What are your favourite fixed lens RFs?

[John Lawrence]

Of the ones I've used / owned, my favourite would have to be the Olympus XA. Sadly I sold it some time ago, but it was the one I used the most (probably due to size) and it never let me down.

 

[Rprice]

Bieing that I only have one fixed lens RF at this time it would have to be my Argus C3.

 

[rbiemer]

Bieing that I only have one fixed lens RF at this time it would have to be my Argus C3.

Not sure the C-3 counts as a fixed lens RF...🙂
See here:http://jsurp.tripod.com/c3lens.htm

Rob

 

[mh2000]

Retina IIa... nothing else comes close. I like the size of the XA though.

 

[JeffGreene]

John:

I've been reducing my fixed lens rfs lately and have sold my Oly 35 RC, and Yashica 14e and one of my two GSNs. I'd rather they be used.

Looks like the Focasport II. Is the rangefinder coupled or uncoupled. if it's uncoupled it's the plain II. The coupled versions (Models 1 and 2) are distinguished by serial number and shutter type. Nothing like new/old stock! The cameras were very popular in their day according to McKeown's. If you give me the serial number I can identify the model for you, if you're interested. Great find! Enjoy the camera

 

[Rprice]

Not sure the C-3 counts as a fixed lens RF...🙂
See here:http://jsurp.tripod.com/c3lens.htm

Rob

Ok good sight! But what a hassle to change. So since I only have the one lens it will have to be the one 😉

Ok well I stopped at the camera shop today before work and picked up a Petri 7s with the 45 1.8 lens. Now I own 2 fixed lens I suppose.

 

[dhk02]

I have to go with th hi-matic-9 (and srt-101) that was previously mentioned. Love them rokkors.
nksyoon - you should be getting movment with the 675 battries (and a tin foil ring) thats all I use after I found that I could get 100 or so for the price of the silver-oxie button battery adapter

 

[John Robertson]

John:

I've been reducing my fixed lens rfs lately and have sold my Oly 35 RC, and Yashica 14e and one of my two GSNs. I'd rather they be used.

Looks like the Focasport II. Is the rangefinder coupled or uncoupled. if it's uncoupled it's the plain II. The coupled versions (Models 1 and 2) are distinguished by serial number and shutter type. Nothing like new/old stock! The cameras were very popular in their day according to McKeown's. If you give me the serial number I can identify the model for you, if you're interested. Great find! Enjoy the camera

Hi Jeff
I have the Focagraphie book, its the last model Focasport11 of the first series, coupled r/f, Oplex rather than Oplar lens, this was a re-computation with rare earth glass, I also have the guarantee card,. The camera is dated 1962 which agrees with the Focagraphie book.
They are not light cameras, but very well made. The later Focasports (series 2 and 3) are not so nice. The second series 11f is shaped like a brick and covered in plastic, the series 3 look very cheap and nasty and were probably not made by O.P.L. (Foca) Their last camera sold under the Foca name is the Marly. A very strange machine, looks like a typical 126 camera, with built in bulb flash and simple exposure system, but for some strange reason took 127 film. Not popular and didn't sell, therefor rare and overpriced. I hope to add a Foca URC next year when I save some money, and the £ is stronger. I love my two other Focas, I also have a good collection of accessories. I'm also a member of the French Foca club

Thanks again
John.

 

[JeffGreene]

Thanks, John. What is it about the camera in particular that grabs you? From your description of the lens and your deep knowledge of the brand I assume you must be sitting in the catbird seat. I know nothing of the brand as was obvious from my note, but was struck by the excellent condition of the camera and case. It truly looks like new product. Enjoy it!

 

[John Robertson]

hi Jeff

O.P.L. (Optique Precision Levalois ) dates back to the late 19 century, and made their name in precision optics, particularly in military range finders, right up to the huge ones fitted to battleships for gunnery. The Duc de Grammont chairman of the company decided in the late thirties that they should make a camera to compete with Leitz etc, but war and occupation intervened. He and his designers worked through the occupation in secret, and after it was over started producing the Foca range. Often called the French Leica they are sufficiently different, and are not IMHO really Leica copies any more than Contax were. Most of their producion was sold in France and its colonies with a substantial percentage supplied to the three armed forces, Police and government scientific bodies. As far as I know they were not even seen much in UK only 20 odd miles from France. I encountered them when visiting my relatives in Nomandy in the 50's.
you can find out more here http://www.foca-collection.fr/ there seem to be no English sites.
I just basically like something different, optically they are very good, and very robust.
They gave up camera production in the 60's, and are now part of a larger group SOPLEM/Sagem.
You can see some of my stuff here.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=97055


John.:angel:

 

[JeffGreene]

Thank you, John...

Thank you, John...

I enjoyed your gallery! Many of your "Foca" shots had that same microcontrast that some might identify as a 'grail' camera shot. :angel: I liked the tonality in many of your Foma shots as well. Would you mind sharing the developer used? Thanks again, and enjoy the camera! 🙂

 

[John Robertson]

I enjoyed your gallery! Many of your "Foca" shots had that same microcontrast that some might identify as a 'grail' camera shot. :angel: I liked the tonality in many of your Foma shots as well. Would you mind sharing the developer used? Thanks again, and enjoy the camera! 🙂

No problem.
Foma 100 rated 100 ASA (sorry ISO) T.Max 1 + 4 @20° C for 5 - 6 minutes. I normaly give five and a half!!

Thanks for the kind comments
John.
BTW in the late 50's Foca developed the Focasix a 120 film coupled r/f camera speeds 1 - 1000 with focal plane shutter ,interchangeable lenses. a bayonet mount, also able to use 35mm film with an adapter.
They made about 50, but only one has been found. A beautiful camera about the size of a Mamiya 6. Knowing Foca I wonder if there are still some lurking in a government store somewhere. They decided not to proceed with the model. a great pity!!

 

[JeffGreene]

John:

That Focasix sounds generally similar to the Rollei SL66 design-wise with the exception of the 35mm issue, although there are SL66 workarounds. Would you happen to have an image of it? Was it a folder?

Respectfully,

Jeff

 

[John Robertson]

John:

That Focasix sounds generally similar to the Rollei SL66 design-wise with the exception of the 35mm issue, although there are SL66 workarounds. Would you happen to have an image of it? Was it a folder?

Respectfully,

Jeff

No it wasn't an SLR, it was a coupled rangefinder, bit like a large Leica.
There are photos in my Focagraphie book, but I fear they are covered by copyright. not a folder, athough like early Leicas the standard lens could be collapsed.

 

[viggi]

I like shooting with the Olympus 35RC. Small, solid, and fun to operate. Started using Konica S3 recently but need more time with it. I think it handles better than the 35RC... unfortunately, I have issues with it and it needs to go in for repair.

 

[Pompiere]

Right now my overall favorite is my Yashica GSN, but I also like my Olympus 35 ECR for portability. I've also got a Petri 7s for no frills simplicity. I own other cameras, but these are the ones that see the most use.

 

[FallisPhoto]

Medium format list:
1. Agfa Super Isolette
2. Agfa Isolette III
3. Ziess Super Ikonta C
4. Welta Weltur
5. Voigtlander Bessa II
6. Agfa Record III
7. Voigtlander Perkeo III


35mm list:
1. Kodak/Nagle Retina IIa
2. Agfa Karat IV
3. Yashica Lynx 14
4. Yashica Lynx 5000
5. Yashica GSN/GTN
6. Minolta Hi-Matic 7S
7. Canon Canonet GIII QL-17
8. FED2
9. Welta Weltini
10. Balda Super Baldina

 

[rbiemer]

I just realized, I should post my own choice. I only have one actually: Yashica MG. I do have several other fixed lens cameras but they aren't RFs, they are mostly scale focus or auto focus compacts of one kind or another.
Rob

 

[thawkins]

Retina 2a and QL17

 

[amhildreth]

Being the new guy, I only have a limited amount of experience with rangefinders. I 'll have to vote for the two that I already own:

1. Vivitar 35es
2. Olympus XA

- Andy