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

[shom]

The flipside is, I can't get used to the handling on the Olympus 35 RC and am thinking of getting ride of mine, the aperture ring ergonomics just do not make it enjoyable for me. If the meter worked on mine, I wouldn't mind shooting it in shutter priority instead..

I agree with the aperture ring ergonomics of the Olympus 35RC, I can't change it without taking it off my eye and then putting my hand over the lens and pinching my fingers in. If it had a little tab that would be great. I love that it is a truly pocketable (for my pockets at least) fully manual range finder.

 

[fophem]

The Konica C35 is a great little camera. Nice lens : 38mm f/1.8 Hexanon.

 

[fophem]

About the minolta CLE, it's a really great camera. I've used it a lot alongside my M6 but I always felt it's aperture priority system was sometime annoying. You can't trust the speed indication shown in the viewfinder since it will re-evaluate the light in real-time when you actually take the picture.

 

[camera_allure]

Konica IIIA

 

[Radost]

I think the best fixed lens range finder is a Leica CL with 40mm sumicron that you never take off!

 

[BMbikerider]

Apart from the silly money Leicas which don't float my boat at all I had an Olympus SP which was absolutely terrific. I sold it when I went over to exclusively Nikon but have regretted it. That Zuiko lens it was fitted with was a right cracker. I have not seen one for sale for a few years now.

 

[Radost]

Apart from the silly money Leicas which don't float my boat at all I had an Olympus SP which was absolutely terrific. I sold it when I went over to exclusively Nikon but have regretted it. That Zuiko lens it was fitted with was a right cracker. I have not seen one for sale for a few years now.

I have enjoyed the Olympus 35RC. Very capable lens.

 

[Bps]

I'd have to say my favorite fixed-lens 35 mm RF is my Canonet QL17 GIII -- but these are desirable cameras and likely to be priced up on the market these days. The older Canonet models (no QL or GIII) are similar optically, just a little more work to load and with lower maximum film speed setting, and of course the Canonet 28 or 21 are less expensive than a 17 because other factors equal, slower lenses cost less.

These are battery dependent for metering, but can be modified to use modern silver oxide batteries that will last a couple years (the battery only runs the meter). Shutter and aperture are fully manual with optional auto aperture (works only with a battery of course). Very compact and light, even with the fastest lens option, nice sturdy strap lugs, and a hot shoe.

Drop back a tech level, and I'd point to the Petri 7s. Selenium match-needle meter (after sixty years, it's a crapshoot whether these still work, of course), full manual shutter and aperture, excellent lens (f/1.9 on mine, but also sold with f/2.8 as I recall), hot shoe, and there was a tele/wide add-on lens set (fits the filter ring) if you can find one.

Both of these cameras have cable sockets on the shutter release and standard tripod sockets, auto-reset frame counters. Things to watch (other than dead selenium cells) is condition of the half-silvered mirror in the RF (if the patch is dim, it's hard to use in lower light).

Edit: after rereading up the thread -- if you can find a working Weltini with the f/2 Xenon at a reasonable price, GRAB IT! I have one; the lens is awesome, and fast enough to hand hold indoors with ISO 400 film. Originally, there was no flash sync on these (production ended before those were added to the Compur shutters) but mine was retrofitted (at the cost of the cable release socket; I'd rather have the cable capability, but these aren't on eBay in the dozens at any given time). This camera is small, about the same size as a Rollei 35 (but has an RF!), barely bigger than an Olympus XA -- but you'll never be stuck by a dead battery. It'll fit in a large pocket, though I quit carrying mine that way because it kept opening in the pocket and tripping the film advance release or double exposure lock.

I have a Weltini, the first not the second iteration. One often overlooked feature is that the focus automatically returns to infinity upon closing. Cameras like the Retinas must be set to infinity to close properly, something which is often a pain to remember.

 

[ezphotolessons]

Agfa Optima 1535*
Nikkon L35AF**
but-achileses'-heals-potentialproblems
*rewind is-done through filmadvance-winder
**battery-compartment door-breaks and popup-flash's a-PITA

 

[GregY]

I think the best fixed lens range finder is a Leica CL with 40mm sumicron that you never take off!

 

[joelbolden]

I agree with the aperture ring ergonomics of the Olympus 35RC, I can't change it without taking it off my eye and then putting my hand over the lens and pinching my fingers in. If it had a little tab that would be great. I love that it is a truly pocketable (for my pockets at least) fully manual range finder.

I have 3 that are compacts, The Olympus RC, XA and the Konica C35. They are the "sitting in my jacket pocket/on the truck seat" ones. Great lenses on all of them. I found focusing with my RC difficult due the ring configuration, so I superglued a small square of phenolic resin to the ring, after giving it a bit of a curve on my belt grinder. That was 3 years ago, and it's taken a beating but stays put.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Hi all,

I put my interchangeable lens rangefinder search (I’m looking at you, Minolta CLE) on hold for the time being after I realized that a fixed-lens rangefinder might be more suitable for my needs, particularly since I’m almost exclusively a 35mm-45mm focal length user as it is.

That said, I was hoping you guys could recommend your favorite 35mm (full frame) manual focus, fixed-lens rangefinders. In particular, I’m looking for one in the 35mm to 45mm focal length range with a decent internal light meter as I shoot a lot of slides/transparencies. The quality of the lens is obviously paramount.

Here are some of the rangefinders I‘m looking at (in no particular order):

-Olympus 35 SP
-Canon Canonet QL17 GIII
-Agfa Optima 1535
-Olympus XA
-Minolta 7SII
-Konica Auto S3
-Olympus 35 RD

I’m even looking at ‘newer’ autofocus rangefinders like the Konica Hexar AF, Nikon 35Ti, and Contax TVS III, which seem promising, but truth be told, I just don’t trust autofocus and would much prefer to focus manually.

If I can get any of your recommendations, that’d of course be very much appreciated.

How about a Rollei XF35 as a bit of a minimalist, left-field recommendation? Lens is tack sharp.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

I'd have to say my favorite fixed-lens 35 mm RF is my Canonet QL17 GIII -

Let me add another vote for the Canonet GIII QL17. The 40mm lens is terrific:

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2025/12/traditional-neighborhood-central-avenue.html

Mine was a lucky buy at $13.30, but needed a cleaning and light meter repair at Zack's.

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2025/07/seattle-with-my-1350-canonet-sea-06.html

 

[Nikomax]

That's a lovely shot Radost!

 

[spark]

A few more experiences-

Canon Canonet QL19- The 1.7 lens was a cult item and drove up prices, but the 1.9 isn't bad by any means. Quick loading is a big help.
Olympus 35RD- These took a bad rap for sticky shutters but CLA takes care of that. Well balanced for my smaller hands. (a $20 thrift store find)
Olympus XA/XA2- These were another one you could get for almost nothing at garage sales. XA2 zone focus is not quite the aesthetic of a rangefinder but it makes shooting quick. This is a camera you will keep loaded and in your pocket.

 

[davela]

I'm starting to like the Aires III rangefinder. See the recent thread over on Rangefinderforum with some pretty impressive recently uploaded test shots.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Kodak Retinas have Leica-grade glass. Assume the meter cells are dead by now on any of the Retina III models, but otherwise fantastic cameras.
I'm drawn to quirky cameras, and the Agfa Karat definitely fits that bill - the split-image rangefinder across the entire image, rather than a center patch, and the film advance knob that you crank backwards (right to left with your thumb, rather than left to right). Only downside to a Karat is they used "Green Snot" lubricant which if it hasn't been overhauled is most likely dried to near-concrete. My local camera repair shop gave me a "I really don't want to do this job" quote when I took mine in for a full CLA.
And while it does have interchangeable lenses, a Nikon S2 is a fantastic rangefinder. Just because it CAN change lenses doesn't mean you have to, and the fixed framelines in the finder (and subsequent required external finders for any other focal length) strongly encourage you to shoot it with only the excellent 50mm f1.4 Nikkor lens. With careful shopping you can find one for not too much more than some of the better fixed-lens rangefinders.

 

[retina_restoration]

Kodak Retinas have Leica-grade glass. Assume the meter cells are dead by now on any of the Retina III models, but otherwise fantastic cameras.

Agreed. The Retina IIIC (type 028) is one of the best compact rangefinder cameras you can own.

 

[mehguy]

Konica III is a good choice.

 

[bernard_L]

Olympus 35RD- These took a bad rap for sticky shutters but CLA takes care of that

Until the more-or-less volatile components from the helicoid lubrication do their thing again (how do i know?) IMO it's necessary to re-lube the helicoid with, e.g. Helimax-XP.