A low priced, but excellent, rangefinder

Dear Leica users, I would certainly want to be like you, but I just

can't afford a real Leica. Therefore I'm looking for a good

rangefinder, the next best thing to a Leica, but a camera that I can

afford. Do you have any suggestions?

hi frank, a pristine yashica is a great camera

Per, its not a rangefinder but the next best thing to a Leica M is the Leica CM compact. The Summarit lens on it is almost equal to the 35/2 ASPH and its a great introduction to Leica. It may be costly for a point-and-shoot, but you will be amazed by the pictures its capable of. I put 100 rolls through mine before getting an M7.

Depending on your budget, a Leica / Leitz Minolta CL (people say it is not a Leica...) with the Summicron-C or Rokkor 40mm would bring you lots of fun (if you do not need an accurate meter). Otherwise, the Bessa series is also good.

Frank,

 

Go for the M4-2 in the 158 000 serial number range.

You don't want to be like us, honestly.

 

The next best thing depends on your budget. Leica M in user condition, Leica CL, Minolta

CLE, Bessa R-series, Hexar RF, and Zeiss Ikon for M-mount cameras. There are also many

fixed lens rangefinders, profiled on many sites like cameraquest.com.

You can get ELECTROfied with a GT. With the optional diesel driven hydraulic bed it goes just about anywhere an improved surface will take you.

"Per, its not a rangefinder but the next best thing to a Leica M is the Leica CM compact. The Summarit lens on it is almost equal to the 35/2 ASPH"<p>I do not agree with this, the summarit, although very good, cannot be compared to the 35/2 asph.<p>The only point & shoot that compares to a Leica M is the Hexar AF, whose 35/2 is slightly better than the 'cron 35 v4 pre-asph.<p>Otherwise Bessa R2A/R3A are a very good cheap introduction to RF, and may be later kept as a second body<p>Or, why not a second hand M2?

<p>If you want to be able to use interchangeable lenses then the next best thing to Leica M are either a Canon screw mount bodies, a Leica IIIc or IIIf, in addtion to the Bessa R.</p>

 

<p>The Bessa R has an advantage of being a newly minted camera, with a modern viewfinder and TTL light meter.</p>

 

<p>The Soviet Leica screw mount and Contax I copies are even less expensive. The problem here is finding one that has been recently clean, lubed and adjusted.</p>

 

<p><a href="http://www.geocities.com/fzorkis/" target=_blank>Soviet LTM Rangefinders Page</a></p>

 

<p><a href="http://www3.telus.net/public/kaylalyn/index.html" target=_blank>Kiev Web Page</a></p>

Francois, we all have our opinions and that is my feeling having used both. Erwin Puts himself has said that the Summarit on the Minilux (the CM uses the same lens but with improved coating) compares favourably against the 35/2 ASPH.

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/magazine/minilux.html

The only Leica I have left right now is a IIIa. They're great cameras but they are nothing compared to the M series cameras. You'll have a hard time finding something as sexy or as quiet as the Ms. However, some Canon models using the Leica screw mount are very good. Some people prefer them to Ms.

 

You can actually find more silent cameras but they will feature fixed lenses and leaf shutters. Old Yashicas, Olympuses and Canons are good examples of fixed-lens rangefinders.

 

Some M models (as stated above e.g. M4-2) are not that expensive. Leica lenses are quite costly but some CV (Cosina-Voigtlander) lenses are excellent value even when bought new. Try that route. Or even try using Voigtlander bodies. They aren't as quiet as the M cameras but they are good cameras in their own right.

It depends entirely on what your budget is and what you want to do with the camera. I

shoot fixed lens and FSU rangefinders for fun. I use Nikon SLRs for documenting my

research in Central America (I'm an anthropologist). For that work, I think only an M6, M7,

or MP would be appropriate from the world of rangefinders, simply because it's hot, dusty,

and hard on cameras. If you really want a Leica, get an earlier M or a thread-mount. If you

really want a built-in meter in an M mount, get a CL, CLE, Hexar, or Bessa. If by budget

you

mean less than 600 bucks for a camera and lens, it's either the Bessa R, one of the FSU

cameras, or a fixed-lens RF.

 

Good luck! Your at the first of many fun parts.

 

Gus

As mentioned on a reply above, we all have our opinions. I would suggest that you save some money, or go to a friendly bank, and look for a good used M2, M4 or M6 with a 50mm Elmar. As you get more money add a lens or two. This way you will have the Leica that you want and it will hold its value. You can also take excellent pictures with this outfit.

It would be difficult to find a better starter RF kit than a brand new Bessa R with 35mm f/2.5 lens, on sale for $399 US at www.cameraquest.com

 

The modern built-in metering, and the swing-back film loading make it an easy camera to adjust to. That lens is a very good one.

 

Gene

Franik get something made in Canada.

Perhaps you'd like something better than most Leicas? Canon P.

It seems that Frank G has had a lasting, silly effect. Per is looking for advice which is something that this forum used to be very good at giving. Per,the Bessa R is an excellent RF value for the money. You can always use the screwmount color skopar 35 on any Lieca LTM or, with an adapter, on an M. It's a nice lens. The M4-2 with a sn of 151xxx or higher might be a good deal. As Stephen Gandy at Camera Quest points out, the M6 is currently selling at a very favorable price. There are lots of them available, they don't have decementing issues and might not even need a CLA.

<p>Amazing that you joined today just to ask this, <s>Frank</s> Per.</p><p>If you want to be like me, you really must be nuts.</p><p>If you want a good rangefinder that works rather like a Leica and doesn't cost much, look for an old Fuji 6x9. Its negs will blow those of the Leica out, and away from the water, as the clichés put it.</p>

Peter, I sincerely do hope you won't get any <i>dork bars</i> with your *pristine* new toy.

Got a day pass Frank?

Frank, buy an old Fuji 69 for $600 and blast the socks off everthing Leicaesque. I bought my Fuji for $50 !

 

Cheers.

I am surprised that no one has mentioned it yet, but the Konica Auto S2 is an ideal way to get into rangefinders. Expected cost $30 to $80. It has the following advantages over or at least equal to Leica. Single very large and bright VF/RF with bright line display corrected for parallax. Accurate CdS light meter built into the lens barrel, so filters are automatically corrected for. Permits automated metering where you pick the shutter speed and camera selects aperture setting which is visible in the VF as well as on top of camera. In auto mode, cannot take photo with lens cap on. In absence of battery, full manual mode features are available with 45 mm f1.8 lens and shutter speed, B, 1 to 1/500. Lever wind film advance. Very easy to load film unlike most Leicas. Builtin lens hood. Self timer. Accessory clip (cold) and flash synch with all shutter speeds. Film rewind crank. Battery check button. Solidly and well built (same for Leica).

 

Leica advantages: smaller and sexier (subjective). Interchangeable lenses. Focal plane shutter with speed to 1/1000. Better quality lenses, although the Konica lens is reputedly based on the summicron design and is a great performer. Some Leica lenses are collapsible which makes for a smaller package. Ownership of Leica identies one as a man of distinction, a real big spender (as the song foes).

 

I own three Leica LTMs with 6 screwmount lenses, and a M3 is in the mail to me. I own 4 Auto S2's, including one which is still going strong after being purchased new in Vietnam for $35 in 1966. Another is even better conditon, and the other two I keep for parts, although they are repairable.

 

In terms of objective bang for the buck and convenience, the Auto S2 is the clear winner.

Per: If I were in your situation, I would purchase a 40mm Summicron-C with mint glass

and working mechanicals and then I would purchase a Bessa R3A and bayonet the lens on

to that camera, after which I would take pictures until I collapsed from exhaustion. Try it;

you'll like it.

When Frank comes out, anyone who took this at all seriously is going to feel like a complete fool. There has got to be something to the adage "There's one born every minute". And yeah, there's a psych study in there both for the troll and the guys who can't resist becoming victims even if they know better.

Konica Hexar w/ fixed 35mm f/2 lens. Totally awesome. $500-600.