Rangefinders - need advice.

[Larky]

Hello.

I am coming back to Photography after a good 8-10 years away. I love street photography, black & white, using film. I have an Olympus OM-1n on the way, I always loved my old OM-10 and fell in love with my girlfriends OM-1n so had to get one. However, what I am really looking for I think, is a rangefinder.

But maybe not, here is where I need advice.

I am looking for something small, 100% mechanical (apart from metering which will stay off), with a sharp bright lens. Ideally a 21mm or 24mm which I can set to infinity and snap away. My eyesight is poor, so I'm hoping small focal will help.

I can't afford a Leica yet! I was thinking of Canonet, or Contax?

Or am I barking up the wrong tree? Shall I just get a 21-24mm for my OM-1n and it'll be the same?

Kind regards, Andrew.

p.s. My background lies in digital, worked in the visual effects field all my life so if anyone needs any computer related, Photoshop related or 3D related help I'll be glad to assist if I can.

[Roger_Provins]

Have a look here.

[beejaybee]

The "problem" with the OM-1 is that the viewfinder has no diopter adjustment - this is a problem to me as I'm shortsighted. You can get an eyecup which takes correction lenses but this is a bit awkward.

The OM-3 has everything the OM-1 has apart from mirror lockup and the selftimer. It does have diopter adjustment on the viewfinder, 1/2000 shutter speed and a very fine metering system! But the shutter is mechanical so it works just fine (apart from the meter) with no battery installed.

IMO the Zuiko 21mm f/3.5 is an excellent lens - better than the 24mm f/2.8 which is pretty good.

Rangefinders - I don't have one, but I think you should check out the Voigtlander Bessa, there is a choice of mechanical or electronic shutter models (at the same price ISTR) and the lenses are said to be pretty darned good. A lot cheaper than Leica too.

[Brian]

I have a cupboard, sorry, I have cupboards full of R/F cameras. They sit on their shelves unused, why? because since I started wearing glasses they have become a pain in the butt. Occasionally I will get one out and decide that the rangefinder is great. It is for focussing across the room at a table lamp.....just try it on a moving subject out in the real world. Then sometimes I will try a manual SLR, and here we are talking top pro Nikons with great viewfinders, these are better particularly with longer lenses and the type K (? split image micro)screen.

But really to regain the fun I do think it might be an idea to start thinking of auto focus. Having said that I have never owned an auto focus film camera so I will leave it to others.

However, why don't you go the whole hog and buy digital?

[Larky]

Hello.

I have a D100 and D2, Canon Ixus 750, can get the new D3 if I wish. Digital doesn't have the same feeling to me, the results don't have the same warmth (there is a reason us in the film industry are going back to film after trying digital) and digital is not as much fun for me. Also, a good digital SLR is huge and non-SLR digitals have poor sensors and slow focus.

Want to sell one of your RF's?

[Woolliscroft]

I've used Bessas for years and have been very happy with them. They are not quite as silent as a Leica, but still not obtrusive and the more recent ones are lens compatible with M series Leicas if you do eventually take the plunge. Plus, if you are using wide angle lenses, they will tend to be sharper on a rangefinder, as they don't have to have a retrofocus design to allow room for the mirror. That said, as on OM user since the late 1970s, they remain wonderful cameras.

If you want to give rangefinders a try economically, try an old Soviet camera, like a FED. Voigtländer make superb L39 thread lenses that will fit, so that you can move up from the fairly ropey Russian glass and there are adapters that will allow them to be used with an M mount camera.

[Zou]

Another option is the Zeiss Ikon (also made by Cosina). Takes M-mount lenses, and even has a viewfinderless SW version for wide angles which need their own finder.

[LargeFormat]

But you can fit a diopter compensation lenses in the rubber eyecup.

[tazio35]

It depends how short sighted you are. My shiny new Samsung DSLR has dioptre adjustment to -3, I think. My eye is -3.5, so it's no help and I still need my glasses.

Back to the rangefinder question. What sort of budget do you have? '70s rangefinders are pretty cheap, but usually have a lens around 40mm, which might be a bit long for you. My Olympus XA is good at 35mm and is very pocketable.

There's an article on this website somewhere by Gary Coward Williams (sp?) about using an ancient Leica I with a 25mm lens and no viewfinder. He found the ends of the camera body in his peripheral vision lined up reasonably with the ends of the frame. You could try the same thing on the cheap with a Fed or a Zorki. Might be fun.

Photoethnography has loads of info.

[mike_j]

I don't really see why you feel you need a rangefinder camera. For what you describe I should think a Ricoh GR1 would be ideal. Razor sharp 28mm lens, autofocus but with a 'snap' setting, superb build quality and feel. Aperture priority with exposure compensation dial, built in flash. It's small and inconspicuous package. Mine has been round the world with me and the results equal anything I have ever achieved my Leica M6 or SLRs (some would say that's not much of a target but such is life).

[Woolliscroft]

But you can fit a diopter compensation lenses in the rubber eyecup.

Rangefinders also tend to be easier to use with specs. Unlike an SLR, the viewfinder will usually show more than the field of view of the lens,so you don't need to get your eye quite so close to it.

[K10D]

p.s. My background lies in digital, worked in the visual effects field all my life so if anyone needs any computer related, Photoshop related or 3D related help I'll be glad to assist if I can.

Hi Andrew. I'll give you my 10 cents worth regarding your question then I'll ask you one regarding your skill's.

I use a Bessa L with a J-8, a Ricoh GR1-V plus my baby which is a Cosmic symbol, yep, a Russian masterpiece in glorious hard wearing plastic, but still very pleasing once you tweek the lens though like the J-8 it’s not wide angle but street life is open to all really, your imagination and or perception being the limiting factor.

I have a few Zorki’s and they’re fun though the above are easier to use, well, for me anyway.

I use the above cameras for street life so I hyperfocus 99.5 % of the time with an f of around f8-ish. I don’t even have a viewfinder on my Bessa, just---guees’o’sight off the top plate! Fuji Neopan 400 soup’d in Xtol and I’m real happy.

I have tried a number of cameras for street life and I own an OM-1N OM-10 OM-30 plus quite a few other 35mm SLR’s but for quick snapping and being inconspicuous, I like the size and portability of the above semi rangefinders; the GR1-V and Bessa being the best for me anyway.

Okay. Your question. Which is your preferred method (and why) of converting a colour neg/digi into black and white in photoshop?

All the best.
Scott.

[f64]

I have a Contax G2 kit and i seems to be the best of both worlds. The optics are first rate, the camera body built like a tank, it is auto focus and have not had any problems with it. The images in color or black&white are great. I have seen G1's and G2's here in the States going for a good price, lot less than I paid.

[Zou]

Okay. Your question. Which is your preferred method (and why) of converting a colour neg/digi into black and white in photoshop?

Channel mixer, as it gives the most control.

[K10D]

Hi f64. I had one of those back in 2004, built like a tank as you say, felt great to hold and picture quality (45mm) outstanding. Just couldn't get on with the whine/shuttle from the autofocus. Had a few off focus pics from the 90mm? But yes; still a great camera.

Hi Zou. Yep; that what I do. Just thought there might be a trade trick or another option with as much control/choice that I'd not tried.

All the best.
Scott.

[Barrington]

I have a good collection of cameras,one of which is a Minolta CLE.It is fully compatible with virtually all Leica M lenses and has a superb viewfinder which is easily visible up to its 28mm frameline.I wear glasses and have no problems in seeing through it and it is every bit as good as-say-the finder on an M6.In some ways it is better as it never suffers from the rangefinder flare that plagues the M6 I have.

Barrington