Why rangefinders?

[CMur12]

I have used compact, fixed-lens RFs for travel and when living abroad, and they were perfect for this. I went through two Olympus 35 RCs, a Vivitar 35ES, and a Canonet QL 17 GIII.

These cameras are very small and light, they are easy to use, they allow full control of aperture and shutter speed, and I always got sharp, well exposed slides out of them. They take up very little room in any bag, pack, or luggage.

As exquisite as a Leica is, compared to one of the above, the Leica is large and clunky. If moving up in size, I prefer the greater flexibility and (in my opinion) superior viewing of an SLR, when in 135 format.

Moving into Medium Format, I feel that a large moving mirror is less suitable, so I choose TLRs and RFs. (I don't actually have a MF RF, but I would love to have a Mamiya 6 or 7 and/or a Fuji GSW 690III to complement my TLRs.)

- Murray

 

[markjwyatt]

Why rangefinders? Because they look cool! What else is there?

I’d like to say that girls dig guys that use a rangefinder camera, unfortunately the only compliments I’ve ever received while out shooting with a rangefinder came from other guys. 😱...

I have to agree on the first point. They are just cool (fun to shoot, quick, great results, great optics, etc.).

I do not get that many comments from people when I carry rangefinders or 35mm SLRs, but I took my Mamiya C330 out recently and had two people in one day make comments (guys).

 

[Darthfeeble]

One: They look spiffy and retro. You can see yourself as Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Two: I find they are more stable, shooting right eyed I press the side of the camera against my nose and cheek and can shoot at half the focal length shutter speed with out a problem.
I have two actual RFs, a Leica and an Epson and I'm finding that my over 70 eyes are starting to make manual focus a problem. Thank Fuji for a solution.

 

[narsuitus]

... at our age (I note that we're of a similar 'vintage' 🙁) - we're unlikely to receive many compliments for anything other than our cameras! 🙂

... or our bank accounts.

 

[benlees]

As previously mentioned, rf's are cool. Any other reason in this day and age is just rationalizing!

 

[Malcolm M]

Because we’re all old and grumpy, and don’t like the modern world (except rff). We want cameras that take photos when you press the button, rather than beep error messages, don’t need a PhD in computing to make them do what we want, rather than what they want, and don’t come with instruction books bigger than the cameras. We want steam trains, Spitfires, pounds shillings and pence, Mussolini…. And the nice lady with the medication is here.

 

[Damaso]

As a young photojournalist I routinely carried around 15-20 lbs of gear. When I began working on more long form documentary I became interested in a smaller, lighter camera that I could use for intimate work. I started with a Bessa and later moved on to Leica...

 

[farlymac]

When I was younger I couldn't afford more than one camera at a time, so even though I liked my Voigtlander Vitessa L, I traded it in on a Nikkormat FTN for its expanded capabilities. When things got better I eventually went back to using rangefinders along with the SLRs. Sometimes on the same shoot. Each system has its advantages along with the dis-advantages, so it is nice to have options. I don't go by cool factors, just whether a particular camera or system will do what I expect it to do.


PF

 

[David Hughes]

Because we’re all old and grumpy, and don’t like the modern world (except rff). We want cameras that take photos when you press the button, rather than beep error messages, don’t need a PhD in computing to make them do what we want, rather than what they want, and don’t come with instruction books bigger than the cameras. We want steam trains, Spitfires, pounds shillings and pence, Mussolini…. And the nice lady with the medication is here.

I thought we were going to get £sd after Brexit, wasn't decimalisation part of those wicked Europeans' plot to undermine us? You could buy 5 Mars bars with a half crown. Now price that in this modern rubbish money...

Regards, David

 

[Brian Atherton]

£sd?... I'm still converting into groats.

 

[Pfreddee]

One of the positive features of a rangefinder is that they are unobtrusive. Except where my Contax IIIA is concerned. I wouldn't call it unobtrusive. Obvious is more like it.

With best regards.

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[sara]

I found myself liking rangefinders because they were more quiet and worked better in lower light too.

But...SLR's I feel, are better for taking close-up, posed portraits.

 

[leicapixie]

I used a Leica M3,50mm lens as a kid of 11!
My Mentor a Polish emigre and stateless after WW2 with Swedish wife,
rented rooms from my folks, in a very large home..
Alex taught me to develop film, print on a home made enlarger!

When I had unsuccessfully tried 4x5" and then a film shredding Bronica-C,
I was offered a Leica M3 and 50mm lens plus meter, brand new as same price as that CIA creation..
The brand new in box M3 complete, was same price as terror of the shredding! A long weekend to try it out with 2 rolls of slide film.
The slides were the most beautiful i had ever seen. the color and'look'.
Small, compact and truly extension of my eye and hands..
Focus a joy and so quick and positive.
57 years later we are still together..