What is your favourite "Poor man's Leica" ?

[richard_l]

Luckily in Portugal the Leica brand in unknown.

That seems strange, since a great deal of Leica photographic equipment is (or was) fabricated in Portugal.

 

[Frank Granovski]

Cameras such as the Electro GSN, 35RC, Vitomatic 11 are my poor man's leica cameras. I was going to write the Minolta made Leica CL/Minolta-Leica CL/Minolta CL. 😉

 

[richard_l]

.....I was going to write the Minolta made Leica CL/Minolta-Leica CL/Minolta CL. 😉

A pristine Leica or Leitz-Minolta CL is the way to go, but it must be pristine. 🙄

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Leica make, but do not sell much in Portugal.

 

[Frank Granovski]

A pristine Leica or Leitz-Minolta CL is the way to go, but it must be pristine. 🙄

You took the words right out of my mouth. However, these days I think the Contax G2 would be the best poor man's Leica. They can be found pretty cheap. Too bad Creepy Tire doesn't carry them because I could use my Creepy Tire money---almost looks like Greenbacks except it's got a crazy Scot on 'em. Creepy. 😎

 

[rover]

He is feeding you lines Frank, you must resist taking the bait. 😉

 

[taffer]

My apologies for keeping feeding the myth, but just IMHO, I've never found any better sub $50 RF picture taking machine than a G-III 17 (or relatives).

Ok, other compact RFs have more advanced features, better lenses or more robust construction or more range of shutter speeds or etc. But this one seems to have the best average combination of them out there !

Oscar 🙂

 

[Trius]

With your budget, Pedro, I'd vote for a Bessa or maybe a Canon or screwmount Leica. But for a "regular poor man" who wants to have money left over for a film stash, I'll echo some of the other choices. I haven't handled a Konica S2, but I'm interested in it.

BUT ... I really do need to speak out for the Oly 35SP. I recently got my second one back from a CLA and application of new leather. Let me tell you, the viewfinder is fabulous ... it sparkles and the rangefinder patch is nice and contrasty. Aside from some typical bright marks, this camera looks new.

And it handles so well in my hands, others mileage may vary. It's not as small as an RC or RD, but it feels perfectly balanced. The spot metering is not only "nice to have", but now that I have it, I'd say it's a "must have." You can sometimes get a good sample for $60 to $100 USD, then plan on another $100 for a top-notch CLA, including conversion to modern battery.

The only drawback is it's fixed lens, of course, but this is just one step in the downward RF spiral, right?

Trius

 

[Traut]

Manual - IIf or IIf
Auto - Contax G1 and 45 as said above
Non-interchangeable - Konica Hexar AF

 

[Traut]

Should have said IIf or IIIf or equivalent

 

[Uncle Bill]

Ok guys and gals, if you're poor like me and couldnt afford an "high end" camera like a Leica, what would be your 2nd choice within the so called "poor man's Leica"?

Well since I own a Leica, the quote poor man's leica I have that always takes amazing shots is the Canon Canonet QL17 G111. It runs with the big boys all the time.

Bill

 

[Kin Lau]

You took the words right out of my mouth. However, these days I think the Contax G2 would be the best poor man's Leica. They can be found pretty cheap. Too bad Creepy Tire doesn't carry them because I could use my Creepy Tire money---almost looks like Greenbacks except it's got a crazy Scot on 'em. Creepy. 😎

I've seen at least one Ebay seller who'll take Cdn Tire money. And I'm pretty sure he was selling camera equipment too.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Yep, no problem with that.
My problem is only the price 🙂.

I have a cuple yashica electro 35, a lynx 14, a FED-2 and on the way is a Canonet QL 19 and a Zorki 4.
(got GAS since i started to visit this forum.....)
So i'm going to give these ones a good try before i invest more 🙂, maybe an Oly SP if i can find one at a good price.

Thanks all 🙂

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.

 

[djon]

Pentax IQzoom 105. Dunkable, good autofocus, viewfinder better than Contax G (but with Contax shutter lag), optics better than old Leica/Canon, rugged as hell.

 

[djon]

Since there have been no Leica "improvements" since IIIC, why not get a IIIC? 😉

 

[pedro.m.reis]

How do you mean, no "improvements" ?

Since there have been no Leica "improvements" since IIIC, why not get a IIIC? 😉

 

[caspert79]

My poor man's Leica right now is my Yashica Electro 35 CC.
It's the smallest Electro with the best looks and had a truly great lens (fantastic 35mm f/1.8 combination). I didn't use my Petri Color 35 yet because the lightmeter is not working, but it looks like a jewel and is so small that my Konica C35 looks huge next to it. Hopefully the optics are just as good as the looks!
By the way, next week my Oly 35 SP will be delivered!

 

[djon]

"no improvements since IIIC"

What improvements have happened to us since IIIC? Rapid advance? Viewfinder? Built in meter? Hinge back? Those are little more than window dressing 😎

 

[Bertram2]

Ok guys and gals, if you're poor like me and couldnt afford an "high end" camera like a Leica, what would be your 2nd choice within the so called ?

There is no "poor man's Leica" . That's an imagination only existing in the heads of some Leica owners who think somebody must be poor if he is not willing to pay five times more for his gear than he has to pay fore another well comparable
brand.

Maybe you mean a LOMO, or a disposable camera ? Who has to use THAT kinda camera is a "poor" chicken indeed !!! Tho he can be a rich man too 😛

Bertram

 

[AC3THX]

I'll choose Canon GIII QL17 and Olympus 35SP