cheapest rangefinder
- Thread starter denizenx
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The Lomo/Holga are NOT rangefinder cameras. Rangefinder cameras have a rangefinder (duh) to help you to focus. Usually, a focussing patch with 2 coincident images are deployed. You turn the focussing ring until the 2 align perfectly. When they align, the picture will be in focus.
A good rangefinder camera to try out would be the Canon Canonet GIII QL17 or the Yashica Electro 35 or the GSN version. You can buy them off eBay for cheap.
Regards
CK
A good rangefinder camera to try out would be the Canon Canonet GIII QL17 or the Yashica Electro 35 or the GSN version. You can buy them off eBay for cheap.
Regards
CK
Originally posted by ckiang
The Lomo/Holga are NOT rangefinder cameras. Rangefinder cameras have a rangefinder (duh) to help you to focus. Usually, a focussing patch with 2 coincident images are deployed. You turn the focussing ring until the 2 align perfectly. When they align, the picture will be in focus.
A good rangefinder camera to try out would be the Canon Canonet GIII QL17 or the Yashica Electro 35 or the GSN version. You can buy them off eBay for cheap.
Regards
CK
ckiang, the focus mechanism of the Nikon F3 was like what u described, that was the first time I used a MF camera. Does it make F3 a rangefinder too?
The problem with the Electro 35 is the battery.
There are a number of decent, cheap Russian RFs out there, which accept screw thread lenses, so should you strike it rich and also lose whatever little common sense you had, you can attach those German lenses. You know, the ones with the red spot.
There are a number of decent, cheap Russian RFs out there, which accept screw thread lenses, so should you strike it rich and also lose whatever little common sense you had, you can attach those German lenses. You know, the ones with the red spot.
F3 is not a rangefinder, it's a SLR with groundglass focussing. The centre thing is a split-image prism. Some of the better RF cameras has a split-image on the rangefinder patch as well. What I meant by coincident image is that you have the original image, and a fuzzy image overlapped (you can see both). When you align them perfectly, then it will be in focus.
Regards
CK
Actually, you make a very good point. I don't know how many people I've seen buy cameras for a certain feature and then when they get the chance to use their feature, they go ahead and buy a better camera after that.
For example, saying they buy a more expensive Nikon camera so that it can still meter with their AIS lenses. But then they just go out and buy a whole new range of AF lenses eventually anyway. Okay, so the analogy isn't 100%, but close enough.
For example, saying they buy a more expensive Nikon camera so that it can still meter with their AIS lenses. But then they just go out and buy a whole new range of AF lenses eventually anyway. Okay, so the analogy isn't 100%, but close enough.
StreetShooter
Senior Member
Suggest you go down to a used camera shop to try out the rangefinder. I did that yesterday with a Bessa-R2. OK so it did not have a little red dot, but the viewfinder is supposed to be even better than the little red dot's.
Can't really dig the joy of manually focusing by trying to align a ghost image with a real one. I prefer to point and shoot. Nothing beats the feeling of getting a good, fast autofocus lock on your subject (and I'm using the D30! LOL). OK the viewfinder framing was cool, but that's it. It felt like a military-spec camera, even came in khaki green, but that sort of stuff does not turn me on. I had the good sense not to touch the M6, it's like golf or heroin - just say no.
I figure this rangefinder thing is not for me. It was interesting and entertaining reading up on them, though, especially the orgasmic gushiness of the reviews of the M6 and Voigtlanders. Heck, the cameras are not THAT small, anyway. I prefer my IXUS 330, for carrying around. It's got this little shutter click sound (you can set the volume!) to die for.
Can't really dig the joy of manually focusing by trying to align a ghost image with a real one. I prefer to point and shoot. Nothing beats the feeling of getting a good, fast autofocus lock on your subject (and I'm using the D30! LOL). OK the viewfinder framing was cool, but that's it. It felt like a military-spec camera, even came in khaki green, but that sort of stuff does not turn me on. I had the good sense not to touch the M6, it's like golf or heroin - just say no.
I figure this rangefinder thing is not for me. It was interesting and entertaining reading up on them, though, especially the orgasmic gushiness of the reviews of the M6 and Voigtlanders. Heck, the cameras are not THAT small, anyway. I prefer my IXUS 330, for carrying around. It's got this little shutter click sound (you can set the volume!) to die for.
StreetShooter
Senior Member
I don't quite understand that part. What's the point of having a rangefinder with autofocus? So you can focus manually? *honestly confused*.
If I were to go for film, I would get the Olympus muj.
If I were to go for film, I would get the Olympus muj.
cannot afford it 
yar hor. It's just a compact camera with AP and other controls. I must have been reading too much ;p Cameras like Contax G1/G2 would be rangefinders right? Saw a G1 on auction at Yahoo for $900 with a Carl Zeis lens.
http://page.auctions.shopping.yahoo.com/sg/auction/69827622?aucview=0x10
Also saw one Yashica Electron 35 GSN ($100):
http://page.auctions.shopping.yahoo.com/sg/auction/69375337?aucview=0x10
Go to one of those 2nd hand camera shops or aution sites and try out the Canon/Minolta/Yashica/Olympus rangefinders. Can be any price between $80-$300 +/- , depending on condition and desirability. You may want to check out
http://www.cameraquest.com/index.htm
which is a popular guide for rangefinders. HTH
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