back alley
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does your poor man have a budget/price range in mind?
joe
joe
What is your favourite "Poor man's Leica" ?
- Thread starter pedro.m.reis
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raid
Dad Photographer
A poor man's Leica should be very cheap and not cost as much as a Bessa. Maybe a Kiev or Fed camera will do.
pedro.m.reis
Newbie but eager to learn
Well, not yet.
Lets see how the "mandatory" buys go.
But it will be about 300-600€.
Lets see how the "mandatory" buys go.
But it will be about 300-600€.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
Burkey said:
I'd have to say that's hardly a "poor" man's Leica combo. For the price of a new R3A, you could get a nice used Leica M2.
I would have to say that perhaps a Canon IVSB with a Canon 50 f/1.8 or f/2, Leica Summitar f/2, or, really, a Canonet GIII QL-17 or QL-19.
Sonnar Brian
Established
You certainly can get a Bessa R with lens for that price. If you want something older, the Canon RF's are good as well.
The original "poor man's Leica" was the Kodak Retina. A IIIc would be a nice compact camera with fast vintage lens.
The original "poor man's Leica" was the Kodak Retina. A IIIc would be a nice compact camera with fast vintage lens.
back alley
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really poor man = fixed lens camera, maybe an oly 35rc or canonet etc
poor man = fsu camera
regular poor man, like me = a nice canon p, built as well as any leica out there, great finder, 3 framelines and fantastic canon lenses
joe
poor man = fsu camera
regular poor man, like me = a nice canon p, built as well as any leica out there, great finder, 3 framelines and fantastic canon lenses
joe
pedro.m.reis
Newbie but eager to learn
heheheh, i think i'm a poor to regular poor man 🙂
back alley said:
T
Todd.Hanz
Guest
I would get a canon GIII QL17, when you decide you need interchangable lenses the canon will be a nice backup. The fixed 40mm lens on the GIII is razor sharp and a natural focal length, from there you can decide if you want to go wider or longer.
You will learn alot by shooting a fixed lens rangefinder, a single focal length forces you to concentrate on compositional skills and such.
After a year or so using the Canon you can go ahead and buy a Leica MP and all the asph. lenses and screw the "poor mans Leica" 😀 😀 😀
Todd
You will learn alot by shooting a fixed lens rangefinder, a single focal length forces you to concentrate on compositional skills and such.
After a year or so using the Canon you can go ahead and buy a Leica MP and all the asph. lenses and screw the "poor mans Leica" 😀 😀 😀
Todd
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
At last someone brought about the Canonet! 😀
Now... another "original" of the PMLs is the Yashica GS.
Easy to find in decent condition, not as cultish as the Canonet, but a fine performer nonetheless.
However, I'm with Todd here. Now, if the budget can go beyond this one, move towards a Bessa (M-mount) or a used Canon rangefinder.
Now... another "original" of the PMLs is the Yashica GS.
Easy to find in decent condition, not as cultish as the Canonet, but a fine performer nonetheless.
However, I'm with Todd here. Now, if the budget can go beyond this one, move towards a Bessa (M-mount) or a used Canon rangefinder.
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T
tedwhite
Guest
Why not just get a new Bessa R? It's a beautiful camera, and the c/v lenses are top notch. Plus the Bessa's brilliant viewfinder and built-in light meter make (in me humble opinion) all the others pale by comparison. I have a Zorki, a Kiev, and a FED and the lenses to go with them, a few of which are quite good. But we're talking 40-50 year old stuff here, and it's a career to see through their dim viewfinders and focus them. With these cameras I use zone-focus and a hand-held light meter. But why go through all that when the Bessa R with the c/v35/2.5 is such a treat to use and so very reasonably priced (as a kit). It's as easy and fast to use as an M3, if not faster, plus - and I can't emphasize this too much - a light meter.
Plus, most Leica M39 and FSU M39 lenses work just fine. Beware the collapsible ones, however. Best rule: don't use them on a Bessa R.
I've been using my Bessa R (and Bessa L) for almost a year now, shooting every week, and they are worth every cent.
Ted
Plus, most Leica M39 and FSU M39 lenses work just fine. Beware the collapsible ones, however. Best rule: don't use them on a Bessa R.
I've been using my Bessa R (and Bessa L) for almost a year now, shooting every week, and they are worth every cent.
Ted
dmr
Registered Abuser
SolaresLarrave said:
Yeah, I'm just catching up on this thread and I wondered why nobody brought that up earlier. I have a QL17 GIII and I love it!
Cultish? 🙂 🙂
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
blah --- echo is this mic on?
elcud35rc
Member
There are many benifits of having a poor-persons Leica.
But one should ask one's self:
Do you feel safe carrying around a $?,000 Leica investment?
But one should ask one's self:
Do you feel safe carrying around a $?,000 Leica investment?
vrgard
Well-known
Canonets, Konicas & Bessas, oh my!
Canonets, Konicas & Bessas, oh my!
Can't argue with the comments about picking up a Canonet QL17 and I've already recommended a Konica Auto S2. Haven't used a Bessa myself so I can't comment on that one. But re the Canonet, it's a nice size with a semi-wide fast lens. If nothing else, it'll always be a good backup or second camera to a Leica M if you decide to go that route later. As for the Konica Auto S2, it's a bit big to carry as a second camera but it is closer in size to a Leica M, has a nice large viewfinder and built-in meter (meters both through the viewfinder and on top of the camera - great for setting up discretely before raising the camera to your eye to take the shot). Lastly, as for FSU's, I've been enjoying a Kiev 4A with a full complement of lenses and have been enjoying that greatly (particularly like the vintage look I've been getting with it). So if you want lens options the Kiev is a great way to go. But the viewfinder, while certainly very useable, is nothing like a Leica M's big, bright finder. Lots of good advice in the responses so far (I particularly like Back Alley's and Todd.Hanz's).
Good luck!
-Randy
Canonets, Konicas & Bessas, oh my!
Can't argue with the comments about picking up a Canonet QL17 and I've already recommended a Konica Auto S2. Haven't used a Bessa myself so I can't comment on that one. But re the Canonet, it's a nice size with a semi-wide fast lens. If nothing else, it'll always be a good backup or second camera to a Leica M if you decide to go that route later. As for the Konica Auto S2, it's a bit big to carry as a second camera but it is closer in size to a Leica M, has a nice large viewfinder and built-in meter (meters both through the viewfinder and on top of the camera - great for setting up discretely before raising the camera to your eye to take the shot). Lastly, as for FSU's, I've been enjoying a Kiev 4A with a full complement of lenses and have been enjoying that greatly (particularly like the vintage look I've been getting with it). So if you want lens options the Kiev is a great way to go. But the viewfinder, while certainly very useable, is nothing like a Leica M's big, bright finder. Lots of good advice in the responses so far (I particularly like Back Alley's and Todd.Hanz's).
Good luck!
-Randy
ClaremontPhoto
Jon Claremont
Minilux, cheap as chips brand new on eBay.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
elcud35rc said:
I've asked the self of the one, and: Yes. I carry my $? bills without any worries around, even when I go to the Persons Room either with my Leica investment, or any of my Underpriviledged At-Risk Persons Photographic contraption. It depends of how careful it is that one wants to be about every single thing one does or says, methinks...
Beniliam
Out of the limelight
The really really poor mans Leica cameras for me are:
The cheapest alternative for uses good rangefinder cameras:
-Yashicas Electro, Lynx...
-Olympus RD, RC, SP
-Canonets
-Vivitars, Konicas, Minoltas.
Probably the most underated cameras are the Yashicas, but have a great Yashinons Lens! The prized is liar with these cameras.
The cheapest alternative for uses good rangefinder cameras:
-Yashicas Electro, Lynx...
-Olympus RD, RC, SP
-Canonets
-Vivitars, Konicas, Minoltas.
Probably the most underated cameras are the Yashicas, but have a great Yashinons Lens! The prized is liar with these cameras.
ClaremontPhoto
Jon Claremont
Luckily in Portugal the Leica brand in unknown.
For most people a camera is a 'Kodak'.
Like 'Hoover', 'Band Aid' and 'Jeep'.
So, super safe.
You know this already, Pedro. I do street in Lisbon at night and never ever feel in danger.
For most people a camera is a 'Kodak'.
Like 'Hoover', 'Band Aid' and 'Jeep'.
So, super safe.
You know this already, Pedro. I do street in Lisbon at night and never ever feel in danger.
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richard_l
Well-known
I agree with Jon Clarement about the Minilux. The Rollei 35 is also of Leica quality, but it has a bit more of a learning curve.
R
richiedcruz
Guest
I have really come to like the Kodak IIIS, although prices seem to be going up on those.
I have a Voigtlander Vito that is nonfunctioning, but it came cheap and is quite a handsome looking camera that I have heard that people get really good results from. I am very much look forward to having it CLA'ed.
If you can live with a camera that does not have strap lugs there are always tons of cheap Argus C3's on EB**. I have been tempted to get an Argus A, one of those wrist straps the screws into the tripod mount and using it as a pocket camera.
Obviously, there are always tons of good fixed lens Japanese models floating around. I have been very happy with my Minolta Hi-Matic 9 and have been running film through it nonstop since I had it CLA'ed.
Richie
I have a Voigtlander Vito that is nonfunctioning, but it came cheap and is quite a handsome looking camera that I have heard that people get really good results from. I am very much look forward to having it CLA'ed.
If you can live with a camera that does not have strap lugs there are always tons of cheap Argus C3's on EB**. I have been tempted to get an Argus A, one of those wrist straps the screws into the tripod mount and using it as a pocket camera.
Obviously, there are always tons of good fixed lens Japanese models floating around. I have been very happy with my Minolta Hi-Matic 9 and have been running film through it nonstop since I had it CLA'ed.
Richie
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