Inexpensive RF?

f/16 · Apr 3, 2015

This month I found a classic SLR, next month I want to find a RF. Something very inexpensive, maybe under 100usd. I prefer one from the 1960's-80s. I don't want to spend much because I may not like a RF that much. I'm so used to a SLR and shooting stuff like sports, macro, landscapes, wildlife, and things like that. I know a RF won't be good for sports, wildlife, or macro, but can be good for other things such as street, portraits, and landscapes. I've never had one and just want to try out the rangefinder experience. one that comes to mind is the Kiev 4. Any recommendations?

heespharm · Apr 3, 2015

If you want interchangeable lenses I suggest a voightlander bessa r2a or r3a and some inexpensive canon lenses... But that's way above budget

I suggest getting a canon Ql -17 it's a fixed lens rangefinder that produces solid results

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Bill Burk · Apr 3, 2015

Hi f/16

I wonder what experience you want?

The Canon QL 17GIII is about the best feature for the buck Rangefinder camera you can get.

A Leica M2 with 50mm Summicron gives all the same features and is about the best quality but will require a few more bucks.

If you buy the Leica you can get your money back. If you buy the Canon, at least you wouldn't be out anything.

Fixcinater · Apr 3, 2015

I'd go with a fixed lens RF, one that has been recently film tested or serviced. QL17 (there were/are two general styles of the Canonet QL17: big & early or small & late) are my favorite of what I've tried but lots of folks go for the Yashica G/GS/GSN/GT/GTN series.

I'd skip the Kievs and Zorkis and other Soviet cameras unless you are good at working on cameras yourself or want to kill a couple in the process of learning.

Interchangeable lenses on an RF quickly add to the price. Even the cheap early Canon RFs with a Russian lens like the Industars or Jupiter-8 would be over your budget unless you found a heck of a deal and no guarantees on the body/lens focusing together accurately.

Skip all those headaches and get a nicer QL17 to start with. Always will be a great travel camera for when you want to pack light, so it's not like you're instantly out the $100.

snapguy · Apr 3, 2015

I adore rangefinder cameras and agree the Canonet cameras are cheap and high quality. But you should look at the Minolta LA film rangefinder camera. It has a fixed 45mm F2 lens and the shutter speed goes to 1/1000 sec. I love mine. It is from the early 1960s.

Whiteymorange · Apr 3, 2015

All the above suggestions are very good, but here's another one. A good compromise between cost and quality may also include a late Retina folder or even a IIs or IIIs. The IIs has a fixed lens, the folders have a changeable front element and the IIIs has changeable lenses- all VERY good glass. They are quirky and often found in not very good condition, but if you get a good one, and you get used to its "personality" (advance lever on the bottom, shutter lock when film counter reaches zero, etc.) you'll never give it up. The IIIc folder I have cost $40 and I know you can get one for that since we have two more at PHSNE for sale. the IIs and IIIs will be more expensive, as will the cult favorite, the IIIC (big C).

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/KodakRetina.html
http://retinarescue.com/

R.Gould · Apr 3, 2015

Voigtlander Vitomatic's, with the wonderfull color skoper lens, also you can sometimes pick up werra's with built in rangefinders, The contina and contessa both with built in rangefinder's all reasonably cheap and all great cameras

E. von Hoegh · Apr 3, 2015

f/16 said:
This month I found a classic SLR, next month I want to find a RF. Something very inexpensive, maybe under 100usd. I prefer one from the 1960's-80s. I don't want to spend much because I may not like a RF that much. I'm so used to a SLR and shooting stuff like sports, macro, landscapes, wildlife, and things like that. I know a RF won't be good for sports, wildlife, or macro, but can be good for other things such as street, portraits, and landscapes. I've never had one and just want to try out the rangefinder experience. one that comes to mind is the Kiev 4. Any recommendations?

A good Kiev is a really nice camera. A bad Kiev is a nightmare. Any Kiev is quirky - you'll be dealing with a camera designed in 1934/35 and they are NOT modern cameras. Probably not the best introduction to the "rangefinder experience".
A camera from the 1960s will likely need servicing. A camera from the 80s will also likely need servicing, and it will be more plastic also likely more electronic - a bad thing from a servicing standpoint.
I was recently given a Canon QL19 that looks and works like new. It has a nice bright viewfinder, parallax compensating framelines, shutter priority auto or full manual, and will run without a meter cell on manual. There are some Minoltas with similar features and quality, something along these lines might be a good intro for you.

zanxion72 · Apr 3, 2015

Get an Olympus 35RC and you'll never regret it.

Matt Fattori · Apr 3, 2015

I can also recommend the Konica Auto S2. It's very solidly built, has a very nice lens(45/2.8) and an aperture priority mode. You should be able to find one in very nice condition for around $50. I also really love the Auto S3. It's much lighter and smaller but will set you back $150-$300.

bvy · Apr 3, 2015

Olympus XA? Great pocket camera with a sharp lens and rangefinder focusing. Can be had for around or just under $100.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 3, 2015

For a great overview of rangefinders, check Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest site:

https://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm

Also:

https://www.cameraquest.com/com35s.htm

klop · Apr 3, 2015

If one was in discovery mode and I was selecting a camera from my collection...... I think I would suggest a Yashica Electro 35 if you are just getting into photography and wanted help with the exposures...... If you want to rely on a built in meter I would suggest the Yashica Lynx 14...... Even an Argus C3 would be good to test the water and see if you want to dive in.....

Paul Howell · Apr 3, 2015

Not to be redundant but:
Canon QL 1.7 has a great lens, shutter speed preferred with manual override. The meter sensor is within the lens set so filters cover the sensor. Works well with hearing aid batteries.

Konica S3 has one of the best 38mm 1.8 six element lens that Modern Photographer had ever tested, shutter speed automated, no manual override.

Konica S2 has a very good 45 1.8 built in lens hood, parallax correction both shutter speed preferred and manual override.

Konica S 1.6 has a 45 1.6 7 element in what recall in 5 groups. Much harder to find than the S2, I am looking for one.

Minolta Hi Matic 7 was very similar to the Konica S2, at least mine is, 45mm very good 6 element lens, as good as the Konica 45 1.8.

Olympus 35RC, 42mm 2.8 tessor or style lens, lens is good by not as good the others, but very small, manual override shutter preferred. It has gotten good reviews, I have not just taken a cotton to it.

Petri 7S, 45mm 2.8 tessor lens, rather sharp stopped down. Selenium light meter, easy to use not many faults.

Petri Color 35mm scale focus compact with a 40mm 2.8 my guess is the lens is another 4 elements in 3 groups. Very small and easy to carry, mine is a good picture taker, I usually carry my Canon or Konica S2
.
Kodak C III big. I got mine as a gift in 1965, meter is still spot on the lens is 5 element F2 coated and very sharp. But control layout is odd by todays standards, would take some getting use to.

f/16 · Apr 3, 2015

Thanks to all, especially PDH. I certainly want a camera with manual override on the shutter speeds. Manual is my fav mode, even with my DSLRs. I really like the Kiev 4, but I know the FSU cameras are not known for their reliability, and I'm no camera repairman at all. I'll look into all the models mentioned on this thread.

thuggins · Apr 3, 2015

zanxion72 said:
Get an Olympus 35RC and you'll never regret it.

Second vote for the RC. It is a real beauty.

f/16 · Apr 3, 2015

Does the 35RC have a mechanical or electronic shutter? Can the shutter work without batteries?

LyleB · Apr 3, 2015

My favorite is the Yashika Electro 35 GSN. I like it so much, I bought a second one. Not as small as many, but a GREAT lens, easy to use, great results.

Monday317 · Apr 3, 2015

Good day, everyone! This is my first post on APUG as a newbie here, albeit not to photography in general: I've been darkening silver halides since 1977... Anyhoo, I stumbled onto this thread and wish to expound thereupon.

f16, may I humbly ask you to consider any of the Agfa Isolettes (AKA Ansco Speedex) 6 x 6 folders? They are well-made, fully manual, have good, fixed lenses and are inexpensive to find/repair. They come in many flavors with OK/Good/Better/Best lenses & shutter combos and can often be found for well under $100.00 USD. If you prefer the 3:2 aspect ratio of 35mm, 6 x 9 models are around, at price points from similar to "WTF??". My profile pic is of my own gem and if you haven't dabbled in MF, you haven't really dabbled, if you get my drift. Amazing negs (until you get to 8 x 10, but we won't go there...) when compared to 35!

If you're absolutely wedded to 35mm, the aforementioned vendors had models in that format as well. In my experience the late 1930s to early 1960s vintage German iron and glass will give far more bang for the buck in this category of camera and I seriously doubt you'll find any Leica in worthwhile condition at that price point. The Pacific stuff was very good at that time, but the way the German glass treated light was in a different class in that period.

Good luck and happy landing! :munch:

ToddB · Apr 3, 2015

Heard good things about Olympus 35SP is up near the top as well.

ToddB

heespharm · Apr 3, 2015

Look up the article "compact 35's" on cameraquest.com... Warning you'll want to collect them all

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heespharm · Apr 3, 2015

f/16 said:
Does the 35RC have a mechanical or electronic shutter? Can the shutter work without batteries?

Yes mechanical and yes to manual

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Paul Howell · Apr 4, 2015

heespharm said:
Yes mechanical and yes to manual

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You can trick the Konica S3 and other's, I usually shoot with Foma 200 at 100, so I can adjust the ASA (ISO) setting to shoot up to 2 above and 2 under if needed, more complicated than have a manual override like the Canon QL 1.7 but doable.

M Carter · Apr 4, 2015

I went through this whole process, ended up with a Minolta HiMatic 7s - good meter, shoots manual, etc. The 7s uses EV numbers for the meter (easy to set the camera this way), I think the 7sII uses f stops. But - may be wrong - I recall that the meter shuts off when you set the sII to manual - well, there was some reason I chose the 7s over the 2.

My criteria was sharp lens, good meter, manual shooting, and a mechanical shutter - batteries only needed for the meter - and $30 or so. I also poked around to see how many DIY repair threads there are online. So I was able to buy 2 Himatics for under $70, clean the RFs, and stick the sharpest lens on the cleanest body, and do a CLA and reseal on the keeper (and I'm no expert on this stuff!) Very easy to get to the iris and shutter blades for cleaning. Very happy with it, but (as you've seen) there are many favorites out there.

OK, my main criteria was that it looked retro-cool. Many of these old RFs will float your style boat, too - some real pretty ones out there, particularly the minoltas and Canons, and those groovy Voigtlanders.

f/16 · Apr 5, 2015

Thanks for all the replies. Well, I've narrowed it down to 3 choices of the ones mentioned in this thread. If I want to get an Olypmus 35RC, is there a good shop that is good with that model? What about the Canon QL17GIII, any shops that could handle that one? And if I do decide to get the Kiev 4, is there a repair shop that work on that one? I prefer shops in the USA to avoid the extra cost of international shipping both ways. If I get one, I probably wanna send it in for a CLA and seal replacement so it's good to go for awhile. I've discovered that some of those RF's have odd filter thread sizes. But I found some 43.5-52mm and 48-52 step up rings on Ebay in China. I don't have 49mm hoods or filters, but I've got alot of 52mm(a popular Nikon size).

Inexpensive RF?

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