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

[Terence]

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.

 

[StanMac]

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

 

[Terence]

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.

 

[George Mann]

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.

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.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Between Leica CL with a 40mm sumicron and all versions of Rollei 35 “non RF” I am set.
Most fixed lens RF mentioned here are bigger than Leica CL.
Just get a Leica or Minolta CL with Leica or Minolta 40mm.
Film is expansive to be point and shooted.

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.

 

[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.

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

 

[beemermark]

My top contenders, in this particular order, are the Olympus 35 SP, Canonet QL17 GIII, Minolta 7sII, Agfa 1535 (per Huss's usual excellent recommendations), and the Konica Auto S3. I'm not worried about the size of the camera. (Coming from large and medium formats, all 35mm cameras are tiny to me, haha.) The lens is, by far, the most important thing to me.

It's really tough choosing between these five since they're all excellent (as are the other ones I mentioned including the Yashicas).

I guess the real question is, which of these has the very best Leica-like lens and which one - if CLAd properly- has the best internal light meter?

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.

 

[RezaLoghme]

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.

 

[Jojje]

Voigtländer Vitomatic IIa. That 1:1 size viewfinder is excellent.