Favorite fixed lens range finder?

[JRieke]

What is your favorite of the fixed lens range finder cameras and why?

So far I've played around with a couple of Canonets and while they are good cameras I keep coming back to my Yashica GSN. I simply love that camera!

 

[elekm]

I'm partial to the Zeiss Ikon cameras, so my favorites are the Super Nettel, folding Contina II, folding Contessa and nonfolding Contessa, plus the medium format Super Ikonta C and Mess Ikonta B and C.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Wirelessly posted (BBBold: BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Yup. I have one. And it's a Zeiss Ikon Contina III with the Novicar Anistigmat f/3.5 45mm. And I honestly wouldn't trade it for a Leica. I might buy anoter and trade THAT one for the Leica. But I love my little buddy.

 

[phenix]

I can’t decide between the two I own :confused:: a Minolta HI-Matic 7S and a Rollei B35. I love them equally for both:

• the huge differences between their bodies, lenses, and functions (providing me with a choice of use),
• as for the lovely, surprisingly-close results they produce.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Kodak Retina.

 

[bdial]

Another Kodak Retina vote.
Reasons; Fast, sharp, lens, fits in your pocket when folded.

 

[2F/2F]

I really like my Yashica Electro 35 and my Retina IIa. I also like the Canonets, but I don't own one. I wish the door on the Retina was hinged on the opposite side, however. That one problem makes it far more uncomfortable than my Leica IIIs, and if not for that, I would use it much more often than the Leica. Still works great...I just find it slower and more uncomfortable than the Barnack camera. For free (plus $40 service), I can't complain, however.

 

[Anscojohn]

Canonet QL 1.7; aka Canonet GIII.

 

[IcoHolic]

Canonet QL 1.7 GIII

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I have a Konica Auto S and a Yashica Electro 35 which I love them both and can't make up my mind which I like better.

Jeff

 

[Chaplain Jeff]

Hello,

Minolta 7sII

First RF I owned at the recommendation of a very knowledgeable friend.

Great little camera that shoots in A or manual with a famously wonderful lens.

 

[Andy K]

I have two, a Canon QL17 GIII and a Voigtlander Vito CLR. I use the Vito when I want a silent camera, and the Canon when I want to travel light.

 

[DannL]

Another vote for the Canonet QL17 GIII. If I recall that camera has more internal parts than any other camera manufacatured. I liked the size, weight, control layout . . . and the pictures weren't all that shabby.

 

[Ektagraphic]

Kodak Retina IIIF. It is a marvelous little camera!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Voigtländer Vitessa-L with the 50/2 Ultron, which was my favorite 50mm lens for 35mm. It was a great camera, but I sold it eventually to concentrate more on medium and large format work.

 

[TimVermont]

Fuji 645W

 

[darkosaric]

leica minilux with 40mm/2.4 summarit

 

[Peter De Smidt]

I have a nice Voightlander Vitomatic II with a 50mm lens. It's great fun. Just used it extensively on a trip. In MF I have Fuji rangefinders, which are terrific.

 

[Atlo]

Yashica Lynx 14e
the fact that it is fully manual and goes up to 1.7 (most go to 1.4, but mine is "Special")
heavy enough to know it's safe
beauty

 

[brian d]

I'll be the oddball here. Graphic 35 Built to last forever and then some, and for me nothing beats the push button focus.

 

[papagene]

Fuji GW670 II.

gene

 

[narsuitus]

I shoot with four fixed-lens rangefinders:

Canon Canonet QL17 G-III with fixed 40mm f/1.7 normal lens
Minolta Hi-Matic 9 with fixed 45mm f/1.7 normal lens
Fuji GW670 with fixed 90mm f/3.5 lens normal lens
Fuji GSW690 with fixed 65mm f/5.6 lens wide-angle lens

If forced to pick only one to use for the rest of my life, I would pick the Fuji GW670.

 

[3 Olives]

Electro 35 CC - beautiful camera that produces very nice photos.

 

[Pompiere]

I have a GSN that sees a lot of use. I also have an Olympus 35 ECR that is nice for slipping in a pocket.

 

[mablo]

Olympus 35 RD.

It is sometimes a bit cumbersome to use - ASA dial moves much too easily by itself in your pocket/pack - and shutter priority is not my preferred method of metering. But the lens 40mm/1.7 is absolutely one of the finest and sharpest.