Rangefinder Suggestions

wibbly

wibbly

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I have a yearning for going back to a film camera, and quite fancy a Rangefinder camera, for a bit of fun, something I can pop in my camera bag and keep with me when I'm out and about with the rest of my kit really.

Do you guys have any recommendations you can make? I've had a quick peek on eBay and Yashica's seem pretty popular, but there's such a wide choice of models available!

I'm afraid I know little about film. I used to shoot a bit of it in the older days, but was never particularly good at it, so think it would be great to get hold of something such as an RF for a bit of fun and learning too but don't really want to spend a great deal on one just to test the water! :)
 
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What's your budget? Otherwise you'll get suggestions from £30 to £2000, and everything in between.
 
Haha... Well, I guess closer to £30 than £2000 :D

I suppose anywhere from £10.00 - £50.00 in real terms.

I've looked at the prices some of the RF's go for on eBay and in truth the issue is I'm unsure of what the real condition is of them. I could be buying a jewel, I could be buying a paperweight for all I know! :lol:

I'll save the really stupid questions like how do you change light seals or how to put a film in one for when I get one... :suspect:
 
I like the Yashicas. I have an Electro 35GT and an MG1. When they work they are very good, with excellent lenses. They suffer from what is over-dramatically known as "The Pad of Death" or in more sober terms a little rubber bumper inside rots and puts the auto selection of shutter speed right off. Thankfully mine don't do this. The 35GS, GT, GSN and GTN are all basically the same, S - means chrome, T signifies black, the 'N' means it has a hotshoe instead of a flash socket. The MG1 is a downmarket version with a 2.8 lens instead of a 1.7.

They are all big cameras though, equal in size and weight to my Canon A1
 
The Electro's are great value and the 1.7 lens is excellent, or if you wanted a smaller and cheaper RF have a look at either a Konica C35 or the Ricoh 500G or GX with f2.8 38mm and 40mm lenses respectively. They're both semi automatic rangefinders, cheap to pick up and produce very nice results. Have a look here 52cameras.co.uk
 
The Olympus 35RC is very good too. I bought mine in Hong Kong, back in the 70s, and used it for years. It was still working perfectly when I threw it away - with the matching flash unit - during a house move in 2009, because I didn't think I would ever use it again. Bit foolish/impetuous, and I sort of regret it now, but it's not a major issue. TBH, there really wasn't anything it could do that my digital compacts can't.
 
MartynK said:
The Olympus 35RC is very good too. I bought mine in Hong Kong, back in the 70s, and used it for years. It was still working perfectly when I threw it away - with the matching flash unit - during a house move in 2009, because I didn't think I would ever use it again. Bit foolish/impetuous, and I sort of regret it now, but it's not a major issue. TBH, there really wasn't anything it could do that my digital compacts can't.
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Another vote here for the Olympus 35RC. I'd recommend you read this and related pages: http://www.cameraquest.com/olyrc.htm as there's lots of useful info there.
 
I have a Ricoh 500G which is lovely and compact.
I might be interested in letting it go for very little money if interested, let me know and I can list it for Sale to keep mods happy.

I find it a real joy to use, the range patch is small and they are tricky in low light and the minimum it will focus to is about 1m.
 
Mr Bump said:
I have a Ricoh 500G which is lovely and compact.
I might be interested in letting it go for very little money if interested, let me know and I can list it for Sale to keep mods happy.

I find it a real joy to use, the range patch is small and they are tricky in low light and the minimum it will focus to is about 1m.
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Thanks :thumbs:

I've started a Wanted thread, for anyone interested in moving anything on :)
 
Posted some pics on your WTD
 
The Ricoh 500G/GX are good little rangefinders, punch well above their weight. As long as the seals have been sorted (like in the example Paul is selling), they are good to go.

I've just sold an Electro 35 on here - they are relatively large but handle extremely well, and the Yashinon lens renders colours beautifully. Lots of other good suggestions on here, although most of the Olympus rangefinders are now upwards of £60 and people tend to hold on to good copies!
 
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