What's the Best UNDER $50 Ebay Rangefinder?

[ES Photo]

Canonet ql17 hands down. Had the yashica gsn but the battery/ rangefinder is outdated. The canon has fully manual controls with a brighter finder.

Got mine for $29 and works like a charm

 

[p.giannakis]

The Konica Auto-S is a great and much cheaper alternative to the S2. I would definitely recommend it.

 

[hilltime]

For me, it's the classic series Olympus SII. For many years when I was using my SII with the 4.8cm/F2.8, people on the street would ask "What Leica is that?". Great results with the classic look and feel. I sold this one and now have a SII with the 4.2cm/F2 which is much rarer. Years ago these models weren't often available for $50 or under, but I think most even the 4.2cm/F1.8 as well as the 4.2cm/F2 could be found for this price in todays market.

 

[Rodchenko]

I'd like to be able to find an SII for as little as that.

 

[Wulfthari]

Zorki 6 of course.

It's a small, reliable camera, the long base rangefinder is pretty accurate, horzontal misaligment can be afdjusted from outside, it's easy to load (like a standard camera), the advance lever is made of chromed metal and has a nice feel (unlike the sheetmetal plate of the 4K),it has a dioptre adjustment, the shutter speeds are limited but they are 95% of what a photographer needs plus you don't fear to break down anything like the other SU models, the Soviets provide the camera with a complete system of high quality lenses based on pre-war Zeiss design but with a decent multicoating that help with flame...with little money you can have a Topogon like 28 mm (Orion 15), one of the 35mm ever made for rangefinders (Jupiter 12), a good Zeiss Sonnar (Jupiter 8), a fast 1.5mm 50 mm (Jupiter 3), an excellent portrait lens (Jupiter 9) and a decent long focus 135mm for outdoor shooting (Jupiter 11)...you can can get any of them for less than 250$.

The only real drawback is that you have to use the external turret if you don't shoot 50mm.



IMO it's also an aesthetically pleasing camera unlike some japanese ones.

 

[johank]

Have got a few Kievs with lens and freight for less than 50$. Rf and workable.

 

[zuikologist]

The bargains are still out there but fewer than before. Recent purchases for around £30-50: Olympus 35RC and Konica Auto S3, both working well. The FSU gear in the UK goes for very little money, usually £20 for a working Zorki with I61 lens.

 

[Rodchenko]

I've just bought a Ricoh 500G for £10.50 plus postage. I'm curious to see the results.

 

[nongfuspring]

I've just bought a Ricoh 500G for £10.50 plus postage. I'm curious to see the results.

Nice, a good deal too. I used to have one and it'd be my vote for the poll. Not quite as nicely made as the 35RC, but with metering in manual mode and shutter speeds selected on the lens barrel for those that prefer it. Definitely very underrated.

 

[Rodchenko]

Oh good. I'd heard that, but there are some very dismissive reviews on YouTube. I hope it's a good 'un, as I'm hoping to use it for a UK round of Pass The Rangefinder (my last attempt - a Taron - turned out to be a complete turkey).

 

[btgc]

Oh good. I'd heard that, but there are some very dismissive reviews on YouTube. I hope it's a good 'un, as I'm hoping to use it for a UK round of Pass The Rangefinder (my last attempt - a Taron - turned out to be a complete turkey).

Only complaint from me is ergonomics, otherwise there's barely something one can put against army of 38-40mm/2.8 4 group lenses, like on 500G/GX.

 

[Rodchenko]

I'm not expecting it to be as ergonomic as my 35SP. But I live with the odd ergonomics of the 35RC, and I was prepared to go with an early FSU as an alternative, so, as long as most people can get along with it, we'll be fine.

 

[Rodchenko]

In the last week, I've bought a Werra 3 and an Olympus Auto Eye II, for £21 and £30 respectively. I've not got the Oly yet, but I have the Werra and, though it's a bit stiff, it's the usual quirky yet good to use. The rangefinder takes some getting used to, but it is a bargain.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

I'm looking at the bar chart of responses. The Yashica are great cameras, but at this point they all need work. I've bought and fussed with about a dozen. Without exception, they needed work (foams at least, almost all the POD, some other work).

This and the Canonet I see as great $100 cameras after the work is done.

My best low cost, worked right away, RF was a Vivitar 35ES.

 

[santino]

Zorki I or Olympus XA.

 

[amhildreth]

I was torn between the XA, and my Vivitar 35es. Got the XA for $15 with the case and 11 flash, the ES was missing the self-timer lever (didn't care), and grabbed it for $30. in otherwise amazing shape.

 

[NickTrop]

The GSN has a great lens -- but it's a crapshoot. Try to find one that's film-tested with a good POD. Overall, I'd have to say the Oly XA. It is a brilliant camera that I believe would command a premium if they didn't sell boatloads of them. And there's a reason they sold boatloads of them. Also, they're a few years "younger" than many of the classic RF's

The XA = full frame in your pocket. Literally. Plus aperature priority. They're readily available -- no "hunting". If you use auction sites, you're not bidding against 100 other people. They are whisper silent. Only issue is dim rangefinder patch, which is easily rectified with the black marker trick.

 

[Solinar]

My Olympus 35RC sees more use than my XA - even though I've had the XA for nearly 20 years and I'm an aperture preferred kind-of-guy. The XA purchased in the early 1990's - was a pawn shop purchase - $75 with the A16 flash that I never use. So, no $50 love here.


The 35RC has a superior RF and viewfinder, no two ways about it. I got the 35RC in 2001, spent a wopping $45 for a camera that needed the light seals replaced the pivot for the RF mirror lubed. Recently, I purchased a MR-9 adapter for this camera. So, this camera is also over budget.

I will say that I've become accustomed to a shutter preferred AE mode.

In all these years - I've yet to vote in this poll - because of my Oly leanings. I also have a properly CLA'd Oly 35RD in addition to the XA and 35RC. There is definitely no $50 or under love affair regarding 35RD. :angel:

With that said and never been an owner of one - I hereby nominate the Canon Canonet G-III QL17 as a best buy for $50 or under.

Best Regards,

 

[BillBingham2]

There are so many great ones. Minolta IIIa, Konica S, S2, Retina IIa, IIc, how does one pick?

The IIc was the first camera to ever take my picture (still have it), IIIa got me started on serious photography (in high school), loved to barrow the S2 in school as it had a built in meter.

So many great ones on EvilBay and on GoodWill under $50.

B2

 

[btgc]

The GSN has a great lens -- but it's a crapshoot. Try to find one that's film-tested with a good POD.

Nick, Nick, Nick....you are smart guy so I know for sure you are kidding us. POD is documented GSN issue, no sane buyer is expecting 40 y.o. GSN will work out of box, just like any other vintage camera. They may but aren't guaranteed to work, no to say work properly.

If someone doesn't want to deal with POD (which I can understand) then trick is to buy working - serviced before - camera, from buyer who backs his words. So it's not us$5 but rather 50 or 150 worth camera but hey, no one believes all us$5 lottery tickets are winners.

As for me, Yashica Lynx 5000 is THE RF. This is the heaven compared to GSN which feels like a student version of a camera. Size, controls, ergonomics - everything is better than on GSN. Only VF ages better in GSN than in many other vintage fixed lens RF's.