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Author Topic: El Cheapo Rangefinder  (Read 4353 times)

macgyver

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El Cheapo Rangefinder
« on: January 17, 2006, 11:55:28 pm »

I've been reading lots about rangefinders and whatnot and would really like to see what it's all about.  Any idea what my chances would be of finding a decent used rangefinder somewhere?  I've gone through ebay a little, but didnt see much of anything affordible.  Do affordible (used, remember) and rangefinder go together at all?

-mac
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giles

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« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2006, 03:13:01 am »

I've never used one, but you might be interested in looking at these sites:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/
http://www.cameraquest.com/

Cheers,

Giles
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Frere Jacques

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« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2006, 04:55:15 am »

Well...you could look for a FED or a Zorki -- Soviet Leica clones. They have their quirks, but are generally cheap & let you get accustomed to shooting a range-finder.

Good luck!
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Willowroot

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« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2006, 09:38:59 am »

Best way to get your feet wet with rangefinding is one of the many compact 35mm cameras from the 70's.  I have a Yashica Electro 35 G which I paid $17 for on ebay, and has a remarkably accurate meter and one of the nicest lenses I've ever owned   CameraQuest's articles should help you sort out which one appeals to you.
« Last Edit: January 19, 2006, 09:39:22 am by Willowroot »
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Jason Elias
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situgrrl

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« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2006, 12:51:56 pm »

I've a Canonet QL17 GIII.  Aside from one of the silliest names in history, the only problem I've had with it is the cops confiscating it.  I paid well over the odds because it had just been serviced (costs more than the camera in all cases).  The meter only works in shutter priority so I don't use it, preferring seat of the pants metering (well I can't afford a meter.)  Since when in my posession, it is fed a steady diet of Tri X, this a not really a problem.

The lens on it is a gem and once you've got the hang of it, they are very fast to use.  It's my favourite camera and one I imagine I'll never sell.  It takes 48mm filters, which are a PITA to find and I don't have a lens cap for it because I cannot find one anywhere.

I looked at a russian Leica III clone when it was confiscated but found it to be fiddly and slow to use, and loading film a nightmare.  If it's only an occasional camera though, then you can get everything from Luftwaffe repros to gaudy gold and pink ones on Ebay for peanuts.  Instead, I went for a Ricoh GR1 as I wanted a 28mm lens....my one complaint with the Canonet is that it isn't wide enough (40mm).  the Canonet is much faster to use though than modern electronica!

Look at an Olympus XA - what I was after when I bought the Ricoh.

macgyver

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« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2006, 02:30:08 pm »

Thank you all  for your help, such a big market to look through!

Situgrrl, if I am ask, why was your camera confiscated?
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DavidJ

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« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2006, 03:04:42 pm »

I have a Yashica GSN Electro which I have owned from new. It is a good camera with a fast lens which is pretty sharp. It only works in AE mode. Something to watch for if you are buying such a camera is battery availability. Generally specialist battery suppliers can supply your needs.
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David Allen

situgrrl

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« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2006, 08:24:05 pm »

I was at the G8 Summit taking pictures.  I left the ecocamp at 2am with a black bloc intending to blockade the M9 - a major supply road to the Glenneagles hotel where the summit was held.  I was arrested in Bannockburn at around 5.30 carrying my rangefinder and an Olympus E1.  Though I had none, they didn't bother to ask for identification.  I had stuck closely with a videojournalist who was also arrested.

I was held, abused and humiliated for 40 hrs before court and being bailed with impossible conditions imposed.  The cops still hold both of my cameras.  When I was interviewed, they brought my cameras in and I was forced to show them how they operated.  

Reviewing the pictures on the Olympus, frankly, most were out of focus, if anyone can offer tips on running in the rain, stopping, and trying to make the autofocus lock (manual on the camera is hopeless), please post them! And Olympus, move the af switch!

It contained pictures of naughty behaviour by both cops and demonstrators.  A report is being written before they will be returned.  The G8 was in July.  The report concentrates on a sequence of pictures of a Police van being smashed to pieces with a fence stake.  They haven't mentioned anything about the picture of the armourplated robocop hitting a retreating, unarmed demonstrator around the head with a nightstick.  I was too scared of the ones chasing me to stop and finish the sequence but it was pretty horrible to see.

The videographer had his tapes and camera returned, we watched them on the bus back from court.

The Olympus is on finance.  On and off I've made some money shooting (mainly) live bands, I bought the camera expecting to pay for it this way.  My old Canon film rig was stolen so I had nothing to sell.  I've eaten sh*t for months as a result.

Sorry, winge over.  The thread is about rangefinders though, and it's the Canonet I miss most.    I hope they messed up the development of the film though, I'd have chucked it if I'd remembered what was on there.
« Last Edit: January 21, 2006, 08:28:55 pm by situgrrl »
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macgyver

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« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2006, 09:28:47 pm »

Quote
I was at the G8 Summit taking pictures.  I left the ecocamp at 2am with a black bloc intending to blockade the M9 - a major supply road to the Glenneagles hotel where the summit was held.  I was arrested in Bannockburn at around 5.30 carrying my rangefinder and an Olympus E1.  Though I had none, they didn't bother to ask for identification.  I had stuck closely with a videojournalist who was also arrested.

I was held, abused and humiliated for 40 hrs before court and being bailed with impossible conditions imposed.  The cops still hold both of my cameras.  When I was interviewed, they brought my cameras in and I was forced to show them how they operated. 

Reviewing the pictures on the Olympus, frankly, most were out of focus, if anyone can offer tips on running in the rain, stopping, and trying to make the autofocus lock (manual on the camera is hopeless), please post them! And Olympus, move the af switch!

It contained pictures of naughty behaviour by both cops and demonstrators.  A report is being written before they will be returned.  The G8 was in July.  The report concentrates on a sequence of pictures of a Police van being smashed to pieces with a fence stake.  They haven't mentioned anything about the picture of the armourplated robocop hitting a retreating, unarmed demonstrator around the head with a nightstick.  I was too scared of the ones chasing me to stop and finish the sequence but it was pretty horrible to see.

The videographer had his tapes and camera returned, we watched them on the bus back from court.

The Olympus is on finance.  On and off I've made some money shooting (mainly) live bands, I bought the camera expecting to pay for it this way.  My old Canon film rig was stolen so I had nothing to sell.  I've eaten sh*t for months as a result.

Sorry, winge over.  The thread is about rangefinders though, and it's the Canonet I miss most.    I hope they messed up the development of the film though, I'd have chucked it if I'd remembered what was on there.
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Wow.  My life is dull.  (not really, but man...)
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