Which Fixed Lens Camera has a Great Lens?

[Kyle]

A bit OT, which fixed lens RF has the widest lens?

 

[sbug]

I have two fixed lens RF's, Yashica GS and Canonet QL17 G-III. While I greatly prefer the size and build of the Canonet, the Yashica lens is undeniably sharper to my eyes.

 

[zuikologist]

I love my Vivitar 35ES - sharp, small, black, cool.

 

[amateriat]

If you're talking fixed-lens RFs, I doubt you'll see anything much beyond 35mm in focal length, give or take a few mm. Back in the day – even now, to an extent – it cost a good deal to go from a reasonably fast 38-45mm optic to, say, 28mm (even a somewhat slower one), and most of these cameras, even the really good ones, were built with a given price point in mind, so something had to give. A decent compromise, IMO.


- Barrett

 

[AlexC]

The 38/2.8 Sonnar T* on the Contax T should qualify as a great lens.

 

[bob cole]

I suggest that we collectively put together a list of cameras with photos for those cameras we believe to have excellent lenses. Who wants to start?

o.k., I'll start...one of my favorites is the Yashica T-4...I have two...they each have the 35mm/3.5 Zeiss Tessar lens and take great pictures...They also fit in a breast pocket or the glove compartment, so I generally take one along on trips, just in case...regards...bob

 

[Kyle]

If you're talking fixed-lens RFs, I doubt you'll see anything much beyond 35mm in focal length, give or take a few mm. Back in the day – even now, to an extent – it cost a good deal to go from a reasonably fast 38-45mm optic to, say, 28mm (even a somewhat slower one), and most of these cameras, even the really good ones, were built with a given price point in mind, so something had to give. A decent compromise, IMO.


- Barrett

35mm is wide enough for me, but it seems most are in the 40-50mm range (or am I just not looking hard enough).

Here's what I'd like: a fixed lens RF with a reasonably sharp ~35mm lens that is fully manual. Does this camera exist? The QL17 GIII is close, but its lens is a bit long for my taste.

 

[raid]

I just realized that I was not specific enough in the title for this thread. Are folding cameras allowed or are we talking about non-folding 35mm cameras? If so, then ...

My list of my own cameras with excellent fixed lenses are as follows:

1. Hexar Silver with the amazing 35mm/2 lens. If you don't have one , wait until next moth to get one.

2. Konica II with the sharp Hexanon 50/2.8 lens.

3. Minox GT with the very good 35mm lens

4. Fuji Natura with the very wide and very fast 24mm/1.9 lens .... (still being tested, but I have seen posted results)

5. Canon P&S with the 2.8 lens. Very sharp.

6. Leica Mini 3. Excellent lens on a plastic camera body.

7. Olympus Stylus with its excellent exposure programs and sharp lens.

I'm sure there are more cameras somewhere in the house ....

 

[raid]

Do we "allow" P&S cameras as "rangefinder" cameras here? Maybe I should have been more clear about the scope of the thread. Still, I find all replies useful and interesting.

 

[bob cole]

FS VERY CHEAP: If anyone is so enamored of them, I have two fixed lens cameras you can have as parts only ... A Konica C-35 and a Mamiya U...Each has most of the parts...Neither works and neither sold on Ebay...Both are yours for $10 🙂 🙂 usd {free shipping to US address} via PayPal...regards, bob

 

[ush]

i don't really know if they fit in your categories, but ricoh's GR (1,1s,1v,10 not to mention this gr21) have really nice and wide lens.

btw, if someone got a cheap GRxx or maybe a R1 to sell, do say so =)

 

[wilt]

My experiences with the Minox 35 GT and the Minox 35 GT-E are very positive. Great lens in a small camera. I almost never leave home without a camera, and the Minox makes it possible.

 

[Rob]

I did some testing a while back with a Canonet GIII, Yashica GSN, Minolta HM 11, Konica s2. For sharpness the Konica, Minolta and GSN were very sharp, the Canonet a notch behind...

 

[Honu-Hugger]

I'll submit a plug for the Linhof 220 which I believe has the best lens of any fixed lens RF.

 

[kbg32]

If you like half frame, many of the Olympus Pens and the Canon Demis have great lenses.

 

[broadie]

35mm is wide enough for me, but it seems most are in the 40-50mm range (or am I just not looking hard enough).

Here's what I'd like: a fixed lens RF with a reasonably sharp ~35mm lens that is fully manual. Does this camera exist? The QL17 GIII is close, but its lens is a bit long for my taste.

Kyle, I'd say your best bet is the Yashica 35cc. 35mm f1.8 or 1.9 fixed-lens. I have the camera, and the lens is pretty sweet, and overall it's a beautiful machine. It's aperture-priority AE, not fully manual, but you can control the exposure by adjusting the ISO setting, which works perfectly well.

 

[bmattock]

I'll submit a plug for the Linhof 220 which I believe has the best lens of any fixed lens RF.

Now that was obscure! I had to go look for it, never heard of it before. And interesting it was, too. Only 2,000 of them ever made? Pistol-grip vertical format 120/220? And a rangefinder as well? Cool.

If we're going to MF, then I'd submit the Fujica G670/G690 in the later fixed-lens (EBC coated) variety. I only have the older Fujica G690 with the interchangeable lens, but it's a monster.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Kim Coxon]

One that I forgot, but my fathers swears by it is the Leica Minilux.

 

[Trius]

For wide, the XA-4 has 28/3.5, zone focus, so not a true RF, and no fully manual exposure mode.

The C-35 and its variants (Vivitar, etc.) have a 38mm f/2.8 lenses, which are quite nice, but exposure on the Konica is program mode only, so not really flexible. But it is way better than it has a "right" to be.

Oh, and the XA 35/2.8, as mentioned, is great, and the aperture preferred exposure mode works well for me. And it has that Zuiko glow...

Earl

 

[bmattock]

Circa 1958 - Olympus 35 Wide. A fixed-lens rangefinder, 35mmf3.5, Zuiko lens, and fully manual. Best I could come up with fora manual wide.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks