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What Are Your Favorite 35mm Manual Focus Fixed-Lens Rangefinders? (Looking For Recommendations)

If you can find a functioning Kodak Retina IIF, they're Hardy viewfinder cameras, with a good lens, at an affordable price. They usually go for less money than the earlier, folding Retinas (which are also great). Unfortunately, the selenium meters are rarely working/accurate anymore, but they aren't needed to operate the camera either.
 

I've had a Retina IIf since the late 60s. I took a lot of slides and color film with that camera. As long as I got the focus right and centered the meter the images were excellent. It hasn't been used much in the last 45 years, the shutter speed ring is a bit stiff, but the meter still responds (accuracy hasn't been evaluated). I should send it out for a CLA . . . .

Stan
 

My dad got his while he was in the Air Force, around 1965. I've been using it since around 1984. In good light, the rangefinder on mine is spot on.
 

It sounds like you are not using the right Nikkor lenses. The long barrel 35mm f2.8 Ai and 50mm f2 Ai are the lenses that set the benchmark.

Unfortunately, none of the Nikkor wide angles are as good, but I rarely need to use them on a full frame camera anyway.

I have owned nearly all of these rangefinders mentioned but never use them because my Nikon FM with the above lenses simply outperform them in both quality and versatility on a daily basis.
 

I would like to second that. Plenty available, compact, prices did not increase as much as the "M" range. The 40mm makes the camera really compact, and it could make it a fixed lens camera. Still, if needed, the very cheap 90mm Elmar-C can be mounted, or most of the other M lenses.

I would check out Leica's own "Classic" shop for a body + 40mm "kit". Around 1000 EUR or below.
 

Perhaps not regretting Nikon equipment, but actually selling the Olympus SP, I may have given a wrong impression I regretted going over to Nikon. No regret there be assured
 
I think the Olympus SP & Canonet QL17 are contenders. Owed a number of Minolta's and while the lenses were good they always seemed cheaply made with too much plastic (from memory). Not familiar with the AGFA 1535 and Konica's (of which I own several) seem ancient in design. While no a fixed lens the AGFA AMBI Stillete was a great little camera that took interchangeable lenses, like the Kodak Retina.
 
Somehow my XF35 recommendation got overlooked. It is a austere-charming camera, still cheap-ish, still somewhat affordable (<200 EUR). Yes, the RF has a short base length, yes the camera does not have an "off" switch so an (aftermarket) lens cap has to put the electronics to sleep, yes the auto exposure cannot be changed manually...and the look and feel is very much reminiscent of the interior of German 1970s cars, sober and functional.

On 35mmc there is a good article which covers all one needs to know.
 
Voigtländer Vitomatic IIa. That 1:1 size viewfinder is excellent.
 
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