Your worst RF camera...

[richiedcruz]

I would tend to agree with the people who say that they really do not have a worst camera, they are all just different.

Although I will admit that I was a little disappointed with my first impressions of my canon QL-17. I won't call it overrated, but compared side-by-side with my Hi-matic 9 it seems a bit tinny. That and the cheesy vinyl case that it came with (which left pieces of it itself all over my hands) is probably why I still have not gotten it CLA'ed. Although I will get to it one of these days.

On the Argus C3, the model T of cameras. I love them no matter what anyone says about their ergonomic layout 😀 😀

Richie

 

[chrisweeks]

contax g2. hands down.

 

[amateriat]

On the Argus C3, the model T of cameras. I love them no matter what anyone says about their ergonomic layout 😀 😀

That one barely missed my "Welcome to Hell" paraphrase. But with that shape, you could at least build a chimney with a bunch of 'em. 😀


- Barrett

 

[ghost]

I just cant believe that M2 has been mentioned twice. I am shocked. It's a freaking leica - the goddess of rangefinders! how is this possible?

don't believe the hype, ooh yeah.

 

[jaapv]

Leica M6 classic. Bought it new when I had no money at all. Refused to sell it. Had to fight debt collectors for months.

 

[Will]

contax g2. hands down.

Never own it, but handled one in a camera shop.

It's not my cup of tea.

 

[ruben]

contax g2. hands down.

Another big surprise of this thread !
Would you mind to detail ?

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Shadesofgrey]

Contax G2. Hated that ‘NOISY’ auto focus. Love the build and feel. Sold it after 6 months as just could not stand that dam whine when focusing! They should have made it in MF!
B.

 

[Kim Coxon]

I am not "astonished" really. The original question gave 4 parameters for not liking a camera. One of those was " Simply never 'got into it'". I don't think anybody was suggesting they were bad cameras just that it was not for them. I don't find that all that surprising.

Kim

I'm astonished that Leicas have been nominated. The M3 and MP put my other rangefinders in the shade.

 

[HankOsaurus]

Interesting Thread.

WORST EVER:
Rollei XF35, made in Singapore. Was in New Orleans on business, needed the use of a camera. Saw the Rollei in a camera store, used. $40. Looked like a deal. It worked... more or less. Zeiss Sonnar ~f2.5, I think. The focusing was truly lousy. The RF was a wierd, cheap two piece plastic viewfinder arrangement where one of the two elements slid sideways to indicate an approximation of focus. Useless at wide apertures where the DOF could not cover its error. Exposure was AE of the trapped needle sort. That aspect worked pretty well, such as automation does. I was so pleased to sell it to a Rollei collector who says he loves it and uses it. I even got all my money back.

CURRENT BEST:
My best ever RF is the Leica M3. I cannot imagine how anyone could see an M as their worst RF.

CURRENT WORST:
My current worst RF is a Kiev 4a. That is only because I need a real viewfinder. That wee little peephole excuse for one on the camera is a joke for a glasses wearer like me. I wonder what other glasses wearers here have done to address this issue. 🙄

Henry in Atlanta

 

[ghost]

if you apply a bell curve, even a good camera can find itself in the lower ranks.

 

[HankOsaurus]

I take your point, ghost. I should have qualified that.

I cannot see how any sensible person, and who really knows how to use a manual centric camera, and who actually prefers to use such a camera, and which camera is of the true mechanical RF sort, would not find the Leica M to be considerably better than the worst RFs available.

 

[Kim Coxon]

To each their own! Some people don't even like rangefinders 😱

Kim

But they are so smooth and intuitive to handle 😕

 

[jpbob100]

Pretty much any FSU I've had (FEDs and a Zorki), because I could never seem to find one that worked like it was supposed to. 😡

 

[Solinar]

To each their own! Some people don't even like rangefinders 😱

Kim

Ah, the British art of the understatement - only some?

 

[ghost]

...would not find the Leica M to be considerably better than the worst RFs available.

the question was "your" worst rf camera, right? if i had a big collection, the answer would have been different. 😉

 

[KoNickon]

Regarding the "shock" expressed that Leicas are on the list at all: I remember that once I decided I was going to go buy pair of Mephisto shoes. After trying on about five different pairs, I concluded (though I really did want to like them) that given their price, they had to have been light years more comfortable and better made than any other shoe I'd ever worn for me to buy them. And they weren't -- not by a long shot.

The same analysis might be applied to Leicas. Just one example -- is there anyone here who can honestly say that the removable bottom/flip-up back film loading mechanism is a delight? Please don't say that "it's necessary for body rigidity" since virtually all other cameras (including Leica SLRs) have backs that swing open. I can say that it's a pleasant surprise to me that it is not a total pain in the neck, but no question it's inconvenient, especially compared with loading film in a Hexar RF. In short, it could be that the many wonderful qualities of Leicas are compromised by their other aspects, including the price.

 

[John Robertson]

Not all Leicas are paragons of reliability.!!
Minilux, another "dog" I bought new, this time to celebrate my retirement.
Three shutter failures, two fixed "reluctantly" by Leica when camera just out of guarantee period. It has failed again, more than one dealer has told me that it is a known fault with this camera. Leica want £250 to repair it, especially galling as I now see them being remaindered in the AP for about the same money!!! Mine cost me almost £600. :bang:
Someone is bound to say"oh but its not a real Leica", sorry but they were happy enough to put their name and red spot on it and take my money!!!! 😡

 

[richiedcruz]

That one barely missed my "Welcome to Hell" paraphrase. But with that shape, you could at least build a chimney with a bunch of 'em. 😀


- Barrett

Funny. But I seem to recall a site where someone was collecting a bunch of C3's to build an ornamental backyard barbecue pit 😀

Richie