Which Range finders Have lightmeters?

[james0133]

I am new to rangefinders and usually use a Nikkormat film camera and a Canon 40D.

I really love the look of cameras like Leica's and I'm looking at buying a Zorki 4, mainly because they look so cool🙂

It is I am sure a question that has been asked before, but I was hoping to find the answer to, which Range finders have lightmeters?
I am looking for a cool looking, compact, film camera with a built in light meter, for shooting black and white.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

Leica M6,CL,MP,M7,and M5 have built in meters.

A external light meter like the Gossen Digisix isn't expensive, and works very well with cameras like the Zorki 4.

 

[amateriat]

And, regarding all M-mount cameras outside Leica's orbit:

- Cosina/Voigtlander Bessas (R/R2/R3/R4, plus, I believe, either Bessa L or T)
- Minolta CL, CLE
- Konica Hexar RF
- Zeiss Ikon
- Rollei 35 RF

So, you've got a bit of a choice here. We haven't even touched on the Hasselblad/Fuji XPan, but I thought I'd keep things simple. 🙂


- Barrett

 

[dee]

Try a Kiev 4 with CLA from a reputable dealer - selenium meter from the ark - but useable in normal light ... great fun ! There are some Feds cheap with selenium meters too .

 

[uhligfd]

Contax G cameras have a lightmeter, too.

 

[rogue_designer]

Quite a few Fixed lens RF's as well... depending on your need.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Forget the "lookin' 😎 cool" thing. It's not easy using ANY kind camera when your boxers are showing off your butt crack and the only thing holding up your jeans is your left hand. 😱

Also forget the built in meter as a "must have". A good seperate meter is more versatile and at least your camera won't be in the shop if the meter goes phlooey. There were a number of good fixed lens rangefinder cameras like the Canonet and the Konica Auto S series, Minolta Hi-Matic, and more, and they had meters, but whether the meter would still work is iffy. For a more current relatively inexpensive rangefinder check out the Bessa R series. They take Leica mount lenses, have accurate built in meters, and come in a choice of "cool" black or "classic" silver. They also offer a killer set of lenses!

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

 

[functus]

I thought it was all about looking cool. That's why I joined the A/V club in high school. Isn't that where the cool kids hang out?

 

[xayraa33]

Canon 7 and 7s have light meters on board.

 

[Chris101]

Cool looking? Then the only camera you should get is a Leica MP. All the rest will make you look buffoonish, and nobody will want to be seen around you in public.

Start saving!

 

[ZeissFan]

If you mean interchangeable-lens cameras, then the list is short. If you mean any rangefinder (including fixed-lens cameras), that covers maybe a hundred models, probably more.

 

[james0133]

Thanks for all the reply's.
I have searched all your suggestions there are so many COOL! cameras to choose from and such a wide range of prices. I am defiantly going to keep it cheep to begin with, till I learn more about rangefinders.

Though, with regard to carrying a separate meter, that does not appeal to me. I want to be able to take quick shots with the camera and not have to carry anything else around with me, apart form a exposure chart.
If I buy a camera like the Zorki 4 with out a meter I want to use it as an experimental camera and try to learn to use it, as is. They seem to sell so cheeply it might be nice to try one out anyway. Are people getting good results with them?

The Kiev 4M looks like a really nice camera. Are the selenium meters easily replaceable?
The Canon 7 looks like a really nice camera too but they seem to fetch a higher price.

I would like to have an interchangeable lens buy the way ZeissFan.

 

[wjlapier]

Cool looking? Then the only camera you should get is a brassed up black Leica MP. All the rest will make you look buffoonish, and nobody will want to be seen around you in public.

Start saving!

Fixed that for ya 😉

 

[venchka]

Start the way I did:

Canon IVS2 camera body, Canon 50/1.8 lens, Weston Master V or Gossen meter. You're photos will be cool. That may make you cool as well.

It won't take more than a week to get the hang of metering once and then shooting. Adjusting by eye as you go along.

 

[ZeissFan]

Your options are a bit more limited, as integrated light meters with rangefinder system cameras didn't widely occur until rangefinders were nearing the end of their lives as pro tools -- at least in the mass-market sense.

Of course, the Contax III had an integrated but uncoupled light meter in the mid-1930s, and the Contax IIIa had the same type meter in the mid-1950s.

Others have already mentioned the Leica and Canon cameras.

Others include the Voigtlander Prominent and Vitessa, the Kodak Retina IIIS and the Carl Zeiss Jena Werra. Agfa also made a rangefinder system with an integrated selenium meter.

Certainly, there were others, but these are the ones that come to mind. And of these, only the Prominent could be considered a camera that might have been aimed at the pro photographer. No doubt, pros used the others, but they weren't considered pro-level cameras.