Am I missing something with rangefinders?

[JohnRichard]

Ok,

So I have this Electro35. It's OK... but only just. I had decided that I didn't like it, but then I figured I would give it one more chance.

I missing something in understanding the mystical way to set up my rangefinder so I can just shoot from the hip? It seems to me, even when I get the split/image finder deal perfectly aligned, it comes out fuzzy. Like it's saying... aww, too bad, have a light leak and a fuzzy image and try again. HAHA.

So maybe I don't know how to work the DoF thing on my lens but it seems to me that if I set f11, and focus to 10 feet, then everything inbetween the two 11's on the Dof markers should be in focus... but no.

Is there like a rangefinder master book or something? Maybe this is too simple for me to understand.


Thoughts?

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

It sound's like your camera is broken - probably as a result of someone doing a DIY fix. The lens/shutter/aperture mechanisms on the automatic 60's Japanese rangefinders is a bit of a nightmare service-wise.

Set it to infinity and take a picture of a very distant object with lens wide open, if it isn't sharp then the camera is broke. Or put a bit of Scotch Magic tape between the inner rails and check the focus with a 10x loupe.

 

[Fotoguy20d]

What he said. I have a Kiev 4 that does the same thing. I knew there was a problem when the scale on the lens didn't match the measured distance when the camera was alegedly in focus. I cut a piece of frosted plastic out of the top of a quart size soup container. I taped it into the body and focused on the "ground glass". Sure enough, the rangefinder wasn't right (didn't know if it was the lens or the body).Has the added benefit of making my cameras smell like wonton soup.

 

[fotch]

First, make sure its not another problem like camera shake. Put on a tripod, use a tape measure and say, focus the camera at 10 foot Snap. Check the rangefinder as see if it is dead on at 10 foot.

A light weight camera is harder to hold still than a heavy camera. That of course may not be the problem.

 

[perkeleellinen]

I had an Electro 35 once and the lens barrel came loose somehow and that affected the focusing. Sketchy on the details as it was long ago, but I remember I needed to focus on infinity with the range finder and then adjust the lens barrel before screwing it all down tight and then running a test roll. Large camera, the Electro, didn't really get on with it that much.

 

[Tom Nutter]

Depth of field gives you an area of "acceptable sharpness." How acceptable may indeed depend on your particular lens.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I have an Electro 35 which I like a whole lot. Very good photos came from it.

Jeff

 

[GeorgeDexter]

A lot of people like the Electro, but it's not exactly the Rolls-Royce of cameras. I wouldn't judge all rangefinder systems by it.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Ok,

So I have this Electro35. It's OK... but only just. I had decided that I didn't like it, but then I figured I would give it one more chance.

I missing something in understanding the mystical way to set up my rangefinder so I can just shoot from the hip? It seems to me, even when I get the split/image finder deal perfectly aligned, it comes out fuzzy. Like it's saying... aww, too bad, have a light leak and a fuzzy image and try again. HAHA.

So maybe I don't know how to work the DoF thing on my lens but it seems to me that if I set f11, and focus to 10 feet, then everything inbetween the two 11's on the Dof markers should be in focus... but no.

Is there like a rangefinder master book or something? Maybe this is too simple for me to understand.


Thoughts?

John

If you can, make yourself a focus target such as the one attached. It does not have to be that elaborate, just something to focus on and to measure the results. This will tell you if your camera is OK or if it needs an adjustment.

 

[Tom Nutter]

Leica has published many books on using their rangefinders to the max...I'm sure some of the info would transfer to any sort of rangefinder.

 

[IloveTLRs]

A lot of people like the Electro, but it's not exactly the Rolls-Royce of cameras. I wouldn't judge all rangefinder systems by it.

Indeed. I liked the photos that came from mine; it has a nice lens but ergonomically it was a pain in the rear to use.

Pages 14 & 15 of the Leica IIIf manual talk about depth of field: http://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_if_iif_iiif-1.pdf

 

[JohnRichard]

Good information in that Leica post. And, on page 23, what ARE those pants he is waring in the bottom left. I need some of those. He looks like a dandy.

P.S. I wish they made manuals like that more often... or at all any more.

 

[mablo]

Tintin wears same kind of pants. They might be popular in Belgium.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

what ARE those pants he is waring (sic) [they don't quite blend in, ed]

Plus fours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus_fours

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trevira/2966206021/

"Mothers of River City! Watch for the telltale signs of corruption. The moment your son leaves the house does he re-buckle his knickerbockers below the knee? Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger? A dime novel hidden in the corn crib? Is he memorizing jokes out of Capt. Billy's "Whiz Bang"? Are certain words creeping into his conversation? Words like "swell" and "so's your old man"? If so, my friends—ya got Trouble . . . " Meredith Willson

 

[ehegwer]

I'm just not that much Man to wear those pants.

 

[mcgrattan]

I have an Electro and I find the ergonomics of it to be intolerable, for me [at some point I'll get rid of it]. The long travel on the shutter button, the position of the focusing tab, the seperate under and over-exposure lights that light up at different points in the shutter-release travel, all of these things annoy me. It's also huge for a fixed lens RF of that period. The images from it are perfectly acceptable, though. I just much prefer other cameras for usability. I find even much older all-mechanical RF cameras to be more user-friendly.

I wouldn't judge the ergonomics of rangefinders in general from that one camera, and it does sound like yours might be faulty.

 

[elekm]

I think that many of the Japanese rangefinders have achieved cult status with the Electro being among them.

The Electro was a lower-priced camera (like nearly all Yashica products) aimed at the lower end of the market. Compared with some other rangefinders, it feels cheaply made and a bit crude (the 'clunk' when you advance the film -- must have gotten that from the Petri 7) . And like most cameras, it definitely has its quirks. The black model is more handsome, I think, while the chrome model seems garish -- sort of fit the times of the 1970s ... the decade of excess.

The smaller Japanese rangefinders from Canon, Olympus and Minolta also have their loyal followers. Watch what people are willing to pay for some of those, and you'll understand. The little Konica C35 Automatic seems to fly under the radar and can be bought quite cheaply, despite the fact that feature-for-feature, it's not that much different from its competitors.

The Kodak Signet series is unique in design and includes one model (Signet 80) with interchangeable lenses. The camera feels cheaply made, however. Win some-lose some.

Some early models of the Zeiss Ikon Contessa (nonfolding) are very nice, but the later Contessamat feels very cheaply made with too much plastic, especially when put side by side with the rather exquisite folding Contessa.

The Rollei XF 35 enjoyed a revival of sorts a couple of years ago, and there was a big runup in prices (some were paying up to $75), which I felt was entirely undeserving. It's more of a $35 camera.

I have a couple of the early Petri rangefinders, and I think they're outstanding cameras although on the heavy side.

 

[elekm]

By the way, I know that the Rollei and Contessas aren't Japanese cameras. I got going and strayed a bit (again) from my original thought. Happens a lot these days!

 

[Dave Pritchard]

I have one. I like it a lot. It takes great pictures. Nice lens. Very accurate metering. I had to replace the light seals. You will have to do that on almost all Japanese cameras from that era. I also had to make an adapter so to use a modern battery in it.

These cameras are very old, and aren't really tough. If you get one which has been beat up, just get another one. On the range accuracy, it is easy to adjust. If you just search on "Electro 35 adjustment", you will find some good write-ups on doing that.

 

[mcgrattan]

Yes, I've had, and liked, the C35 [or rather a rebadged version of it]. I also have a Konica S3 which has a great viewfinder compared to the Yashica -- brighter and much less pokey. Unfortunately, mine has fungus in the lens.

The 35mm rangefinder I come back to the most is the Retina IIc. No light meter, and the finder isn't the best, but a great lens and the ergonomics [which aren't for everyone] suit me.

 

[JohnRichard]

Any lovers of the FED, Kiev or Lomo brands? I love Soviet era things, and have thought about picking up a FED for a while. I will do that wax paper focus test deal tomorrow.

 

[Anscojohn]

Any lovers of the FED, Kiev or Lomo brands? I love Soviet era things, and have thought about picking up a FED for a while. I will do that wax paper focus test deal tomorrow.

******
It may not be the RF. You might have a loose lens element. In particular (and the easiest) is make sure the front element is secure. Sometimes retaining rings work loose.

 

[Markok765]

I use a USSR lens on my leica, and its great for BW. For color, I find it lacking, as I like sharp punchy stuff for color.

 

[Erik Petersson]

Any lovers of the FED, Kiev or Lomo brands? I love Soviet era things, and have thought about picking up a FED for a while. I will do that wax paper focus test deal tomorrow.

I have both a FED2 and a Kiev4. They are quite lovely, although the colours gets different. For black and white they are very nice.

 

[kennethcooke]

I noticed a very nice condition Leica CL for sale recently fitted with a 40 mm Summicron. That would give you a high quality rangefinder that would accept the iconic Leica interchangeable lenses. I have used one and they are really nice. In fact when I used to go to the Alps I tied one alongside a Rollei 35T. The Rollei won on price but it did not have the feel of the Leica even though it was made in partnership with Minolta