Someone using rangefinder cameras?

[malevy]

I have been using Leica's for years and would never change - just started using a few voigtlander cameras they seem like they are pretty nice and very affordable..

Has anyone tried the digilux 3 yet ?

[cyclohexane]

I used a Leica M3 with a couple of Leitz lenses (and one Nikkor) for a few months last year. It was very different from shooting an SLR, but the lack of noise was fabulous. Not sure if I'd buy one for myself, as I already have two film SLRs, but who knows...

As for digitizing film, I really haven't gotten on that yet. I'm still printing in the darkroom, lol.

[Frumious Boojum]

I have a couple of classic rangefinders. One is an Argus that I recently found in nice condition in an antique shop. I've yet to shoot anything with it.

The other is a Stereo Realist, which was a bit flawed when I got it, but now working well. It's one of my main cameras now.

[Screamin Scott]

I've got a Konica Auto S2,a Minolta 7s,a Yashica Gs & an old Canon Canonet...The Konica is my favorite followed by the Minolta...I had to re-do the light seals on all of them & I use Wein Zinc Air cells for the meters

[Confusion Circle]

I have a Leica M6 titanium with a titanium 35mm f1.4 Summilux & a 90mm f2.8 Elmarit. I use mainly B&W film in it for street photography. I absolutey love it.

[malkav42]

Here's a list of my RF cameras:

2 Early 70'sCanon Canonet 28 Rangefinder Cameras.
Mid 60's Canon Canonet QL17 Rangefinder Camera.
Early 70's Canon Canonet QL17 G-III Rangefinder Camera.
Early 70's Canon Canonet QL17L Rangefinder Camera.
Mid 60's Canon Canonet QL19 Rangefinder Camera.
2 Mid 60's Canon Canonet QL25 Rangefinder Cameras.
2 Early 70's Yashica Electro 35 GSN Rangefinder Cameras.
1960 Argus C3 Matchmatic Rangefinder Camera.
1950 Argus C3 Rangefinder Camera.
1955 Argus C3 Rangefinder Camera.
1959 Argus C3 Standard Rangefinder Camera.
1955 Argus C4 Rangefinder Camera.

All of them work too.
Edward

[MrDave]

I have a Konica Auto S2 which I picked up on ebay several years ago. It is rather a larger 35mm film camera which I find helps with holding it steady at slower shutter speeds. The shooting lens is a fast 43mm f/1.8 with a quiet leaf shutter built into it. Auto exposure is shutter priority. Focusing is by a lever at the base of the lens which I can adjust more quickly using a single finger than I can turning focusing barrels on typical SLRs.

I usually shoot black and white film in it. The lens is very sharp. Pictures can be taken even without a battery by manually setting both shutter and aperture. You won't mind taking this camera with you where you might hesitate to take a much more expensive one.

I've printed my own black and white prints from this camera up to 16 x 20 inches (40 x 50 cm). I've been looking at the Epson 4990 scanner to scan my film to digital files which I can then send out to labs for printing.

MrDave

[Kiron Kid]

I have & use numerous Rangefinders, and love them.

Kiron Kid

[Bunyip]

I have only recently taken up photography after a long absence (due to work, kids, etc).
I'm only in the minor league, but I have a Minolta HiMatic 7s and a Ricoh 300.
The 7s has an on board Cadmium Sulphide through the lens lightmeter which permits either fully auto or fully manual operation. The readings are in EV units.
The 300 is fully manual only and needs a hand-held meter (I have a Weston-Master V). Both lightmeters give good exposure, when used with a simplified "Zone System" approach.

I got both cameras at garage sales. They both give excellent pictures. I also have some slrs (Asahi Pentax SP(F), Pentax MZ50, Canon EOS 630, and a Canon EOS 50. The rangefinders produce a better image resolution than any of the slrs.

Especially when using the Ricoh 300, there is the feeling of flying by the seat of your pants, and the excitement of getting your "snap" exposed, before the clouds get in front of the sun (or vice-versa)

[Bunyip]

Where are all the RF users? Died out, or what?
Is anybody out there?

[blumesan]

Originally Posted by Bunyip

The rangefinders produce a better image resolution than any of the slrs.

I hold a very warm spot in my heart for rangefinder cameras, having used them exclusively for the first 30 odd years of my photography. However, image resolution is much more dependent on the lens than upon the focussing mechanics. Moreover rangefinders are much more susceptible to misalignment (and thus poor focus) than are slr's.

Cheers/Mike

[Bunyip]

There's a poster (chuxter) on DPreview who claims that short back focus lenses, such as in RF cameras, produce superior resolution -by virtue of their design- than long back focus lenses, such as are found in SLRs, and this applies both to film and to digital alike.

[blumesan]

Originally Posted by Bunyip

There's a poster (chuxter) on DPreview who claims that short back focus lenses, such as in RF cameras, produce superior resolution -by virtue of their design- than long back focus lenses, such as are found in SLRs, and this applies both to film and to digital alike.

It's broad generalizations like this that produce such interesting "conversations" on DPreview.

[SecondFocus]

Contax G1 here which I truly like. You can find a few photos from it on my website in the "Not The Same" gallery and some details here and there on my blog.

SecondFocus

It is my preferred 'go everywhere' camera.

[Thunderhawk]

When I was a little boy (had to be younger than 11 because I have baby pic`s of my brother and he is 11 years younger) I was gifted with a Agfa range finder. Had it right up till I was 18 and got my first SLR. I have no idea what ever happened to it. Wish I still had it

[blumesan]

Originally Posted by Thunderhawk

When I was a little boy (had to be younger than 11 because I have baby pic`s of my brother and he is 11 years younger)

My math says you had to be at least 11 years old or older.

Too bad you lost the camera. Those old relics are always fun to revisit.

[Thunderhawk]

Originally Posted by blumesan

My math says you had to be at least 11 years old or older.

Too bad you lost the camera. Those old relics are always fun to revisit.

The sad thing is that I have no idea what happened to it. I got my first SLR and I lost track of it. I`m thinking I was around 9-10 when someone gave it to me.

A lot of the things that I had as a kid just went *poof*.

[GaryMc]

I've been using my QL17 GIII and Konica III more than my slr and dslr lately.Its nice not carrying all that weight around and people looking at you like you are doing something wrong when you wheel out the big guns.Maybe its just me.

[richlion]

Have the Leica M3 I bought new at the Wiesbaden PX a long time ago (about $250)...have the Leica lenses bought at the same time: 35mm, 50mm, 135mm...stll shooting...mostly black and white. It was, and still is, a very special camera.

Richard M, NYC

[xxloverxx]

I have a RF that i use occasionally (mostly just take it everywhere for snapshots, but I don't have a lot of snapshots…). A Ricoh 500G