rf vs slr image quality?

In general I find rangefinder cameras more difficult to focus than SLR's but I find that rangefinders get me the keepers.

For me I store my 2 SLR cameras on the shelf after I found Kodak Retina.
After a couple of test rolls with color negative film/black and white film and
color reversal film. I've found that I can take better shot hand held.
I don't have any problem with focusing on my RF (I think it's very fast).
I've tested using fastest aperture (f2.0) and it's accurate.

But the view finder won't as bright as SLR. For the picture, I've to imagine
what the result will look like.

For overall, I really like its quality and I've never got this result from my SLR.

IMHO whatever theoretical quality differences there are, they are minor compared to how differently these cameras make you visualize your composition.

M3 with collapsible 50/3.5 Elmar.

Best,

Michael

Donald Boyd said:

In general I find rangefinder cameras more difficult to focus than SLR's but I find that rangefinders get me the keepers.

Click to expand...

I find just the opposite. For me the big bright finder with a large focusing patch is at minimum the equal to a SLR in good to great light and blows it away under tricky or low light.

My thoughts exactly. I find it much easier to both "see" and to "focus" with a rangefinder camera than a SLR. And double that in conditions of low light.

Some of this may be first principles as I learned photograhy with a Canon 7 rangefinder and have always prefered the abstracting type of image you see with the rangefinder screen to SLR.

Sandy King

jd callow said:

I find just the opposite. For me the big bright finder with a large focusing patch is at minimum the equal to a SLR in good to great light and blows it away under tricky or low light.

Click to expand...

Please don't ever let me try a rangefinder.... I am very happy with my SLRs.

I migrated three years ago from Nikon SLRs (801, 601, F80, with their excellent Nikon lenses) to Leica (MP). The Summicron 1:2, 50mm is my best compagnon, but I also love the summicron 1:2, 35mm as well as the brand new Summarit 1:2.5, 75mm. All this costs, of course, and arm and a leg! but I think it is worthwhile. My pictures are sharper, because of the lenses (I don't think any other manufacturer can match them) but also because the Leica shutter is so quiet and steady - I can easily make a sharp shot at 1/8 where I had trouble holding my SLR Nikon steady for 1/60! Maybe equally important to me is the image quality in terms of contrast and brilliance - I've never been able to achieve the same thing with the old equipment. Yes, yes, I know, now I have to show you the proof with my pictures, and I'll come back to that soon.
good luck to you