Casual photophile rangefinder. A password reset link .

Casual photophile rangefinder Follow Casual Photophile on During a televised comedy special in the 1980s, a once-beloved comedian famously spoke the old witticism that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. The 50mm and 75mm lenses I used are perfect in their sharpness, contrast, and color reproduction. One of my fellow Casual Photophile writers once pointed out that I’ve chosen my preferred film cameras backwards – I use Nikon rangefinders and Leica SLRs. 8. Follow Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, bright viewfinder patch and a near perfect magnification of more than 90%. Hands On with the Prototype Mint InstantKon RF70 Instax Wide Rangefinder Camera Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. Leica’s premier lens designer Walter Mandler was churning out timeless classics seemingly at his leisure. It promises much, featuring a wide 90mm f/8 lens (35mm equivalent), a programmed auto-exposure mode, a multiple exposure mode, a long exposure (bulb) mode, built-in flash, exposure compensation, a selfie mirror, and a smattering of accessories including a combination lens Follow Casual Photophile on Youtube, I keep my M3 for rangefinder and for SLR Nikon the perfect matches, and NIkkor lenses work perfectly with Nikon digital cameras and from other brands !!! Reply. ) SLRs with interchangeable lenses are, by their nature, “do-anything” cameras. This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we produce. This little fixed lens rangefinder doesn’t care James reviews a beautiful, old-school rangefinder-focusing 35mm film camera from Olympus, the Olympus 35-S of 1955. Coming down from the Summer of Love in ’67 and heading straight for The Press lenses, though, were designed for a rangefinder system. ] James reviews the Graflex Graphic 35, a compact and affordable 35mm film rangefinder camera, the kind of camera for which this site was made. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and I seem to own a lot of rangefinders for someone who told James “I’m not a rangefinder guy,” when I signed on with Casual Photophile. It’s a manual-exposure camera with a mechanical shutter capable of continually variable speeds from 1/1000th of a second to a half-second (plus Bulb mode) with light meter assistance provided by a battery-powered through-the-lens CdS spot-metering cell. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our placed a (Voigtländer) VC Meter II in the hot shoe for a more integrated metering experience and I love it. read more James Tocchio Today, zone focusing is most useful to photographers who are using viewfinder or rangefinder cameras with manual focus lenses, but shooters using SLRs and modern machines can also benefit from this knowledge. Best Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, I strongly prefer having a split prism rangefinder and the ergonomics with the shutter button and the stop down lever on the front are really good (or perhaps I am just used to it). Using the older Leica CL as inspiration, Minolta created an amazing rangefinder camera that would be far smaller and technically superior to Leica’s machines for a very long time. Lovers of rangefinders will praise the focusing system as quick, and love the fact that they can anticipate the entrance of their subjects into the composition. To the right of the image window there’s an LED display showing “P” or “M” mode. The Canon P is A Beautiful, Functional To help the cash strapped photo geek of today, we’ve compiled a new list of five additional rangefinders that still offer an excellent shooting experience on a shoestring budget. SLR Cameras; Rangefinder Cameras; Point and Shoot Cameras; Instant Cameras; Medium Format Cameras; Digital Cameras; Mirrorless Digital Cameras; Toy Cameras Login to Casual This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we produce. It seems to mitigate three most prominent faults of the B: the lack of a focus aid (being a rangefinder), wonky meter (having a battery-powered one) and a low-quality lens. From the portability perspective, one can find a range of various folding cameras in 6×4. ] Share this post! Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new Forget the classic rangefinder from the 1970s. There’s no smaller lens in the Leica L mount, and even adapting any one of the traditionally tiny M-mount rangefinder lenses won’t provide a lower profile. A password reset Final Thoughts. It’s a beautiful machine in pristine condition, purchased at the peak of its abilities. The Leica CL, which I was reviewing for B&H Photo, a Leidolf Lordomat, which I was shooting for fun, In my Leica M2 review, I mentioned a certain lens, a Nikkor-H. Here's his review of this paradoxical SLR. This helps Casual James reviews a unique 35mm film rangefinder camera from Minolta, the Minolta V2, the fastest leaf shutter rangefinder camera of its era. ] Share this post! Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) For those just started on their road to rangefinder mastery, the Canonet is a great place to start. Yeah, Fuji has made some wild products. It’s less like a professional system camera and more like an ultimate quality point-and-shoot, but without any of that camera segment’s failings (fragility, slow lenses, bad The Zeiss Planar 50mm F/1. James Tocchio; 13; Camera Reviews; Film Cameras; Japanese Cameras and Lenses; Login to Casual Photophile. Most S2’s on the Bay with a normal lens in early 2019 are around 5, not cheap by any means, there are better deals, that is a good bit more than a The Olympus XA is a compact 35mm film rangefinder camera, and the best of the Olympus XA series of compact cameras. What makes the Watameter Super unique apart from any other auxiliary rangefinder is its macro ability. It’s a joy to shoot and is capable of some incredible images. Fujifilm Instax This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we produce. It’s a fantastic camera to have in your camera bag and it will have a place in mine until the day it falls apart. read more James Tocchio A split-image rangefinder equipped viewfinder allows for manual focusing as close as 10. . Absolutely. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and Aaron reviews the Plaubel Makina 67, a medium format rangefinder film camera with a beautiful, fixed Nikkor lens. And though that last sentence definitely irritated a fair number of Leicaphiles, it’s true. On the 100mm that’s good for about 1:10 reproduction, in my view the best choice for portraits. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, At least partially to Callum’s point- since Capa tended to shoot rangefinders when shooting 35mm, and that does make accurate focus at fast-apertures a little quicker than with an SLR. The Leica M5 is an interchangeable lens 35mm film rangefinder camera. Be a rangefinder. The Canonet line of fixed-lens rangefinders is perhaps the genre’s most famous line, if not certainly the longest-lived. It’s nicely made and competes easily with the fancy West-German cameras of its class and era. Female Photographers to Follow – get inspired by a monthly series focused on the beautiful and unique perspectives of female photographers. Many thanks for Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, (M9 Monochrom and M 262) and a Canon film rangefinder (VI-T), I’ve been without A split-image rangefinder equipped viewfinder allows for manual focusing as close as 10. 4, put the brand on the map as a first-class lens manufacturer, Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. 4 in C/Y mount is the quintessential fast fifty, and it comes with all the wonders and pitfalls that this well-trod ground brings. Great low-light performance, with bokeh, sharpness, and versatility in I was only a month into my re-introduction to film photography, and I already wanted another camera. Learning to Use a Rangefinder With the Canonet QL17 G-III. This allows the user to either scale focus at a glance, or for more precision, to look through the rangefinder window to the coupled split-image rangefinder patch. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of The name M3 signaled to the unwashed masses that the camera was a rangefinder (the German word for this is messucher) with three framelines Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. Its a superb travel camera for the simple fact that it takes four AAA batteries. I have a lot of experience buying, using, and selling cameras, and I Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. Get your own Canonet QL17 GIII on eBay here! CASUAL PHOTOPHILE is on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube Just as the F and the M defined the SLR and rangefinder genres respectively, the Trip 35 defined the point-and-shoot game. The first photo of the person has a poor double-image bokeh. By purchasing anything using The microprism and split-image rangefinder focus assist makes using the manual focus only FD lenses an incredibly simple task. But these are seriously expensive machines and are [] Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, The design and engineering are outstanding that it is an SLR in a Rangefinder package is great, and allows for perfect manual exposure and the real coup, manual SLR focusing. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, or a later Konica rangefinder like the Auto S1. ] Share this post! Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) That “new” M6 is not an M6. Fujifilm Instax; Fujifilm X Series This helps Casual Photophile produce the Specifications of the Epson R-D1. I am, it turns out, an idiot. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at It’s styled like a rangefinder but it’s a fixed 38mm f/2. Their compact dimensions, excellent lenses, and modern meters make them extremely desirable pieces of equipment. read more Build Quality and Ergonomics . That’s what I packed for a recent week away. The Prominent is a rangefinder model so it has always focused just fine. Olympus engineers aimed to better the already well-received Olympus 35 SP and replace it with It’s an M mount rangefinder camera, like the famous Leica M. This should explain everything. Though slightly awkward visually, that added height moves the small rangefinder window far enough from the The Leica Digilux 1 is a digital point-and-shoot camera made in 2002 which says “Leica” on it in no less than seven places! read more CASUAL PHOTOPHILE is on which could be a sore spot for someone used to smaller rangefinders or a more compact SLR. ly/98T050yBVOk The smallest M mount rangefinder camera is one of the best. In fact, the US Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, Only time I actually had to worry on my 7D is when I was fooling around trying Best Collector’s Camera – SP 2005 w/ W-Nikkor C 3. I will keep my Canon and Yashica rangefinders instead. 7 x 15. ” When Leica discovered that Olympus had made a better camera than their identically-named and vastly inferior M-1 rangefinder, the boys from Wetzlar had a tantrum and “requested” the name be changed. 6), the high quality optics and deep depth of field enable similarly excellent results. By purchasing anything They were making medium format rangefinder cameras well into the 2000s. When the images within the rangefinder window align, the subject is in focus. It’s a Leica MP with a Leica M6 skin. ] Q1: What do you think about the retro styling of the Nikon ZF? – Daler Fergani Is there any good reason to get a rangefinder camera if I already have a bunch of SLRs? – _soeik. Aaron Stennett; 24; 120 Film; Camera Reviews; Film Cameras; German Cameras; Login to Casual Photophile. Minolta MD 28mm f/2. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our Some of the best photographers in the world swear by the rangefinder. Camera Type: Rangefinder mirror-less camera Sensor: 6 megapixel APS-C CCD (23. The huge increase in price made the decision to stick with the 1035 easy. ] Second, there are no focusing aids. ly/LMUq50yBUZc A classic camera shop specializing in cameras and lenses, film, collectible cameras, medium format, 35mm, and some digital. An advanced automatic exposure system is capable of shutter speeds ranging from 1/175 of a second to more Great list. I would have been tempted to sneak in a Contax on to it. 4 inches (26. 8 lens and it’s a zone focusing camera with four zones conveniently marked on the lens. I had been shooting a Minolta Hi-Matic 7s, a perfectly lovely 1960s Japanese fixed lens rangefinder that allowed me to For many photo-enthusiasts, the name Mamiya will evoke a long line of highly respected medium format cameras which for decades were the workhorse of professional photographers. However, during the 1960s and The Summicron V3 was manufactured from 1969-1979, a time Leica would probably like to either redo or forget entirely. Login Lost Password? Reset Password. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. See it here http://ow. Same brass built, same rangefinder, same viewfinder, same Going back to as recently as 2014, when I launched Casual Photophile and opened my camera shop, prices for some Leica M models have tripled. So I whipped up this list of obscure rangefinders that need more love. 8 in use. Cameras featured greater automation, ease of use, and affordable quality. These cameras were incredibly well-built and well-designed, and most notably showcased the prowess of Nippon Kogaku’s optics. Rangefinders, by definition, use a rangefinder viewfinder without any sort of The two viewing finders constitute the machine’s separate rangefinder and viewfinder, an archaic feature that makes sense considering the camera’s advanced age. The first Canonet was introduced in 1961 as an easy-to-use, high quality camera for t James reviews a beautiful, old-school rangefinder-focusing 35mm film camera from Olympus, the Olympus 35-S of 1955. The viewfinder is massive and bright, and the rangefinder patch has more contrast than any I’ve ever used before. It’s not a “professional” grade camera, but does that really matter in 2018? Certainly it was Minolta’s flagship camera until it spearheaded the autofocus revolution in the eighties. Clayton D'Arnault. Not only is it the greatest expression of Nikon’s dogged perfectionism of the 1980s and perhaps the most influential camera of its generation, it’s also one of the easiest, most purely fun Follow Casual Photophile on Youtube, Five Best Affordable Rangefinder Cameras. 2. My 28mm rangefinder lens is the Voigtländer Ultron 28mm f/1. 8 Soviet Rangefinder Lens Review Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. Rollei 35 SE – Camera Review. It is the successor to the famous Leica M3 used by Henri Cartier-Bresson, among others. 9 is pretty close to perfect. I’ll have to The Contax G2 is like no other rangefinder on Earth. Three years later, in 1998, the project was relaunched. I have had many 120 folders with no rangefinder It was soon decided that of the major rangefinders the brand had created (Nikon’s S, S2, SP, and S3) a recreation of the Nikon S3 of 1958 would provide the best product, and though development began quickly, an economic downturn soon halted progress. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may receive a Great review Drew. The previous decade stripped Leica of the unofficial “Best Camera Manufacturer” title and gave it instead to Nikon. The 28mm frame-lines are slightly too far out for me, but for those with It was 1975 when Olympus made the call to launch their final Hail Mary in the competitive 40mm fixed-lens rangefinder game. People complain to me every day that film cameras (especially those suited for beginners) have become too expensive. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our Build Quality. Next. 50mm (or its full-frame equivalent) is my favorite focal length, but 28mm is not far behind. But you needn’t spend a ton of money doing so. But unlike the Leica M, it’s small and light. Five Favorite In his review of the G2 last year, Casual Photophile founder James called this interchangeable-lens autofocus rangefinder “a camera in a class of its own. Clayton d'Arnault is a Florida-grown writer-editor with a newfound love for photography, digital and analog. ” Some might be wont to suggest the Konica Hexar AF as a companion Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, The rangefinders were already pretty well-represented, autofocus and manual, by And first up, we have a classic rangefinder lens, the Jupiter-12 35mm f/2. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo know what I mean. We can assume that most will place the Germans at the top, the Japanese at the bottom, and there may be Where the Instant Wide looks objectively attractive is when viewed at a technical level. At just 80 grams (2. Yoshihisa Maitani’s maverick team of designers and engineers were up to their old tricks of changing the camera game forever. Enjoying a well-known city or exploring an unfamiliar one, shooting with friends or experiencing the paradoxical This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we produce. The viewfinder and rangefinder window are just a bit too small for easy use, especially for those of us with glasses. At the head of this surge was Canon, a Fuji’s medium format rangefinders weigh about the same or less than the Pentax 67 and we can get 6 X 9 images out of those. Casual Photophile may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. The last, and greatest, iteration of these The desire to jump into medium format photography is usually accompanied by visions of Hasselblads, Rolleiflexes, and the Contax 645. James April 17, 2016 at 10:12 pm. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may The rangefinder patch is also bright and easy to use, and the . Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and The Plaubel Makina 67 is a rangefinder camera. The shutter is made out of titanium honeycomb and was stress-tested up to 150,000 exposures, something that far surpassed any camera design at the time. Reply. C. 5 & 100mm 4. 5, 6×6, and stunning 6×9 starting from cost effective ($20-$50) triplet-lens based models with guess focusing to more robust Tessar Brass Tacks – What’s an M5. And landscape shooters who are comfortable with massive view cameras and large-format Author’s note: The Leica M2 is an interchangeable lens rangefinder introduced in 1957 by German optical powerhouse Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH. 9. read more Eric Charles Jones The Leica Digilux 1 is a digital point-and-shoot camera made in 2002 which says “Leica” on it in no less than seven places! read more Shooting the Nikonos V. With that said, I recently purchased a second Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. Its rangefinder works well, its controls are laid out intelligently, and it’s easy to use (so long as we’re comfortable using a fully manual camera with zero user aids). Canon 50mm 1. When shooting with the wider lenses (particularly the 30/5. And the top and bottom plates are made of some of the thickest brass we’ve seen in a Japanese camera. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may receive a small commission at no additional Three film cameras; ten rolls of film. A better 35mm rangefinder than any FED or Zorki, the Kiev Ask ten photo-geeks to make a list of their favorite rangefinders and you’ll likely find ten pretty varied lists. Whenever I look over at the shelf and my Nikon FA which sits there, I can’t help but feel a little sad. With the name being licemsed to Kyocera they were technically Japanese and made some stellar and often very innovative (looking at the in-camera autofocus by moving the film plane in the ax and then the vacuum plate in the rtsiii to ensure absolute film flatness) cameras, but their biggest strength RANGEFINDER – There are two viewing windows on the back upper right of the camera. By the end of the week, the Contax had claimed seven of those ten rolls of film and solidified its place in Hamish Gill of 35mmc steps out of his rangefinder comfort zone and shoots the Leica R6. Mamiya’s final medium format rangefinders, the 6 and the 7, have long been favorites among hip photo geeks. That either means that you’ll love it or hate it. By purchasing anything using these links Film cameras, digital cameras and photography, lens reviews, tips and techniques, photographer profiles, reviews, retrospectives, and more. Follow Casual Photophile on Youtube, A Legend in a Small Package. To the left is the rangefinder and to the right is a simple Galilean viewfinder. 5cm f/1. By System. The camera benefits from a fairly excellent viewfinder, offering 97% of the actual photo field and a split-image focus dot. A password reset link will Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, 35 mm 3. Many thanks for your support. The advantage of rangefinder cameras lies in using a limited number of lenses to take specific types of Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, The first films with a rangefinder were hard, even taking shots with the lens Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. For budget-conscious photographers who are looking for a manual rangefinder of impeccable quality, the Petri F1. The retail side of Casual Photophile. 4 cm). The lens sparked a mini-revolt in the comments section, with its detractors crying “Heathen!” at my mounting of a non-Leica This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we produce. James Tocchio July 28, 2019 at 6:44 pm. In 1965, SLRs were growing in popularity, but their dominance was not yet complete. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H the coupled rangefinder accurate, and the camera was built like a tank. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may The Konica C35 FD debuted in Japan in 1973 and was targeted at casual shooters who wanted a convenient and compact rangefinder capable of making outstanding images, but also wanted a camera which wouldn’t blow a The last time I went out with a group of Boston-area film photography friends, I brought a few cameras. But the Canonet is not a poor man’s Leica. In April, Olympus released their newest creation, the Olympus 35 SP. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Editorial discretion at Casual Photophile dictates that we don’t write about every camera ever made, and the cameras that we do write about don’t necessarily need to be “the best. This camera was produced in 1966, and is one of the first electronically controlled rangefinder cameras. Even with cameras packed with additional features, like the X-700 and X-570, Minolta still listed the XD as its top dog. medium format, 35mm, and some digital. The Canon P is a poor man’s Leica just as the Zorki is the poor comrade’s Leica. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, – Kiev 4. A password reset link This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we produce. But you do pay, the EE The system has a corresponding dial atop the lens mount which shows the focusing range precisely. This is a camera for casual, leisurely shooting. A password reset link One of the cheapest 35mm film SLRs you can buy today gets the review treatment. 8 have better bokeh. Leica comparisons are tiring, and indeed virtually every rangefinder is hampered by this rhetoric. In addition to his work here, he’s Featured Photophile – we shine a spotlight on amateur photographers whose work we love. read more. But it’s a very simple camera. Beyond the incredibly compact size, Their M rangefinder system, specifically, has been the camera to own for over fifty years due to its timeless combination of optical fidelity, Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this The rangefinder reminds me of my friends and coworkers, and how lucky I am. He’s spent years researching, collecting, and shooting classic and collectible cameras. This new CL is nothing like the old CL. The 139Q was actually my first Contax, but it was the 1/4000 top speed that drew me to the 167MT. Traditionally, manual-focus compact cameras were rangefinders, where a second window on the faceplate projected a double image of the subject in a small patch in the center of the Focus can be stiff, especially in the cold, as lubrication begins to harden. By Rangefinders don’t have a mirror, which, in turn, results in a smaller flange-to-film distance, quieter shooting, and steadier shooting. Take that, fanboys. I chose a Nikon SP 2005 as my “heirloom camera” in part because of its rarity, and one of the reasons I love the Contax G2 is because it’s a concise system that’s easy to collect to completion. The Olympus 35-S is a beautiful camera. Sample shots and details here. It was simple; rangefinders were out and SLRs were in, which spelled certain doom for rangefinder-centric Leica. The rangefinder is also carried over from the 6×9 model, aside from frame-lines, meaning the rangefinder has ample room on either side of the frame for photographers to line up their shots. Here we have an all-metal, fully mechanical, interchangeable lens rangefinder camera with bright-line frame lines for three focal lengths, parallax correction, and a sophisticated leaf shutter. Among these cameras was the Contax T, an unbelievably compact 35mm film rangefinder that somehow marries luxurious excess to simple practicality and impressive performance. Want your own Petri F1. We’ve overlooked the Canon Canonet (a quality, affordable rangefinder) for something a little less common, the Yashica Electro 35. The Leitz Tele-Elmar 135mm f/4 is a lens from the tail-end of the rangefinder’s golden age. We tell you what to look for when buying in our review - http://ow. The rangefinder assembly is tall, with a large finder window and a matching illumination window. I’ve been writing about cameras for ten years, shooting a different model every week, and have sold tens of thousands of film cameras through my shop during this same period. More impressive still, the Trip 35 actually outsold the Nikon F and the Leica M2 by millions. And while rangefinders are typically precision machines often accompanied by high price tags, the most I’ll stand to lose if this camera breaks is $500. A Fuji 690 rangefinder forces you to think, plan and execute with calm, but far from being slow and boring, it’s Even with the rangefinder, you’ll miss a handful of shots in a roll, and shooting any kind of fast-moving subject is strictly out of the question. It could be said that this makes the The problem, for me, is that Leica M cameras are rangefinder cameras and I don’t like using rangefinder cameras. 4 and 1. 5 millimeters it’s simply tiny. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. I started to use this when I was a teenager and still have it. Unique to the OM-2, the viewfinder features dynamic indicators for exposure; when in manual mode the viewfinder displays an exposure index, in aperture priority mode it displays a shutter speed indicator, and it displays a small emblem to Follow Casual Photophile on Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. Follow Casual Photophile on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our . This is obviously subjective, but to my eyes, 28mm is a nice balance – wide enough to look interesting but not so wide that perspective distortion becomes the defining feature of an image. Voigtländer introduced it at Photokina 2000, and at the time, it was the fastest production 28mm lens ever made for any rangefinder mount, surpassed in 2014 by the Leica Summilux 28mm f/1. 5cm f/2 in Leica Thread Mount. As such, the closest focus you get is about 1 meter. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may receive a Featured Photophile; Female Photographers to Follow; Film Profiles; Five Favorite Photos; Opinion; The Essentials; Top Fives; Travels with Camera; Video; Cameras. Today, the Minolta XD is available in mint condition for a few Aaron reviews the Plaubel Makina 67, a medium format rangefinder film camera with a beautiful, fixed Nikkor lens. Drew reviews the Here we have an all-metal, fully mechanical, interchangeable lens rangefinder camera with bright-line frame lines for three focal lengths, parallax correction, and a I got tired of seeing the same old Leicas and Canonets. ] Share this post! Click to share on Facebook (Opens The retail side of Casual Photophile. I will pass on this half It’s a perfect camera for anybody looking for a versatile backup camera to compliment their existing SLR or rangefinder setup. 5. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates Nikon’s previous lenses for its rangefinder system, the 5cm f/2 and 5cm f/1. James Tocchio. And that’s understandable – the first has pedigree, the second has cool factor, and the third seems to be all that film labs share on social media. In fact, its technological ethos employs certain tricks that are outright heresy to diehard fans of the classic rangefinder; it runs on batteries, its manual read more The Collector Angle. 72x magnification makes it easy to see the 35mm frame-lines while wearing glasses, as I do. Before Nikon’s rise to international fame with the Nikon F SLR, the company cut their teeth making rangefinder cameras throughout the 1950’s. An advanced automatic exposure system is capable of shutter speeds ranging from 1/175 of a second to more than 10 seconds, and this exposure may be manually adjusted via an exposure compensation wheel on the front of the camera, putting The rangefinder in the TX-1 is quite accurate, and you can nail focus even with the long 90/4 lens quite consistently. Even the once-considered-lowly Leica M4-P and M4-2 each now cost over $1,000 on average (I used to buy these for $399). While other rangefinders can measure as close as 50cm or 32 inches the Super can measure from 50cm down to 30cm (20” down to 12”). The Agfa Ambi Silette has both of these traits; it’s a rare camera (more so in the The rangefinder was a welcome addition in the FED-2, even if the viewfinder still left much to be desired. It IS bigger, though. Come with me on a loosely-historically-accurate trip, dear readers. 8 ounces) this lens is astonishingly light, and with a length of 20. resolution 3008 x 2000 Lens Mount: Leica M ISO: 200, 400, 800, 1600 LCD Rangefinder focusing is loved by many photo geeks, and for those shooters this camera will be the ideal medium-format machine. Of Nikon’s many collectible cameras, none are more collectible than the company’s rangefinder cameras. Winding and rewinding the film occurs via the knobs This method of rangefinder measurement is very common and works exactly like other rangefinders. ] Share this post! Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) a But recently Casual Photophile site founder James sent me a different type of machine, and for the past few months I’ve been shooting the Walter Voss Diax IIa, an obscure, hard-to-use, and just-okay-looking old Photophiles in the 1980s had it good. Zeiss Ikon’s classic folding 6X9 cameras are pocket-sized by comparison (I used one of these for a full day at Disney World without any inconvenience). With a suite of Zeiss lenses, of course. One of the most affordable interchangeable lens rangefinders, and more modern than the screwmount Leicas that take the same lenses. I happen to be a Nikon shooter and occasional collector, so you won’t get any argument from me. ” That’s right, no rangefinder, no micro prism focusing dot; this is a viewfinder camera through and through. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, I agree, the rangefinder on the 1535 looked like it made the camera significantly bulkier, like it had a big nose or something. The exceptional photos are almost a bonus. I like the simplicity of the rangefinder experience, the compact Rangefinder – The only minor inferiority of my camera versus the Solida IIIe is that the rangefinder is uncoupled, which means that when you use the rangefinder it gives a distance reading on the round dial on top, which must then be used to set the distance on the front of the lens manually. 6 or the SE, the S3 would be too That being said, I think I would go with the Zeiss Ikon ZM 35mm rangefinder. Eric reviews the Konica C35 FD (known in export markets as the Konica Auto S3), a compact rangefinder film camera with a legendary lens. Will a new film camera user buy into it? Thanks for the thoughtful review. Login to Casual Photophile. Leica has always hung their hats on their legendary Leica M series rangefinder cameras, and their SLRs are more-or-less seen by many as amusing sideshows. And the Fuji GW690 is the Texas Leica (admittedly, I like that one). The most notable of these early efforts was the Contax-inspired Nikon S-series rangefinders. It was last serviced in 1979. I really appreciate cameras that have some sort of collectibility. If you have an article idea that you’d like to publish on Casual Street photography, both easily accessible and frustratingly fickle, is one of those wonderful artistic pursuits that can be entirely rewarding even if mastery eludes you. Photographer Interviews – in-depth discussions with professional and established photogs doing great work. ] Share this post! Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) I’d like to end with one snippet for anyone contemplating a rangefinder equipped 5×4 technical camera, especially MPP’s and Being a casual photophile, I wanted to document this momentous occasion for myself, despite already paying for a professional wedding photographer. Follow The Nikon F made rangefinders obsolete, and its impeccable design and construction had buyers questioning why Zeiss’ machines were so expensive. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H I remember Alpa’s advertising from the 70’s and have held a few over the years but never owned one as I enjoy Leica rangefinders to reflex cameras generally. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. ] [The product reviewed was supplied for review purposes by this camera doesn’t work for me. 9? Buy it on eBay Buy it on Amazon Buy it from our own F Stop Cameras Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram Being a rangefinder, it isn’t weighed down by things like mirrors and pentaprisms, the absence of which improves an already sharp lens. Clichés be damned, street shooting is truly about the journey and not the destination. Be a quality camera with great lenses. Version history. 6 mm); Max. This camera is thoroughly modern. James Tocchio is a writer and photographer, and the founder of Casual Photophile. When he This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we produce. It is an LTM lens, so I use it on my camera – a Leica M3 – with an adaptor. Find an affordable rangefinder film camera on our own F Stop Cameras Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram [Some of the links in this article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. The year was 1969. The ease-of-use that accompanies shooting the Nikonos V may surprise some people, given that it’s such a specialized, purpose-built machine. 4 (a bargain at $7,250). ] Share this post! Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to Industar 61 L/D 55mm F/2. Enter the username or e-mail you used in your profile. The camera industry was surging forward on a wave of prosperity.