What's your favorite $200+/- Rangefinder?

For $200, I like something classic, such as a folding Zeiss Ikon Contessa or maybe a Retina IIIc/C or even a IIc/C.

I'm also a fan of the Retina IIIS and the IIS.

I might go for an Agfa Ambi Silette - the one with true interchangeable lenses. Maybe an early Olympus.

Oh wait, I definitely would reach for a Werra 3 - an awesome little rangefinder made by Carl Zeiss Jena.

Couple of years ago I bought a Agfa Super Silette off the big auction site for peanuts. It had a slow sticky shutter, but I can usually fix those no problem. The reason I wanted it was because it was in pretty nice shape and came with the 50mm f2 Sologon six-element lens. I have many nice rangefinder camera and had most others at one time or other. So, I can tell the good ones from the great ones and that little Agfa Super Silette is a great one. When I compared it to my other favorites(Rollei 35, several Minox 35's, Leica IIIa/Summitar, Canon QL17, Agfa Karat 50mm f2.8, Retina II w/50mm f2 Xenon, Vito B, Aries Viscount, several Minolta Hi-Matic 7's, Yashica GSN and probably 15 more) it wins in the image department hands down. It is the sharpest lens I have on any of them, but it is just a little more flare prone. My second favorite rangefinder was one that I got talked out of and no longer have. It was a Canon P LTM with the later black nose 50mm f1.8 lens. I liked it better than my M-series Leicas or screwmount Leicas. Canon made some mighty fine rangefinder camers back then with first rate glass. Lot of nice stuff out there for a very good price so why not buy several and try them. Of course you'll have even more to sell later. John W

JW PHOTO said:

Couple of years ago I bought a Agfa Super Silette off the big auction site for peanuts. It had a slow sticky shutter, but I can usually fix those no problem. The reason I wanted it was because it was in pretty nice shape and came with the 50mm f2 Sologon six-element lens.(...) it wins in the image department hands down. It is the sharpest lens I have on any of them, but it is just a little more flare prone. (...)

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Yes, the Agfa Solagon is amazing.

However, i thought that the Retina-Xenon 50/2 on my Kodak Retina IIIc was a match for it and gave away for free my Agfa Karat IV (with the Solagon) to a cousin.

Now you're making me want to ask that camera back...

flavio81 said:

Yes, the Agfa Solagon is amazing.

However, i thought that the Retina-Xenon 50/2 on my Kodak Retina IIIc was a match for it and gave away for free my Agfa Karat IV (with the Solagon) to a cousin.

Now you're making me want to ask that camera back...

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Either camera is great, but the Super Silette's lens was better. It might have to do with the Agfa Super Silette being a rigid lens mount design instead of a folding style camera. Or, maybe my example is just a darn good one. Either way I won't part with this one. John W

JW PHOTO said:

Either camera is great, but the Super Silette's lens was better. It might have to do with the Agfa Super Silette being a rigid lens mount design instead of a folding style camera. Or, maybe my example is just a darn good one. Either way I won't part with this one. John W

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I thought that the lens mount of my Agfa Karat IV was pretty rigid and well aligned. ALSO, something that is almost unknown to the world of camera collectors: That machine has a special pressure plate design, which has actually two concentric pressure plates. It is patented (i have seen the patent).

Love my QL17. Shot this image a couple of weeks ago with it.

Todd

If you are open to medium format, you may also think about a Super Ikonta. Like rangefinders, they are quite addictive. (i have four now)

I use a few rangefinders... the closest one is more like $300, which is the Minolta CLE (body only). Very nice. If the 40mm lens was 35mm it would be the best thing ever. The extra 5mm doesn't kill me, but it does make a difference.

I either use a Zeiss Ikon which are really pricey or a couple of Yashika Electros which are dirt cheap. Very little in the middle ground for me. I need Ae, and not everything has it.