What's the Best UNDER $50 Ebay Rangefinder?

Nothing happened. There are just so many good choices in the under $50 category. For a compact RF in that range, I still love the XA. For full-sized RF, the Yashica cameras. That's for beginners, anyway.

There's something to be said for the Fed-2, also. For under $50 you can buy one with a lens, and pick up a bunch of film with the money left over. You'll learn more about minimalist photography (and camera repair) with the FSU choices.
 
Problem is so many of these formerly cheap RF cameras have been creeping up in price ... I don't think in 2011 it's that easy to find a clean & working QL-17 or similar camera for $50 or less these days. Especially on eBay.

I voted Minolta in the poll, even though it's not really my fave camera brand. The reason? The Minolta line has a lot less caché than the Canon QL-17 or other vintage rangefinders ... heck, the QL-17 is now approaching legendary status amongst the analog film aficionados.

I bought a clean, beautiful little Minolta Hi-Matic 7s II in a thrift store a few months ago ... for $8.00, with the original case. Heck, it even looked like it had barely been used.

I put some fresh batteries in it, and wham-o, it worked 100%. Great little camera for a beginner, IMHO.
 
Very nice bobby.

I ended up spending about $100 chasing a working 7sII. After 3 tries (including one built from parts since sold) I found a decent one. Love the ergonomics but the sharpness seems a bit random. Maybe the rangefinder is off? Either way, I still find myself taking it out at times anyway as its just fun to use.
 
Ricoh 500G...

Ricoh 500G...

p.giannakis said:
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.
Click to expand...

My starting point for RF was also a Ricoh 500GX. Under $50. Still using it.
 
No love for the Kodak Signet 35?

I just bought a beautiful example for about $100 (from Obscura 54), but as I said, it's in above-average condition. And it's had a full CLA. All the controls are like butter.

Anyway, many Signet 35s sell for around $50 on the -bay. Signet has my vote. Ektar 44mm f/3.5 lens is very nice.
 
Once one has used their first camera long enough to conclude they really want to continue shooting RF's, FSU's would give a newbie an opportunity to try other lenses w/o buying a whole new camera.

That may not be a biggie, but in my initiation, lens variety was a major plus. Just sayin' ...
 
This is quite an old thread now, and I think I've already added my two penn'orth, but the lenses on the Yashica GT series and the Konica Auto S2 are fantastic. I wish there was an inexpensive way to convert these to "M" mount.
 
Minoltina-S (or AL-S) if you can find one that works. The Rokkor-QF 40mm lens is up there with anything Leica have made. They are prone to leaf shutters dying and desilvering of the rangefinder mirror, although there is an effective bodge for the latter using security window film.
 
Practically-wise, anything with parallax-autocorrected frames will do. 95% of FSU would not fit. Japanese RFs should do the trick.
But for a successful photography there may be a place in one's heart for a fetish. Kind of passion, special appeal to a tool. For example, if one likes a Barnack's Leica style, why not to start with Zorki?
 
Yashica for quality/practicality, FSU for functionality/fun. :D I'm a sucker for a fully-manual chunk of metal like a Zorki 1. They really feel like a precision tool rather than a fancy point-and-shoot like a Yashica, and boy do they look nice!
 
A Japanese rangefinders will do. Would recommend Yashica Electro 35 GSN, but it's just too semi-automatic for my taste. Always was fond of Canon Canonet G-III QL17. Hexanon lenses are wonderful! Olympus is good, too.
 
Not trying to be fiunny, but what about Polaroid 100, 240 et al? Can be had for less than $50 still.
 
I was going to say for instant film, Polaroid 250 with Zeiss rangefinder

But, a Canon QL17 GIII cost me about 30 bucks on the bay, almost mint.
A Yashica Electro 35 is about the same price.
 
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