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35mm Rangefinders Anonymous
I am looking for an excellent rangefinder camera. What are my options outside of the Canonet QL17 GIII and Olympus XA cameras?

So far I have also looked at the Minolta Hi-Matic 7S II, Vivtar 35ES, and the Olympus 35 RD, RC and Trip. Any other highly regarded rangefinders out there? Suggestions needed! Whats your favorite?
>> Anonymous
Minolta Hi-Matic 9 is worth a look for you. I don't know how it compares to the 7S II though.
>> Anonymous
>>281146
When I wanted one they went for around £60... This was last month.
>> Anonymous
>>281148

dam

one up now for 87 pluss a 5ver postage,

What put you off buying one in the end? from all the reviews it seems there a damn good range finder
>> Anonymous
>>281140
OP here;

This is what I run into when looking for the perfect match. Most people with the advice, own them all! So which minolta specifically is your favorite?

The canonet just sells for to much. Plus I am pretty sure I would rather get the Olympus 35 RD over it.

I forgot to look at Yashica's Electra 35 line. Upon doing so though I get mixed up between the models. The ones to shoot for are the G, GS and GSN only? (those three are the best/same specifications right?) Anyone know?

I don't have an intention to get more than one rangefinder. Well I might pick out a soviet copy but beyond that I will probably pick out a folder.
>> Anonymous
None of the cameras you listed are truly 'excellent'. They'll get the job done, but are far from the real rangefinders like the Leica M series, Contax IIIa/IIa, Nikon S series, Minolta CLE, Voigtlander Bessa's, Contax G, etcetera.
If you're looking for a camera like you listed, take a look at the Voigtlander Vitessa, Kodak Retina 3C, Konica Auto S3/2 or the Yashica Electro 35 series (GSN, GX, CCN).
>> Anonymous
>>281150
Try to avoid the G and GS, and go for the GSN/GTN. The GX and CCN are on the same level, but it merely depends on what focal length you favor.
Also, ask yourself why you need a rangefinder. If you have an SLR, what's the point? The image quality won't be much higher if you're not going to get a top-tier rangefinder, and the stealth argument is overhyped, most people just think they are more stealthy thus they are, it's mostly a psychological thing.
>> Anonymous
>>281153
Why the Kodak IIIC out of all the retinas?
>> Anonymous
bump
>> SAGE
Minolta TC-1
>> SAGE
hexar AF
>> Anonymous
>>281154
no mirror slap means you can handhold at slower shutter speeds, good for low light work
>> Anonymous
>>281522
Not an RF, but still a very good camera.
>> Anonymous
>>281535


7/10
>> Anonymous
Yashica GSNs are rock solid, good to go.
>> Anonymous
>>281558

I've got a Yashica Electro 35 GSN myself and I love it. I highly recommend it.
>> Anonymous
>>281558

I don't agree. While the electro G series have great lenses, they are not rock solid. THe reliability is just now there. I have owned 6 of these cameras and they all have something wrong with them. I know it comes with the territry of old cameras but this is worse than normal.

The exposure system is clunky forcing you to shoot aperture priority without any real idea of the shutter speed. You have to depress the shutter everytime and all you get is a over or under arrow so you never know how much light you really have.

The himatics and canonets is where its at in terms of cheap kixed lens rangefinders.
>> SAGE
>>281542
you dont need manual focus with a wide angle lens.
>> Anonymous
i'm suprised no one's mentioned leica yet
>> Honest So You Dont Have To Be !9UISPtwBPo
>>281626

He wants something affordable, and appears not to be a moron,

why would they get brought up?
>> Anonymous
>>281608
http://www.cameraquest.com/konhex.htm.

Set it to a reasonable aperture, use the scale focusing thing menu to pre-focus or set it to the hyperfocal and all the problems of autofocus go away, too.

Supposedly Alex Majoli was a huge fan of these when he still shot film.

Also, I don't know why Gandy left this error up, the lens design is based on a 35/1.8 Nikkor lens, everyone just thinks the end result here looks just like that Summicron.
>> Anonymous
>>281140
The 7sII meter has apterture values
also a slightly wider lens.

and the yashicas are bigger than minoltas and canonets.

paying £60-£100 for a canonet is waaay too much. you can get one for about $50-$80. 7sIIs go for more than a 7s also.

I've got a 7sII. It's nice just wish it was aperture priority.
>> Anonymous
>>281535
Get an SLR with MLU, or just get a tripod if you're into night photography anyhow.

>>281608
2/10

>>281626
Reread the thread, they have been. Can't argue with OP being a moron either.
>> Anonymous
>>281736
>Get an SLR with MLU

Completely missing the point...
>> Anonymous
Recomending the Konica S2 or S3 if you want some automation.
A Hexar is absolutely excelent but its AF only unless you use scale focus. It's my first choice for street photos.
Also, it's about 5-600$, compared to 200 for an S3 or 100 for an S2
>> Anonymous
>>281744
Well then, tell me what point am I missing so completely?
>> Anonymous
Voigtlander Bessa R3A
>> Anonymous
OP here;

Thanks for the extra suggestions and helping me narrow my options /p/. Yeah I have looked at leica and the "real" high end as posted by someone on this thread. I am not a rangefinder user, maybe this convert me. But I don't have the skills to want to drop that kind of money right now. I should have added though that cost is not that big of a deal for me. For my first rangefinder though I think 500 is a reasonable budget.

The voigtlander bessa T and other voigt's are good for the price of the bodies but the lenses make the cost very high.

What do you guys think of the Yashica Lynx 14?
>> SAGE
>>281962
i cant see why you ruled out the hexar AF and minolta TC-1 both have epic lenses and are very capable, with excellent meteering. the minolta having a lot of character...
>> SAGE
>>281886
a used CLE would be quieter.
>> Anonymous
Op here;

I have not ruled them out.
>> Anonymous
I still haven't heard a good reason why you'd want to get a rangefinder.
>> Anonymous
>>282089
Isn't it obvious? I think the OP wants to buy a rangefinder and take pictures with it and try it out.
>> SAGE
>>282114
yeah but for what, street photography?