Rangefinder users?

[lavenderlilz]

thanks for answering my query Red Dawn.

Btw, what is the minimum start up cost for owing a rangefinder & some decent lens?

 

[ckiang]

Originally posted by lavenderlilz
thanks for answering my query Red Dawn.

Btw, what is the minimum start up cost for owing a rangefinder & some decent lens?

You can start with a Voigtlander Bessa R system, which is Leica-compatible. Chris_K selling his for $1200 or so with 35mm and 25mm lense I think.

Regards
CK

 

[lavenderlilz]

Originally posted by ckiang


You can start with a Voigtlander Bessa R system, which is Leica-compatible. Chris_K selling his for $1200 or so with 35mm and 25mm lense I think.

Regards
CK

ckiang

did see that post - i heard the Voigtlander lenses r pretty good. What about the camera body itself?

 

[ckiang]

Originally posted by lavenderlilz


ckiang

did see that post - i heard the Voigtlander lenses r pretty good. What about the camera body itself?

Can't compare with Leica, but it's still a pretty good body at a fraction of the cost of the real mccoy. Perfect system to get to go into rf cameras.

Otherwise, if you want something even cheaper, there are those non-interchangeable lens ones you can get off eBay etc like Canon Canonet GIII QL7, Yashica Electro 35, the Russian Leica-copies like the FEDs, etc.

Regards
CK

 

[lavenderlilz]

Originally posted by ckiang


Can't compare with Leica, but it's still a pretty good body at a fraction of the cost of the real mccoy. Perfect system to get to go into rf cameras.

Otherwise, if you want something even cheaper, there are those non-interchangeable lens ones you can get off eBay etc like Canon Canonet GIII QL7, Yashica Electro 35, the Russian Leica-copies like the FEDs, etc.

Regards
CK

I think i would like to start of with something cheaper - see how i like it first before i "buy into" a system.

Just saw a review of the Konica Hexar at photo.net. That could be a consideration. Do u know if any of the local shops carry it?

 

[ckiang]

Originally posted by lavenderlilz


I think i would like to start of with something cheaper - see how i like it first before i "buy into" a system.

Just saw a review of the Konica Hexar at photo.net. That could be a consideration. Do u know if any of the local shops carry it?

I saw it in John 3:16 (Funan). It's not cheap though. Otherwise, you can psycho reddawn to lend you one of his Leicas.... :devil:

Regards
CK

 

[lavenderlilz]

Originally posted by ckiang


I saw it in John 3:16 (Funan). It's not cheap though. Otherwise, you can psycho reddawn to lend you one of his Leicas.... :devil:

Regards
CK

since when is any camera cheap. :dunno: ya the alternative mentioned by you is a much cheaper alternative :devil:

but first got to learn the art of psycho

 

[lavenderlilz]

Originally posted by lavenderlilz


I think i would like to start of with something cheaper - see how i like it first before i "buy into" a system.

Just saw a review of the Konica Hexar at photo.net. That could be a consideration. Do u know if any of the local shops carry it?

MY Mistake - the one I read about in photo.net is not a rangefinder - just a P&S.

 

[denizenx]

Originally posted by lavenderlilz


MY Mistake - the one I read about in photo.net is not a rangefinder - just a P&S.

find an old canonet?

 

[lavenderlilz]

Originally posted by denizenx


find an old canonet?

besides ebay - do the local shops sell? or is it THAT rare

 

[ckiang]

Originally posted by lavenderlilz


besides ebay - do the local shops sell? or is it THAT rare

The local shops sell it at inflated prices. Keep searching eBay, someday, some good deal will turn up.

Regards
CK

 

[rochkoh]

Hey CKiang,

What about something like the Contax G1? Autofocus, Metering etc.. makes it ideal for a travel camera no? Plus the Zeiss lenses are great too!

Could probably find a second hand one for <$1K.

Originally posted by ckiang


Can't compare with Leica, but it's still a pretty good body at a fraction of the cost of the real mccoy. Perfect system to get to go into rf cameras.

Otherwise, if you want something even cheaper, there are those non-interchangeable lens ones you can get off eBay etc like Canon Canonet GIII QL7, Yashica Electro 35, the Russian Leica-copies like the FEDs, etc.

Regards
CK

 

[ckiang]

Originally posted by rochkoh
Hey CKiang,

What about something like the Contax G1? Autofocus, Metering etc.. makes it ideal for a travel camera no? Plus the Zeiss lenses are great too!

Could probably find a second hand one for <$1K.

The Contax G1 (argh, why would Canon want to confuse everyone with their G series digicams? ;p) is supposed to be pretty good. Yeah, makes a good travel camera. Just need 2-3 lenses and you're set to go.

Less than 1k?

Regards
CK

 

[xrey]

Originally posted by Red Dawn


The Contax in this case does not employ such a mechanism, being a AF body, hence it's not a true RF camera.

This does not in anyway diminish the significance of the Contax cameras, however. They are just as small and light and portable with very good lenses. Anyway for the purposes of this survey, i consider them all equal as long as they do not employ through the lens ground glass focusing like the SLRs

the pre-war contaxes and soviet kievs which are their clones/derivatives are true rangefinders...

 

[rochkoh]

hmm.. so how does the contaxt RF system compare with the Bessa or Kiev systems? and what's a decent RF system to 'invest' in? (leica's out of my budget)

 

[Parchiao]

Here is an excellent website to visit, for those interested in Contax G series of rangefinders.

http://www.novia.net/~jlw/contax/index.html

I for one own a G2, and I personally that it is an excellent camera for travel and lanscapes.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[xrey]

Originally posted by rochkoh
hmm.. so how does the contaxt RF system compare with the Bessa or Kiev systems? and what's a decent RF system to 'invest' in? (leica's out of my budget)

i don't own a contax so i really would not know... i am just starting on this rangefinder thing recently, and i've read about the old contaxes and kievs... i scratched my itch be getting myself a FED3 type B (screwmount, but not any type of lenses can be used, but i am content just having one) and a Minolta Hi-Matic 7s (can't build a system as its lens is non-interchangable) over at Ebay... bought them because they're cheap and i have no idea what i am getting into (this RF thingy)... better be safe... and anyway, i just want to take pictures that gives me the same set of controls provided by SLRs...

the voightlander bessa r is a good enough alternative to leica, form what i heard from people who owns them... because you get to use leica compatible lenses...

 

[xrey]

Originally posted by ckiang


The local shops sell it at inflated prices. Keep searching eBay, someday, some good deal will turn up.

Regards
CK

there's a canonet that would pop up once in a while in yahoo auctions SG... as well as other rangefinders...

the cash converter at tampines once had a yashica electro 35 for.... $15 only!... but i didn't ask if there's any problem with it...

the cash converter at toa payoh just yesterday had a FED5b...

and, go to flea markets... i went to clarke quay and found a guy selling some cameras there... looks like a rich guy disposing part of his collections...

 

[§ukhumvit]

Rangefinders that I use.

1. Fuji GW690II
2. Fuji GSW690III
3. Konica S2
4. Minolta 7sII
5. Canon Canonet 28
6. Yashica Lynx-14
7. Yashica GTN

I have a whole load of guesstimate direct viewfinder cameras which I think don't qualify in the rangefinder category.

 

[d7t3]

I'm using this (my mum's old cam).

Anyone know if there are batts available for this?

I taped the exposure guide from the film box to the camera back, so I'm estimating so far...