Best rangefinder for the money??

[Soulz3urn3lack]

I have no more than 740$ to spend and I'm looking for a good film rangefinder with lens.

Was thinking of the Contax G2 or 1 but not really sure? It'll be for street shooting. I just want to hear some good ideas. Should I go digital with the Fuji X100?

 

[Derrel]

The Contax G-series is not "really" a rangefinder...it's a sort of AF hybrid...it's kind of a rare bird....nice though...

COsina's Voigtlander Bessa models are low-cost....check out CameraQuest Home Page for a LOT of rangefinder articles,pictures, and analysis....nights' worth of info there!!!

Digital? Fuji? They suuuuuurrrrre are nifty!!! I looked at a couple recently...VERY sexy machines....lovely! If it were "ME", I would prefer the ease of the digital Fuji models, and the low cost of getting the images out of the camera vs film + developing + proofing + scanning issues. But, that's just "me".

 

[AlexanderB]

Fuji X100 is not rangefinder either. Do not have anything against rangefinders, but you really want to fiddle with a manual focus?​

 

[Derrel]

The somewhat older Bessa-R is a good value,used, for a film rangefinder. It is "modern" and simple. Leica III-series bodies are old, but are available under $400 these days.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...-low-cost-rangefinder-bessa-r-photos-one.html
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[usayit]

Kinda hard to find... might stretch budget

Konica Hexar RF

For a fixed lens, Canonnet QL17 GIII but you will most likely need to change the rear film door seals yourself (not difficult but you need to find material)


Voigtlander Bessa R are also top notch. There are several versions that range from mechanical to electronic, with different viewfinders magnifications, and whether or not M mount or screwmount. So you will need to first decide which focal lengths most attract your attention.

Digital rangefinders will most likely be out of your budget. I use to shoot an Epson R-D1 heavily and it was awesome. Its essentially a Bessa R that Epson "Digitized". Very quirky, batteries are short lived and difficult to find, short rangefinder base length. But the 1:1 viewfinder is something to behold.

Contax G2 is also very good. I had one a long time ago. Its a dead mount, so the lenses are inexpensive. I would not recommend the G1 as it had some problems.


Also, you need to determine if what you mean by "rangefinder" is more related to the packaging or focusing mechanism. Two very different things. The X100 is packaged like a rangefinder but is not a rangefinder.. If packaging (size weight), then you have more options in the digital world. I would actually recommend the micro 43 system more in that case.

 

[unpopular]

Canonnets are super fun, they're my favorite viewfinder. But they tend to jam up on me. OTOH they are less than $100, putting them in the near disposable price range. With your budget, you could buy four of them and still have money to spare.

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what about the Fuji GW-series? As derrel can tell you, IMO Contax and Fuji can do no wrong.

 

[gsgary]

Fuji X100 is not rangefinder either. Do not have anything against rangefinders, but you really want to fiddle with a manual focus?​

When shooting on the street you do not need to focus with a rangefinder if you know how to set the camera

 

[gsgary]

The somewhat older Bessa-R is a good value,used, for a film rangefinder. It is "modern" and simple. Leica III-series bodies are old, but are available under $400 these days.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...-low-cost-rangefinder-bessa-r-photos-one.html
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Paired with a 28mmF2 Ultron and you will nearly have the perfect tool, i use an M4 with this lens and its perfect

 

[Soulz3urn3lack]

Thank you all so much! I ended up just getting the X100 and buying a TLR for film (Mamiya C220).