The range of finders

[Nikanon]

im in the market for a rangefinder, currently i am borrowing one of those old argus rangefinders, yea you know the one, so i want to save up and buy my own, im not talking a leica here, but something with good glass where i dont have to worry about dust and scratches and lens abberations, so what have you used and do you recommend it?

 

[bdial]

Kodak Retina folders are a good choice, they have Rodenstock or Schneider f/2 optics, and coupled rangefinders in the II and III models. They sell anywhere from about 15 USD and up (up is more common).
Plan on a CLA though, unless the seller can verify condition if you're planning to actually use it (presumably).
There are numerious variations of all the models, so you might want to do some research if they sound appealing.

 

[Larry.Manuel]

You might find a used Bessa [by Voigtlander; see Cameraquest.com] would do the trick [an R2, for example]. You can buy Russian lenses from Fedka.com that are pretty good. That way you can avoid the overhaul time and expense, otherwise go crazy on the vintage stuff. My newest camera is 40 years old.

 

[Galah]

Kodak retinas are OK (if in working order), but difficult to repair (if not in working order) due to a lack of parts. (I know, I have one working and one not working)

 

[Pumal]

I'm partial to Yashicas: Lynx 14 e IC, Electro 35 GSN, MG-1, etc.

 

[T42]

A clean Canon QL-17 might be a good choice for good price performance.

Good luck with it.

 

[alexmacphee]

I too am partial to Yashicas. The Lynx 14e is a camera that looks like a camera (those who have one will know what I mean). Lens is a corker, and very fast. I have a couple of Ministers too. The III has a selenium cell around the lens, and mine still gives spot-on readings, though it's manual control too if I wanted to use a separate meter or Sunny16 ; the D has a CdS meter running off a 625A, so no problems there, and the shutter is mechanical anyway. Minister lenses are slower at f/2.8, but still fast compared to modern compacts, and can still punch the front teeth out of many of them. The Electro 35 GSN and its sister cameras are optically very good and then some, though fully battery dependent. The good news is that any battery or combination of batteries that adds up to 6v will do the trick, as these Yashicas have voltage regulator circuits and don't depend on the exact voltage in the way some others of the era do. The reputation of these Yashinon f/1.7 lenses is merited.

All the good things you hear about the Oly 35RC are true. Uses naughty batteries, but only for the meter and only if you want the shutter-priority auto-exposure. A little care needed on the aperture ring if you have big fingers, but that's no reason not to get one. In the same mould for size and handling is the Ricoh 500G/GX, and the Rikenon lens is no slouch.

 

[cooltouch]

Two of the most common rangefinders of all time are the Canon Canonet 17 GIII and the Yashica Electro 35. They're both great picture takers, and can often be found for reasonable prices.

Nikanon, you did not mention your preferences, though. Did you want an interchangeable lens rangefinder, or is fixed lens acceptable? The entry price for interchangeable lens rangefinders is generally quite a bit more, with the possible exception of some of the Russian made Leica copies.