Looking for a decent rangefinder

[Bill Burk]

Are those tiny Chinese jobs that fit into the flash hot shoe any good?

You know what's good, Weston Master 6. They're still selenium so no battery required. But they're new enough that the cells are still good. They're lightweight made of plastic and the case is awful. Strap will be hard like dried linguini. But there is a calibration potentiometer under the hood if it needs future adjustment. They go for about twenty bucks.

 

[GregY]

You know what's good, Weston Master 6. They're still selenium so no battery required. But they're new enough that the cells are still good. They're lightweight made of plastic and the case is awful. Strap will be hard like dried linguini. But there is a calibration potentiometer under the hood if it needs future adjustment. They go for about twenty bucks.

Gossen Sixtino is another small inexpensive selenium lightmeter.

 

[MinoltaSony]

I bought a CLE in May 2024...The CLE is on par with the best vintage manual Leica at a fraction of the cost so the CLE was the obvious choice. Why? My brother is in the Fuji world and is a fan of rangefinders...he was toying around with the idea of a Leica. That is what piqued my curiosity and why I ultimately chose the CLE, my only rangefinder. I bought a kit from Japan...the camera, the 40/2 and 90/4, dedicated CLE flash, the leather pouches and camera body case. It is possible to have it CLA'd in Oakland CA by a Minolta trained expert. I opted for a new Voightlander Ultron II 28/2, (would have preferred the Rokkor 28 but they all suffer from a spotting issue). I also located the Minolta metal grip for the CLE. (The body is so small I nearly dropped it several times when I first acquired it.). The grip makes it a one hand camera. I always thought the rangefinder focusing concept was archaic, obsolete, and inferior to the TTL split circle/prism. And I still kinda do...I find it much easier to use the TTL focus circle/ring vs the rangefinder split image. However, I am getting better at it. It is a good travel camera. Everything fits in a modestly sized waist pack...Hiking and a wedding in Sonoma CA June 2024, Hiking in Norway April 2025, a couple of protest marches/street photography. I have taken some very sharp, beautifully rendered photos with the CLE. Both color and B/W. The flash with zone focus is fun. The aperture priority is another great feature. Background: All of my film cameras are Minolta: SRT101/202, XE7, XD/XD7, X700. My only digital is the Sony a7iv. And, since Sony bought Minolta is keeps it in the family Sony's autofocus has always been the best: Cybershot and 8mm video, I have been very happy with the a7iv. The Sony is also part of the Overall Scheme Novoflex adaptor and Rokkor glass on the a7iv. Starting in May 2022, I carefully curated a collection of Rokkor glass, with a couple of outliers: The Tokina ATX 90mmF2.5, and a CZ Vario-Sonnar f4 80-200. (The CZ has a CY mount so I can only use it on the a7iv). The trick now is to rotate through the TTL cameras and the CLE...currently I have color 400 asa in the XD7 with the MD Zoom 28-80 3.5-4.5. I am pretty sure that I could sell the CLE and lenses for what I paid for them, (any of the cameras actually, and most if not all of the lenses).There is more but I will stop... Good Luck, have fun...

 

[MinoltaSony]

PS: the CLE light meter is also very accurate...

 

[Kodachromeguy]

In the category of fixed lens compact rangefinder cameras, I have been amazed by the 6-element lens on my Canonet GIII QL17. I should have tried more of these cameras in the 1980s.

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2025/07/seattle-with-my-1350-canonet-sea-06.html?m=1

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2025/04/inexpensive-gem-my-1350-canonet-giii.html?m=1

 

[Patrick Robert James]

You should be able to pick up a Konica Hexar RF and a lens for your budget. Frankly nothing else comes close except for the CLE perhaps or an M7. I prefer mine over my Leica M3. Leicas have pizazz but the Hexar delivers with no fuss. Leica never made anything like it.

If you already have a small Pentax point and shoot there is really no point to getting a small fixed lens rangefinder. If you do it will leave you wanting like you already are with your Zorki.

 

[Analogski]

You should be able to pick up a Konica Hexar RF and a lens for your budget. Frankly nothing else comes close except for the CLE perhaps or an M7. I prefer mine over my Leica M3. Leicas have pizazz but the Hexar delivers with no fuss. Leica never made anything like it.

If you already have a small Pentax point and shoot there is really no point to getting a small fixed lens rangefinder. If you do it will leave you wanting like you already are with your Zorki.

True, that's why im seriously looking in to the Hexar, Minolta, Voigtländer Bessa R and some Canon camera's.
I like the feeling and handling of rangefinders. I also owned a Kiev 4. Made some serious nice pictures worh both. The Kiev had some weird spacing issues, so I got rid of it. But the viewfinder and patch on both camera's is pretty dim. So yeah, looking for a nice, hopefully long lasting upgrade, but it doesn't have to cost an arm and lag. The 1000 euro is pretty much my max, but I don't have to touch it if it's not necessary

 

[Paul Howell]

For a 1000s euros you can find a solid user Canon 7s with working meter. The 7 has a selenium cell while the 7s had a Cdc meter. I had both a Leica IIIG and Canon 7s, they were my second body when a working PJ in the 70s to 81 or 82. The IIIG had better build quality, the reason I carried the Canon more often was built in frames for 35 to 135, much easier to load, and while not a great meter, although coupled it was not TTL, but very usable. Canon lenses are very good, in day to day shooting up to an 11X14 I don’t think you could tell a picture taken with a Canon VS Leica screw mount lens. At least here in the U.S you can get a 7s and 2 lens for $1116 or a 1000 Euros. The Konica Hextar AF is a great camera, came close to buying one when it came out, I could afford the camera but not a lens set. Top shutter speed of 1/2000 of a second, built in winder, and Konica glass is very underrated. The lenses are still very pricy. Downside is not many will work on them, and parts are very hard to find.

 

[GregY]

For a 1000s euros you can find a solid user Canon 7s with working meter. The 7 has a selenium cell while the 7s had a Cdc meter. I had both a Leica IIIG and Canon 7s, they were my second body when a working PJ in the 70s to 81 or 82. The IIIG had better build quality, the reason I carried the Canon more often was built in frames for 35 to 135, much easier to load, and while not a great meter, although coupled it was not TTL, but very usable. Canon lenses are very good, in day to day shooting up to an 11X14 I don’t think you could tell a picture taken with a Canon VS Leica screw mount lens. At least here in the U.S you can get a 7s and 2 lens for $1116 or a 1000 Euros. The Konica Hextar AF is a great camera, came close to buying one when it came out, I could afford the camera but not a lens set. Top shutter speed of 1/2000 of a second, built in winder, and Konica glass is very underrated. The lenses are still very pricy. Downside is not many will work on them, and parts are very hard to find.

Konica Hexar prices on ebay are all over the map. Quite a few with lens for 600€, while some bodies only for 1000€

 

[Paul Howell]

I have not looked in quite a while. Konica glass is some of the best, in SLRs the basic lens set, 28 3.5 35 3.5 50 1.7 100 2.8 and 135 3.5 are as good as any of Nikon, or Minolta lenses of the 70s. The Hextar Af lenses were tested to be as good or better than Leica M lenses. But once the camera body is dead I don't know if it can repaired and if so at what price.

 

[GregY]

I have not looked in quite a while. Konica glass is some of the best, in SLRs the basic lens set, 28 3.5 35 3.5 50 1.7 100 2.8 and 135 3.5 are as good as any of Nikon, or Minolta lenses of the 70s. The Hextar Af lenses were tested to be as good or better than Leica M lenses. But once the camera body is dead I don't know if it can repaired and if so at what price.

I've also been wary of electronic (expensive brick) cameras....& so sold my Mamiya 6MF..... passed on the Hasselblad XPan...
I do have Pentax 645 that was given to me. Keeps on ticking....great camera, but then again I'm not financially invested in it.....