What is Rangefinder Photography to You?

[raid]

It seems that different people may have a different perspective on what rangefinder photography is to each of them. Which of the following factors plays a major role in your preference to use/own a rangefinder camera and to support rangefinder photography:


1. Rangefinder camera are lighter than SLR cameras.
2. Rangefinder cameras make less noise than SLR cameras.
3. Rangefinder photography is a state of mind.
4. Rangefinder cameras are basic, allowing you to concentrate on photography.
5. Rangefinder cameras are best suited for street photography.
6. Some rangefinder camera systems have superior lenses.
7. Other reasons .... ?

Why do you do rangefinder photography?
Do you also do digital photography at the same level?
Can you see yourself using a camera like the M8 [if you could get one] ?


There may be more important reasons why you choose to use a rangefinder camera than what I have listed above, so that's why there is "other".

Raid

 

[ghost]

something other people worry about, hehehe.

 

[flashover]

I like to be different. I got some strange looks today at the vendors market with a Leica IIIa hanging around my Neck. I like the feel and build of the old RF, I seam to spend less time playing with settings. One guy even wanted to buy it.

 

[xabi]

To me, what is unique about RF is its low-light capability. This is the main reason why I keep my M6 over the SLRs that I owed.

 

[DougK]

To me, rangefinder photography is simply photography executed with a rangefinder camera.

 

[rhogg]

I switched from Nikon SLRs to Contax G for the smaller size, better lens quality, but most importantly, ready access to the manual controls I like to use.

I also like having a simpler "system" that allows me to spend more time practicing for that lifetime shot I will sometime get than worrying about what the next peice of the system should be.

The choice for me was not one of philosophy or tradition, - I just like the ergonomics better than SLRs.

Nothing against digital, but I like the comtemplative part of photography were one thinks about the taking the photograph rather than "shoots". I also prefer my jobo and darkroom to sitting at the computer and using photoshop.

As a hobby, the darkroom is more of a change than more computer time.

I also have a Linhoff Tech IV which isn't being used enough.

In the house we also have my wife's Sony DSCT30, and a Nikon 4500 (great build, size, and form factor - too bad about 4 year old digital quality). Ironically it is what drove me to the Contax G.

My daughter is using my FE2 and enjoying it , and we have an F70 which is better than its reputation , but I stopped buying Nikon glass after the crummy kit lens this camera came with. (They shoud be a shamed of themselves!) It still gets used occaisoinally for sport related snapshots.

 

[Peter Klein]

For me it's the really great optics, smaller, lighter, quieter cameras, lack of mirror slap, low light ability. Not to mention the the fact that when I focus on something, that's what the camera is actually focused on.

I've always felt more comfortable photographing people with a rangefinder. It's less intimidating to them, less likely to affect their behavior than a big DSLR. This is true even if they know I'm photographing them.

There's also the state of being more at one with the camera--directly in contact with the aperture, shutter, and focus. Rather than programming a computer to (hopefully) make the same decisions you would make if you actually were in control. Of course, one could say this about an older manual or aperture priority SLR, too.

I feel similarly to Sean Reid when he writes about the RF frame and seeing what's outside as well as what's inside, and how it makes framing a different process.

I can definitely see myself using a camera like an M8. I just have to see myself spending (not to mention having) the money!

--Peter

 

[ErnestoJL]

It seems that different people may have a different perspective on what rangefinder photography is to each of them. Which of the following factors plays a major role in your preference to use/own a rangefinder camera and to support rangefinder photography:


1. Rangefinder camera are lighter than SLR cameras.
2. Rangefinder cameras make less noise than SLR cameras.
4. Rangefinder cameras are basic, allowing you to concentrate on photography.
5. Rangefinder cameras are best suited for street photography.
6. Some rangefinder camera systems have superior lenses.
7. Other reasons .... ?

Why do you do rangefinder photography?
Do you also do digital photography at the same level?
Can you see yourself using a camera like the M8 [if you could get one] ?


There may be more important reasons why you choose to use a rangefinder camera than what I have listed above, so that's why there is "other".

Raid

The reasons why I do it is because I like it, and there is another special one: When I was 15 y.o. I saw for the first time a nice and well cared Contax III, and decided that this was the kind of camera I wanted. It had similar features as a Leica, but it was Zeiss, being this one a purely subjective reason why did I choose the Contax but not the Leica.

I mostly do street photography, and an SLR is less comfortable for me. Here the RF camera with a short tele or WA is unbeatable in terms of speed, weight and a lot less noisier.

I do not have any digital other than the web camera, but probably I´ll buy very soon one with macro capabilities to be used for my job only for documentary purposes.

I´m not sure if I would or not buy an M8 provided no money restrictions apply.
Probably not because I still feel reluctant to go digital for many reasons and one of them is that today I didn´t find a camera whose technical specification isn´t a bit tricky to understand. Besides, I see them more as disposable plastic made appliances rather than cameras. I´m sure the M8 is not, but this may be the only one...

Ernesto

 

[Nando]

At first, I was attracted to the quality of the lenses available and especially the small size a typical rangefinder kit that is ideal for travelling. Add to that the low-light capabilities, low noise, and no need for batteries (at least with my T), it makes a rangefinder especially appealing to me.

I took photos primarily when travelling but since I got a rangefinder, I started using it all the time. I take my Bessa-T with either a 35 Ultron or a J3 with me almost everywhere I go. This is something that I would never think of doing with my old dSLR. Not only was my dSLR kit too bulky to carry around but I found using the camera unnecessarily complicated sometimes and I found it quite stressful going through menu after menu to change settings. Using my Bessa-T is not necessarily less complicated to take a typical photograph with but its certainly less stressful.

I actually find that the process of taking a photo with a mechanical rangefinder an absolute pleasure and actually quite relaxing. I don't see using the camera as a means to an end - a photograph. I see it as a continuous process of learning, improving, experimenting and eventually becoming creative. Rangefinder photography makes me take photos for the sake of self-improvement instead of just getting a nice photograph.

Even if I had a small, simple P&S camera instead, I think I wouldn't be interested taking it with me all the time - I just wouldn't find it intriguing enough. Point-click-big deal. There is something special about adjusting the shutter speed dial, setting the aperture and focusing the lens. At least I want to do some work for my crappy photos. And since I love using the equipment, I think my photography will improve with time since I will be practising a lot and I'll be sticking with it.

Rangefinder photography also gives me an excuse to go for a walk in the park, revisit a historical site or take a stroll downtown for something other than to buy things or to attend to some personal business. Its making me do some healthy things - not only physically healthy things but mentally and emotionally healthy things too.

If I had to prioritize the various reasons I like rangefinder photography, it would go like this:

1. The pleasure of using the equipment makes for a relaxing, healthy hobby and one that I will stick to. I love the process of taking photos with a rangefinder.
2. The quality of the equipment, especially the lenses and low-light capabilities.
3. I find that learning how to take photos with a mechanical rangefinder veriy rewarding. It caused me to investigate the history of photography over the last century for inspiration instead of trying to copy the typical plasticy shots lots of people take these days with dSLR's. Its just finding it a wonderful study.
4. The relatively small size of a rangefinder kit.
5. The quality of photographs I've seen at RFF and historically significant photographs taken with rangefinders gives me some hope for my own.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Rangefinder photography ----"If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand."

Wayne

 

[telenous]

The absence of the mirror slap, the potential for slower shutter speeds and the resulting low light performance, the excellent optics, the inconspicuousness of the cameras, the framelines allowing for compositional authority: all these are individually necessary and jointly sufficient conditions of the rangefinder experience (well, my rangefinder experience, at any rate).

Why do you do rangefinder photography?

Because rangefinders can give me photos I actually like.

Do you also do digital photography at the same level?
Can you see yourself using a camera like the M8 [if you could get one]

The capturing medium (film or digital sensor) is not crucial. Film may add an artistic dimension (IMO it does) but that remains largely a matter of taste. In a world where there isn't any film, a digital rangefinder would fill in the shoes of its filmic counterpart. In a world where there is film, digital and film rangefinders can peacefully co-exist. I can see myself using a digital rangefinder in either world; it would be a better world than the one where I 'd have to use solely a digital SLR.

 

[Marc-A.]

1. Rangefinder camera are lighter than SLR cameras.
2. Rangefinder cameras make less noise than SLR cameras.
3. Rangefinder photography is a state of mind.
4. Rangefinder cameras are basic, allowing you to concentrate on photography.
5. Rangefinder cameras are best suited for street photography.
6. Some rangefinder camera systems have superior lenses.
7. Other reasons .... ?

7. Focusing with a RF is not only special, it is not only pertaining to a state of mind, but it is simply easier and more accurate, at least for me. I don't have major eye problems (I touch wood!), nevertheless they are significant enough to blur my focusing when I shoot SLR. With VF/RF, there is no problem even if I don't see clearly what I'm focussing on: I just have to superpose two images ... it is how RF cameras work, right? 😉

Of course, I support all the other reasons.

Best,

Marc

 

[clarence]

They're faster, lighter, smaller, quieter and easier to use in low light.

SLRs are brusque, TLRs are quaint, but rangefinders are just sexy.

Clarence

 

[Ash]

1. Rangefinder camera are lighter than SLR cameras.
All my rangefinders are heavier than my slr's

2. Rangefinder cameras make less noise than SLR cameras.
All my rangefinders are louder than my slr's

3. Rangefinder photography is a state of mind.
My state of mind hasn't really changed since getting into RF's, but I guess I enjoy it more than I did SLR shooting... my RF stuff is a bit hit and miss though.

4. Rangefinder cameras are basic, allowing you to concentrate on photography.
I find myself concentrating as much on checking the film is winding on (thanks to basic FSU camera building) and trying to compensate for parallax, as I do on the photography aspect.

5. Rangefinder cameras are best suited for street photography.
I've taken more photo's of streets and people on the street since I got RF's, but they're only best suited in my opinion because the parallax is a problem in every other genre 😀 .. that said, I much prefer attempting to take portraits

6. Some rangefinder camera systems have superior lenses.
And here I am with Industars and Jupiters 😀

7. Other reasons .... ?


I needed a break from crappy SLR photography. I was burnt out. The cameras and especially the community here have really given me a new lease that was being lost in stale slr photography.

 

[c.poulton]

To me, what is unique about RF is its low-light capability. This is the main reason why I keep my M6 over the SLRs that I owed.

That's my number one reason as well, although I like the small size of Rangefinders & the the sound (lack of).

 

[FrankS]

I only pretend to have RF cameras so I can hang out here at RFF. 🙂

 

[Marc-A.]

I only pretend to have RF cameras so I can hang out here at RFF. 🙂

I was ever suspecting that! 😀

 

[egpj]

Women love RF cameras. What other reason could there be? Well, some other reasons that I have are:

1. The quality of the optics and the build quality of the gear in general.

2. It makes me think about the picture and all the elements that need to come together. I find myself constantly "looking" now.

3. I tried going the SLR route with an R9 but went back to the MP's. They fit how I like to work allot better. The R9 just sits at home now languashing.

As for rangefinders being lighter, that has to be a myth! My kit weighs so fricking much! I do think that rangefinder cameras tend to attract less attention on the street then a big in your face SLR.

 

[--s]

Whereever I go, my MP is with me. It´s a very easy way of picture taking, no fiddling around with tripods, zoom lenses, light meters, just the camera and me (and some kind of lense, of course, mostly the 50 mm Summicron). It´s simple & raw photography, picture taking boiled down to the essential. Couldn´t imagine doing this with an slr.

cheers

GB

 

[ywenz]

It´s simple & raw photography, picture taking boiled down to the essential. Couldn´t imagine doing this with an slr.

With my DSLR, I press a button to get AF lock and press the shutter to get the shot, all whilst shooting from the hip, holding the camera with one hand and without the subject ever suspecting... That has all the essential components of photography. Yes, it is a complex piece of machinery. For pure photography purposes though, the technology does not get in your way if you don't allow it to confuse you.

I do RF because it makes me feel like one of them NG photographers - that is until I realized how much I suck at photography. I still like to pick up the M6 once in a while to get a rush of that feeling back but it is fleeting at best.