This may be a stupid question

bluedog · Mar 13, 2009

Does anyone make a 35mm rangefinder film camera anymore? My wife had a Rollei Prego 145 camera which has sadly died. The pictures from it were far superior to the digital point and shoot cameras IMHO. I have been looking for a second hand one but they are as scarce as hens teeth.
I would like to get a similar camera as a replacement.

Anscojohn · Mar 13, 2009

The Prego is autofocus, rather than rangefinder, is it not? I have a fixed focal length Prego which I like very much. The same cameras are(were) sold under the Samsung name, which is (was) the manufacturer.

elekm · Mar 13, 2009

Are you sure you mean rangefinder? The Rollei Prego cameras were point and shoot cameras with built-in zoom, built-in flash, autowind, autorewind, autoexposure, auto film speed detection, etc.

In any case, I would check eBay as the Rollei Prego cameras seem to turn up there frequently.

nickandre · Mar 13, 2009

You want rangefinder? How about a Leica?

You could try the Kodak Retina for a completely manual camera.

dxphoto · Mar 13, 2009

voigtlander, Zeiss ikon and leica

EASmithV · Mar 13, 2009

You want a rangefinder? How about a Speed Graphic? >

thebanana · Mar 13, 2009

Konica Hexar AF. No longer produced, but an excellent 35mm AF Rangefinder.

fotch · Mar 14, 2009

EASmithV said:
You want a rangefinder? How about a Speed Graphic? >

Woo hoo, a rangefinder on steroids.

bluedog · Mar 14, 2009

I realise the Prego is a point and shoot but thought there was more chance of there being a good quality rangefinder still being made. But thanks for mentioning the Konica Hexar - it looks pretty good.

Anscojohn · Mar 14, 2009

bluedog said:
I realise the Prego is a point and shoot but thought there was more chance of there being a good quality rangefinder still being made. But thanks for mentioning the Konica Hexar - it looks pretty good.

*****
So, do you want an RF or an auto focus?

Ian Grant · Mar 14, 2009

Buy her a Leica M7 and a couple of extra lenses

That's the best quality rangefinder camera still in production.

Ian

elekm · Mar 14, 2009

What's your budget for this? A Rollei Prego (used) is going to run less than $100. A new rangefinder with one lens will cost anywhere from $800 to $5,000.

Leigh Youdale · Mar 15, 2009

bluedog said:
I realise the Prego is a point and shoot but thought there was more chance of there being a good quality rangefinder still being made.

I can't quite believe you haven't become aware of the very popular, currently manufactured and excellent value range of Voigtlander rangefinder film cameras. I have two of them (plus a couple of Leica IIIf's - but they're no longer made (there was a url link here which no longer exists))

Most of the information you'll need is at CameraQuest (the USA distributor) but local availability and pricing can be found at Mainline Photographic in Sydney.

This may be a stupid question

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