Looking to venture in RF : D

[andrewseow]

Hi all. Ive been reading up on rangefinders for past few weeks. So ive come to decision to start my journey in this. I was wondering if i could get advice from the more senior users of rangefinders on what camera i could get from B/S that would be a good start to a newbie like me. My budget is rather low :embrass: <$400 I was looking at the Yashica Electro 35 GSN. Would that be a suitable model for me to start with? All the while ive been using a 400D and 50D and ive been captivated by the amazing pictures that have been taken with rangefinders and also the design of the bodies really fascinate me.

Thanks in advance, Andrew

 

[hookonclassic]

Hi Andrew, welcome to the world of RF...is fun and fascinating...do watch out for members of RF.SG on meet up...la kopi talk...and all your question on RF can be easily answered...they may have cheap RF to let go too...

 

[AeionJohn]

The Canon QL17 is slightly better than the Yashica 35 GSN if I'm not wrong and it fits into your budget well. I just saw a thread of a guy selling the Canon QL17 GIII on the first page of the B&S Other Brands/Formats section, do check it out!

 

[cichlid]

I wish there is a thread to showcase images from GSNs and QL17...to motivate me to start ;p

 

[mmmel]

a simple search on flickr will provide you with a considerable amount of "motivation"

 

[axis90x]

and also there is a forum just for rangefinder! :thumbsup:

google rangefinderforum, you should get it

 

[liionel]

hehe, i just bought a FED 5.. waiting for it to arrive.

 

[axis90x]

hehe, i just bought a FED 5.. waiting for it to arrive.

i owned a fed 5 for a period of time before my bessa.
It got its own personality and I wasted 3 rolls of film on it to play with it haha..
all i did was using the sunny 16 rules and shoot for all three rolls and all were wasted haha
overexpose :sweat:

 

[andrewseow]

Hmm. ive been doing some research, for a newbie like me. would it be better if i just stick to a yashica electro/canonet or perhaps go for a zorki. since its a cheaper alternative to a rangefinder with interchangeable lenses

 

[Dslrman]

Zorki as comparing with FED supposedly more advance in terms of mechanicals due to its built later than the FED. But from personal experience they are no different from each others. Although all soviet era rangefinders are not perfect as compared to other German or Japanese built ones, but they can produce quite a decent photos if you don't mind the deficiencies (ie. tact sharpness, etc.), and lots of tried and error experience. But why shoot with these kind of cameras you may ask. For me its simply the challenge of trying to get decent photos with difficult old cameras and thats the satisfaction from within...