I've got:

Canonet QL17 GIII
Minolta A5

I've love to have a Leica, but that won't happen anytime soon. Probably a Bessa, too. *sigh* Best not to think about it right now.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Rangefinders

Working Bodies-
1- Bessa R
1- Fed 2
1- Fed 3

Working Lenses-
3- Industar 61 L/D
1- Industar 22
1- Industar 26
1- Jupiter 8 (on the way)

Working Cameras w/built on lenses-
Minox EL
Canonet 28
Yashica Electro 35 GSN

Non-Working
2- Yashica Electro 35 (organ donors, maybe one will be reanimated)
1- Yashica Electro 35 GT (to be reanimated)
1- FED 2 (now mostly in parts as a donor)
1- FED 3 (may become a re-animated camera)​

Non Rangefinders

Canon T70 (with 50mm, 35-70mm, 70-210mm Macro lenses)
Canon G2 (with assorted gadgets)
Sony DSR-PD1 (OK, it's a video camera, but it also does stills 🙂)

 

[Kris]

G.A.S? What G.A.S? I'm not suffering from G.A.S and I don't need to be cured! I still have two cameras and three lenses, just like when I joined this forum.

😀

 

[Tim]

Sadly, in its heart that Contax IIa knows it was a mistake. 🙁 Adoption may be the kindest course. My address is...

ManGo 😀

nice try.......

😉

It deserves to go to a good home where it actually gets used; so far the small matter of some money changing hands has stood in the way of that happening. <shrug> I am not yet quite so philanthropic that I am prepared to give it to you out of the kindness of my heart. Sorry...

🙂