Which SLR is most like an RF?

[djon]

Nikon FM3. Or Olympus OM1. Nothing in between.

 

[ray_g]

Aside from small size and light weight, I find the following most importrant:
- bright snappy VF
- available fast primes
- traditional, intuitive control layout

My choices:

Classic SLR: OM-1 (oohhh the f/2 zuikos 🙂 )
Modern MF SLR: Aria (28/2.8 distagon, 50 planar, 85/2.8 sonnar)
Modern AF SLR: Maxxum/Dynax 7 (35/2, 100/2)

 

[Trius]

ray: I have OMs and the 21/f2. 😀 :dance:

 

[ChrisPlatt]

The Pentax MX is small, light and quiet, like a 35mm rangefinder.

Great ergonomics, too (like most Pentax SLRs).

Even the shutter speed dial is in the right place!

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

 

[Byuphoto]

I would have to vote for the Pentax ME Super and the 28 f3.5 and the 50 f1.7

 

[jlw]

Hmmm, we seem to have drifted away from the original question, so I started reviewing the previous posts.

As Honu-hugger stated, various Alpa models actually ARE rangefinder cameras in addition to being SLRs... both are built into the same body. The rangefinders are especially funky in that the windows are arrayed vertically rather than horizontally, but it still works.

HH, were there any RF-coupled lenses for the Alpas other than the 50s?

The Praktina was another SLR that, although it didn't have a rangefinder, did have a direct optical viewfinder in addition to the prism viewing system.

And then there's the original Leicaflex, the one with the external CdS meter cell. This was an SLR through and through, but you had to USE it somewhat like an RF camera because its "focusing" screen was actually NON-focusing: instead of having a ground surface, it was clear, so that the whole image looked in focus all the time, just as it does through an RF camera viewfinder. The only way to focus it was via the focusing aid in the center. You can get a somewhat similar effect with your Nikon F or F2 by equipping it with a Type G focusing screen, which has a clear outer field and a microprism focusing aid in the center.

This may not be what the original poster meant by "most like a rangefinder," but it's what came into my head at the moment. Maybe this just means I should go to bed...

 

[wilt]

Shot this one with an OM2 and 50/1.8 at or very near wide open. I like the handling of the OM, good ergonomics and the lens is good. Cheap, too.

 

[KEH]

An all digital option

An all digital option

I will put in a plug for the Pentax istDS2. I bought this as a second digital body, partly because my R-D1 doesn't like the cold.

Verdict - Small size (see attached photo), about the same weight as the R-D1, fast, good ergonomics, large bright viewfinder that makes manual focusing easy, fairly quiet (somewhere between a whiz and a whoosh, rather than the slap of a big Canon), excellent lenses (e.g. 31/1.8 Limited, 77/1.8 Limited, and the smc-a 50/1.4 shown).

Cheers,
Kirk

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Hmmm, we seem to have drifted away from the original question, so I started reviewing the previous posts.

As Honu-hugger stated, various Alpa models actually ARE rangefinder cameras in addition to being SLRs... both are built into the same body. The rangefinders are especially funky in that the windows are arrayed vertically rather than horizontally, but it still works.

HH, were there any RF-coupled lenses for the Alpas other than the 50s?...(snip)

The viewfinder window allows you to select frames for 90 and 135, but the rangefinder couples only with the 50mm. In addition to the RF the 4 through 8 series cameras are so compact that they also handle like RF's (I posted a picture of one next to a Contax II and in many ways it is smaller, except for the height of the reflex housing).

 

[tedwhite]

I, too, have the Pentax *ist DS. It is indeed quite small for a single lens reflex camera. My Yashica Electro 35 GSN is a giant in comparison. But if you have a GSN in good working order you'd be nuts to sell it due to its world class Color Yashinon DX f:1.7 45mm lens. But again, when you carry around the GSN you know you've got a BIG camera. Also on the plus side, the GSN has turned out to be a real head turner and a conversation piece.

Ted

 

[anandi]

Just discovered this thread - Nikon FM2 is my vote. An all manual SLR that's 'fiddly' is like a non-metered RF, the all-mechanical quality is on par with all but my Leica IIIg. Pretty compact too.

 

[scottgee1]

I purposely left the interpretation of my original question a bit open so people would feel free to respond in ways I didn't expect. 😉

BTW, Olympus OM series SLRs also have screens (1-5, 1-6, 1-7) that do not have a matte field. They use a central microprism for focus. A bit disorienting for SLR users but somewhat familiar to RF users.

Again, I want to thank everyone participating in this thread. It's a real pleasure to see consistency and convergence of opinions. Horse for courses . . .
I've learned a lot from the dialectic and, now that the subject is resurrected, continue to do so.

Thanks!/ScottGee1

Hmmm, we seem to have drifted away from the original question, so I started reviewing the previous posts.

As Honu-hugger stated, various Alpa models actually ARE rangefinder cameras in addition to being SLRs... both are built into the same body. The rangefinders are especially funky in that the windows are arrayed vertically rather than horizontally, but it still works.

HH, were there any RF-coupled lenses for the Alpas other than the 50s?

The Praktina was another SLR that, although it didn't have a rangefinder, did have a direct optical viewfinder in addition to the prism viewing system.

And then there's the original Leicaflex, the one with the external CdS meter cell. This was an SLR through and through, but you had to USE it somewhat like an RF camera because its "focusing" screen was actually NON-focusing: instead of having a ground surface, it was clear, so that the whole image looked in focus all the time, just as it does through an RF camera viewfinder. The only way to focus it was via the focusing aid in the center. You can get a somewhat similar effect with your Nikon F or F2 by equipping it with a Type G focusing screen, which has a clear outer field and a microprism focusing aid in the center.

This may not be what the original poster meant by "most like a rangefinder," but it's what came into my head at the moment. Maybe this just means I should go to bed...