Casual photophile rangefinder. To make matters worse, the Leica M cameras aren’t just .

Casual photophile rangefinder And the Fuji GW690 is the Texas Leica (admittedly, I like that one). That means that we can achieve extreme close-up subject isolation and even creamier bokeh with ease. This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we The rangefinder shows three frame lines, though if you wear glasses you’ll struggle to see the full 35mm frame line without moving your head slightly. Cursed to desire one, cursed to break the bank buying one, cursed to realize that you have no real-life use for it. I am, it turns out, an idiot. Yoshihisa Maitani’s maverick team of designers and engineers were up to their old tricks of changing the camera game forever. This camera is thoroughly modern. Rangefinders, by definition, use a rangefinder viewfinder without any sort of prism meaning lenses can stay stopped down while composing, there’s no viewfinder darkening as a result of slow lenses or filters, and the viewfinder 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 name makes sense [] This features a split-image rangefinder circle surrounded by a micro prism focusing aid, and a larger etched circle to indicate the effective metering area of the previously mentioned center-weighted meter. As Brass Tacks – What’s an M5. Excellent article too as usual. It uses the M-mount lens system. It is the successor to the famous Leica M3 used by Henri Cartier-Bresson, among others. Its rangefinder works well, its controls are laid out intelligently, 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 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 major hole in their bank accounts. Minimum focus distance is a rather distant three meters (nine feet), though Forget the classic rangefinder from the 1970s. It delivers every time, even though I don’t really understand how or why it does. In addition, MiNT has released the first public images of the new compact camera through a placeholder website where interested camera-nerds can put their name on a notification wait-list. I continued shooting it as the 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. The camera industry was surging forward on a wave of prosperity. 4 cm). It’s called the Pentax 17, and my time with it has left me with a lot of beautiful pictures and one confirmed opinion; the Pentax 17 is a wonderful and exciting camera for those of us who love shooting film. By the end of the week, the Contax had claimed seven of those ten rolls of film and solidified its place in 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. 9 is pretty close to perfect. 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 To hear about the Hasselblad XPan as a casual photophile is to become cursed. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. Despite what Olympus had achieved [] Nikon’s previous lenses for its rangefinder system, the 5cm f/2 and 5cm f/1. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may Nice pictures, very nice. 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). Ward or the brains-vs-brawn bullfight that was Ali vs. I’ve spent the past month shooting the first new Pentax film camera to be released in nearly 20 years. 7 x 15. And then you sell it and you’re cursed again, to yearn for the time you had one and to know that you will never get it again (not at these prices). 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. A better 35mm rangefinder than any FED or Zorki, the Kiev rangefinders were copied from Contax and used the same Contax lens mount. 4 (a bargain at $7,250). To help ensure 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. Luckily there are ways to mitigate the issue. Amazing. The square aspect ratio is by far my favorite, and the Mamiya’s incomparable portability with its collapsible lens mount make it the perfect travel camera. 6x magnification, and the rangefinder window is clear and well-defined. This is a camera for casual, leisurely shooting. I don’t think it’s a terrible lens, but it’s not an eye-catching one either. It’s miles better than most Soviet-era rangefinder lenses, but it falls short of pretty much every other standard rangefinder lens. This simple viewfinder camera is, [] 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 rangefinder reminds me of my friends and coworkers, and how lucky I am. 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. 6), the high quality optics and deep depth of field enable similarly excellent results. The Jupiter-12 35mm f/2. Get your own Canonet QL17 GIII on eBay here! CASUAL PHOTOPHILE is on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube You might then ask yourself why I chose to review the Leica R6. Case in point; Minolta’s Minoltina P. This helps Casual Photophile Three film cameras; ten rolls of film. It’s a beautiful machine in pristine condition, purchased at the peak of its abilities. But today we’re going to talk about something a bit different. Automatic parallax correction is another nice addition, and it’s 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. . None of this is new or noteworthy. Camera Type: Rangefinder mirror-less camera Sensor: 6 megapixel APS-C CCD (23. From the portability perspective, one can find a range of various folding cameras in 6×4. 2, and perhaps even how this review – over a year later – has ended up here on Casual Photophile, and not back within the safety of my own website, 35mmc. Some context first; the Diax IIa was designed as an interchangeable lens rangefinder camera by Walter Voss Photokamera-Fabrikation & Feinmechanik, a company founded in Ulm, Germany in 1945 by its namesake, Walter Voss. These At f/3. This thing was made for a very long time in a variety of configurations, so there’s a Canonet for every taste. The company was founded, astoundingly, in 1756. The answer to the first of Rangefinder focusing is loved by many photo geeks, and for those shooters this camera will be the ideal medium-format machine. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you A Legend in a Small Package. You likely also know that Let’s Get Ready To Rumble. If you’re unsure of what we’re talking about I’ve been shooting an Alpa 10d for a year now, and every camera geek I’ve shown it to has asked the same question. I like the simplicity of the rangefinder experience, the compact kit size, the stealthiness, the ease of use once rangefinder Best Collector’s Camera – SP 2005 w/ W-Nikkor C 3. 7 lens are perfect for city vacations and street photography, while the slower apertured 2. We’re back with more photography tips to help new (and experienced) shooters better understand this fantastic hobby of ours. It’s Intended for use with the ever-gorgeous Zeiss Ikon ZM rangefinder (ZM denoting Zeiss M-mount), both of these lenses work beautifully on that camera and on any M mount body. With the 45/4 and 90/4, I prefer using the A split-image rangefinder equipped viewfinder allows for manual focusing as close as 10. I had been shooting a Minolta Hi-Matic 7s, a perfectly lovely 1960s Japanese fixed lens rangefinder that allowed me The Nikon F made rangefinders obsolete, and its impeccable design and construction had buyers questioning why Zeiss’ machines were so expensive. This camera was produced in 1966, and is one of the first electronically controlled rangefinder cameras. 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. The Leitz Tele-Elmar 135mm f/4 is a lens from the tail-end of the rangefinder’s golden age. The year was 1969. Many Author’s note: The Leica M2 is an interchangeable lens rangefinder introduced in 1957 by German optical powerhouse Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH. But even after a storied history, it’s still ticking like the day it was bought and it still feels like the most reliable camera in the world. Today, it’s rare to find a brand selling film cameras side 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. Despite the quality of Nikkor optics and the consistently strong press reports they received, the professional market still belonged to Leica and Zeiss. 5m. Pick up a Voigtlander Bessa, or even a modern Leica, back to back with a Canon P and you’ll This method of rangefinder measurement is very common and works exactly like other rangefinders. CASUAL PHOTOPHILE is on which could be a sore spot for someone used to smaller rangefinders or a more compact SLR. 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 Build Quality. SLR Cameras; Rangefinder Cameras; Point and Shoot Cameras; Instant Cameras; Medium Format Cameras; Digital There’s no rangefinder mechanism, no focusing screen, no split-image spot, and certainly no autofocus. It fit nicely in my bag, and I didn’t feel too bad being rough with it. The F5 can take easier pictures w/ a second thought. At just 80 grams (2. We can assume that most will place the Germans at the top, the Japanese at the bottom, and there may be 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. Many thanks for your When I first purchased my F3, it was beat to hell with brassing throughout, had a cracked advance lever and a faulty lens-lock that I still have to check on every once in a while. In a tragic twist of fate, the Yashica T4 Zoom Version history. And that’s why I love it. There’s an infrared focusing mark, and a distance scale corresponding to depth-of-field scale for scale or zone focusing. But every time I wear it out someone compliments me on it. Foreman. The retail side of Casual Photophile. The Canon P is A Beautiful, Functional 35mm Rangefinder Worth Shooting Today - Casual Photophile Agree, the Canon P is quite similar to the Leica M3 at a much more 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. 5, 6×6, and stunning 6×9 starting from cost effective ($20-$50) triplet-lens based models with guess focusing to more robust Tessar-lens based models 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 What if I told you that Leica doesn’t make the best 35mm rangefinder in the world? Many readers might have already answered “I’d say you’re an idiot,” and clicked away to a site that repeats the established 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 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 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. We all dream of having the perfect machine, and more than most of us spend lots of time and cash actively seeking it out, even though we know such Practical Use and Thoughts on the Diana F+. The lens was unanimously heralded as a marvel by the It’s a camera considered by many to be one of the premier medium format rangefinders, with some of the best glass ever created. And rightly so. 9. Unfortunately for those of us on a budget, these tiny rangefinders can be pricey, often fetching more than $200 for quality . But alas, there is a catch. KMZ and FED made mass-market, super cheap cameras for the masses but Kievs were aimed at professionals so they were (usually) better made and more advanced than their Russian contemporaries. Skepticism and resistance to change proved to be the constant companion for Nippon Kogaku throughout the 1950s. This little fixed lens rangefinder doesn’t care 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. The rangefinder was a welcome addition in the FED-2, even if the viewfinder still left much to be desired. This should explain everything. My 28mm rangefinder lens is the Voigtländer Ultron 28mm f/1. read more The Olympus OM system has a long history of both exceptional and under appreciated machines. But be careful, because choosing one over the other may have a significant impact on the ergonomics of your machine. 5 this lens remains easy to focus for a rangefinder or mirrorless user, which would not necessarily be the case were it substantially faster. I like SLR cameras. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may It’s not the largest viewfinder, but it is exceptionally bright, features a decent 0. People who use this camera often and know it very well, make incredible images with 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. [] Rangefinders fare even better. 8. 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”). Besides, if you want to shoot portraits there’s always the 75mm f/2. It’s a mix of strange angles and odd curves, moulded from matte-black polycarbonate with mustard lettering. It’s nicely made and competes easily with the fancy West-German cameras of its class and era. It’s a joy to shoot and is capable of some incredible images. The name M3 signaled to the unwashed masses that the camera was a rangefinder (the German word for this is messucher) with three framelines (the number 3). The problem, for me, is that Leica M cameras are rangefinder cameras and I don’t like using rangefinder cameras. The models fitted with an ƒ/1. – Horizon 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. Many Voigtländer is the oldest camera maker in the world. 8 ounces) this lens is astonishingly light, and with a length of 20. If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to shoot 35mm without sacrificing the functionality of a Featured Photophile; Female Photographers to Follow; Film Profiles; Five Favorite Photos ; Opinion; Photographer Interviews; Photography Technique; Retrospectives; The Essentials; Top Fives; Travels with Camera; Video; Cameras. And landscape shooters who are comfortable with massive view cameras and large-format giants won’t be bothered a bit by the Fuji’s size and weight. The Leica M5 is an interchangeable lens 35mm film rangefinder camera. Both cameras are amazing, and a case can be made for each, but we honestly think at It’s also possible to use an external rangefinder attachment, which can conveniently mount to one of the camera’s two accessory shoes. Let’s [] The Contax G2 is like no other rangefinder on Earth. For my needs, and I suspect most shooters’ needs, this lens is fast enough. To make matters worse, the Leica M cameras aren’t just We’ve talked about the Canon New Canonet 28’s faster relatives twice before; our reviews of the New Canonet QL17 and that camera’s successor, the Canonet G-III (QL) 17, both spoke in glowing terms. Leica’s It marries the capability and flexibility of an SLR to the form factor of a rangefinder, while also doubling the amount of exposures available to the photographer. The Leica CL, which I was reviewing for B&H Photo, a Leidolf Lordomat, which I was shooting for fun, and the most interesting camera of the day, a Minolta V2, which I brought because my friend Anthony wanted to try shooting a rangefinder. This helps Casual Photophile produce the content Over the last twelve months more than 3 million readers have enjoyed (hopefully) the words and images of Casual Photophile. Buy the KEKS EM-01 light meter from KEKS Cameras here Buy it from our own F Stop Cameras. The Voigtlander Bessa series, Leica M series, and the many fast, Japanese, fixed-lens rangefinders are a few examples of cameras that seem to get past security without a hitch. I’ve been shooting the Nikon ZF for the last Every photo geek has their Holy Grail. That being said, there is one enormous problem with this camera, one I alluded to at the very beginning of this review – the price. 6 mm); Max. It has a flash that works well for filling in daylight scenes, but isn’t so good at being the only light source That being said, I think I would go with the Zeiss Ikon ZM 35mm rangefinder. But after volunteering to review a rangefinder, an SLR, and then a medium format and even half-frame cameras from the Soviet Union, I’m starting to wonder if I’m typecasting myself. But I deeply appreciate the things that Leica Ms are – solid, compact, with precision innards and a feel of undeniable quality bordering on luxury. It operates primarily in aperture Ask ten photo-geeks to make a list of their favorite rangefinders and you’ll likely find ten pretty varied lists. The lenses are rangefinder coupled, focusing from infinity to 1 meter, with a focusing tab (round in earlier lenses, crescent-shaped in later units) that rotates approximately 85º from one extreme to the other. 5 millimeters it’s simply tiny. This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we produce. The G1 salves my desire for a modern analogue rangefinder very well (and Final Thoughts. Playing around with something new . Today’s top five is all [] I have a chambray button-down shirt that everyone seems to love. Cameras have come a long way in those 66 years, and yet the Graphic 35 remains a lot of great things, things that we still value in a camera today. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may receive a small commission 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. Among these cameras was the Contax T, an unbelievably compact 35mm film rangefinder that somehow marries luxurious excess to simple practicality and impressive performance. Many The desire to jump into medium format photography is usually accompanied by visions of Hasselblads, Rolleiflexes, and the Contax 645. The selected lens aperture is displayed in an optic window to the top of the image area, and to the left of the frame we find a shutter scale that displays both the Photophiles in the 1980s had it good. The Diax line was intended as a lower cost alternative to the top shelf Leicas and Contaxes of the Some of the best photographers in the world swear by the rangefinder. Let me explain. For your visits and readership, I thank you. That’s a readership number which I never expected when I began writing for and publishing to this site in 2014. The Graphic 35 Today. The lens is well-made and impressive, like Minolta MD 28mm f/2. 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 Shooting the Nikonos V. The Pen FT is arguably one of the best values in film photography. Build quality is very good, with tight-fitting aperture and focus rings, nicely beveled edges on all moving parts, and an extra knurled ring The rangefinder in the TX-1 is quite accurate, and you can nail focus even with the long 90/4 lens quite consistently. 4 inches (26. “What’s that?” This is no great surprise. 8 lens and it’s a zone focusing camera with four zones conveniently marked on the lens. Even the once-considered-lowly Leica M4-P and M4-2 each now cost Now that I shoot with digital Leica M rangefinders (M9 Monochrom and M 262) and a Canon film rangefinder (VI-T), I’ve been without my beloved 105/2. And that’s understandable – the first has pedigree, the second has cool factor, 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. This, along with its It’s a perfect camera for anybody looking for a versatile backup camera to compliment their existing SLR or rangefinder setup. Still, Leica never stopped making M cameras to their own unusually high standard. read more These cameras were well-made viewfinder and rangefinder cameras, respectively, and they’d see production in various forms for just over twenty years. Well, anyway, I have a Lomography Diana F+ camera. The camera operates as a manual-focus rangefinder camera with aperture priority as its only AE mode, which demands a little bit more care and attention from prospective shooters. com. The relatively quick maximum aperture of F/2 is adequate in most low-light shooting situations. For those unfamiliar, zone-focusing is a system of focusing in which the photographer is expected to understand aperture and the way it influences depth-of-field, and combine that knowledge with MiNT Camera has just announced that their new 35mm film camera will be called the Rollei 35AF, and that it will be released in Summer 2024. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may But after shooting and writing about the Zenit-E SLR and the medium-format Kiev 60, I began to feel the need to round out my socialist shooting experience with a third camera, and a rangefinder seemed the 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. It’s a manual-exposure camera with a mechanical shutter capable of continually variable speeds from 1/1000th of a 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. There’s nothing special about it and I bought it at the Bass outlet for less than $10. It came with the original box 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. Many This leaves me in a strange spot with the Industar 61 L/D. But how does it shoot? The There’s an old saying in boxing – ”styles make fights. The camera was already well-worn, with rust in places and scratches aplenty. ” It’s one of the smallest 35mm film cameras ever made, but where other similarly sized cameras forego certain functionality in order to fit their diminutive design brief, the Contax T does not. I bought it used and it’s the black and blue color variant, and it cost me $40 Canadian. 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. Sure, it’s a rangefinder, so it’s an extra complicated box, but Minolta, Canon, Voigtlander and others proved long ago that rangefinders can be made inexpensively and that people will buy the box without the exceptional build. 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 quality 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. Desert Island Cameras No. The ease-of-use that accompanies shooting the Nikonos V may surprise some people, given that it’s such a specialized, purpose-built machine. It’s an honest rangefinder, with a delightfully contrasty rangefinder patch and a deliciously damped manual focus action. My colorful comrade became my everyday carry. While there are faster prime 40s out there, none have such a strong blend of positive characteristics. 8s will be slightly better suited for The last time I went out with a group of Boston-area film photography friends, I brought a few cameras. We’ve overlooked the Canon Canonet (a quality, affordable rangefinder) for something a little less common, the Yashica Electro 35. 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. The strap lugs are out of balance and It’s styled like a rangefinder but it’s a fixed 38mm f/2. The Agfa Ambi Silette was something of an anomaly. James Tocchio; 7; 35mm Film; 35mm Lenses; Agfa; Camera Reviews; German Cameras; Rangefinder Cameras; September 7, 2018 Nikon SP Limited The camera reminds me of those early days at my new job, and of the brighter days of summer. In the past we’ve covered things like ISO, zone focusing, and cross-processing, and today we’re taking a look at one of the most important aspects of creative photography; depth of field. Follow Casual Photophile on Facebook and Instagram The last time we compiled a “Top Five” list we were focused on the simple joy of point-and-shoot cameras. These were manufactured as companions to the I was only a month into my re-introduction to film photography, and I already wanted another camera. You’ve done some research and learned about the company that pioneered many of photography’s most important innovations. Historically an important figure in the photographic world, Voigtländer’s contributed numerous innovations that later became industry standards. It is an LTM lens, so I use it on my camera – a Leica M3 – with an adaptor. At the head of this surge was Canon, a Eric reviews the Konica C35 FD (known in export markets as the Konica Auto S3), a compact rangefinder film camera with a legendary lens. ] Q1: What do you think about the retro styling of the Nikon ZF? – Daler Fergani . 8 is one of the old standbys of the LTM Russian rangefinder lenses. I could tell somebody had used it, and used it well. 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. 5cm I hope that after more than six years of running Casual Photophile I’ve established trust with my readers, but clarity is always good. In just a few years the F system expanded to encompass a 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. It also found me stuffed into a small, German sedan with my wife, our one-year-old daughter, and enough bags, totes, and rucksacks to brave it for It’s almost rangefinder-esque. It’s read more. I used my Graflex Graphic 35 in 2021; that’s 66 years after someone in Rochester tightened the final screw and packed it in a box to be shipped to a camera shop. The Olympus 35-S is a beautiful camera. And to be honest, the Pentax 67 doesn’t make better or more interesting I know these are just shots taken around town, but they constantly remind me why I shoot film, They just look so good. Want your own Petri F1. read more Eric Charles Jones The end of a tiresome week found me weary, disheartened, and worn out. It would be easy to come away from this review assuming that the Plaubel Makina 67 and its siblings are expensive repair bills waiting to happen. Produced from 1948 until 1956, it has Atomic Age styling complete with a shiny metal finish and curves reminiscent of a 1956 Chevrolet. But the Canonet is not a poor man’s Leica. But it’s a very simple camera. Save for Prague in 1964, Koudelka spent decades working almost entirely alone. Before Nikon’s rise to international fame with the Nikon F SLR, the company cut their teeth making rangefinder cameras throughout the 1950’s. The smart thing to do would be to wait a year before doing another review of a camera from behind the Iron Curtain. Both rangefinder- and zone-focusing are completely viable options. It’s a bit too large, and the hand-grip looks more like a tumor than a well-sussed design element. A few Rangefinders don’t have a mirror, which, in turn, results in a smaller flange-to-film distance, quieter shooting, and steadier shooting. By purchasing anything using these links, Casual Photophile may receive Super quick history lesson – the 45mm F/2 G Planar debuted alongside the original Kyocera-made Contax G1 autofocus rangefinder camera back in 1994, and though we were all fairly distracted by Orenthal James’ speeding Bronco and figure skaters being clubbed with crowbars, people noticed. The C35 FD was the top of the line in Konica’s C35 series of cameras. What makes the Watameter Super unique apart from any other auxiliary rangefinder is its macro ability. This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we It was 1975 when Olympus made the call to launch their final Hail Mary in the competitive 40mm fixed-lens rangefinder game. Not in the same vein, but in respect of price, my wife just bought me a Nikon f801, it’s leather case, with a nikkor 35-70mm lens, an mf-21, and an SB 24, all new In the end, I like owning and shooting Leicas and I like all of my cameras to work as intended. What if we told you that, today, the M3 is actually the worse of the two classic rangefinders, and that anyone looking to buy an M3 would be better served shopping for an M2? With clear understanding that we’ve already sent half of you running for your pitchforks, hear us out. read more James Tocchio Caring for your Makina 67. 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. With a shutter that’s just one step faster than the comparable Leica M7, and a metering system that’s very Martin Misiak uses a Kiev 60 Soviet-era medium format film camera to shoot a trip through Vietnam on the back of a small Honda motorcycle. Shooters experienced with manual machines will find the Contax T a joy to shoot, especially those well-versed in the dark art of scale focusing, which the Contax T is basically When we recently spotlighted Josef Koudelka’s career, we noted that it was defined by both its extraordinary length and the artist’s preference for isolation. By contrast, Robert Capa’s work is defined by the photographer’s deep immersion in his subject and by his career’s [] This helps Casual Photophile produce the content we produce. It’s also one of the most prolific. ” Our only requirement of the cameras we cover is that they should be interesting. Autofocus, shutter-priority, in-body image stabilization, the list of now-common features that were invented or successfully implemented by Minolta goes on and on. It is very famous and expensive. Leica comparisons are tiring, and indeed virtually every rangefinder is hampered by this rhetoric. During this, the final week of 2020, [] It doesn’t have the classically beautiful lines of a German rangefinder or the rugged purposefulness of countless SLRs before it. Drew reviews A classic camera shop specializing in cameras and lenses, film, collectible cameras, medium format, 35mm, and some digital. 50mm (or its full-frame equivalent) is my favorite focal length, but 28mm is not far behind. Of Nikon’s many collectible cameras, none are more collectible than the company’s rangefinder cameras. Cameras featured greater automation, ease of use, and affordable quality. Many Whenever I look over at the shelf and my Nikon FA which sits there, I can’t help but feel a little sad. By purchasing anything using these Other writers on this site have used the original Contax rangefinder lenses and the Nikon/Canon mount Zeiss lenses, 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. As of press time, I have two Mamiya Universals, two Canonets, a Canon P, a For budget-conscious photographers who are looking for a manual rangefinder of impeccable quality, the Petri F1. In April, Olympus released their newest creation, the Olympus 35 SP. Today Alpa makes cameras that are extremely niche; highly specialized products that the Swiss brand describes as “precision tools, made with passion and skilled craftsmanship [] And first up, we have a classic rangefinder lens, the Jupiter-12 35mm f/2. ” Some might be wont to suggest the Konica Hexar AF as a companion machine, but such a camera lacks the triangulation-focusing characteristic of a rangefinder. Olympus engineers aimed to better the already well-received Olympus 35 SP and replace it with James reviews the Graflex Graphic 35, a compact and affordable 35mm film rangefinder camera, the kind of camera for which this site was made. What we’re left with is a camera that demands zone-focusing. Many thanks for your support. To help put this in perspective, that makes Voigtländer 20 years older than the United States of America. It’s less Build Quality and Ergonomics . Many If you’d like to contribute an article to Casual Photophile, please introduce yourself and send a pitch to contact@fstopcameras. Most rangefinders cannot couple down to that range due to their designs, so this lens Minimum focus distance is not super close, typical of rangefinder lenses. The admittedly terse 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. 5cm f/1. A few quirks aside, it’s no more challenging to use than a folding rangefinder, and its only real downside is an easy-to-accidentally-trigger shutter button The G2 had an active element to the autofocus and a manual focus wheel positioned as in the Contaxes of old, so are a bit more desirable. They’re great cameras. But Shots in the gallery above were made with the Nikkor HC 5cm f/2 and Nikon S2 rangefinder. It was wonderful when new, and it’s wonderful today. The last, and greatest, iteration of these The Bolsey Model C, or as it’s formally designated, the Bolsey 35 Model C Twin Lens Reflex camera, is one of the quirkiest and downright weird cameras ever made. This diminutive rangefinder is one of the best compact shooters out there. The Canon P is a poor man’s Leica just as the Zorki is the poor comrade’s Leica. I take umbrage (!) to this statement: “The F5 can take better pictures without a second thought” No way can a 35mm camera take better pictures than a 120 or larger format camera. 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 Drew reviews the Konica Hexar RF, a 35mm film rangefinder camera that blends manual and automatic functions in an interesting way. Its counterpart, the Auto S3 cost If you’ve chosen Minolta, welcome to The Cause. In 1965, SLRs were growing in popularity, but their dominance was not yet complete. Come with me on a loosely-historically-accurate trip, dear readers. No one wants to be the person with the obvious schtick. And for all of these reasons, it’s always felt out of place mounted 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. With only three lenses produced for it: a wide 50mm, normal 75mm, and 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. At its core is a 24. 9? Buy it on eBay Buy it on Amazon Buy it Specifications of the Epson R-D1. 5 Color-Heliar. Both of these little pocket rockets are designed 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 article will direct users to our affiliates at B&H Photo, Amazon, and eBay. This new CL is nothing like the old CL. But that doesn’t need to be the case. “Overall, I found RZ67 surprisingly ergonomic and comfortable. That’s what I packed for a recent week away. ” The most entertaining boxing matches feature complementary styles, well-demonstrated in the slugger-on-slugger brawl of Gatti vs. When shooting with the wider lenses (particularly the 30/5. With a suite of Zeiss lenses, of course. 8 in use. Where the Instant Wide looks objectively attractive is when viewed at a technical level. It’s not good for anything closer than three feet, but due to the focal length it’s pretty forgiving if you focus one zone off. More impressive still, the Trip 35 actually outsold the Nikon F and the Leica M2 by millions. Happy shooting, everyone. resolution 3008 x 2000 Lens Mount: Leica M ISO: 200, 400, 800, 1600 LCD For those just started on their road to rangefinder mastery, the Canonet is a great place to start. Many thanks for your 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. Many 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. 2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor sitting just inside Leica’s new-fangled L Just as the F and the M defined the SLR and rangefinder genres respectively, the Trip 35 defined the point-and-shoot game. The automated nature of the five cameras we chose was perfect for those photo geeks interested in making beautiful photos with ease. Back in 2019 I went out with a group of Boston-area film photography friends, and I brought a few cameras. Their old-world aesthetic distances them even further from the professional, modern SLRs, even if they’re every bit as capable as those machines. While the OM1 was received by professional photogs, the press, and industry insiders as a marvel of miniaturization, design, and engineering, the brand didn’t seem to gain such a strong reputation with the casual user. Coming down from the Summer of Love in ’67 and heading straight for But here’s the special thing about this lens; it’s one of the few standard rangefinder lenses with a close-focus range that goes all the way down to 0. 😉 – Kiev 4. If you’re looking for a camera with which to photograph an F1 race, or even a pot-bellied pig race, this is not your camera. When Ernst Leitz GmbH invented the M system in 1954, they named their first M camera the Leica M3 for a very good reason. 07 – Rangefinder Edition 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. 5 Sonnar for a few years now, but last night I found a clean 10. The exceptional photos are almost a bonus. The Canonet line of fixed-lens rangefinders is perhaps the genre’s most famous line, if not certainly the longest-lived. Even with my glasses on the 50mm and 100mm frame lines are bright and easy to make out in all but the brightest conditions. I prefer rangefinders for my style of shooting, and the ZM’s utilitarian feature set and access to some amazing lenses make it hard to ignore. mtef bqpoe jjillj ohsyj pdgqvxr qeen jodz gpa gtjqe zjjpr