Looking for a 35mm rangefinder to use with a single lens

xkaes · Aug 25, 2023

Don_ih said:
Yeah, I don't use all-caps.
And compared to a Fuji G690. it's compact and lightweight.

And compared to the Yashica Electro 35 CC (f1.8) or ME, it's an aircraft carrier.

Here are CAMERAQUEST's picks. For some reason they've never heard of the Minolta 7SII.

Most Features in the smallest package: Olympus RC
Most Capable: a tie between the Olympus RD and Canon G-III 17
Best RF/VF of the test group: Olympus RC/RD when cleaned, Yashica Electro 35 CC
Most useful focal length and f/stop of the test group: the 35/1.8 of the Yashica Electro 35 CC
Best Compact RF with fast lens and manual over-ride, a tie: Olympus RD and Canon G-III 17
Best Guide Number Flash system: Konica S3 which balances ambient light
Easiest to carry: Olympus XA and XA4 with their clamshell covers

Don_ih · Aug 25, 2023

xkaes said:
And compared to the Yashica Electro 35 CC (f1.8) or ME, it's an aircraft carrier.

Deep breaths, man. It's not a big deal.

Paul Howell · Aug 25, 2023

Is there a legacy shop in your area?

ntenny · Aug 25, 2023

super_claret said:
I am quite attracted to the Nikon S2 or Contax IIIa but they are both around £500 with lens in the UK. Anyone have experience with either of those? I understand my Kiev 4 was a copy of the Contax and the Nikon looks as though it uses a similar body to the Contax...are the Nikon and Contax lenses the same mount?

The Contax IIIa and Bessa-R2C (with the same lenses) are what I shoot the most in 35mm. It’s a good system; the meter on the Contax is pretty primitive, and some people find it awkward to grip without blocking the rangefinder window, but the lenses are really good and the price of admission is well below the Leica M world.

Nikon used the same mount, but with slightly different focussing helical dimensions. The lenses will interchange, it should be OK with wide lenses, but for longer lenses, especially close up and wide open, focus will be off.

The Kiev is a copy of the prewar Contax II/III, not the postwar IIa/IIIa. Same lenses, similar form factor, mechanically different and I think supposed to be more complex to work on.

-NT

nosmok · Aug 26, 2023

Its 50mm f/2 Xenon lens is probably not wide enough for the OP, but among the all-mechanical RF's I've owned, I've never seen one made to anywhere near the standard of the just-pre-WWII Welta Weltini I can't quite bring myself to sell. Any Leica I've had feels like a Lomo next to the solid smoothness of the Weltini's functions, and its self-casing design (similar to the Kodak Bantam Special) means it's truly pocketable. The minuses are the weight (667 grams/ 1.5 lbs!), a certain eccentricity of the controls, and a small combined RF/VF window-- but this last is mitigated by a pretty comprehensive DoF table right there on top of the camera. Mine's got a sticker from Jay's Cameras in Minneapolis inside it, so it seems like a serviced one would probably last as long as any of us.

super_claret · Aug 26, 2023

I think I’m going to try and find a good copy of either the Minolta Hi Matic 7SII or an Olympus 35 SP. Having read reviews, the Olympus seems to have the ever so slightly better lens (7 elements) over the Minolta (6 elements), although whether that makes a difference in results is probably debatable.

The Minolta has the metering cell positioned so that I can use filters and not have to faff about with exposure compensation, whereas the Olympus has it positioned next to the viewfinder.

Another plus for the Olympus is that it meters in manual mode too, whereas the Minolta doesn’t. Obviously, I could meter in auto mode and use switch to manual.

I think it probably boils down to finding the best copy and at the moment, I can buy a Minolta, which looks in tip top condition and was serviced earlier this year…where’s my wallet

xkaes · Aug 26, 2023

Don_ih said:
Deep breaths, man. It's not a big deal.

I'm always up for a good belly laugh -- like when someone is looking for a good small camera, and gets back, "I like my RB67". It keeps me chuckling all day.

xkaes · Aug 26, 2023

super_claret said:
I think I’m going to try and find a good copy of either the Minolta Hi Matic 7SII or an Olympus 35 SP.

Two thoughts. Check out the link I provided above -- LEANMEAN.PDF. It gives a detailed comparion of the Minolta, Olympus and Canon -- as well as test results. The Canon has the most features but is the largest and heaviest -- but not by much.

Also there are TWO versions of the Minolta 7SII -- I don't mean 7S vs 7SII. I mean there was a 7SII (model a) and a 7SII (model b). The differences may or may not be important to you.

baachitraka · Aug 26, 2023

Olympus XA is special. Compact, sharp lens, screw in flash, no problems with batteries and you will never be disappointed.

*only thing is it's f/2.8 but I personally never shoot wide-angle wide-open.

Paul Howell · Aug 26, 2023

The advantage of Nikon S2 or Context III or that matter a Leica IIIF or G, Canon P or 7 is that you have a choice of the 50 or a 35 as the lens. Buy a good working body and get the lens you think is best suited to your shooting style.

Donald Qualls · Aug 28, 2023

nosmok said:
just-pre-WWII Welta Weltini I can't quite bring myself to sell.

I'll second that. My Weltin II, despite having had the cable release socket sacrificed for a PC sync conversion (and the lens coated while it was apart) is on my "never sell" list. I don't like carrying it in a pocket, because it's too easy to false-trip the shutter release and lose a frame to the double exposure interlock -- but the Xenon f/2 is an exceptional lens, fast enough to hand hold reliably in workplace lighting with ISO 400 film. The RF is bright and accurate, and the DOF table means the RF isn't indispensible (the camera is small enough to shoot at arms length overhead etc.).

super_claret · Aug 29, 2023

Thank you to all for your input. I bought an Olympus 35 SP from a dealer with a return option. I've shot a couple of rolls over the weekend and the lens is pretty good. The rangefinder patch is not great in lower light. I also have a Minolta 7SII arriving tomorrow for comparison. I'll have a go with the Minolta and decide which one to send back. One thing I have made a decision on is that I prefer a wider angle and may even prefer a 35mm.

Unfortunately, the Olympus is tearing the sprocket holes on Kentmere 400 film, I also tried a roll of HP5 and that seemed OK. Spacing on both films was a little erratic though.

I may just decide to return both and stay with my Pentax Spotmatic, which isn't a great deal bigger than the Olympus. At least I have a choice of focal lengths

Don_ih · Aug 29, 2023

super_claret said:
the Olympus is tearing the sprocket holes on Kentmere 400 film

That means it's gummed up. Using it will possibly make it worse. So you should probably send that one back.

xkaes · Aug 29, 2023

super_claret said:
One thing I have made a decision on is that I prefer a wider angle and may even prefer a 35mm.

There are a couple of rangefinders that have a 35mm (f2.0?) lens, but that's not much wider than a 40mm. Maybe it's time for a Minolta TC-1.

chuckroast · Aug 29, 2023

super_claret said:
As the title suggests, i'm after a rangefinder but haven't got a clue which! I want an M3 but finances say otherwise, especially when I need to budget for a lens also.
Been looking at Canon LTM, Contax III, Voigtlander Bessa (although these seem to be very near M3 prices), Nikon S2, Olympus 35 SP etc etc.

There are times when I just want to take out a single camera and lens for casual/street photography. I want something reasonably small and inconspicuous,
quick to use and most importantly, a fast lens which gives decent quality images wide open.

I realise it's a minefield and after reading about the Olympus 35 SP, I'm thinking this may be all I need. I prefer slightly wider than 50mm or even 35mm.
As others, I do lust after quality but quality costs!

If you were in my shoes, what would you choose and why?

A Leica IIIf or IIIg with either a collapsible 50mm f/3.5 Elmar (preferably the newer coated model) or the Summicron f/2 (if you can find a clean one that doesn't command nosebleed prices).

Why? The camera is basic, reliable and fairly inexpensive. They are not crazy to maintain. with collapsible Elmar or Summi, they're also super portable and light. The lenses can be used - via an adapter - should you ever end up buying an M body.

I have a IIIf with an uncoated Elmar and it's a superb walkin-around camera. The lens does suffer somewhat when shooting into specular highlights but it''s also an interesting "look".

I mostly shoot MF or LF and have Nikon film bodies with many lens options, but my IIIf remains a fun camera when I am just wandering about. Mine is paired with a Revini Labs lightmeter that mounts in the hotshoe (but has a tether on it, so it doesn't get lost if it comes loose - learned that one the hard way).

cptrios · Aug 29, 2023

Another vote for the 7sii, which you've already ordered! I've tried a whole ton of these (except for the Canonet, which I've been hesitant about due to its reported weight...which seems inconsistent, actually), and the 7sii is definitely my favorite. It has the same limited max ISO of 800 for auto exposure, but as has been said is one of the rare models of fixed-lens RF with manual control (which you don't need a battery for). And the lens is great. Not so hot in the corners until somewhere between f/5.6 and f/8, but fantastic otherwise. And wide open, it's got a very cool - and I hate to use this term - dreamy effect. I actually just developed a test half-roll of Copex Rapid this morning, and here's what I'm talking about at f/1.7:

And center sharpness in this shot is surprisingly good:

Another wide open one that really highlights the 'look':

It really does give you a wide range of artistic options.

StanMac · Aug 31, 2023

Don_ih said:
If you want a fast lens, let us not forget the Yashica Lynx 14....

View attachment 347412
(photo stolen from an ebay listing)

That one is a beast! How about a Lynx 5000 or 5000E? Smaller and lighter and a 1.8 lens.

Stan

xkaes · Aug 31, 2023

StanMac said:

That one is a beast! How about a Lynx 5000 or 5000E? Smaller and lighter and a 1.8 lens.

I already tried that logical comparison:

xkaes said:
...compared to the Yashica Electro 35 CC (f1.8) or ME, it's an aircraft carrier.

Good luck with that -- I was told to "take a pill".

Cholentpot · Aug 31, 2023

xkaes said:
StanMac said:

That one is a beast! How about a Lynx 5000 or 5000E? Smaller and lighter and a 1.8 lens.

I already tried that logical comparison:

Good luck with that -- I was told to "take a pill".

Try the Minister. It could anchor an aircraft carrier.

super_claret · Sep 7, 2023

Just a quick update. I returned the Olympus 35 SP due to tearing of sprocket holes and overlapping frames. I received my Minolta Hi Matic 7S II which is in fantastic condition and has recently been serviced. Ran a test roll through it and happy to report it’s a keeper. I love it! The light meter seems pretty accurate, despite being fitted with an LR44 battery, which I understand can give inconsistent readings over time.

Only thing I’m finding a problem with is framing vertical shots…they all seem to be leaning over. Have to pay more attention with my next roll!

Donald Qualls · Sep 7, 2023

super_claret said:
vertical shots…they all seem to be leaning over.

Might need to get your eyes checked, too.

Looking for a 35mm rangefinder to use with a single lens

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