What happened to rangefinder cameras after the 1950's?

<i>"Voigtländer was indeed founded in Vienna in 1756, but the firm moved to Braunschweig in Germany only few years later. What we later knew as Voigtländer cameras and lenses came from Germany."</i><br><br>And they probably moved back (!) to Germany because they were German, not Austrian.

<p>Thank you for the help. I have a few cameras to put on my radar now and if I am lucky one (or two) may turn up. The other forums look a mine of information too - I will have a read over the weekend. Who would have known that rangefinders had such a following still! I am pleased yet suprised about that.</p>

<p>Walt, around my area there are two types of camera store. The first type (like Jessops) is not really a camera store - more a 'imaging centre' where there are booths, digital goods and the like. Then there are the traditional stores. These are where I go for film and goods but since these shops have been run by the same family since the 30's or 40's the stock reflects that. One just has to choose what they have or do without. One shop has an area dedicated to plate cameras and yet sells no plates. Another will happily sell you a 620 camera and tell you of the good lens and they still think you can get film. None have any recent rangefinder cameras so that is why I ask. The Leicas I see for sale (around UK 100 Pounds) all have that film cassette that jams in the body and I look forward to the day that I see a newer model. In 15 years of looking I have not had any luck though.</p>

<p>I guess the new fuji folder is a rangefinder, it is hardly to be seen as a sign of life in the subspecies, being so very, very niche oriented (and expensive, and unavailable... although I understand it to be worth every penny).</p>

<p>I have been looking up those models you mentioned and all were new to me. They must have sold well enough to warrant replacement models being issued but how many sold compared to the 1950's I wonder?<br>

Also very few fold up. I wonder why - as that is a main benefit of such a camera I feel.<br>

The supposedly current Leica MP is shown as 'currently unavailable' too and the price of them - well I had to read it twice. It is probably justified in the quality of materials and hand-building ethic but I can say with some certainty that even on a good day none of my photos are good enough to be using a camera in that price bracket.</p>

<p>In the old days there were many rangefinders. There were 2 types of them. The first one is interchangable lens and in the high end of the scale. The second is the fixed lens inexpensive ones.<br>

The high end RF's have been largely replaced by the SLR's except for Leica and a few new comers like Zeiss. The lower end ones have been replaced by the AF P&S models. In recent years actually there are quite a few rangefinders available but they tend to be expensive because not many are sold.<br>

Now we're in the digital era so we can't expect to see many film cameras any more. But as far as digital rangefinders there are only the Leica M8 and M9 and the short lived Epson RD-1. The new Fuji X100 looks like a rangefinder but it's not a rangefinder.<br>

Rangefinders are not going to be popular the way I see it. I wish that they make a digital rangefinder with fixed lens similar to the Fuji X100 but a true rangefinder and no AF or EVF selling about half the price of the X100. But still I don't think there is sufficient market to make such a thing.</p>

<p>"The Leicas I see for sale (around UK 100 Pounds) all have that film cassette that jams in the body and I look forward to the day that I see a newer model."<br /> They should take the modern 135 as well, you only need to trim the leader or use some other workaround to load it. Kodak designed the 135 cassette for it's own Retina, but wisely made it also compatible with Leica.</p>

<p>There is an old Leica MP and a new one. That and the M7 may be the last film Leicas. The M8 and M9 are digital. Except for some pre WWII Leicas I think all of them have interchangeable lenses. It is hard to make a folder with interchangeable lenses. Because there is no mirror some of the lenses will partially collapse into the body.</p>

<p>Your original post asked what happened to rangefinders after the 1950's. You didn't ask "I want an affordable rangefinder" Whether you think any Leica is worth it or not is up to you. I have an old 1954 Leica IIIf and Cosina/Voigtlander Bessa R along with 5 screwmount lenses. If you want something affordable I would skip Leica. If you want something affordable, modern, and with interchangeable lenses I highly recommend the Cosina/Voigtlander cameras and lenses. If you want to learn about camera history then read up on Leica and Oskar Barnack who basically invented the 35mm STILL camera.</p>

You seem to have led a sheltered life, but here at CMC there is a virtual library of information on RFs be they old or modern. If you consider the folding 35s like the Retinas as the true torchbearers check out the 1950s "Contessa 35" and of course so much blah blah about Leica.. consider the one camera that gave it it's comeuppance; the prewar Contax II and postwar Contax IIa. Umm the "German" Voigtlaender was a noble contender and an early victim of the Asian onslaught. They are many folder type 35s like Retina. Check out Voigtlaender Perkeo, Vito, Vitessa. The name Voigtlaender now belongs to the Ring Foto Group and is being marketed by Cosina for modern Rfs with great affordable optics

<p>Thank you again. I am out of touch I can see - but easily rectified with some reading and effort.<br>

Walt - I am sure the Leica models are fully worth their price but my dabblings in photography perhaps do not warrant such a machine - almost the stuff of legend from what I have read.</p>

<p>IAN, The short answer to your question - the SLR happened. A wonderful innovation that brought a avalanche of new users. As the shooting got easier with each new improvement. The skill needed to take a photograph successfully went unused and unlearned by most "photographers". However, through hard times the worthy range finders continued to enjoy a small dedicated following . With the help of this forum and others photogs that tired of the AUTO buttons on most other cameras once more have begun to seek out the skills ,the old cameras, to achieve the old satisfaction of a skillfully produced photograph. Any way that's why I'm learning to use one. Canon P,Canon III, Canon II s2, Canon 7, Canon VI-T , and a Bessa R, all M-39 mounts</p>

<p>"I am sure the Leica models are fully worth their <a id="itxthook3" rel="nofollow" href="../classic-cameras-forum/00Yy9V?start=30">price</a> but my dabblings in photography perhaps do not warrant such a machine - almost the stuff of legend from what I have read."<br>

A classic Leica III body is about the same price as a beginner DSLR body.</p>

<p>Matt, Thats why I don't own a leica. They just(IMO)cost too much. The Canons fit the bill(ah-hmmm)for me. A soviet camera and lens can also be a lower cost way to go range findering.It's just that you MUST buy from a seller/dealer with a good rep, w/a money back warranty. Read a lot before you buy. There is always another deal Good luck! </p>

<p>You can buy a nice working Leica III, IIIa, or IIIc for around $300.</p>

<p>http://www.collectiblecameras.com/home.php?cat=410&sort=orderby&sort_direction=0&page=1</p>

<p> </p>

You can take a look around on eBay, you'll find an example of every camera mentioned in this thread. If you want an

interchangeable lens rangefinder, the newer Cosina Voigtlanders are very nice. If you want something which takes

good pictures, but is reasonably priced and easy to use, a Yashica GS, GSN, GT, or GTN will work, as will the old

Canonet QL17 cameras.

<p>Yes Jeff - eBay is a good source for older cameras and I will have to get back to using it I think (I stopped after getting some real junk items in 2006).</p>