What camera to get?

[cjour]

Well I am completely new to the world of rangefinders though I have been shooting on a DSLR and a film SLR for almost five years. Yet, for the past year since the purchase of a 50mm f/1.4 lens I have found photography so much more enjoyable with a smaller package to carry around and a friend suggested I look into a rangefinder. So, here I am asking you, the presumed experts of the technology, what should I get? I am looking to keep the total cost under or around $1000 with the price not exceeding $1250. For the price I want both a camera body and a 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 lens. (as I love available light) Thank you so much for the help and I can not wait to delve into the rangefinder world.

 

[jfserejo]

My 1st Rangefinder was an Voigtlander Bessa R2a with two skopars (35mm and 50mm)! I think it was a great choice - good camera for that transition, that you can use fully manually or with AE and great lenses. After that I went for the Barnack's 🙂 - That's where the fun begin...

Good luck with your choice. Regards,
Joao

 

[tripod]

I'd suggest a new camera, a Bessa R2A, for a new rangefinder user. No issues, no surprises. You may or may not get interested in vintage RF cameras and lenses after your first RF camera. The vintage stuff is interesting, but you need to get used to having no built in meter with most of the cameras.

(Notice how positive I was by not saying anything disparaging about FSU cameras? Oops, I guess I just did. 🙂)

 

[Gradskater]

I started with a Minolta hi-matic e rangefinder (f1.7)I got for $10. I took a lot of great pictures with that camera, and I have moved into using other "cheap" rangefinders. I have a Yashica GSN (45mm f1.7) that is great for available light pictures, as many on here can tell you. I also have a zorki 6 with a jupiter 8 that I need to use more.

I don't think you need to spend a thousand dollars just to get started. Sure, its a bit of a crapshoot buying used cameras, but I have had pretty good luck at flea markets and online auctions.

If you must get a new camera, I would get a bessa. If not, I would find a good yashica GSN. A working one in excellent shape should go for $50-80 (or less). Shoot with it, see if you like it compared to an SLR, and then you could probably sell it for what you paid.

 

[wlewisiii]

Welcome to our little place.

(Though, Heh, why does "welcome to the jungle, baby" spring to mind? 😱)

New = Bessa R* w/ a nice 50mm lens of any flavor. The R3M w/ 50/2 Heliar Anny set fits your budget just about perfectly & would be a screamingly good combo.

Used? Ah, then the whole world opens up. MY choices:
Fixed Lens RF: Yashica GSN
Interchangeable Lens RF: Kiev 4a w/ a Jupiter 8.

Good luck & good light.

William

 

[payasam]

For a good finder and in-camera metering, a Bessa is the obvious choice. Gradskater's strategy of starting with a fixed lens RF is good in that you can back off with little loss if you find you don't like it.

 

[Kevin]

Welcome to RFF !

Although I own and take pictures with some very expensive gear, some of my best location portraits were taken with the very small and practical Canonet QL17.

The Canonet would be one of several fixed-lens rangefinder cameras to try out before you invest substantial money in a more reliable and flexible rangefinder system.

Even if you end up later buying and prefering a more expensive rangefinder camera, a Canonet or similar type camera is great to bring along to an event where losing or destroying it would not matter much.

 

[shadowfox]

Welcome to the zoo!

First, forget your $1000 budget, you don't need it... until later on 😉

I would go with fixed lens first. Your budget then would be $100-150, that's including or covering a CLA.

This way you don't get confused with lens selection, mount variation, etc. And it will get you familiar with using a rangefinder and the compact size. Spend some money to try out films, and shooting-styles with different subjects and scenes.

If you can get a fully CLA'd Canonet QL17 GIII for about $50, go for it, but if you end up spending more, consider the following (IMHO better) cameras:

- Minolta Hi-matic 7sII
- Olympus 35 RD

TIP: If you are a lens connoisseur, look up a CLA'd Olympus 35 SP. It won't disappoint.

By the time you've used this starter kit a lot, you'll probably know much more about RF and its options to carve your own path (hint: this is a lot more fun than to have a path carved out for you).

Then you can opt to "graduate" to the interchangeable-lens RF's

Oh, and by the way, FSU cameras are fascinating. Don't be afraid of them 😉

 

[Windscale]

I would agree with Canon QL17 or 19 and Minolta 7SII. I had an Olympus RD and SP but I don't think they equalled the Canon and Minolta. Also worth considering are Agfa Silettes with CRF Solinar or Apotar. These are normally not expensive to come by and they do give that German flavour. May be not as sharp and contasty than the Japanese, but certainly more three-dimensional feel and much better shadow details.

The standard lens is a good servant if one can get used to it.

Good photography need not be expensive. Good luck and happy shooting.

 

[feenej]

I started with two Canonets I found at a thrift store. That was a good way to start. (After 6 months I bought a used Bessa R from a guy here. Now I also own an Olympus RC, but gave away the Canonets.)

 

[funkaoshi]

I had a Yashica Electro 35 GSN, which worked well enough though the viewfinder/rangefinder kind of sucked. Then I bought an R2A, which seemed like a big step up in that department. And then I bought an M2, for reasons I still haven't sorted out.

 

[cjour]

Hey guys. Thanks for the help after looking through all the recommendations and researching each I decided on the Yashica Electro 35 GSN and now to find one. And if I enjoy using that I will probably invest in a Bessa R3A later this year. Thanks again guys.s