Good starter RangeFinder with a budget.

[Vanishing Point Ent.]

The Reasons to Consider the Unique Qualities of the Olympus XA & A16 flash.

Olympus XA is another great option in a fixed lens range finder. The XA uses a
6 element Planar style lens.

Here's why you want to get this camera, especially if you like to shoot people.
The following is copied by me from another post.

" Do you want to know a secret ?" " Do you promise not to tell ?"

I'm sorry I couldn't resist.
This trick works best if you are using the A16 flash, but it would work on the A11, also.

We know that once the flash is " popped-up ", that it will fire, no matter,where the f-stop scale is set.
We also, know that since the camera uses a leaf shutter, it will synch
at any shutter speed. We finally know,that while the cameras f-stops are adjustable in
1/3rds of a stop,the flash only has ISO 100 & ISO 400 settings.

Finally, if you set the f-stop to f 5.6, ( indicated in orange ) & the orange - red distance # on the focus dial,
( the actual # is different, if your camera is meters, or feet ). Then where ever you point the camera, the
image will be sharp, because the camera is set to hyperfocal focus & the rangefinder, does not have to be used.

Because of the nature of the Olympus XA, ALL flash exposures are taken at f 3.5 - 4.0
You can determine this for yourself, by setting the aperture at f 4.0 & looking at it.
Then set the aperture to flash & take a look at it. They look almost the same.

These days I shoot neg film & get it scanned. It's cheaper than scanning chromes.
I overexpose ALL neg film by 1 stop, under ALL circumstances. This guarantees a
good exposure.

Now here is the secret I promised you. There is only 1 stop difference between f 4.0 &
f 5.6.

1. If I were to shoot ISO 200, ( rated ), film, like Portra, or NPS, or NPC, I would
set the camera at ISO 100.

2. Set the flash to ISO 100. " Pop-up " the flash.

3. Set the f-stop to f 5.6 & set the focusing ring to the orange - red focusing distance.

The camera is now set for a perfect 1 - 12 stops flash fill, which can be used at ALL
shutter speeds. Also, because the camera is set for a depth of field focus, ( that's what this is ),
all of your images will be sharp, without rangefinder focusing.
Thus the camera works like a point & shoot.

This can be refined for other ISO's or if you want less flash, set the camera ISO, to 80.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Don't forget the Kodak Retina I/II/III. Look for a IIb or IIIc. They came with a range of lenses, but the most common ones are the Schneider Xenar f2 or f2.8. Look for one with the f2 lens. The b and c models have coupled rangefinders, and the IIIc has a built-in meter (although at this point in time it is 90%+ likely to be non-functional). I've got a IIb with the f2 lens and it takes wonderful pictures. It's small enough to fit in a coat pocket, but substantial enough to withstand bumps and dings of everyday carrying around. And the lens is self-casing when you close it up.

 

[snederhiser]

Hey Dude;
How bout the american leica, the Argus C-44? These can be had for $100.00 and under. They had 3 lenses, 35mm, 50mm, and a telephoto 100mm. The only limiting factor was the slow 1/300th shutter but had M & X sync. Not a bad rangefinder, Steven.

 

[EASmithV]

Agfa Sillete are nice cameras.

 

[Klainmeister]

I dunno, if your budget is around $100, get a Minolta Hi-Matic (I got mine from the bay for $20) and spend the rest on film, development chemicals, tanks, binder for your negatives and anything else you might desire. The Rokkor lens is quite good and it can work without a battery.

 

[fotch]

I dunno, if your budget is around $100, get a Minolta Hi-Matic (I got mine from the bay for $20) and spend the rest on film, development chemicals, tanks, binder for your negatives and anything else you might desire. The Rokkor lens is quite good and it can work without a battery.

Which Hi-Matic work without a battery? I have the F and is will not take a photo without a battery.

 

[Nick Merritt]

One drawback of the Canonet is that if you plan to shoot black & white film, and use filters, it takes a pretty hard to find screw-in filter size, 48mm. The Yashica, on the other hand, takes 55mm, which is easy to find.

 

[drumlin]

Or just find a stepup ring 48>49 and filters are much easier to find.

Another +1 to the canonets. I've got two and love using them.

 

[Uncle Brian]

Have you come up with any favorites? I like the Yashica GSN but if I was starting from scratch I would save for a Cosina Voigtlander Bessa R.

 

[rolleiman]

A word of caution, some older rangefinders use 1.3 mercury cell batteries, now banned in most countries and difficult to find. Make sure an alternative battery is available, and works.

 

[lensworker]

This is not within the $100 price range, but I will recommend that you take a look at the Leica CL and the 40mm f/2 Summicron lens that was designed for it. A more economical alternative would be the Minolta version of this camera.

Here's a good introduction to the Leica CL: http://www.cameraquest.com/leicacl.htm

 

[SafetyBob]

I was going to tell you that I love my old Yashica GSNs best for their big size and my Canonets are also fun little cameras mostly because they are small and handy to carry around...but I think everyone has given you lots to look at, no real camera recommendations here.

My two cents is as you are looking at these old cameras, keep looking here in the classified section for one of us selling our old rangefinders first. I would be willing to bet a nice sum of money that if you get one off the auction site that it would need a CLA sooner than later. I would bet you could have a lot of frustration with a poorly maintained used one. If you going to purchase a Yashica GSN that way(auction site), communicate with Mark Hama first, he will be able to give you a ball park CLA estimate first THEN you would have a first rate operating camera that will be useful for many, many years. Unless you get a fully functional rangefinder with someone who can tell you the pros and cons of a specific camera, I would expect to send anything off to get a CLA purchased from any auction site.

Example: I purchased a Mamiya Super Press 23 a couple of years ago from a "real" camera store that also has online store too. The camera was advertised as having a dim rangefinder. Up front I knew that most cameras from this era were heavily used, and most that had never been serviced would have dim rangefinder or worse. I got the camera because externally, it was in very, very good physical condition and knew once it got a CLA, it would be a keeper. Yes, the CLA was expensive (and are for this type of camera). I got back a camera that was in as close to as new condition as possible. It was in worse condition than "just" a dim viewfinder. The CLA fixed everything that was wrong....I cannot put into words the satisfaction of using an old rangefinder of this era. If you think you like photography, you owe yourself the rangefinder experience.

Long story short is that if you can find for example a Yashica GSN for $50 and have Mark Hama CLA it for $100, you would have a very, very nice camera that will last you forever AND you would not have to fight while using it.

While I am at it, using color film in these old cameras is OK, try using B&W......results can and will be stunning. They just seem to make B&W film magical....

Bob E.

 

[Klainmeister]

Which Hi-Matic work without a battery? I have the F and is will not take a photo without a battery.

I believe it's a Hi-Matic 9. Before I did the battery mod, I took a roll and shot it completely manual and the shutter and aperture work as they should. Just sunny-16ed the whole thing.

 

[fotch]

Thats good to know. I dislike battery dependent cameras. I can live without the meter, but not the whole camera. JMHO

 

[Klainmeister]

Obviously the A-A setting is unusable, but other than that, seems totally fine. I've had the new battery in there for about 2 years and it's still going strong. If you cover the lens and not let light in, it should last a long time. It's only off by a stop or so with the 1.5v, so I just set my ISO accordingly.

 

[kb3lms]

+1 for the Yashica GSN. Bought one locally off of Craig's list for $35 (with a nice bag and some accesories) and have enjoyed it very much. It does require an obsolete 5.6v battery but there is a gentleman who sells an adapter on the internet (Google Yashica Battery adapter) to use a current 6-volt camera battery. I have been very happy with it.

 

[thomasw_]

Some advice: don't begin with cheap junk because it may turn you off quickly; similar to drinking cheap wine and smoking cheap cigars....

Sound advice. I recommend saving up some more dough for a good Leica M2 and a good cv 35/1,4 or a 50mm lens you like. Go to this group to compare images made with different M-mount or LTM lenses.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/m-mount

A good lens is worth the effort of saving the dough.