Favorite fixed lens range finder?

JRieke · Jul 16, 2009

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 · Jul 16, 2009

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 · Jul 16, 2009

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 · Jul 16, 2009

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 · Jul 17, 2009

Kodak Retina.

bdial · Jul 17, 2009

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

2F/2F · Jul 17, 2009

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 · Jul 17, 2009

Canonet QL 1.7; aka Canonet GIII.

IcoHolic · Jul 17, 2009

Canonet QL 1.7 GIII

Jeff Kubach · Jul 17, 2009

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 · Jul 17, 2009

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 · Jul 17, 2009

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 · Jul 17, 2009

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 · Jul 17, 2009

Kodak Retina IIIF. It is a marvelous little camera!

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 17, 2009

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 · Jul 17, 2009

Fuji 645W

darkosaric · Jul 17, 2009

leica minilux with 40mm/2.4 summarit

Peter De Smidt · Jul 17, 2009

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 · Jul 17, 2009

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 · Jul 17, 2009

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 · Jul 17, 2009

Fuji GW670 II.

gene

narsuitus · Jul 18, 2009

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 · Jul 18, 2009

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

Pompiere · Jul 19, 2009

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 · Jul 19, 2009

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.

Favorite fixed lens range finder?

JRieke

elekm

Christopher Walrath

phenix

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council

bdial

2F/2F

Anscojohn

IcoHolic

Jeff Kubach

Chaplain Jeff

Andy K

DannL

Ektagraphic

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

TimVermont

darkosaric

Peter De Smidt

Atlo

brian d

papagene

Membership Council

narsuitus

3 Olives

Pompiere

mablo

Favorite fixed lens range finder?

Membership Council

Moderator

Membership Council

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency