Sub $100 35-40mm fix lens manual RF?

[MFstooges]

Are there sub $100 (used) 35-40mm fix lens RF with full manual capability and light meter indicator in the VF ? Preferably with f1.7-2.8 widest aperture.

 

[Paul Howell]

Konica S, also sold as Wards am 550, manual override shutter speed preferred exposure, F stop readout in the viewfinder. Lens is 47mm 1.9 I think it is a 5 element design. I have the Wards am 550 which need to be repaired, the button the the base plate to rewind is stuck, need to send it off for repair. The S2 also has manual override, you might find one under $100.

 

[nosmok]

Think you'd have to get lucky at that price point for an f/1.7. I'd look for a Vivitar 35EE; it's the f/2.8 version of the excellent f/1.7 Viv 35ES.

 

[MFstooges]

Konica S, also sold as Wards am 550, manual override shutter speed preferred exposure, F stop readout in the viewfinder. Lens is 47mm 1.9 I think it is a 5 element design. I have the Wards am 550 which need to be repaired, the button the the base plate to rewind is stuck, need to send it off for repair. The S2 also has manual override, you might find one under $100.

But the light meter is on top

 

[Paul Howell]

But the readout is in the viewfinder. With S2 and 3, the meter cell was moved to inside the filter ring so that you dont have to figure out the filter factor and adust in manual mode or change the ASA setting. Some think it is better to use the filter factor regardless of either TTL or non TTL metering.

Here is a link the manual

https://www.cameramanuals.org/konica/konica_auto_s.pdf

 

[MFstooges]

But the readout is in the viewfinder. With S2 and 3, the meter cell was moved to inside the filter ring so that you dont have to figure out the filter factor and adust in manual mode or change the ASA setting. Some think it is better to use the filter factor regardless of either TTL or non TTL metering.

Here is a link the manual

https://www.cameramanuals.org/konica/konica_auto_s.pdf

Interesting. The ward 450 actually has wider lens although slower.

 

[Paul Howell]

All of my Konica lens are very sharp, the 550 I have with the 5 element lens had good contrast, has a built in lens hood, does well with flare.

 

[koraks]

Are there sub $100 (used) 35-40mm fix lens RF with full manual capability and light meter indicator in the VF ? Preferably with f1.7-2.8 widest aperture.

You might be able to find a working Ricoh 500G that sort of just fits within your requirements envelope. 40/2.8, full manual capability and IIRC the meter needle still works just fine if you choose to set aperture manually. It's been a while since I used mine.
The optics are OK; reasonably sharp in the center, somewhat blurry towards the corners. Not extremely resistant to flare, but usable. It's not awfully difficult to fix if (when) it malfunctions.

The issue is that in today's market, below the $100 mark there's not going to be a whole lot that matches your requirements.

 

[ntenny]

I think the Minolta Hi-Matic 7s (not the smaller and pricier 7sII) meets the criteria. Manual exposure is a little fiddly (two small rings close together). I don’t remember exactly how the metering display works.

-NT

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I think the Minolta Hi-Matic 7s ... I don’t remember exactly how the metering display works.

EV display. The usual x625 mercury battery issue.

 

[Chan Tran]

I started out with the Petri 7s. It's available with both f/1.8 and 2.8 version 40mm lens. It's fully manual with a meter visible both in the viewfinder and on top of the camera which doesn't need battery to work and thus no mercury battery problem. It has rangefinder but this is where the problem is. When I was a kid back in the mid 60's and the camera was new the rangefinder was good. But now it seems that I can't find a Petri 7s that doesn't have a faded rangefinder patch which makes it very difficult to use.
My father bought it in 63 for $80. You can sometimes get a used one for a few dollars. Prices are up these days but it never get anywhere near $100. I have 2 of them and both work have accurate meter and shutter speed but the rangefinder patch is kind of not useable.

 

[FriedLouisStudio]

I picked up a Petri 7s at my local flea market for $20 a couple of years ago, the f/2.8 45mm lens version. I could immediately see that the shutter speeds and rangefinder were working correctly, and the original lenscap was on so the selenium meter was still working.

It's not a great camera - the lens barrel seems loosely attached, and vibrates like it's going to fly off when firing the shutter - but I put some Tri-X through, trusting the rangefinder and meter, and got pretty nice results. It's an okay performer if you find one for a good price in working condition.

 

[ic-racer]

Are there sub $100 (used) 35-40mm fix lens RF with full manual capability and light meter indicator in the VF ? Preferably with f1.7-2.8 widest aperture.

The Holy Grail of rangefinders; I'd like one too. There isn't one ha ha. Why don't the new manufacturers fill that void.

 

[Chan Tran]

The Holy Grail of rangefinders; I'd like one too. There isn't one ha ha. Why don't the new manufacturers fill that void.

They couldn't build a new one for $500 not even for $800.

 

[Donald Qualls]

now it seems that I can't find a Petri 7s that doesn't have a faded rangefinder patch which makes it very difficult to use.

I have one of these, and yes, the RF patch is faded -- which I fixed by putting a (carefully located) spot of Sharpie marker in the center of the viewfinder window, so instead of superposing two semi-tranparent image fragements, one very faint, in the RF spot, I just line up the RF image with the unblocked image around it. Works fine, costs about $2 if you don't already have a Sharpie around. Braver souls than I might also replace the partial silvered mirror with a new 50% piece...

Also, there were wide-angle and telephoto add-on lenses for the 7s; I've got a set of them. IMO, it's a pretty good camera, and at effectively f/2 it's faster than most of the fixed-lens RF cameras (only the flagship models were in the 1.7-1.9 range). The 7s has a selenium meter, so the condition of the meters may be all over the place; mine was accurate enough for negative film last time I used it, but it's been put away for a while. It doesn't meter from inside the filter, ring, however, so you need to apply filter factors if you use filters.

 

[Chan Tran]

I have one of these, and yes, the RF patch is faded -- which I fixed by putting a (carefully located) spot of Sharpie marker in the center of the viewfinder window, so instead of superposing two semi-tranparent image fragements, one very faint, in the RF spot, I just line up the RF image with the unblocked image around it. Works fine, costs about $2 if you don't already have a Sharpie around. Braver souls than I might also replace the partial silvered mirror with a new 50% piece...

Also, there were wide-angle and telephoto add-on lenses for the 7s; I've got a set of them. IMO, it's a pretty good camera, and at effectively f/2 it's faster than most of the fixed-lens RF cameras (only the flagship models were in the 1.7-1.9 range). The 7s has a selenium meter, so the condition of the meters may be all over the place; mine was accurate enough for negative film last time I used it, but it's been put away for a while. It doesn't meter from inside the filter, ring, however, so you need to apply filter factors if you use filters.

It does meter inside the meter ring. You don't have to use filter factor.

 

[Bill Burk]

The Canonet QL17 GIII comes close, mechanical shutter. You just have to switch aperture to A for meter to indicate the suggested f/stop then set the aperture you manually want after reading. Are they no longer sub-$100? Saw someone (brandonrussell on Threads) yesterday showing off one they got for ten bucks with a great hippie strap. (Looked closer it was a 2.8 model)

 

[MFstooges]

I started out with the Petri 7s. It's available with both f/1.8 and 2.8 version 40mm lens. It's fully manual with a meter visible both in the viewfinder and on top of the camera which doesn't need battery to work and thus no mercury battery problem. It has rangefinder but this is where the problem is. When I was a kid back in the mid 60's and the camera was new the rangefinder was good. But now it seems that I can't find a Petri 7s that doesn't have a faded rangefinder patch which makes it very difficult to use.
My father bought it in 63 for $80. You can sometimes get a used one for a few dollars. Prices are up these days but it never get anywhere near $100. I have 2 of them and both work have accurate meter and shutter speed but the rangefinder patch is kind of not useable.

This "patch" doesn't it come from reflection of the 2nd mirror? Can't you replace that mirror?

The Canonet QL17 GIII comes close, mechanical shutter. You just have to switch aperture to A for meter to indicate the suggested f/stop then set the aperture you manually want after reading. Are they no longer sub-$100? Saw someone (brandonrussell on Threads) yesterday showing off one they got for ten bucks with a great hippie strap. (Looked closer it was a 2.8 model)

Price is inflated now since every new street shooter wants it. Also I used Canonet QL decades ago and didn't enjoy it.

Minolta AL is interesting since it has 1/1000s SS but the meter is on top.

 

[koraks]

Are they no longer sub-$100?

I don't expect so, no. It's one of the many models that's been hyped pretty badly.

 

[Chan Tran]

This "patch" doesn't it come from reflection of the 2nd mirror? Can't you replace that mirror?

Yes but if you can get to the mirror you can just paint a new patch using some kind of transparent ink marker.

 

[Chan Tran]

I don't expect so, no. It's one of the many models that's been hyped pretty badly.

I have one. Paid $3 for it. It works perfectly except I may want to replace the foam. I was trying to sell to a guy for just $50 but he turned it down saying he can do better than a camera that needs seal.
Personally I prefer the Petri 7s. I don't like it.

 

[xkaes]

Fast, Compact, Full-featured 35mm rangefinders:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/leanmean.pdf

 

[Paul Howell]

If you can live with out full manual then your options become much better. The later models Yashica's 35mm with 40mm 1.7 6 element lens, blue silicon meter, but you need to fool the meter to overide the auto exposure by adjusting the ASA setting. Will work with hearing aid batteries.

Yashic Electro 35 GX rangefinder instruction manual, user manual, , PDF camera manual

Yashic Electro 35 GX rangefinder instruction manual

butkus.org

 

[Chan Tran]

If you can live with out full manual then your options become much better. The later models Yashica's 35mm with 40mm 1.7 6 element lens, blue silicon meter, but you need to fool the meter to overide the auto exposure by adjusting the ASA setting. Will work with hearing aid batteries.

Yashic Electro 35 GX rangefinder instruction manual, user manual, , PDF camera manual

Yashic Electro 35 GX rangefinder instruction manual

butkus.org

The Yashica Electro demands a high price but I don't really care for it. It's automatic only and thus the meter must be accurate and it relys on mercury battery.

 

[Paul Howell]

Hum, I see Yashica rangefinder seem to go for under a $100, on Ebay some less than $20. The models with fast 35mm lens might go for more. I use hearing aid batteries in my Konica T, T3 and 4, along with Topcon auto 100, Kowa and Petri, just to name a few, I have no issues metering with hearing aid batteries. I don't own a Yashica rangefinder so cannot really say how accurate the meter is.