What's your favorite Fixed-Lens RF?

[horibilis]

Gotta go with the Olympus XA! If you haven't used an XA then yoiu haven't lived.

Quiet, great six element f2.8 lens with up to 15 seconds exposure & great exposure metering for auto exposure. Close up the clam shell & stick it in your pocket, always handy & they're inexpensive on Ebay.

dave d

 

[clarence]

I have a tough time deciding between the Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35 and the Kodak Retina IIIc. The former trumps the other in compactness and aesthetics, but the latter is cheaper and has a faster lens. The Retina also uses the EV system, which I still cannot get used to.

In any case, one will have to go, and it is the Contessa.

Clarence

 

[Kent]

1) Olympus 35RC
2) Minolta Hi-Matic F
3) Zeiss Ikon Voigtländer Vitessa 500AE w/ BLIK rangefinder 😉

My AGFAs are also pretty nice...

 

[FallisPhoto]

I collect, so I have about 50 rangefinders at present. I keep coming back to the Yashica Lynx 5000 though.

Excellent build quality
Superb lens
Rugged

 

[Anglekat]

Canonet QL17 G-III

1) Sharp fast lens
2) Small & easy to carry
3) I think it`s beautiful !!

 

[Charlie]

I don't know if it officially qualifies as a rangefinder, but the Conax T3 was my favorite. Magical lens. I still kick myself for selling it.

 

[George Bonanno]

Konica Auto S2

 

[shadowfox]

Olympus 35-S

1. G. Zuiko 4.2cm 1.8 lens (super sharp with a soft look)
2. All metal, no batteries, leaf shutter
3. Light Value/Exposure Dial on the back

This is an unexpected and good choice 🙂

My top Fixed-lens RF is Olympus 35 SP.

Runner-ups are Olympus 35 RD and Minolta Hi-matic 7sII.

 

[conradyiu]

Minolta 7S
1. taking good pic;
2. feel good on my hand;
3. my father's first camera when he was young;

I am planning to get 7SII & Oly SP though

 

[d_ross]

Fuji gsw690

it's so big nobody could believe your taking their picture with it!

 

[ray*j*gun]

Kodak Retina Automatic.

1) Wonderful Lens
2) Super quality (german)
3) Cheap to buy even Mint
4) Syncs at all speeds
5) Has an auto setting and the light meter still works!
6) Easy to use, with a bright easy to focus finder.

 

[ray*j*gun]

A pic of the Retina.

 

[cosmonaut]

Canonet QL17 G-III

1) Sharp fast lens
2) Small & easy to carry
3) I think it`s beautiful !!

Ditto and Ditto again. It's so quite I wonder if it's even working at times. A pure joy to own.

 

[Sam R]

Rollie 35...are you kidding me. I worked in the retail camera business in the 70's and I can only think of one store in the twin cities that carried this camera in stock. If you were selling a friend or relative, generally it was down to two. Yashica Electro 35 (if your friend was not mechanically inclinded, big camera) or the Canon GIII. GIII was small, had very nice quick load system, and had a companion strobe that was coupled to the rangefinder. These two camera's sold more units in a day than Rollie sold in a decade. By the way I have owned a Rollie 35 and a Canon GIII.

 

[Brennotdan]

Yes... on camera meter does becomes quit useless when the lights get dim.

should be "camera becomes useless..." :angel:

 

[jimi-the-jive]

Yashica Electro 35 GTN

1. Really quiet
2. Nice fast lens
3. Feels sturdy (if someone tries to mug me for it i can hit them with it.
4. meter on the top plate is really handy for hip shots

 

[Ced777]

Hexar AF here too.

1. fast (can grab a picture before someone notice it)
2. picture quality
3. silence (I can't hear the shutter myself if there is some noise in the room/place)
4. looks like an old compact camera... people don't think you are a real amateur photograph with it... unlike a Leica M with a 35 summilux mounted

 

[Gary Sandhu]

Contax T

1. tiny
2. quiet and fast
3. lens superb

 

[whitecat]

Rollei 35 SE.......Optics are unsurpassed, and I have had many of the cameras listed here! Contax T3 second.

 

[retnull]

Leica Minilux

1_ Optics!!! Summarit lens is worth more than the camera.
2_ Size, finish, feel
3_ Lens retracts when camera is turned off: quick out of the pocket, quick back in.