What's the Best UNDER $50 Ebay Rangefinder?

Put a vote in for FSU , tried to vote for them all just to skew the poll, really hard to define the `Best'- optics? - reliabiity? - ease? For a first time user any of the above that create an ongoing interest is gonna be value at under 50 bucks ,and hey the ****e ones you end up buying just teach you how to fiz em- or not sometimes.
 
I had lots of Yashi's and they were all good cameras, but no battery = no camera and the Electros make it impossible to know what shutter speed you are shooting at. Final fatal flaw for me: Metering for the G series (GSN, GTN, GT, G) indicates the perfect exposure is achieved when both the lights in the viewfinder go out! What genius thought this one up?
 
FSU - You can still get a good Kiev 4a or 4am with a Jupiter 8 for $50 if you're patient.

William
 
I have everything listed in the survey, but for a beginner, I would go with a Olympus XA and a Yashica GS series 2nd, mostly due to battery issues and I like the wider lens on the Oly.
 
For a newbie, I like the GSN for it's simplicity and great lens. There are other lesser known Japanese cameras from the same era that will do the job nearly as well. The Petri 7S is cheap, fully manual, and does't need a battery. Minolta Hi-matic is another good one. The Argus, while cheap and easy to find, requires a lot of attention to use or you end up with a lot of blank or double exposures.
 
Interesting thread. I think any of those listed that sell for under $50 and are in good working condition would be wise choices.

Strangely I have never gotten a yashica. And I like the Yashica brand. My first was an 8mm movie camera back about 1963. I loved it. Then about 1971, my beloved Yashica TL Super, the poor man's Nikon. I purchased a Yashica made Contax and loved it, and when it went bad, got Yashica FX 103. I just can't fall in love with the G series. I don't know why. For sure Yashica has good glass. Better than it ever got credit for.

I agree with above posts about the Konica glass as well. I have two Canonet G17 IIIs and like them, but seldom carry them. I have a Petri Computer 35 which is a nice choice due to its lens, reliability, compactness and lightness.

I enjoy my XA that I got with two other nowhere cameras for about $20 total, from a ebay seller that didn't know what they had, and didn't properly describe it. Just an Olympus camera (with case and flash). Neat little camera. I keep it in my car.

The best? As others have said, the one that works well when first obtained, and the user likes enough to keep using. That could be most anything.
 
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konica s2 and c35 are both very great cameras. lenses are amazing - for color and black and white
 
januaryman said:
Final fatal flaw for me: Metering for the G series (GSN, GTN, GT, G) indicates the perfect exposure is achieved when both the lights in the viewfinder go out! What genius thought this one up?
Click to expand...

It's like with RHD and LHD cars. Personally I get O/U lamp concept. Some don't. There's load of FL RF's to choose, aren't we lucky? :)
 
Not G-III QL 1.7

Not G-III QL 1.7

Somebody gave me a G-III 1.7. I never did get along with that camera. I didn't see what all the fuss was about. I guess all of my good Canon lenses had spoiled me.

The Konica I I got from dad is another story. Silent leaf shutter. Super nice range-view finder. Solid as a rock. Fabulous lens. If you find a working copy for $50-$100 jump all over it.
 
I'm slowly drifting to idea that Konica III (plain III, not even IIIA or IIIM) is FL RF I like.

Electro 35 and it's relatives - Av only. Good when it's all you need, and sometimes it isn't enough. Controls are somehow lacking final touch - tactile wise.

Lynxes - this are the cameras! Pity their RF optics aren't preserved up to level where users don't complain about faded RF patches.

KAS/KAS2 - VF is large and bright, RF patch keeps very well - contrasty enough. Nice lens, and loud mechanics. Brutal feeling of alligator with lens :) Tiny DOF scale located on body - not very practical implementation.

35RC - very nice VF - large and brigh enough. Because mine works in manual mode only, I feel that narrow aperture ring is made to be left on A setting most of times. With slow films one can lack slow speeds - not a limitation really, if you are aware and use it accordingly. Solidly built, although some complain about failure of wind mechanism (I don't, at least so far). Size and features is it's strong side.

Konica III - smaller VF, KAS/KAS2 has better. No moving framelines. Otherwise it's gem - Seikosha shutter is quieter than Copals on Lynxes and KAS series (except electrical Copal on Electro, for sure), blades don't make metallic sound, even slow speeds run more silently. This doesn't affect performance, I simply enjoy smoothness.

Advancing also is quieter, just takes a bit longer (there are motorized SLRs for frame-gunning style shooting, right?).

Shutter release because of lack of AE mechanism travels short and smoothly. KAS series obviously lack this property, though their weight compensate this flaw so take this as aesthetical/tactile issue.

Body is great - sized like Lynx 5000 which has ideal size/weight ratio, lens barrel is cone shaped and extends from body very naturally. Cylinder shaped barrels...not that they are wrong (probably too SLRish? this is not true, of corse, there are cylinder shaped RF lenses), I just happen to like cone more on vintage cameras.

Here is another flaw - speed ring on III is little too narrow for me. I like how it's done on KAS - slightly erects over barrel and is a bit wider than on III (on KAS2 it's not so good - ergonomically). Erecting it a bit (a bit, not to make front of lens ugly) would enhance model III.

Can't not mention RF department - built like a tank, not cheapo as on Lynxes, Electro and KAS/KAS2. Even mirror can't fall off post after impact - because it's mounted in frame not glued.

While it usually is over us$50, I'd go for it as only FL RF (anyway most of us spend more cash to simmer through loads of FL RF's ;) )...well, probably have also 35RC as compact notebook.

Truth is we are so different and good news are there are enough cameras to choose from. Good luck.
 
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Best udner $50 rangefinder is Zorki 2S IMHO. johne

Best udner $50 rangefinder is Zorki 2S IMHO. johne

Buy CCCP! Best deal under $50 is Zorki 2S.
johne
 
I Almost clicked russian, as the Zorki 4k and the Fed 3/4/5/6 are great cameras, however I started with an Agfa Super Silette, and I Loved it so much I ended up with 3 of them before buying my FED and my Voightländer Bessa R, so yes i would say the good ol' West german Agfa fixed lens rangefinder. quiet, compact and fits in the deep pockets of my winter coat when walking round the streets of Krakow in February!
 
IMHO gotta be the Zorki 4 or 4k with the Jupiter 8 lens. Had 4 of them over the last 7 years from ebay - price range 15GBP - 28GBP, and never had a bad one.
Mind you...... I've nothing to compare it to either so this needs to be taken with a 'pinch of salt':D:D
 
Tricky one this!

Tricky one this!

It's a tricky one this;)
I suspect that anyone wanting to get a rangefinder must have some photographic experience (even if just a little) or they would be buying digital in this day & age.
Because of this, I'm guessing they want to be in control of things & try something a bit different from the norm.
I have lots of rangefinders, but for this price I'd have to go for a Zorki 4K with Jupiter8 (I bought mine for £20 last year) as you have complete control of everything & don't have to worry about batteries or electrical failure in the future.
It feels a lot more substantial than any of my konicas (S3, C35), or most other japanese cameras of the 60's/70's & the lens is great (that & you have the endless possibilities of other glass) & I feel it a pleasure to use.
No, it's not a Leica but that isn't a fair comparison (because of the price difference alone), but I enjoy using it just as much as my Leicas!
I feel a bit cheated when I use the Konicas, just because all you really need do is focus & shoot, because of the built in light meter & automation.
But that said, they are much lighter / smaller & quicker to use than a Zorki, so have their place (& obviously great optics).
If I was street shooting & wanted to be discreet though, I'd opt for an Oly XA great lens, easy to use.
My vote goes FSU :)
 
No Fujica yet?!?! The Compact Deluxe is a great camera, but maybe a bit hard to find. You wont find a lot of comments about them online, but nearly every one comment you find will be very positive.
 
My first rangefinder was the Canon QL17 purchased on Ebay for around $40. The viewfinder is not quite what the Leica M viewfinders are, but the camera surprised me when I got my first roll of slides back. The lens is a fixed 40mm 1.8 and very sharp.

My problem was I could only figure out how to use it in the auto mode. The meter doesn't seem to work when I use it in manual mode. Don't know if it is faulty, or if I just don't know what I am doing with it. I only shot a few rolls of film with it. I also purchased the QL19 which has a 45mm lens for around the same price. I've never used that one.

My grandfather gave me an Argus C3 this summer. I have not used it yet, but some day I will give it a try. I saw plenty of them in an antique store for $25.
 
My first RF was a Minolta Hi -Matic 7SII bought from an eldery gentleman in 1989 for £20, that camera was brilliant and really got me hooked on RFs so it gets my vote. The Yashica's have a great lens but often don't work when bought from ebay and I personally don't like the brick like handling. My Minolta is now kaput so my RF of choice just now is a Ricoh 500g, not the best on the list but you can buy it in the UK on fleabay for under a tenner!
 
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