petrovski Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 I have been into photography for about 1.5 years now, and for the past year i have been using a Canon FTB-N - which I love. I have a F2.8 28mm and F1.8 50mm lenses. I love the setup but want something new. So, I am looking into either, a: a new lens for my FTB (possible a 17mm) b: a new SLR (possibly Nikon? FM2a?) with a nice lens c: a rangefinder Now, the rangefinder tickles my fancy because it is smaller and lighter than slr and, as far as Ive heard and read, it is quiter (good for street photography). Id like to get one, but my budget is around 150. For $150, what would you get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Hi, I have also been into photography for about 1.5 years now. I sold my Nikon F4s and 35-70 2.8 and I bought some cheaper stuff. I got a mamiya NC 1000s 35mm slr with 28mm and 50mm lenses, for $40. Then I got a Mamiya DTL1000 with a 50mm and a 400mm lens, for $80. Then I bought a mint Rolleicord 4 with extras, and a free book on medium format, for $180. I also use a Fuji g690bl rangefinder, now I want the other lenses. You can probably get a decent Mamiya c3 which has interchangable lenses for $150. A TLR is bigger than a rangefiner but it will give a negative 4 times the size. If it were me, I would find a good Yashica Lynx, lens is very fast. As far as $150 35mm rangefinders go, here is a link to get started. http://www.cameraquest.com/rfbuy.htm Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 I'd buy this : YASHICA - IC - LYNX 14E - 1:1.4 F=45mm INCLUDES ORIGINAL LEATHER CASE. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=67380&item=7524443538&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h._p. Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 I think you'll find that the 17mm will give you more pleasure over the long term. The FTb is a very nice piece of equipment and, having used both the FM2n and the FTb, I don't think you'd find a great deal of difference. Most rangefinder cameras will seem like a step back after the FTb. If you really want to go the rangefinder route, consider sticking with Canon models, their finders seem to me to be much better than those on the rest of the leaf-shuttered rangefinder cameras.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Hi, how much does a 17mm lens for the Canon FTB-N cost? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_appel Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Try a rangefinder.Tools have a real impact on how one works, sees, and creates. Blow out your creative cobwebs with something differant and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrypittman Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 If you have both the 28mm & the 50mm that is a nice combination. The 17mm may be to extreme. Of course this depends on your subject matter. I would not get a Nikon body, why? the one you have is nice. If you love the slr, I would stick with that for now since you are starting out, the rangefinder definitely has a learning curve. For that budget I might recommend a second Canon body or a nice Canon portrait lens in the 105-120mm range. Now you would be ready for any adventure, including having an extra body if one dies to using b&w with one and loading color with the other camera. Good-luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_gage Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 I'd say buy a Canonet for about $30 and see how you like rangefinders. It can be tough to find one that still meters properly; but you can put them in manual and just guess exposure or use a handheld meter (they're cheaper when you buy them that way). It's a very good rangefinder with a good viewfinder...and they're cheap. This would be a good way to find out if you liked using rangefinders or not. If you liked it and decided you wanted something else then you can spend the bucks to upgrade. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_evans4 Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 You haven't said what you want to do with your new equipment. If you don't know, then: (i) Get a rangefinder because it only costs the equivalent of a few rolls of film. ("Canonet" is certainly not the only brand to consider. Numerous threads have discussed the alternatives; search for terms such as canonet, lynx, electro, hi-matic.) (ii) Don't get a Nikon because there's no point (just as there'd be no point getting a Canon if you already had a Nikon and two lenses for it). (iii) Don't get a 17mm lens because results from it are likely to become tiresome very quickly. (iv) Don't spend much time worrying about this kind of thing but instead use it on taking more pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahams Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Harvey - Just curious - is your shot taken in London? West End? Just off Curzon St? Near Berkley Square? If yes, I used to lunch at that same pavement cafe' on the left most days of the week. The world is a village. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmdavis Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 I just got a Yashica Electro 35 on "the bay" (not talking about the Canadian department store) with 2 extra lenses for about $30. It should arrive today. I'll take it out for a test and let you know how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_fromm2 Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Peter, I'm with Harvey. All 35 mm cameras with 50 mm lenses take much the same pictures. The big gain for you from getting an old RF camera will be having a lens shorter than 50 mm and longer than 28. A little RF camera with a 40 mm lens may even be less expensive and lighter than a 35 for your FTB. FWIW, my walking-around camera with a 40 is a Canon AF35ML. It is out of this forum's scope, I don't enjoy using it, it is obnoxiously loud, but it is still a useful tool. Getting a 17 will considerably extend the range of what you can do. I haven't done "street photography" for a while now. When I did and wanted to avoid being in peoples' faces and wanted to fill the frame with a face or two, I used a 200 mm lens. So if that's what you want to accomplish, think about getting a longer lens instead of another shortish one. Good luck, have fun, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h._p. Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 "is your shot taken in London?" Yes "West End?" Nope! Flask Walk in Hampstead, looking towards the High Street. :-))) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_m Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 You already have a great camera, why get into an incompatible system (Nikon). Buy another lens for your Canon! If you want to play around with a rangefinder, get something good and cheap that does not require batteries to operate. I suggest a Yashica Lynx 1000 or 5000, Olympus 35SP, Canon QL17 or QL19 or Konica S2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_lofquist Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 If you really cannot make up your mind, get an old ALPA (not dog food) camera which had both reflex and rangefinder focussing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_baker6 Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Harvey---that's a really nice picture... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h._p. Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Thank you, James, very nice of you to say so. :-))) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin_lau Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Alex, I'd love to see an ALPA for $150-. Peter, Have you checked out <a href=http://www.rangefinderforum.com>Rangefinder Forum</a>? The question has been asked numerous times over there, and the RFF essay contest was all about why use an RF. You can read the essays at <a href=http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=54>RFF Contest</a>. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conrad_hoffman Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 I'm very fond of my Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 and if I didn't have one, it would be on the top of my NAS list. That said, it's a lens for special situations and to be used sparingly. The results will become tiresome quickly if you over use it. 17mm can only be worse. I also like RF cameras because they're easy to carry. I like Retinas, but they're not everybodies cup of tea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Hi, I used to drink alot in a very old pub called 'The Flask', near my old home. I will go back there and photograph it just necause it is about 500 years old. Got any shots of that pub? Carl Marx was buried nearby. Nice shot of Hampstead, some time ago? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Today I bought a Fuji GW690ii with fixed lens for $80 The nice guy who sold it to me thought it wasn't working, he works in a camera store. I walked out into the sun and hey presto the shutter fired. Pity that store ran out of Tech-Pan. The Fuji works very well, the counter is low and I cleaned it up nicely. Compared to my brass beast Fuji g690bl it is light and ergonomic but partly plastic. I'd still get a Yashica Lynx given the chance though. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thanz Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 A fixed lens rangefinder is a good way to go, for 150 bucks you can get a Canonette GIII QL17- 40mm /1.7 lens. This camera is worth more but you can pick one up for around 30 -50 bucks depending on condition, buy some film with the rest and be pleasantly suprised. Don't forget about the Yashica GSN which gives stunning results with color film. You could also splurge and buy a Olympuc 35SP for about 100 bucks, 42mm lens and a spot meter, have fun!<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thanz Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Yashica 35CC<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thanz Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 ooops! Yashica 35CC<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott ream Posted June 18, 2005 Share Posted June 18, 2005 Got a mint Canon QL-17 GIII last year on Ebay and love it. I paid $100 because the camera looked like it was new. You can probably get one for less. Love the camera, especially for black and white. Oh yeah, they're tiny too. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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