What would be the most nice fixed lens RF?

[FPjohn]

Retina but...

Retina but...

Hello:

A good example of a Retina IIIC/IIIc or IIb is my personal choice but I expect that a new Olympus Stylus infinity/epic is the best practical option.

yours
Frank

 

[ErnestoJL]

My choice would be (is):
Manual only: Mamiya Super Deluxe 1.5
Full auto: Yashica E35 GTN
Manual+auto: Konica Auto S2

The Auto S2 has the advantage over other similar cameras like the Canonet, that even when not in AUTO, the meter is still connected and reading.

Ernesto

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

One that would be free and in excellent working order would be the most nice.

I would have to go with the folding MF rangefinders; the faster the glass, with coupled rangefinder. That would be the most nice. And free, or course

 

[jan normandale]

Robert, I see from your profile you are a student.. is this camera going to be put to use for school or is this for your own enjoyment

 

[Robert Vote]

Actually it is for me. I am giving sometimes lectures for young students. It could be nice to show that there is no need to have the latest digital equipment in order to produce nice pictures. How would you rank the cameras mentioned in terms of picture/glass quality?

Thanks!
Robert

 

[David Murphy]

Most of the Japanese fixed rangefinder cameras with lenses faster than about F2 are pretty good -- they have to be. A 40-50mm lens faster than f2 is a serious piece of optical design and construction. These cameras may be inexpensive now, but in their time they commanded good money.

I own an old Beauty LM from about 1959 and it delivers really excellent images (Taiyo-do Optical Works). I like most of the Beauty's, but I know from experience that the Yashicas and Minoltas (e.g. 7s) are also very good. There are many to choose from.

 

[sf]

hexar af, silent mode

no doubt

 

[rogue_designer]

rollei 35 (either tessar or sonnar) - great for wow factor - and fantastic images with 40mm lens.

on a budget - I love the Yashica Lynx 14(e), Lynx 5000, the Canonet QL17 (tho I am not a big fan of the metering process with it), or the Konica Auto S2 (which solves my metering issue with the canonet)

All have great lenses - some faster than others, but with a hood and good technique, hard to beat.

 

[Kin Lau]

Konica Auto S2.

Sharp glass and parallax corrected.

Just make sure you get one without a wobbly barrel.

 

[Russ]

My suggestion is the often overlooked Konica AutoS-2. Its lens is scalpel-sharp and yields beautifully contrasty color. The old Konica slogan used to be "The lens alone is worth the price".
dc3

Yes. And the Konica Auto S-2, shares the same lens as the Vivitar ES and Hi-Matic 7sII. The lens design was a collaboration between Minolta and Leitz.


Russ

 

[Kat]

Thanks for so many replies!

My needs are simple: good lens quality - working reliable meter - I want a good shooter - not too expensive max 60Eu. And it should be 35mm film format. I have already a medium format RF my heavy koni omega aka "The Rock"

Thanks!

Robert

Aside from camera quest's site, I also look here for reviews on many RFs, including the ones the others suggested, here:

http://mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/rangefinders.html
http://www.photoethnography.com/equipment.html

After reading them, I tried the Yashica GS/GSN, Minolta HiMatic 9, Konica C35, Olympus RC, Canonet QL17 GIII, Vivitar ES (My Konica S3 hasn't been tried out yet). All of them were great, none have disappointed me. I did let go of my first Yashica, because the size/weight really bothered me, but ended up grabbing another one when I got the chance.

You can just learn about the top choices and their features, maybe narrow them down to which one has what you need. But most of these are excellent performers, so in the end, I think you'd have to hold them in your hands and use them to be able to fully decide which one you like "best".

 

[raid]

I recommend a Konica S2 for its superb lens and manual exposure capability. The lens seems to be as sharp as a Planar lens. The Olympus XA is also a much smaller but equally good alternative.

Raid

 

[nasmformyzombie]

As others mention, there's quite a few choices. I'm partial to fast glass. With price as no consideration, I like the Yashica 35CC. Very nice, fast 35 f1.8 lens. It's compact and light and easy to handle. Will cost quite a bit more than most of the fixed lens RF's, a nice example can go for $150. I had a dead mint 35CC and didn't have the heart to use it, it was too nice. So I sold it. If you're on a budget (and are in pretty good shape) the Konica Auto S2. It's a beast, but very inexpensive (good working example goes for $20-$50) with a fast, sharp 45mm f1.8 Hexanon lens.

 

[Doug]

The originating post didn't specify 35mm, though placement implies it. I'm tempted to suggest there are some attractive choices of fixed-lens-RF cameras that use 120 and/or 220 film. Of course there are many in photography's history, including folding cameras. As to more recent gear, Fuji has been particularly productive that way with their GS645 and GA645 series, and the large 670 and 690 models. Check 'em out.

 

[Silva Lining]

I really like the Vivitar 35ES I have. It shares much of the Minolta 7s and other school. It is easy to use and is quite inexpensive. I carry it in a bag in my car most of the time. Photograpically it is quite nice.

I love the Canonets, but would second the support for the Vivitar 35 ES it has a fast lens (f1.7) a good accurate meter and is easy to hold.

a great little camera.

Check out some results from it here Mainly my shots

 

[surlysimon]

Minolta Hi Matic 7SII is undervalued and very good, full manual as well as some auto.

But that said all the recomendations made above are valid and worth considering

 

[jkelly]

I'll register another vote for the Konica Auto S2. It's the best free camera I've ever had. Very sharp lens, accurate metering, and the auto exposure is a nice feature for snapshot mode.

 

[scottgee1]

Oly RC

Oly RC

Hmmm . . . I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the Olympus RC yet.

Oh, look, I just did!

Dr. Gandy's overview:

http://cameraquest.com/olyrc.htm


Happy hunting!/ScottGee1

 

[richard_l]

The Rollei 35 is probably the ultimate small, elegant all manual mechanical camera. It doesn't have a rangefinder, but small cameras with their short rangefinder base are not all that precise anyhow. Besides, you can make your own rangefinder for free in a few minutes.

Richard

 

[scottgee1]

Richard, thanks for the reminder about the RF plans.

This makes it very easy:

http://www.tomchuk.com/rf_hfd/index.php

I'm not sure though if a working Rollei 35 fits the budget.

ScottGee1