Small rangefinder

[time4d]

Hi, I've decided to come back to film, and I am looking for a 35mm rangefinder for starters, to see how much I like it. I am thinking of going for the Konica C35. What are some other small, compact rangefinders that have decent image quality? The smaller the better!

 

[raytoei]

hi,

this isn't an easy answer because the answers are varied.
there are fixed lens rangefinders from Yashica, Canon, Olympus, Konica, Minolta etc.
Olympus in my opinion was probably the last to abandon the RF, and the have quite
nice fixed lens cameras, from the mighty 35RC to the highly sought after 35DC, and
the photographer's P&C camera, the XA.

raytoei

 

[ricohflex]

Had this but threw it on 31 Dec 2009 in spring cleaning. By design, user cannot control the shutter speed and aperture. CDS meter.
If you had asked in Dec 2009, would have given it to you.

 

[ALFREDC]

Canonet is a good start, easy to use. Yashica ok too.

 

[ALFREDC]

Had this but threw it on 31 Dec 2009 in spring cleaning. By design, user cannot control the shutter speed and aperture. CDS meter.
If you had asked in Dec 2009, would have given it to you.

I dont see why you must bring up some unrelated incident of yours 4 years ago to make TS feel loss out. Trying to dangle a carrot?

 

[ricohflex]

No carrots. These are very low value throw-away items. Just a fact that I threw it away.
Telling TS that Konica C35 is not as well specified as other old small rangefinders that allow user to control shutter speed and aperture.

 

[crispy12]

Yah I agree, recommend choosing a camera that can choose shutter speed and aperture. Usually they still carry on working in manual mode if the electronics die, so these type of cameras generally last a long time. Canonet is a great choice, choose one with a clean lens and working meter. Yashica is great too but I think aperture priority only.

 

[time4d]

Thanks for the input so far! I am comfortable with playing about with full manual controls and that would indeed be a better option. I was intending to get the Olympus 35 RC, but I saw a good deal (or at least what I thought was a good deal) on a Rollei 35S, and I decided to jump on it. I am worried about the lack of a rangefinder and I hope I don't end up regretting it!

 

[nightwolf75]

Thanks for the input so far! I am comfortable with playing about with full manual controls and that would indeed be a better option. I was intending to get the Olympus 35 RC, but I saw a good deal (or at least what I thought was a good deal) on a Rollei 35S, and I decided to jump on it. I am worried about the lack of a rangefinder and I hope I don't end up regretting it!

IIRC, rollei is zone-focused.... ie. aggaration. i read online people usually just imagine themselves lying flat on the ground and using their height to estimate the distance to subject.

 

[time4d]

I'll be looking forward to see how much I like it. I'm sure that if I ever decide it's not for me, there will be takers! Only problem is that the place I'm currently in does not have a single shop which sells or develops film :S

 

[MagnumLite]

I'll be looking forward to see how much I like it. I'm sure that if I ever decide it's not for me, there will be takers! Only problem is that the place I'm currently in does not have a single shop which sells or develops film :S

Just where in the world are you located?

 

[time4d]

I'm in Mukdahan.....

 

[MagnumLite]

I'm in Mukdahan.....

Have you tried getting it across the river in Savannakhet? Maybe they might have some there otherwise film you can always stock up when you next visit Bangkok and to solve film development, try DIY if you are into B & W.

 

[time4d]

I've searched Savannakhet before.... There was one store which was most likely to have it; it was a Kodak store, but I didn't even bother to go in, because they were obviously selling everything but camera-related stuff!