Splurged a bit recently and alleviated some G.A.S. with another rangefinder, last month I got a gw690II, today I just won an auction for a Canon VI-T. Pretty excited to start using RF's a bit more this summer.
Cosmetically just about perfect Yashica GSN (this one Hong Kong-made) for USD 5, including (n)ever-ready case in perfect shape, neck strap, and a very small (Yashica CS-14) flash. It was at an antiques shop, priced USD 12, but clearly the shop-keeper wanted it gone. It had a still-live Exell PX32A (alkaline) in it, with power enough for me to test the shutter and find that at least the exposures got longer as I set the aperture smaller. (How does one really ever know they're "right" on an Electro?!) But the battery, although working, had just the slightest small leakage starting. I'd like to think I saved this GSN for the camera collectors of the world by encountering it just in the nick of time to remove the battery. Testing further at home, the shutter behavior is inconsistent and I get the satisfying clunk only rarely, so I think the POD is on its way out and will need replacement. Also the light seals are completely perished, but that's easily fixed and I've already got acres of Jon Goodman's light seal foam on hand. As the shop-keeper said, how wrong can you go for five dollars?! My first Yashica ever. I'm excited... --Dave
A Kiev-2a (with Jupiter 8). I've actually had it since january, but I'm loving it more and more. Particularly since I put color film through it for the first time last week. A beautiful thing to use and look at, and it's in wonderful condition. And it takes great photos.
In the last several months I have acquired a Photrix B 35mm, a Zeiss Ikon Contina, a 1958 Ricoh 35S and a Voightlander Vito B. All are wonderful in their own way.
A Fujifilm GF670 medium format folder last Friday.
It's always dangerous to draw any public conclusions too soon. Even the crappiest new car still looks and smells fabulous when the new owner first drives it off the lot. The relevant observation is always, what do you think of it at 300,000 miles?
That said...
I had read everything I could find before clicking Submit Order. I already knew it had an ultra-quiet shutter. But I was absolutely NOT prepared at all for what I heard when I exposed the very first frame. A mosquito alighting in the next county would sound like a veritable train wreck by comparison. I was staggered. I thought the thing had malfunctioned. It hadn't. Holy cow. How did they DO that?
In the last several months I have acquired a Photrix B 35mm, a Zeiss Ikon Contina, a 1958 Ricoh 35S and a Voightlander Vito B. All are wonderful in their own way.
Fed I as a Leica II copy , manufactured at 1954 and classified as If or Ig. Two years after that , no newer one. 750000 manufactured , times more than Leica and sounds like a whisper. 45 dollars from Ukraine with 30 dollars postage to France , what are sisters for In 2 weeks will be at my hand. It has a Elmar 3.5 5cms copy , I used the Leica one and was super.
A beautiful looking Sears Tower Type 3 with the Nikkor 5cm f2. This may be a copy of a Leica copy, but I think it is the purtiest camera I have ever used. If a camera can really influence the photographer to create beautiful images, this has to be the one that can do it.
This past month I've been busy. I've added a Riken Ricoh 300 f2.8 from 1959 with matching bulb flash unit, a Taron 35 w/ Lausar f2.8 by Nihon Kosokki and a mint, bottom trigger wind Ricoh 500 MX w/case, box and instructions to go with my previously mentioned Ricoh 35S.
A Graflex Century 35 NE (one that actually works )
A Yashica Electro 35
And while not exactly a rangefinder, I just got a very nice little Voigtlander Vitomatic 1 that came with the Voigtlander accessory shoe mount rangefinder still attached to it
I just picked up my first rangefinder a Yashica Electro 35 GS 35mm on ebay...it's with the box, manuals ..the whole kit. Can't wait to shoot it. I also ordered a battery + adapter designed for this model so I'm ready to go when it arrives.
Two different ebay purchases arrived on the same day last week.
The camera seems to be in good condition.
Lens, shutter and film advance all look great.
...Terry