What's the Best UNDER $50 Ebay Rangefinder?

[eddie1960]

I would say the Agfa Ambi-Silette which can be had for about $50
with normal lens. It has a very good bright-line viewfinder and
one can later add wide or tele lenses. Not many interchangeable
lens RF cameras around at that price.

you got me interested there's one on ebay now sitting at $100 with 35/50/90 lenses some filters a hood a light meter and a case not under 50 but what a good value (like i need another camera.... but this one is so pretty my precious ....aaargh damn you :bang:

 

[btgc]

For under $50, Yashica Electro, the later the better.

I believe it's opposite - later versions, GSN ir particular, seem to be built cheaper and are lemons more often than early G-series. GSN have better specs (ISO up to 1000 and hot shoe) but that's it.

Or maybe GSN were most made modification so it builds up bad statistics 🙂

 

[ElectroWNED]

I've bought three 35 GSN's on eBay/CL for under $10 and all three worked (after I replaced light-seals).

Other vote goes to Olympus XA (it is everything the GSN isn't).

 

[lacavol]

I have a Dynamatic II by Voigtlander and it's Lanthar 50/2.8 lens is superb. It has a selenium meter that still works. It's mounted around the lens like an Oly RC, but has a linear baffle so you can adjust the meter to your preferences. It has a great bright rangefinder. I paid $25 about 12 years ago and it still works great. Now if I could only find a Lanthar like that in LTM. Watch out for Ebayers as they usually misrepresent the meters.

 

[NickTrop]

Although not a rangefinder, you know what's cheap and plentiful now? Those upscale (at the time) point-n-shoot early AF Canons with the f1.9 40mm - the Canon AF35ML from the early 80's. It's all auto but the sample pics I've seen come out of that thing are often beautiful. My understanding is they were the cat's pajama's when they came out, somewhat pricey and considered a semi-pro point-n-shoot. I might pick up one of these for ducks... they seem to go for 10-20 bucks, sometimes with no bidders.

 

[p.giannakis]

I don't know if it is the "best" but the £5 i spent for my Ricoh 500G are the best £5 i've ever spent. Small enough to fit in the pocket, full manual and speed preferred and a beautiful lens, I'll choose it any time instead my FED - 4.
It wins my vote for sure.

 

[TaoPhoto]

In the under $50 category, I'll also recommend the GSN. Amazing camera for the price, I bought two. I also got my Olympus XA for under $50 - another amazing camera for the price.

 

[al1966]

I had a Cosina 35e she cost me 99p
Every place i went
She was sure to go
She never missed a frame
Then so scrote
Took away my tote
And she was never again
To be seen

And I had a Chinon much the same and I sold it:bang::bang::bang:
I voted other Japanese maker as there are loads of good buys out there and here the "more" desirable ones go for more then $50 Though I just got a Ricoh 500g for £10😀

 

[Joe Vitessa]

I picked up my Olympus 35RC for about $25 on eBay years ago and it's been my favorite cheapy camera. Great lens, pocketable, and I love its ergonomics. That little shutter speed dial on the top is way cool.

Joe

 

[richreidjr]

Easy. FED 2.

 

[Rezultz]

I have the Electro GT, MG-1 and Canonet QL17 GIII. Out of those the Canonet is my favorite. Big, bright viewfinder. Super handling. Light, small, quick to load and built fairly well considering the price.
I find the Yashicas much harder to focus (smaller viewfinder) and they are substantially larger and heavier to lug around.
The biggest minus for the yashica is NO MANUAL MODE.

 

[Ronny]

Kodak Retina Ib.

 

[taskoni]

Olympus 35RC or 35DC

 

[Mablo]

Kodak Retina Ib.

Ronny, it's also my favorite but unfortunately not a rangefinder though ;-)

 

[cooltouch]

I agree that the Yashica Electro 35 GSN/GTN (on non-N versions) are likely the best value for what you get. I own a GT and it is actually a very attractive camera and takes great photos. I also agree that its biggest drawback is not having a manual mode.

But my favorite is the Canon QL-17 GIII (although I voted for Yashica). Not all that easy to find clean examples for under $50 though. The camera's popularity is increasing. What I really like about the QL-17 is its razor sharp optic and the fact it can be put into manual mode.

A camera that is even simpler to use than the GS/GT is the Minolta Hi-Matic series. I've played around with the Hi-Matic E before, and was really leary about essentially not having any controls other than focusing. But the photos that it rendered were outstanding. And I'm pretty sure the old Hi-Matics can be had for cheap.

 

[ray*j*gun]

Colyn is right. The Retina II series cameras are dropping in price and they are wonderful cameras. Avotius is also right in that the Yashica GSN/GTN cameras are great. One of those was my first rangefinder and it got me hooked. However, I think the Konica Auto S series slightly edges them out. For $50 and under, it is just awfully difficult to beat a Hexanon lens.

Agree agree agree!

 

[Stuart John]

Canonet QL17 GIII gets my vote. Trouble they are all getting old but they are still likely less problematic than the FSU FEDs and Zorkis. Nothing against the FSU stuff I've got four of them and enjoy using them and repairing them but I still feel my Canonet is still a better user camera and would be better suited for a beginer.

 

[DougK]

I voted for Konica. The C35 Automatic I used to own was small, light, easy to operate, and my favorite to shoot. Yashica, Minolta, and Olympus were/are also all good cameras. It's hard to go wrong with any of them, really.

 

[35mmdelux]

Holga, $20. Save the rest for film.

 

[Moriturii]

I thought everyone in this forum was in love with the Olympus XA, what happened?