My personal favourite is the Argus C3. It is my go-to camera that I get professional results from and is solidly built and dependable. Most importantly they usually cost $20. Many people say it’s clunky and clumsy to use, but I’ve been using it for a while and once you get used to it, it becomes second nature and and actually preferable to more modern cameras. The Cintar lens standard is superb and gives nice character to the photos.
Thanks for the video. Here are the 35mm rangefinder cameras I have owned and used: Canon Canonet QL17 G-III with fixed 40mm f/1.7 lens Minolta Hi-Matic 9 with fixed 45 f/1.7 lens Argus C-3 with 35mm f/4.5, 50 f/3.5, and 100mm f/4.5 lenses Contax G1 with 21mm f/2.8, 28mm f/2.8, 45mm f/2, and 90mm f/2.8 lenses Leica M6 with 21mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.4, and 90mm f/2 lenses Of my two fixed lens rangefinder cameras, I use the Canonet more than the Minolta because I prefer the 40mm focal length lens to the 45mm. Of my three interchangeable lens rangefinder cameras, I use the Leica more than the Contax or the Argus because I prefer the Leica's faster lenses.
Found a Konica C35 at Goodwill for $25 in mint condition with the leather case . I love the size of this thing. Can’t wait to finish my first roll of film through it
They made a bunch of good lenses for the Nikon rangefinders, but they get pricey quick. The S3 2000's go for a lot more which is the limited run you mentioned - the 50mm f1.4 was remade with modern coatings too. That said the vintage 50 is still a great lens imo.
19:01 the focus wheel on the camera body is intended to not be quick. It's for critical focusing for things like portraits with a shallow depth of field or for medical stuff.
I can definitely vouch for the C35! I have the EF model and the lens is so sharp for such a basic camera. I recently upgraded to a Uniomat 2 but still take my C35 when i go out shooting, loaded with LomoChrome. It's so light and compact that I don't really notice it in my carry bag. It's pretty limited in terms of exposure range but for outdoor daylight shooting It's treated me really well.
Just got an olympus 35rc, I just got a leica barnack a few months before it. I love the olympus though, it seems so much easier to use. I am new to film, but enjoying it a lot more than my digital camera. Really enjoying videos like yours, thank you!
Of my inexpensive rangefinders and not mentioned so far here I would recommend the Kodak Retina 111C folding camera from the late 50's. The German build quality is superb, you get a 50mm f2 lens with the option of interchangeable 35mm and 80mm alternatives and a big bright viewfinder. My Olympus rangefinder is the 35 RD, a more compact camera than the SP with a nice f1.7 40mm Zuiko lens. Like the SP it has an auto function but the shutter is much quieter.
Nice video! I'd like to add the not so well known Yashica Electro 35 GX, a small fixed lens RF with automatic AP mode only. Decent viewfinder, small size, and a sharp 40mm f1,7 lens. Yashica cameras are pretty good and the lens on this beauty is top notch. Only lacking a bit in build quality or finish compared to more expenisve cameras, but at least it's nearly all metal.
Thanks! There are several in that line I need to dig into details on. I’ve seen that pop up in search before but haven’t looked into specs. I’ll do that now for sure.
Cool video. Many of the Braun Paxette and Super Paxette cameras also have interchangeable lenses. I have an 85mm for mine. I also am fond of my Zorki 4. And if you can't afford a Mamiya 7 but want to shoot 6x7 with a rangefinder the Koni Omega Rapid cameras are very good cameras and have good glass. It is also the only bolt action rangefinder and has the interesting distinction of having been designed by Omega, and produced by Konica and later Mamiya took over production.
I’ve actually shot with the koni omega. I didn’t even think about that since it was medium format but your absolutely right very cool camera you don’t hear much about and yes great glass. I need to look into the paxette line more they are rather interesting, I think like a year after this video I discovered one with interchangeable lenses which was rather intriguing. The 85 sounds very nice, I’m curious about the glass quality
The fujica35SE was my first film camera I got it at a church sale and it’s super easy to focus with and the standard lens is great they go for pretty cheap online
After 50 yrs. Plus shooting film in Canon & Nikon SLR's, I've pulled the pin & dove into digital with a Nikon DSLR & 3 LENSES. Having learned from some excellent mentors how darkrooms & light meters work, digital was a leap! The lenses for the Nikon D3200 are very good, but the lens on the Canonet GIII 1.7 will make slides sharp enough for more than 100 inch enlargement for projections. It's probably just an opinion, but I like doing the processing myself, even when the computers in the DSLR try to do that for me. BTW: my film cameras are over 40 yrs. old & none of them has or needs a shutter counter!
Overall a great video! I'm just like everyone else, owning a Voigtländer Bessa R2. But I also happen to have a Canonet QL19 GIII (really good camera, much cheaper than the QL17) and I need to make one correction. You said they require a battery to work. The light meter does, the shutter does not. It's an all mechanical camera with an electric light meter. If the battery runs out, you can still take photos with it.
thanks! Correct the GIII only needs it to run the meter. there are a few versions I think I had the 2.8 lens and another older model which I believe require a battery to operate outside of the default shutter which is like 1/60. That or I was thinking of another rangefinder when mentioning it ha.
The Nikon shares the same mount as the Contax rangefinders of the same era. It’s called the Contax RF mount. In fact the camera bodies themselves looked very similar. Not sure who copied who. But there’s a wide variety of lenses. I own the Contax II, really looking to get one of the Nikons as well. My Contax has a f1.5 Zeus Sonnar lens on it. Currently not in working condition though 😒
Ah, I thought they looked very similar. That definitely makes the lens mount more appealing and easier to work with. Dang, thats unfortunate. I am sure they aren't cheap to have repaired.
To my understanding Russian Kiev cameras have the same RF mount as Contax and Nikon. And a bunch of lenses that Russians made otherwise for the LTM (M39) mount (Zorkis and Feds) they also made for Kiev cameras in RF mount, starting with the legendary Jupiter 8, so there's possibly a cheap alternative for extra lenses for ya...
@@tomislavmiletic_ I believe that the Kiev 1-3 were built in the same factory or with the same stock as contax so its basically a contax which is nice.
If im not mistaken, this is actually the Nikon S3, you can tell by the shutter speed dial, however not major differences, there are a handful of Nikon brand glass you can buy for it, such as a 135 or 50 f.2. Hope you enjoy it, I love mine. The S, did not have an advance lever, and is why it is so much cheaper than the 2 or 3
Correct! S3. Must have forgot to say that. Ha yes the S is MUCH more affordable. Ever tried contax glass on yours? Someone else recently suggested that
Totally love my Konica IIIA! Pound for pound as good as any Leica, certainly M mounts and maybe even a tad better. That Hexanon 50 1.8 is marvelously sharp and I’d put it up against any 50. Simple hinged back to load film vs the somewhat flimsy way to load film in a Leica. Also, a fact often overlooked is that with the leaf shutter of the Konica IIIA one can sync flash all the way up to 1/500th instead of the abysmal 1/50th sync speed of the M6, the most popular hipster Leica. Yes, none of the cameras mentioned are really bought for flash photography but just saying. Yes, you do get an extra stop with Leica and the ability to change lenses but that isn’t necessary for me whom shoots with nothing but 50s on all my cameras. But hey, a lot of ‘em like that little red dot Graham. Not me. And yes, that phenomenal viewfinder of the Konica IIIA.
Nice choice of rangefinders 👌! Love the Braun Paxette and the Konica IIIa. My personal favorites were the Yashica 35 Electro GX and the Zeiss Ikon Contax line, they have great lenses, fairly well available over here. Many people object the squinty finders though... My favorite Nikkor is the 105/2.5 but you can get that for slr aswell. Good start for the new year - stay safe.
Those are solid options. I actually have the Shika Elektra and it’s fantastic camera I just completely blanked and forgot to include that one. And yes that context line is really nice. I really want a kiev 4 since it’s basically same. And that 105 you can’t go wrong with
@@graham_white - once you have held a Contax IIa/ IIIa in good condition in your hands you might not want to go back to Kiev. Early Kievs come closest.
Just to point out, the Nikon S3 year 2000, the newer one you mentioned,is way more expensive that the original one. It usually comes with the 50mm F1.4 lens fashioning a new coating. An incredible piece of glass comparable to Leitz lenses
I have the Konica C35 Automatic, I picked it up as 'spares or repairs for £10 as the shutter was stuck. It was actually a bargain as I just fired the shutter several times and it is now working perfectly, I guess it got stuck through lack of use?
Very common with leaf shutters. Sometimes all it takes is just that firing the shutter a few times. Other times a light cleaning of the front will unstick/dislodge then I to working. They are rather bulletproof other than that for the most part.
I hate to be the "well technically" guy....but...The Nikon S3 does have Parallax correction, it is just manual. the small brackets on the top and left allow a certain level of parallax correction, while not as accurate as other models you show they work okay. There are a decent number of lenses for Nikon RFs made by Nikon and other Japanese companies of the era as well as modern Voightlander lenses and some early Contax RF lenses from around the same time period but there are a few tricks to using them.
Very correct. I made it a point to show it has the bracket lines but does not automatically adjust like the Konica but I must have left it out after all. thanks for the reminder!
@@graham_white Nikon S's are my prefered film shooters, so I could go on about them all day, though I know no one really wants to hear me ramble on about them. The longer lenses 85mm and 105mm are nice lenses that offer a lot of dramatic bokeh. I personally prefer the wider ones. All-in-all it is a great system that is very underrated.
@@graham_white they are completely identical functionally. Their only difference is cosmetics. Update: I was incorrect when I said it sells “much cheaper” than the SP version. It IS indeed cheaper but only slightly to moderately so.
@@graham_white ah, I did find one difference just by observing the models on eBay, the UC version adds a battery check button and light indicator on the back. Yet another reason to get the UC version!
@@graham_white okay. After seeing yet another version: the 35SPn, I’ve got this figured out finally. 35 SP 35 SPn-cosmetically the same as SP but adds battery check button and light indicator (rarest model of the 3). 35 UC -a cosmetically different version of the SPn
Thanks for your video. I do have the canon ql17, good, the konica s3nauto, great, although my copy is not perfect condition and the olympus 35sp, amazing. However the one i end up shooting the most with is the small olympus trip35. Not the same quality, but So compact, so easy, always with me. Lol.
So I’m going to Japan for my honeymoon and I’m trying to decide between buying a simple point and shoot 35 mm camera or one with a rangefinder. I know I want to take photos of Mt. Fuji so I’m curious to know what you think I should get? I’m very new to photography
Depends. If you are completely new to photography and specifically film, a point and shoot will be much more forgiving and require less effort and time. The shooting experience of a rangefinder is much more appealing and better cameras a lot of times since you have control of settings. Just depends on how comfortable you are with it.
@@graham_white Thank you for the advise! I decided to go with a Cannon Sure Shot 105 zoom 35mm camera I found for $60 on eBay. I think the zoom will let me get some good shots of Mt. Fuji from afar.
I think your prices are mostly all a little low, at least from what i’m seeing, but you did say you did minimal research, so no big deal, but that said, nice video. I love me some rangefinders. Watching this made me want more...lol.. *resist, resist....
Ya the Nikon s gets up there quick. Iiia are slightly cheaper. The III are still a good deal though since body is same as the A just lacking better viewfinder etc
@@graham_white my rangefinders for now: olympus 35 rc and Canon canonet 28.i know - not the best choice, but I got them for 50€ (for both). Just a bit cleaning + new battery and both are in perfect condition for me. Thank you for your video 👍
Merci pour la vidéo ! Je faisais des recherches depuis quelques temps mais je ne trouvais rien qui me décidait. J’ai finalement opté pour le Konica C35 et je suis très contente de mon choix, merci pour les conseils clairs et précieux !
@@graham_white if you need hammering a nail and you only have your Minolta 7s with you... guess what... it works perfectly. It is definitely a heavy camera.
@@graham_white It's a hefty well built camera (of course it's well built, it's Minolta) and was very advanced for its time: It can do all autoexposure modes! Shutter or aperture priority and even fully metered! As far as I know it is one of the only rangefinders to do that. The lens is a great 45mm f/1.8 Rokkor.
@@graham_white Don't know if you're talking about the original Hi-Matic 7s (which was an early-'60s contemporary of the Konica Auto S2, with similar size and build) or the later compact-size Hi-Matic 7s2, which looked almost exactly like the Konica Auto S3... not surprising since they were both built by a contract manufacturer (probably Cosina or Chinon, guesses differ.) All of this whole class were what you might call “medium-duty” cameras... kind of silly to compare build quality since none of them were designed to last 50+ years, so differences ow are mostly down to how much an individual example was used and how well it was taken care of.
Believe it or not it was in the shelf right behind me.... totally blanked on that one. 🤦♂️ Probably cause I’ve talked about it before so I mentally checked it off I guess.
Ive used that camera for years and it was literally sitting in my drawer... no clue how I completely blanked on that one but yes it is a solid budget friendly option with great results.
There are Facebook groups, thought not always useful. If Nikon is your main interest Richard Haw has an amazing site that gives lots of info on rangefinder, early F and lens repair.
@@graham_white I have bought and fixed a retina of all 5 kodak retina reflex series slr cameras (the iii has two variant with a large photo sensor and with a small photosensor) and I think they are ok, I thought they were great untill I got a Nikon F and Canon FT and realized just how much more convenient the cameras are. No bottom winder, miror stays down regardless of wind. And Easier to work on as there is no pesky rod and spring you have to keep in place when attaching the front plate with shutter. However the retina folding is a different story as it is simple to work on and folds very compact. So I recommend getting the folding one and if you aren't spooked by weird ergonomics then try a retina reflex iv. That is the best one with most issues fixed except for mirror issues.
The vast majority of them do from my experience. There is usually a lever in the front side below shutter button ( for most slr cameras) which gives you a usually up to 10 seconds but varies depending on model. A lot of rangefinders have the same feature and light and shoots usually have a button somewhere on the top or beck
I actually had an Electra and totally blanked on including it in this. It is awesome. I really enjoyed mind. All but Silent shutter, fast lens, retro look and great price. Just make sure it’s working when you purchase. It will fire automatically at like 1/60 no matter what unless battery and electronics are working
i have the olympus 35 sp and i love everything about it but it’s really difficult for me to line up the focus because the superimposed images aren’t super well defined. do u run into that issue as well or do u think mine might need to be serviced or something? great vid!
It is a great little camera. Could be that the focus pitch ha faded away but I would think more likely the viewfinder needs to be cleaned inside and out. Dust, haze etc can make it very difficult to see
I did notice that. A lower end model can be around there but yeah the nicer ones especially the one with the 1.8 f stop (I believe that is the correct number) is obviously much more expensive.
You don't really NEED any specific type of 35mm camera. It all depends on what you want to do and what you are most comfortable using to get you the best results. Rangefinders are great cause they are relatively simple and straight forward with the vast majority having fixed lenses. If you want more versatility with glass go with an slr. There is no right answer, just comes down to what is going to be best for you.
I have come across a few and seem them but personally never used them. They aren't extremely popular or abundant but that does not mean by any standard that they aren't any good. most price action today is generated by hype.
Considering each has decent glass on rhe front, the final photos will be more or less identical. It really comes down to subjective ergonomics and personal ahooting style. The Nikon is slow to shoot and has some missing features, why is it so expensive? Takes the same film. Seema to coat more for sale of costing more but wont yield better reaults because the film is the film. Will the lens really give an image thats a $1000 sharper over the auto S2? Probably not.
I had one for very little money. The lens is pretty good and sharp indeed but the body's build quality isn't exactly top notch, not very different from all the other similar cameras of that era. Long story short: My camera broke after shooting only a handful of rolls.
It’s a rangefinder so the lens is part of the body. Can’t be simply taken off and replaced. Would have to buy a parts body and know how to disassemble/ replace elements
Have you ever used a Konica S/s2/s3 non auto? There is VVEEERRYYY little information on them but they look like winners. I'd love to see how the three series compare. The iii, S and auto S/auto s2.
Konica C35: No manual exposure options; construction quality not as good as you think. Konica Auto S2: good lens and finder, has manual exposure options, but doesn't stand up to hard use. Canonet is about the same but newer, so most you find will have a little more life left in them. Braun Paxette: They break a lot; heavy metal doesn't necessarily mean high construction quality. Olympus 35SP: Super-long shutter release travel; meter doesn't work in manual mode (not that it matters because you can't get batteries anyway); no parallax compensation; ridiculously overpriced due to hipster fanboy hype. Nikon S3: Viewfinder frame lines are reflected (rather than projected as on the Konica IIIa) so finder is less contrasty and more flare-prone, especially if hazy from years of dirt; more expensive but really no better than comparable Canon models such as P and 7; large selection of lenses available from 21 to 135+ but they're all insanely expensive, as are repairs. Konica IIIA: terrific design but they're all 60+ years old now, so don't buy one unless it works perfectly and has no missing parts. PS since people are commenting about them: all the Soviet RFs are interesting to collect or for occasional fun use, but not reliable enough for taking pictures you care about (unless you're a repairman and don't mind tinkering with them.)
Thanks for all the input! I would like to go more in depth on these individually later but seeing as how this was already a 20 minute video had to keep it brief. They C35, Auto S2, QL and 35SP are definitely not great build quality for sure, Auto s2 being the worst I would think. I totally forgot about that important viewfinder difference so good call on that. I do think if you find a Konica IIIA in good working condition it should last you a long time compared to the rest in this lineup. And lastly yes the soviets are super cheap and can be fun with cool results. but yeah reliability is poor to say the least. their main appeal is the cost and the interesting bokeh I would think.
Oh dear what a reductionist jaundiced view. For the record I have a Zorki 4, extremely robust, fifty years old with a great Jupiter lens, and no repairs ever needed,works like a trojan. Can even work in freezing temp when other much more expensive cameras have given up. You're entirely wrong about Russian cameras. Their main selling point is their robustness and reliability, and generally no need of batteries. Mine can shoot happily all day long with just sunny 16 rule and rolls of film.
I mean. It’s a fun little rangefinder, if you want something ultra compact for walking around or jus having in jags it’s great. For projects or travel I would prefer some thing a little bit more robust
It's a pity you didn't mention the FSU rangefinders, the Leica copy Fed (later versions with frame finders and/or selenium light meter) and Zorki (looks like a screw-mount Leica) or the Contax copy Kiev (with or without meter). Contax rangefinders are VERY rare and horribly expensive. All of these take copies of Zeiss designed lenses, and the 35mm f2.8, 85mm f2 and 135mm f4 can be had for a much lower price than Nikon lenses (Nikon basically put a Leica shutter into a modified Contax body, and the first Nikon rangefinders used (whisper it) Canon lenses, adapted to a mount similar to Contax (lenses other than 50mm use the external bayonet and have their own focus scales). Nikon and Contax lenses aren't interchangeable due to different definitions of 50mm. Canon, of course, simply copied the Leica to begin with, but like Nikon progressively tweaked the design. Canon turned to SLRs when Leitz refused permission to use the M-series bayonet mount.
I would like to hear about lens image optical performance, more than anything else. For example, which lens (integrated) can match the Zeiss 35mm f2 lens of Sony RX1? Great content. Thank you.
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"I really like it. I haven't used it yet." Mmmkay....
The Canon P might also have been worth mentioning. I've had the pleasure of using my brothers for a while now and absolutely fell in love!
I briefly mentioned it at the end of the video. It is a good option
Been browsing them lately
Absolutely adore the viewfinder overlays you do. So good!
Thanks! hope they are helpful
My personal favourite is the Argus C3. It is my go-to camera that I get professional results from and is solidly built and dependable. Most importantly they usually cost $20. Many people say it’s clunky and clumsy to use, but I’ve been using it for a while and once you get used to it, it becomes second nature and and actually preferable to more modern cameras. The Cintar lens standard is superb and gives nice character to the photos.
I have seen some great images taken on those. they are just so different looks wise I think it turns people away.
Thanks for the video.
Here are the 35mm rangefinder cameras I have owned and used:
Canon Canonet QL17 G-III with fixed 40mm f/1.7 lens
Minolta Hi-Matic 9 with fixed 45 f/1.7 lens
Argus C-3 with 35mm f/4.5, 50 f/3.5, and 100mm f/4.5 lenses
Contax G1 with 21mm f/2.8, 28mm f/2.8, 45mm f/2, and 90mm f/2.8 lenses
Leica M6 with 21mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.4, and 90mm f/2 lenses
Of my two fixed lens rangefinder cameras, I use the Canonet more than the Minolta because I prefer the 40mm focal length lens to the 45mm.
Of my three interchangeable lens rangefinder cameras, I use the Leica more than the Contax or the Argus because I prefer the Leica's faster lenses.
Konica 3A is an amazing camera indeed. Thank you for your great review!
thanks Alexey!
Nice to see some options other than Leica. Rangefinders are really cool cameras. Cheers.
haha, anything but Leica.
Found a Konica C35 at Goodwill for $25 in mint condition with the leather case . I love the size of this thing. Can’t wait to finish my first roll of film through it
Nice! it's a cool little compact. enjoy!
They made a bunch of good lenses for the Nikon rangefinders, but they get pricey quick. The S3 2000's go for a lot more which is the limited run you mentioned - the 50mm f1.4 was remade with modern coatings too. That said the vintage 50 is still a great lens imo.
19:01 the focus wheel on the camera body is intended to not be quick. It's for critical focusing for things like portraits with a shallow depth of field or for medical stuff.
Hi, I like the former Soviet rangefinders like Zorki, FED and Kiev. But als Moskva's. They are great camera's and made very well.
I can definitely vouch for the C35! I have the EF model and the lens is so sharp for such a basic camera. I recently upgraded to a Uniomat 2 but still take my C35 when i go out shooting, loaded with LomoChrome. It's so light and compact that I don't really notice it in my carry bag. It's pretty limited in terms of exposure range but for outdoor daylight shooting It's treated me really well.
Just got an olympus 35rc, I just got a leica barnack a few months before it. I love the olympus though, it seems so much easier to use. I am new to film, but enjoying it a lot more than my digital camera. Really enjoying videos like yours, thank you!
Nice! Solid pick ups. Thanks Kevin! Hope they are helpful.
I made a noob mistake with my rangefinder which is taking a photo with the lens cap on!
If you’ve never done that you haven’t been shooting film long enough
Of my inexpensive rangefinders and not mentioned so far here I would recommend the Kodak Retina 111C folding camera from the late 50's. The German build quality is superb, you get a 50mm f2 lens with the option of interchangeable 35mm and 80mm alternatives and a big bright viewfinder. My Olympus rangefinder is the 35 RD, a more compact camera than the SP with a nice f1.7 40mm Zuiko lens. Like the SP it has an auto function but the shutter is much quieter.
I shot with a Canon Canonet QL 17 G3 for years.
I love that camera, it sparked my love of 40mm lenses.
Nice video! I'd like to add the not so well known Yashica Electro 35 GX, a small fixed lens RF with automatic AP mode only. Decent viewfinder, small size, and a sharp 40mm f1,7 lens. Yashica cameras are pretty good and the lens on this beauty is top notch. Only lacking a bit in build quality or finish compared to more expenisve cameras, but at least it's nearly all metal.
I have an electro and love it. Totally blanked on including it, no idea why
So so cool rangerfinders and nice choices you showed there! Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
@@graham_white Thanks buddy! Just posted ton my VLOG he choices of rangefinder I have for 2022! Thanks, buddy!
I would say that the Zorki would be a great choice. The leica iii and ii series would also be a great replace ment for the Nikon s
Dig your stuff. Another cooool Olympus camera is the 35LC. It has most of the features of the SP but just more manual.
Thanks! There are several in that line I need to dig into details on. I’ve seen that pop up in search before but haven’t looked into specs. I’ll do that now for sure.
@@graham_white if you like the SP You'll like the LC 🙂
Man, great video as always!! I really like the rangefinders you mentioned and not so “influencer-popular” ones. Enjoyed watching!
Cool video. Many of the Braun Paxette and Super Paxette cameras also have interchangeable lenses. I have an 85mm for mine.
I also am fond of my Zorki 4.
And if you can't afford a Mamiya 7 but want to shoot 6x7 with a rangefinder the Koni Omega Rapid cameras are very good cameras and have good glass. It is also the only bolt action rangefinder and has the interesting distinction of having been designed by Omega, and produced by Konica and later Mamiya took over production.
I’ve actually shot with the koni omega. I didn’t even think about that since it was medium format but your absolutely right very cool camera you don’t hear much about and yes great glass. I need to look into the paxette line more they are rather interesting, I think like a year after this video I discovered one with interchangeable lenses which was rather intriguing. The 85 sounds very nice, I’m curious about the glass quality
Kiev 4a is a quirky copy(war reparation from the Contax Ziess factory) with a great rangefinder and the awesome Jupiter 8 50mm f2 lens.
correct. great camera
The fujica35SE was my first film camera I got it at a church sale and it’s super easy to focus with and the standard lens is great they go for pretty cheap online
I just got a Fujica 35 Se, it’s fantastic, meter works good too
After 50 yrs. Plus shooting film in Canon & Nikon SLR's, I've pulled the pin & dove into digital with a Nikon DSLR & 3 LENSES. Having learned from some excellent mentors how darkrooms & light meters work, digital was a leap! The lenses for the Nikon D3200 are very good, but the lens on the Canonet GIII 1.7 will make slides sharp enough for more than 100 inch enlargement for projections. It's probably just an opinion, but I like doing the processing myself, even when the computers in the DSLR try to do that for me. BTW: my film cameras are over 40 yrs. old & none of them has or needs a shutter counter!
Best channel (by far) for less common film cameras!
Dude. Much appreciated 🙏🏻🙌
Nikon S have a Contax bayonet mount. The focus is similar to the Contax RF. It takes time to get used to.
Overall a great video! I'm just like everyone else, owning a Voigtländer Bessa R2. But I also happen to have a Canonet QL19 GIII (really good camera, much cheaper than the QL17) and I need to make one correction. You said they require a battery to work. The light meter does, the shutter does not. It's an all mechanical camera with an electric light meter. If the battery runs out, you can still take photos with it.
thanks! Correct the GIII only needs it to run the meter. there are a few versions I think I had the 2.8 lens and another older model which I believe require a battery to operate outside of the default shutter which is like 1/60. That or I was thinking of another rangefinder when mentioning it ha.
The Nikon shares the same mount as the Contax rangefinders of the same era. It’s called the Contax RF mount. In fact the camera bodies themselves looked very similar. Not sure who copied who. But there’s a wide variety of lenses. I own the Contax II, really looking to get one of the Nikons as well. My Contax has a f1.5 Zeus Sonnar lens on it. Currently not in working condition though 😒
Ah, I thought they looked very similar. That definitely makes the lens mount more appealing and easier to work with. Dang, thats unfortunate. I am sure they aren't cheap to have repaired.
To my understanding Russian Kiev cameras have the same RF mount as Contax and Nikon. And a bunch of lenses that Russians made otherwise for the LTM (M39) mount (Zorkis and Feds) they also made for Kiev cameras in RF mount, starting with the legendary Jupiter 8, so there's possibly a cheap alternative for extra lenses for ya...
@@tomislavmiletic_ I believe that the Kiev 1-3 were built in the same factory or with the same stock as contax so its basically a contax which is nice.
@@graham_white yep
If im not mistaken, this is actually the Nikon S3, you can tell by the shutter speed dial, however not major differences, there are a handful of Nikon brand glass you can buy for it, such as a 135 or 50 f.2. Hope you enjoy it, I love mine. The S, did not have an advance lever, and is why it is so much cheaper than the 2 or 3
Correct! S3. Must have forgot to say that. Ha yes the S is MUCH more affordable. Ever tried contax glass on yours? Someone else recently suggested that
@@graham_white I haven’t but that sounds intriguing!
Totally love my Konica IIIA! Pound for pound as good as any Leica, certainly M mounts and maybe even a tad better. That Hexanon 50 1.8 is marvelously sharp and I’d put it up against any 50. Simple hinged back to load film vs the somewhat flimsy way to load film in a Leica. Also, a fact often overlooked is that with the leaf shutter of the Konica IIIA one can sync flash all the way up to 1/500th instead of the abysmal 1/50th sync speed of the M6, the most popular hipster Leica. Yes, none of the cameras mentioned are really bought for flash photography but just saying. Yes, you do get an extra stop with Leica and the ability to change lenses but that isn’t necessary for me whom shoots with nothing but 50s on all my cameras. But hey, a lot of ‘em like that little red dot Graham. Not me. And yes, that phenomenal viewfinder of the Konica IIIA.
Haha, couldn’t have said it better myself. Good call in the flash sync. Agreed not used by many but worth noting.
Konica auto S3 and Konica Auto 1.6 are good too.
Nice choice of rangefinders 👌! Love the Braun Paxette and the Konica IIIa. My personal favorites were the Yashica 35 Electro GX and the Zeiss Ikon Contax line, they have great lenses, fairly well available over here. Many people object the squinty finders though... My favorite Nikkor is the 105/2.5 but you can get that for slr aswell. Good start for the new year - stay safe.
Those are solid options. I actually have the Shika Elektra and it’s fantastic camera I just completely blanked and forgot to include that one. And yes that context line is really nice. I really want a kiev 4 since it’s basically same. And that 105 you can’t go wrong with
@@graham_white - once you have held a Contax IIa/ IIIa in good condition in your hands you might not want to go back to Kiev. Early Kievs come closest.
@@graham_white - always wanted to have a Nikon SP and just bought the perfect substitute for that - the Yashica YK 😜!
@@sentimental7167 nice!
Just to point out, the Nikon S3 year 2000, the newer one you mentioned,is way more expensive that the original one. It usually comes with the 50mm F1.4 lens fashioning a new coating. An incredible piece of glass comparable to Leitz lenses
Thanks for sharing
The Nikon S3 was modeled after the Contax rangefinders and takes the same lenses.
Correct
No not all.. longer focal lenses greater than 50mm are not compatible
If my memory still OK, Nikon RF uses old Contax RF mount... And Carl Zeiss lenses.
I have the Konica C35 Automatic, I picked it up as 'spares or repairs for £10 as the shutter was stuck.
It was actually a bargain as I just fired the shutter several times and it is now working perfectly, I guess it got stuck through lack of use?
Very common with leaf shutters. Sometimes all it takes is just that firing the shutter a few times. Other times a light cleaning of the front will unstick/dislodge then I to working. They are rather bulletproof other than that for the most part.
I hate to be the "well technically" guy....but...The Nikon S3 does have Parallax correction, it is just manual. the small brackets on the top and left allow a certain level of parallax correction, while not as accurate as other models you show they work okay. There are a decent number of lenses for Nikon RFs made by Nikon and other Japanese companies of the era as well as modern Voightlander lenses and some early Contax RF lenses from around the same time period but there are a few tricks to using them.
Very correct. I made it a point to show it has the bracket lines but does not automatically adjust like the Konica but I must have left it out after all. thanks for the reminder!
@@graham_white Nikon S's are my prefered film shooters, so I could go on about them all day, though I know no one really wants to hear me ramble on about them. The longer lenses 85mm and 105mm are nice lenses that offer a lot of dramatic bokeh. I personally prefer the wider ones. All-in-all it is a great system that is very underrated.
There are also the Russian rangefinders like FED and Zorki, both of which are good value for money (but nowhere near as reliable).
I do really like them but ya you have to be a bit more cautious when investing in them
Accurate and easy to acquire target
Pro tip: The Olympus 35 SP had another version in all black but is the same camera: the Olympus 35 UC. It sells for much cheaper than the SP version.
thanks Alex! I am sure there are a few differences in settings correct?
@@graham_white they are completely identical functionally. Their only difference is cosmetics.
Update: I was incorrect when I said it sells “much cheaper” than the SP version. It IS indeed cheaper but only slightly to moderately so.
@@graham_white ah, I did find one difference just by observing the models on eBay, the UC version adds a battery check button and light indicator on the back. Yet another reason to get the UC version!
@@alexblaze8878 Pricing changes so quickly now with trends etc on these old cameras.
@@graham_white okay. After seeing yet another version: the 35SPn, I’ve got this figured out finally.
35 SP
35 SPn-cosmetically the same as SP but adds battery check button and light indicator (rarest model of the 3).
35 UC -a cosmetically different version of the SPn
Thanks for your video. I do have the canon ql17, good, the konica s3nauto, great, although my copy is not perfect condition and the olympus 35sp, amazing. However the one i end up shooting the most with is the small olympus trip35. Not the same quality, but So compact, so easy, always with me. Lol.
So I’m going to Japan for my honeymoon and I’m trying to decide between buying a simple point and shoot 35 mm camera or one with a rangefinder. I know I want to take photos of Mt. Fuji so I’m curious to know what you think I should get? I’m very new to photography
Depends. If you are completely new to photography and specifically film, a point and shoot will be much more forgiving and require less effort and time. The shooting experience of a rangefinder is much more appealing and better cameras a lot of times since you have control of settings. Just depends on how comfortable you are with it.
@@graham_white Thank you for the advise! I decided to go with a Cannon Sure Shot 105 zoom 35mm camera I found for $60 on eBay. I think the zoom will let me get some good shots of Mt. Fuji from afar.
The Auto S2 doesn’t actually require batteries to operate. That’s only for metering
correct, for optional operations, aka metering, it needs one.
Graham, super video a lot of camera I didnt know about. Thanks!
🙌😁
I think your prices are mostly all a little low, at least from what i’m seeing, but you did say you did minimal research, so no big deal, but that said, nice video. I love me some rangefinders. Watching this made me want more...lol.. *resist, resist....
Konica IIIA and Nikon S series rangefinders are crazy in price. Starting from almost 500EUR.
Ya the Nikon s gets up there quick. Iiia are slightly cheaper. The III are still a good deal though since body is same as the A just lacking better viewfinder etc
@@graham_white my rangefinders for now: olympus 35 rc and Canon canonet 28.i know - not the best choice, but I got them for 50€ (for both). Just a bit cleaning + new battery and both are in perfect condition for me. Thank you for your video 👍
@@IvarsDayLab those are still great cameras. thanks for sharing!
@@graham_white thanks for great content 👍
Merci pour la vidéo ! Je faisais des recherches depuis quelques temps mais je ne trouvais rien qui me décidait. J’ai finalement opté pour le Konica C35 et je suis très contente de mon choix, merci pour les conseils clairs et précieux !
Great video. Thanks! I’d trow in the Minolta 7s and the Yashica Electro GTN too... but my favorite is the Olympus SP great lens
.... I forgot to include the Electra. dang. The Minolta 7s have interested me for a while, Im curious about their build and image quality.
@@graham_white if you need hammering a nail and you only have your Minolta 7s with you... guess what... it works perfectly. It is definitely a heavy camera.
@@graham_white It's a hefty well built camera (of course it's well built, it's Minolta) and was very advanced for its time: It can do all autoexposure modes! Shutter or aperture priority and even fully metered! As far as I know it is one of the only rangefinders to do that. The lens is a great 45mm f/1.8 Rokkor.
@@graham_white Don't know if you're talking about the original Hi-Matic 7s (which was an early-'60s contemporary of the Konica Auto S2, with similar size and build) or the later compact-size Hi-Matic 7s2, which looked almost exactly like the Konica Auto S3... not surprising since they were both built by a contract manufacturer (probably Cosina or Chinon, guesses differ.) All of this whole class were what you might call “medium-duty” cameras... kind of silly to compare build quality since none of them were designed to last 50+ years, so differences ow are mostly down to how much an individual example was used and how well it was taken care of.
@@stvdicorsa haha
Where is the yashica electro 35 gsn ? I've ever used it. It's a pretty good rangefinder tho.
Believe it or not it was in the shelf right behind me.... totally blanked on that one. 🤦♂️ Probably cause I’ve talked about it before so I mentally checked it off I guess.
Konica 35 was also one of the Andy Warhols go to cameras
They are really rad.
The Olympus 35 SP is super nice. Sadly does not have half stop between f 1.7 and f 2.8, I wish there was f 2 or f 2.2. Also the shutter is very silent
I was hoping to see you reviewing the Minolta CLE
A lesser known rangefinder for sure, but very nice. Just haven’t come across one or want to drop that kinda money or it would be on the list for sure.
I got mine for free on my 15th birthday my mother gave me a Petri Racer a camera i still use to this day
That’s awesome. I’ve been wanting to try the Petris but I haven’t come across a good deal yet
I suggest a Canon 7 rangefinder with its 50mm 1.4.
I’ve wanted to try one for a while
Where are the FED and Zorki russian cameras? They're very budget cameras and kinda good tbh
Not gonna lie I had a Fed in the closet and I completely forgot to include it. But yes those are also good solid options
No Yashica Electro 35?
Ive used that camera for years and it was literally sitting in my drawer... no clue how I completely blanked on that one but yes it is a solid budget friendly option with great results.
I would vote for a Zorki 4K or a Leica M6.
Very solid options
Where / how does one learn analog/vintage camera repair ? any tips or advice or resources ?
Learncamerarepair.com and the affiliated Facebook group. and looooooots of RUclips repair videos.
There are Facebook groups, thought not always useful. If Nikon is your main interest Richard Haw has an amazing site that gives lots of info on rangefinder, early F and lens repair.
You forgot about all of the kodak retina series.
Very true. Those are popular although personally haven't tried one yet so is stayed away from commenting.
@@graham_white I have bought and fixed a retina of all 5 kodak retina reflex series slr cameras (the iii has two variant with a large photo sensor and with a small photosensor) and I think they are ok, I thought they were great untill I got a Nikon F and Canon FT and realized just how much more convenient the cameras are. No bottom winder, miror stays down regardless of wind. And Easier to work on as there is no pesky rod and spring you have to keep in place when attaching the front plate with shutter.
However the retina folding is a different story as it is simple to work on and folds very compact. So I recommend getting the folding one and if you aren't spooked by weird ergonomics then try a retina reflex iv. That is the best one with most issues fixed except for mirror issues.
I was expecting to see some zorkis, feds, and kievs!!
.... I have 2 feds in my closet... Idk how I missed that.
me too! I even had my Fed 1 in hand 😁
or even a Zorki 4!
@@thibaultdubaret9863 haha
@@thibaultdubaret9863 Yeah I really want to get a Kiev 4 or a zorki at some point I think.
I love my Nikon S2.
hi do you know any film cameras that has self-timer feature?
The vast majority of them do from my experience. There is usually a lever in the front side below shutter button ( for most slr cameras) which gives you a usually up to 10 seconds but varies depending on model. A lot of rangefinders have the same feature and light and shoots usually have a button somewhere on the top or beck
@@graham_white thank you so much for answering!
@@annjenellesosing2774 anytime!
compering to these is the Yashica electro 35mm good ?
I actually had an Electra and totally blanked on including it in this. It is awesome. I really enjoyed mind. All but Silent shutter, fast lens, retro look and great price. Just make sure it’s working when you purchase. It will fire automatically at like 1/60 no matter what unless battery and electronics are working
hey there, thanks for the nice video! which one would you recommend between Olympus 35 SP/SPn and the Olympus 35 RD?
Thanks! Personally I’d go with the 35sp.
Hello I have one these cameras for years got it from the thrift I haven't tried it just general testing. What battery does this camera use?
What camera? I quick Google search should tell you
i have the olympus 35 sp and i love everything about it but it’s really difficult for me to line up the focus because the superimposed images aren’t super well defined. do u run into that issue as well or do u think mine might need to be serviced or something? great vid!
It is a great little camera. Could be that the focus pitch ha faded away but I would think more likely the viewfinder needs to be cleaned inside and out. Dust, haze etc can make it very difficult to see
Awesome vid man. Will have to try that nikon! Subscribed.
No mention of the criminally underrated m5?
ha. there are plenty more that could have been mentioned.
Is the Ricoh 500G any good? I just got it
uhmm hi, is Olympus Pen EE 2 a rangefinder camera or no? thanks in advance
I believe it’s a zone camera but I could be wrong. You pick a distance between close medium or far. The viewfinder is just for composing
@@graham_white ohh I see, once again thank you very much
Anytime!
The Olympus 35RC is my favorite, the lens is shockingly good and it is tiny, silent and auto/manual.
A perfect travel camera.
Those are rad always wanted to try one
Great video dude! I shoot on a Canon P which I LOVE
Thanks! Yeah, I hear good things about the Canon P. I like the lens mount also, gives a lot more options.
As always awesome video!
much appreciated!
Have you tried Konica C35 auto focus?
I have not, how is it?
Exposure lock on a konica c35?
If I remember correctly yes
The Konica C35 pricing isn't that accurate, really depends which model you buy. It can go up as high as $300
I did notice that. A lower end model can be around there but yeah the nicer ones especially the one with the 1.8 f stop (I believe that is the correct number) is obviously much more expensive.
Do I really need a rangefinder as a hobbyist?
You don't really NEED any specific type of 35mm camera. It all depends on what you want to do and what you are most comfortable using to get you the best results. Rangefinders are great cause they are relatively simple and straight forward with the vast majority having fixed lenses. If you want more versatility with glass go with an slr. There is no right answer, just comes down to what is going to be best for you.
Have you ever used a petri racer? Found one at a thrift store and know minimal information.
I have come across a few and seem them but personally never used them. They aren't extremely popular or abundant but that does not mean by any standard that they aren't any good. most price action today is generated by hype.
@@graham_white i have noticed a surprising lack of info on them, ebay and youtube combined. Definitely a unique piece.
@@calebpursselley8945 ya I had noticed that as well, Sounds like I need to get my hands on one ha.
Great video none the less.
Considering each has decent glass on rhe front, the final photos will be more or less identical. It really comes down to subjective ergonomics and personal ahooting style. The Nikon is slow to shoot and has some missing features, why is it so expensive? Takes the same film. Seema to coat more for sale of costing more but wont yield better reaults because the film is the film. Will the lens really give an image thats a $1000 sharper over the auto S2? Probably not.
Nice video and all very interesting cameras but unfortunately the prices are much higher in reality
prices do tend to change over time.
Does anyone know also the Revue 400se with the awsome 1.7 lens
I don't, although it looks like it's just a rebranded Konica C35.
I had one for very little money. The lens is pretty good and sharp indeed but the body's build quality isn't exactly top notch, not very different from all the other similar cameras of that era. Long story short: My camera broke after shooting only a handful of rolls.
@@uncanny_bassman i feel sorry for you. I hope mine last a bit longer
Hi I have Olympus 35 sp but the lens is broken. Where can I buy a new lens for it?
It’s a rangefinder so the lens is part of the body. Can’t be simply taken off and replaced. Would have to buy a parts body and know how to disassemble/ replace elements
@@graham_white thanks for reply then i would have to throw it away sad
@@namjanamja747 you can sell it on Ebay for spare parts. or ship to me for spare parts lol.
Canon 7s vs Nikon 🤔
Now you're talking.
Have you ever used a Konica S/s2/s3 non auto? There is VVEEERRYYY little information on them but they look like winners. I'd love to see how the three series compare. The iii, S and auto S/auto s2.
Leicas are straight up clout goggles.
Very nice clout goggles.
That Nikon looks so much like a Contax or a Kiev 4a - almost a replica.
So tru
Thank you for the options! Oh… and also.. thank you for dying for our sins.
hahaha. That got me pretty good.
Olympus XA-2 ..... 'nuff said
Ooooh that’s a good one. Cheap too
Watching from the Philippines Sir!
Thailand
Hope you upped your knowledge since this video was released.
Great Video! Watched the entire 21:53 minutes!
thank you so much!
Konica C35: No manual exposure options; construction quality not as good as you think. Konica Auto S2: good lens and finder, has manual exposure options, but doesn't stand up to hard use. Canonet is about the same but newer, so most you find will have a little more life left in them. Braun Paxette: They break a lot; heavy metal doesn't necessarily mean high construction quality. Olympus 35SP: Super-long shutter release travel; meter doesn't work in manual mode (not that it matters because you can't get batteries anyway); no parallax compensation; ridiculously overpriced due to hipster fanboy hype. Nikon S3: Viewfinder frame lines are reflected (rather than projected as on the Konica IIIa) so finder is less contrasty and more flare-prone, especially if hazy from years of dirt; more expensive but really no better than comparable Canon models such as P and 7; large selection of lenses available from 21 to 135+ but they're all insanely expensive, as are repairs. Konica IIIA: terrific design but they're all 60+ years old now, so don't buy one unless it works perfectly and has no missing parts. PS since people are commenting about them: all the Soviet RFs are interesting to collect or for occasional fun use, but not reliable enough for taking pictures you care about (unless you're a repairman and don't mind tinkering with them.)
Thanks for all the input! I would like to go more in depth on these individually later but seeing as how this was already a 20 minute video had to keep it brief. They C35, Auto S2, QL and 35SP are definitely not great build quality for sure, Auto s2 being the worst I would think. I totally forgot about that important viewfinder difference so good call on that. I do think if you find a Konica IIIA in good working condition it should last you a long time compared to the rest in this lineup. And lastly yes the soviets are super cheap and can be fun with cool results. but yeah reliability is poor to say the least. their main appeal is the cost and the interesting bokeh I would think.
Oh dear what a reductionist jaundiced view. For the record I have a Zorki 4, extremely robust, fifty years old with a great Jupiter lens, and no repairs ever needed,works like a trojan. Can even work in freezing temp when other much more expensive cameras have given up. You're entirely wrong about Russian cameras. Their main selling point is their robustness and reliability, and generally no need of batteries. Mine can shoot happily all day long with just sunny 16 rule and rolls of film.
Kanto MR-9 battery adapter for LR43’s (not LR44) will provide 1.35v as a P625 replacement so you’re wrong on replacement battery procurement.
is it worth getting a konica c35?
I mean. It’s a fun little rangefinder, if you want something ultra compact for walking around or jus having in jags it’s great. For projects or travel I would prefer some thing a little bit more robust
It's a pity you didn't mention the FSU rangefinders, the Leica copy Fed (later versions with frame finders and/or selenium light meter) and Zorki (looks like a screw-mount Leica) or the Contax copy Kiev (with or without meter).
Contax rangefinders are VERY rare and horribly expensive.
All of these take copies of Zeiss designed lenses, and the 35mm f2.8, 85mm f2 and 135mm f4 can be had for a much lower price than Nikon lenses (Nikon basically put a Leica shutter into a modified Contax body, and the first Nikon rangefinders used (whisper it) Canon lenses, adapted to a mount similar to Contax (lenses other than 50mm use the external bayonet and have their own focus scales).
Nikon and Contax lenses aren't interchangeable due to different definitions of 50mm.
Canon, of course, simply copied the Leica to begin with, but like Nikon progressively tweaked the design. Canon turned to SLRs when Leitz refused permission to use the M-series bayonet mount.
I really like my canon A35F
They are solid
Is that Peter Mckinnon?
On a very low budget with super old cameras and if you squint your eyes and tilt your head just right and set your standards very low… it’s spot on
@@graham_white I love this vid
Thx
I would like to hear about lens image optical performance, more than anything else.
For example, which lens (integrated) can match the Zeiss 35mm f2 lens of Sony RX1?
Great content. Thank you.
ha, that would be quite an intense video. This is much more ground level. Thanks!
I don't want cameras to be "smart." I'll do the thinking, the camera will capture the image.
My thoughts exactly