Just my two cents, I love the Canon Canonet QL17 gIII. Between 80-150 USD, with full manual controls (plus A-priority IIRC), a crazy light body, and a pretty decent rangefinder to boot. Also one of the only rangefinders on this list to incorporate a fast-loading mechanism. You'll find almost all of them have had their foam destroyed by age, but we all know how simple that is to fix.
Rangefinder Recommendation
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- Thread starter nwilkins
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I didn't mean to criticize you personally, but this type of question has come up often and it generally follows the same line: the desire for a full-featured camera at a very low price. But I suppose we're all after that deal.
My mom called it "champagne taste on a beer budget." I used to laugh at that remark, but I suppose she was right.
However, I still think that the Bessa-R2 is the best value for the money. Great viewfinder. Interchangeable lenses. Accurate meter, although you don't get much as far as viewfinder display
I can't recall if I mentioned the Voigtlander Vitomatic IIb with a Color-Skopar lens. This is a 1960s "Made in Germany" Voigtlander camera.
The camera has a small prism that allows you to see the shutter speed and aperture dials and meter needle in the viewfinder. Plus, it has a rangfinder.
The lens is excellent, and the body is compact.
The only negative is that it weighs quite a bit more than other cameras.
My mom called it "champagne taste on a beer budget." I used to laugh at that remark, but I suppose she was right.
However, I still think that the Bessa-R2 is the best value for the money. Great viewfinder. Interchangeable lenses. Accurate meter, although you don't get much as far as viewfinder display
I can't recall if I mentioned the Voigtlander Vitomatic IIb with a Color-Skopar lens. This is a 1960s "Made in Germany" Voigtlander camera.
The camera has a small prism that allows you to see the shutter speed and aperture dials and meter needle in the viewfinder. Plus, it has a rangfinder.
The lens is excellent, and the body is compact.
The only negative is that it weighs quite a bit more than other cameras.
no offence taken - I was just wondering if there was a camera out there for not that much that could do what I wanted it to. I paid less than $100 for a perfectly nice FM2 with 28mm Nikkor lens and an off brand zoom lens, and $300 for an RB67 with 2 120 backs, polaroid back, 90mm lens and a bunch of accessories. So I figured I should be able to find a lesser camera (in this case a compact rangefinder) for less money.
Rangefinder prices tend not to go down as quickly and not to the extent that SLRs do.
get a used nikon fm or fe with a 35mm lens,and you'll never look back
Nwilkins already has an FM2…
that is true, I do.
In any case this thread has already proven that compact rangefinders of the sort I am after do exist and can be had for not much money. Olympus 35 series, Ricoh 500G, Minolta Hi Matic, Canonet QL17, etc etc. all are what I was looking for. In fact a CanonetQL17 GIII is on its way to me right now. Looking forward to trying it - thanks for all the recommendations everyone!
In any case this thread has already proven that compact rangefinders of the sort I am after do exist and can be had for not much money. Olympus 35 series, Ricoh 500G, Minolta Hi Matic, Canonet QL17, etc etc. all are what I was looking for. In fact a CanonetQL17 GIII is on its way to me right now. Looking forward to trying it - thanks for all the recommendations everyone!
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