RANGEFINDER FILM CAMERAS!

[@theblackandwhitefilmproject]

Great video as always. I have just bought a Rollei 35S. So small and totally manual- light meter doesn't work but that's OK. I have to think about Sunny 16, Aperture Priority, Depth of field, Zone focusing, Hyperfocal distance and Parallax adjustment for close focusing. Now that is learning the craft! Plus it is so small it fits in my jacket pocket. Next up is developing my negatives. This camera is so much fun.

[@AdventurousInsight]

The XA IS a rangefinder! I think it’s under the compact rangefinder category.

[@bhop0073]

Agree, you still have to focus with the “rangefinder” patch. Definitely not a point and shoot.

[@analog_cafe]

Yes, XA is a rangefinder! There are lots of XA models (XA1 XA2 XA3) that don't have a rangefinder though. An easy way to identify XA rangefinder camera is by seeing aperture toggle on the front of the camera (instead of a distance toggle on the non-rangefinder versions). XA rangefinder also has f/2.8 lens.

[@rickenbacker1996]

I bought a yashica electro a while back that I never quite connected with, just purchased my first XA like 20 minutes ago and super stoked to experiment with it. Thanks for the vid!

[@Sapphire61]

Wise words about borrowing or renting before purchase. Having shot SLRs the DSLRs for a few decades I am very curious about Rangefinders and want to add one to my collection. But I need to experience one before unloading a chunk of change! Thank you for this video and many for many others you have produced. I am slowly working my way through your library. Cheers from 900 miles north of you on Vancouver Island BC.

[@DVisser14]

Yashica Electro 35 GSN is king in my books. Best value rengefinder for the money!! :D

[@yamkotea]

@JNCL Bulgogi man where do people keep finding this 5$ cameras lol i swear the cheapest functioning yashicas i can find on ebay dont go bellow 50

[@labradorhund7769]

Love the new intro! Production value has gone up so much in your videos! Love my M6 and the Olympus XA : )

[@KingJvpes]

Appreciate it man!! Just wait till next video 🤫

[@twoeager]

Jonathan I just got the Zorki 4K rangefinder with the Jupiter 8 m39 mount lens. used it yesterday for the first time. its based on the leica i and leica ii. has no light meter so i was guessing with sunny 16. Have you ever used one ?

[@MalcolmBarron]

Lee Bryant , The Zorki 4K is a great intro to rangefinder cameras. The only downsides are that it doesn’t have frame lines in the viewfinder for anything other than 50 mm and the slow speeds often don’t work.

[@twoeager]

@@MalcolmBarron i prefer 50mm. and i don't use the slow speeds anyways mate. but it is a nice camera :-)

[@certs743]

A couple of other really good options are the Minolta Himatic 7 or 7s, or a FED or Zorki or some of the Japanese screw mount Leica clones. I love my Hi-matic 7s and my Zorki 4 and it has alot of options for lenses. With a Zorki you get basically a Barnack style Leica without the price tag and without the fiddly bottom loading.

[@MalcolmBarron]

A mention for the Canon model 7 and P interchangeable lens rangefinders. Great performance for a great price. They have the Leica thread mount and can take a vast selection of lenses including Leica models.

[@seanc5718]

Canon P/7 is one of the best non Leica options out there... and they're cheap

[@charliefm826]

QL17 is for f/1.7 lens, there were also QL19s for 1.9, QL28 with a 2.8 etc

[@punkrachmaninoff]

this comment singlehandedly drove the price of the QL17 up by 400%

[@grahvis]

I have a QL19, picked it up in a London street market. I had to tighten the screws holding the lens unit to the body but it only cost me £5.

[@KuroShiroo]

@@punkrachmaninoff its already more than 150 bucks in my country

[@Inotsosunny]

@@punkrachmaninoff this comment needs more likes. Or less?

[@kennyli3225]

I got a QL17 GIII awhile back and loved it. I tricked the camera by buffering a single SR44/LR44 battery with a ball of aluminum foil and the meter seemed to work, if leaning a bit towards underexposure. However I did read a lot about maintenance issues and issues with the camera internals in general, but went ahead and got one on hype anyway. I put two rolls through it before the shutter stuck and stopped firing. Because the lens is fixed, it can be difficult to get inside to lubricate or clean whatever is the issue because you need to disassemble the lens from the front or the back. Its price is a bit inflated at the moment too ($100-130 or more for one in good cosmetic condition) so if you wanna cop one of these, I suggest paying a premium and finding one that has had a recent CLA.

[@alisinclair8529]

I’ve been using a Yashica 35 GX recently, really enjoying it

[@kev229]

KONICA S3!!! Criminally underrated. No better rangefinder at it’s price range. I’ve had a QL17 but the S3 is superior.

[@sadadaliw6960]

uhmm hi can I ask you, is Olympus Pen EE 2 a rangefinder camera? or it's a point and shoot camera? thanks in advance

[@nicksaysgo]

Just subbed, homie. Thank you for the video. Was trying to figure out differences between a standard point & shoot and a rangefinder joint, this def put me in the right direction 🤝

[@Flashmobrock]

Your videos are so good man, informative and edited so well!

[@KingJvpes]

🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️

[@Avividlife]

Great video! I've had an Olympus but it wasn't really for me. The Rollie 35 is definitely my choice. ( Which you can borrow to try out at anytime🙏) I'M looking for a bessa r3m, but I'm not sure if it being mechanical will prevent lock up, I just know I've had better luck with all mechanical cameras. Some other range finders you may be interested in are the Minolta cl, hexar RF, & the Zeiss ikon zm. All m mount👍

[@duffman9908]

What do you think of a Konica Auto S2 for a rangefinder?

[@nightsbeatswitchgood]

A very cheap interchangeable lens rangefinder option would be a FED-2! I have one and I'm really happy with the results. It's basically a soviet copy of a Leica 3. It has an M39 mount, so it's fairly versatile. Also, you mentioned people with glasses may prefer rangefinders - personally, I would take your glasses off if you're using a rangefinder. The (usually) metal viewfinder will just scratch your glasses, and the smaller viewfinder will also be difficult the further your eye is.

[@youngum78]

Dude! Your Vlogs are the best. My favorite for Film and photography. Thanks for all of the awesome insight!!!

[@mysterionbutwhy2536]

hi, i have a rangefinder but the shutter speed is only up to 1/500, if i want to shoot at night with an 800 iso film can i make it compensate by adjusting the aperature or it's impossible to shoot at night?

[@gukfilms7441]

im very new to film photography. Started with Samsung AF-Slim and now just paid for an Olympus 35 dc without knowing a thing about range finders 😅 i know sum. But i don’t know how to use aperture and shutter

[@jodywooten5511]

So, I also live in the bay area, finding a place to process film is getting hard, or do you do your own processing

[@composeexpose8009]

Great video. Rangefinder primes are also typically sharper than SLR primes of the same vintage because they don't require a retrofocus design for wide focal lengths since there is no mirror box. Also, because there is no mirror box there is no mirror slap and to create a slight shake at the time of exposure. A great way to get into rangefinder with interchangeable lenses is the Canon 7. Body is around $150-200 and it takes Leica thread mount lenses if you want to use Leica. However, Canon makes decent LTM lenses and you can pick up a complete Canon 7 with a 50mm 1.8 Canon lens for $200-250.

[@matteogiordano6166]

Wait wait wait how can the two images merge together if the mirror is in front of the viewfinder? The way you did the drawing is like s reflex that doesn't need the mirror to flip!

[@trillstreetz20011]

How do you frame photos without looking through the lens? I bought a Texas Leica and it's coming Monday. I don't want to chop the legs and arms off of my subjects LOL

[@bhop0073]

If you're serious, the viewfinder will have framelines that correspond with whatever lens is on the camera. Keep your subject within the framelines and you're good.

[@amosk24]

Man these are way better than those videos you did with your magic box or paper tests!

[@dhimasaditya7600]

I have 2 rangefinder. Ricoh 500 GX and canonet ql 17 Giii. And i love it

[@ghw7192]

How many people actually check dof? How many modern cameras even have a way to do it? Just wondering...

[@TrashPanda.Garage]

What about the canon P?

[@certs743]

For medium format the Koni Omega is a great 6x7 rangefinder and are about $200.

[@filmbyhari]

I love my M6 so much! I never really liked range finders until I got to use an M3. I only use an SLR if I'm shooting portraits..

[@cakenmike]

Currently using a Canon 7 with a 50mm 1.8 serenar lens and Contax G1 with a 28mm and 90mm

[@tomislavmiletic_]

A cheap Soviet / Russian rangefinder camera is a great start into this whole rangefinder story. If it works that is 😊 I have the Zorki 4K and all do I adore that camera, it keeps jamming on me...

[@tedczerniawski7810]

I have a Zorki 4K, but I can’t use it cause of my glasses sadly 😭

[@tomislavmiletic_]

Ted Czerniawski yep Zorki 4 is a bi*** for people with glasses course the viewfinder is so small. You can get an external one (I guess some for Bessa camera would fit, it's big and bright) and zone focus. Its not much but it's something...

[@tomislavmiletic_]

Dino Steiner yep you can do it (I do, I got -1) but for people with diopter larger than 3 in both directions it won't help...

[@nuralidr]

Been using the Leica M4-P for years now, and initially I didn’t know what a rangefinder was 😅 now I’m in search of a close-up Lens, so I’m open for suggestions ;)

[@bngr_bngr]

Nural Idrisoglu rangefinder are not ideal for close ups. But the best solution is the dual range 50mm. It has googles so the lens can be focused up close. The other less elegant solution is using a Visoflex that basically turns the rangefinder into a SLR.

[@FramesPerSecond]

I highly recommend the Canon P if you’re willing to use M39 Mount lenses!

[@atroche1978]

Olympus XA 👍 Canonet QL17 👍 Would you consider the Fuji X-A3 and X100F rangefinders?

[@JP1050x]

No, because they don’t have a rangefinder mechanism.

[@adershvarshnei5198]

Really nice video. Have you ever tried some of the Soviet rangefinders like the FEDs and the Zorkis? They seem to be a really cheap way into rangefinders.

[@KingJvpes]

Never tried them! I’d love to though they look pretty dang good

[@amelia_briscoe]

I only have and use rangefinders. I love them to bits! My every day 35mm camera is the Agfa Ambi-silette, and for medium format I have the Fuji GS645S In my camera collection I also have the Minolta CLE and Hi Matic 9, the Ricoh 500g and Yashica Electro 35 GSN

[@cdl0]

Also worth considering are the Fed, Kiev, and Zorki cameras made in the old Soviet Union. These are based on the Leica designs, and some models are near exact copies. The manufacturing quality is not as consistent as from Leica, but they are very much cheaper, and if you do get a dud, it will not cause great pain to buy another. The Helios, Jupiter, and Industar lenses can also be good. The Zenography channel has some good reviews of these cameras and lenses: kzbin.info/door/za1hvHVZmCh0Bzk3jl5NSw

[@erichartke4331]

The Zorki 4 was my introduction into rangefinders and keeps going one of my most dependable film camera!

[@Thomas_Geist]

I’d just like to mention the Contax G1 and G2 with Zeiss lenses. I’m not sure it was the first (think it was) but it has auto-focus. Little slow my modern standards but it worked. Beautiful cameras and world class German build. Not cheap even in today’s used market though.

[@leodoz1016]

And now I can't afford all the cameras shown. Jokes aside, I might get a Canon ltm mount with a Jupiter 8 in the future or something, as a daily once the pandemic settles

[@xxGravyBabyxx]

Save up money to buy canon ltm mount lenses. So much better than their Russian counterparts

[@FramesPerSecond]

Highly recommend the Canon P! Great camera, has 35mm, 50mm and 100mm frame lines. I think the Jupiter 12 is their 35mm 2.8 lens if you want to give a wider lens a go.

[@mightya]

How about some love for the Konica Auto S3. The lens alone is worth the price, so says the original ad.

[@btrdangerdan2010]

I just have a rare Chinese made Phenix 205-B fixed lens rangefinder that was given to me from my second aunt. The closest I'll ever get to a Leica in the future is to invest in a Minolta CLE.

[@Elifilmphoto]

This is a nice camera! I have the Olympus xa2! Not the same as the one in this video but pretty much the same but just rangefinder

[@hypecamera]

Love it - that casual lean pose tho at 0:32 haha, so good.

[@kyleglasgow007]

If you want an M6 but think the M6/M6 TTL is WAYYYY over priced like it is, get an M5 (namely a 3 lug). I had one before I upgraded to my M7 and I really loved it. It metered really well with Wein cells which last a decent amount of time, I got a consistent 39 frames (38 full frames) and the build quality walks all over pretty much any other metered rangefinder under a grand. It's a bit big and heavy and doesn't look like a classic Leica but it's a properly slept on camera. You can routinely get these under a grand (Paid about $800 for my late production 3 lug after a fresh CLA) and it is a very good value. The exposed shutter dial is a big advantage over every single other Leica M mount 35mm rangefinder...you can change shutter speed without taking your eye off the camera (you can "kinda" do this on an M6 TTL or an M7 but not as easily). Before the prices shot through the roof, the Voightlander Bessa R was a good value too. Even @ $500-$600 that they seem to be trading at now...you still get a lot of camera for your money. Very similar to the R2A sans M mount (the R is M39/LTM), no aperture priority and the framelines might be slightly different (still has the important ones, 35 & 50). If you want something fully mechanical with no meter like an M2/M3/M4 but don't want to pay the Leica tax, the Contax IIa & IIIa are good options as well. Contax RF mount can be tricky finding lenses for but the Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50mm f1.5 is objectively a superior lens optically to the Summilux & the Summicron (it's chief competitors); aside, it took almost 30 years for every other manufacturer to even come close to that lens. There is a reason the Sonnar formula hasn't changed much in the last 80 years. Other honorable mentions go to the Leica M7 for being underpriced in comparison to the M6/M6 TTL...you actually get more camera for less money; I will never understand the price disparity between M6/M6 Classic's, M6 TTL's and M7's. You can buy an M7 in good shape for the sam price you can buy an M6 (non TTL) in OK shape and less than a crappy M6 TTL. Zero idea why that is that way. The Bessa series is a great middle ground between price, feature set, and capability. The metering is great and the fact that it's been made this millennia in most cases is kind of a nice aspect too. The build quality leaves a lot to be desired though. The Zeiss Ikon (the SW not as much) is probably the best all arounder. Build quality is as good as a Leica, does the same thing an M7 does but with a better meter for half the price. These hover around $1500 and are a STUPID good deal. It can do 1/2000th, aperture priority, and has a real On/Off switch which is a big pro for some people. I almost bought one over my M7 but I got too good of a deal on my M7 to say no. The Minolta CL/CLE isn't a bad choice either but I have heard that these are almost impossible to fix when they break and the meter in them leaves a lot to be desired (worse than the M5 yet almost ten years newer). Not a bad deal if you can find either of those under $500 with a lens.

[@lockeempty4333]

man the Rollei RF35 is SOOOOO underrated. way cheaper than the Bessa R2 but is identical (apart from the framelines).

[@sixteenbitter]

1:40 NO, it's gotta be the X-Pan, lol!

[@paulie3095]

You should try the zorki 4K bro , it’s the budget , very budget, poor mans Leica , love the video bro , 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@timkarvelis3523]

one of the best is the canon 7 witch goes for like 100-200 us dollars

[@Tweed539]

The yashica lynx series are very good rangefinders. I just got one for super cheap and I love it

[@Rooftopaccessorizer]

Hold up. 1400$ on ebay for a bessa is the sleeper price?!

[@nicholassmith7407]

May I send you camera I have for you to have and maybe do a review? It is a Canon Super Shot Zoom

[@anirudhasarda5173]

A separate video on Yashica Electro 35 GSN??

[@jameson8682]

Joke's on you, I already knew about rangefinders. I just don't know what they do, how they work, or how to use them!

[@rdmckeever7645]

MINOLTA rangefinders, try it. You might like it...

[@paulterl4563]

I normally focus faster on a reflex, (and faster on a "preset focus", like an Lca, for example. Just my ¢ent.

[@erickaraiza5874]

Great video and very informative. Thanks man!

[@JP1050x]

Great video. Yep, the XA is a compact rangefinder camera. Not a point and shoot. With a point and shoot, the shutter button controls the autofocus and all other settings. You can’t enable focus with the shutter button on a XA.

[@Rooftopaccessorizer]

I basically just need a film camera that matches with my x100 and xpro3

[@Tabbyishere]

Man, i wish i could easily buy any camera like you.. 😂😂😂

[@Lavi-Aemilia-Astori]

I believe that I like slr more

[@jokingban]

No mention of the Minoltas?? Himatic 9 #mainoltagang

[@randallstewart175]

Rangefinders can focus faster than SLR because they do not focus as precisely.The RF that overlap two views of the same scene to "focus" give you no precise focus point at all. The split-image RF gives a focus point but requires a high contrast line break to actually focus, not always available.Their mechanisms can get misaligned and require a shop visit to fix. The microprism or split-image rangefinder in the SLR is precise or better, cannot break down, and in all modern cameras allows the rest of the image as a general focusing field. Where RF has a clear advantage is with wide angle lenses, where the RF is just as accurate (or not) as with any other lens, where as the depth of field of the lens largelt defeats accuracy in a SLR manual focus system. Of course, for telephoto lenses, SLRs can focus, and RF cannot.

[@godscola]

Point and shoots are NOT defined by their size. The Fuji GA645ZI is a medium format camera, and it's still a point and shoot. The Canonet QL17 (F1.7, hence the 17...) can take 1.35V batteries, and the meter is perfectly accurate. Do some more research before talking about these cameras.

[@joshuadoh2528]

I just got my XA and i'll say its fuckin awesome

[@spyhunter6411]

Your videos see to be getting buried by the algorithm. Not sure if youre noticing that, but I have to go directly into your channel, they never show in my feed.

[@caldera878]

Canon LTM rangefinders are underrated and undervalued. Get them soon or else their prices will rise.

[@nfnc6765]

People can call me gay but its whatever lmao I love ur sleep walk cover u should do 1 again in 2020 lol

[@edmondfromyt9764]

Epic

[@grossearwax3777]

Canon has a 1.7 lens.

[@philipyeung6054]

Something to add on, it is hard to discuss whether SLR or rangefinder has more accurate focusing. As you mention, Slr may have a reflection adjustment error in its prism and lead to out of focus in the large aperture. However, the rangefinder suffers the same, especially for the old lens, the metal fretting between the lens and camera would lead to the same issue. To be honest, only an mirrorless camera using live view screen could be exactly in focus without doubt

[@xXasdfMAN12Xx]

Audio gain way too low

[@neiltuballes6674]

dude are you Filipino?

[@KingJvpes]

Yup 🙏🏽

[@arjendeboer7699]

Zeiss ikon Contax 2 1938

[@punkrachmaninoff]

why can't i just get a modern rangefinder that doesn't cost $7999.95 though?!?

[@Rocking_J_Studio]

#LeicaGang!

[@KingJvpes]

😂😂

[@randallstewart175]

So much urban legend here re the XA. It's lens is not sharp at all. It is merely a snapshot quality. And, the lens in the XA is unique and is certainly not the same lens as in the Stylus Epic in any version. For starters, the lens in the Epic has half the number of elements as the lens in the XA. The Epic does share the mediocre performance of the XA. As a "rangefinder" camera, the rangefinder in the XA is so dim that many owners just use its zone focus settings.

[@bhop0073]

Maybe you had a bad copy or one with focus issues. Mine is pretty sharp when I hit the focus, (your comment about the dim patch is accurate). Is it Leica sharp? No way, but definitely wouldn't say "not sharp at all".

[@artvandelay3282]

The point about micro nudges on an SLR camera isn't exclusive to SLRs. It's the same with any manual focus camera. It's a myth that rangefinders are more precise or quicker than a SLR camera and it's instead down to the skill of the photographer using it. The reason so many influential street photographers used rangefinders is because that's all there was in their time. Single lens reflex wasn't available until the late 70's. I love rangefinders but this video is straight misinformation

[@jasondecker469]

You must be a joy at a party

[@BokehLyfe]

QL17 stands for 1.7 omg japes really, and you wrote a blogpost yet don’t know the specs...?

[@BatteryMop]

I have the Minolta CLE - people sleep on it. Please don't make a video about it so it's stays affordable.