I bought this one little over a year ago at an – almost – local thrift shop. I since bought and sold an extra one that I found at another shop. I use both cameras, so this post is sort of double stroll – or test if you like – and I can say that both cameras performed a like and very well.
I’m really amazed by the sharpness of the lens on this camera. And the rangefinder is spot on as well, a real joy to use. I can only recommend buy one of these if you ever come across one, and normally you can find them at a reasonable price.
One of the few downsides of this camera, is that it uses an obsolete battery for the lightmeter, but an “upside” is that the camera can be used full manually without a battery. I just use a PX625 battery and then just dial the ISO down a notch (ISO 200 = 160) that normally does the trick, I know it’s not spot on, but close enough for me.
Useful links
- Info on Camera-wiki
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The Looks
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The Quality
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The Handling
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The Price
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The Output
In short!
Good and cheap rangefinder camera.
Pros
- Fast and sharp lens
- Cheap
- Can be used full manual
Cons
- Size
- Obsolete battery
Photo Gallery
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8 Comments
Rangefinders don’t have to apologize for being rangefinders by being small.
If you want small and pocketable and vintage, get a viewfinder camera with a good Tessar or Sonnar derivative.
Small rangefinders are never as precise as you think. They give a false sense of security and it’s often better to judge by eye and stop down (or use a rangefinder “card” lightly clued to the back of the camera).
The advantages of a rangefinder is big bright finder with everything in focus and a big easily visible rangefinder patch that can also be used in near darkness.
Big finders and good rangefinder spacing necessitates a largish top section.
I see your point, I normally don’t have a problem hitting focus on a small rangefinder, But I agree that it’s easier on a bigger camera – but still like em small 🙂
I also like small viewfinder camera’s – I just tend to bring smaller camera’s with me on my daily routines (read: work and such)
And if I want to go big I normally go for medium format camera’s
Rangefinder “cards” what’s that? Never heard of that before.
Cheers
B.
https://tomchuk.com/rf/
Very simple. You could improve precision by calibrating the card or rule on the top edge of your camera to your outstretched arms, or even better yet, a fixed length camera strap.
The nearer to your eyes (within reason) the better precision in theory. But you also have to contend with focusing back and forth too then, if you go real close.
Medium format can be small too.
My small Ikonta easily fits in a pocket.
I find it’s exceedingly rare to find good subjects or scenes, unless I’m out specifically looking for them, so I don’t mind dragging a big camera around.
Long and wide lenses are either super expensive in medium format, or impracticality big and slow.
With 135 lenses you get speed and range in an affordable, manageable package.
With a DoF that isn’t razor thin either (if you splashed on one of the few long and fast lenses for medium format).
There is a reason medium format was relegated to specialty niches in the latter half of the twentieth century.
Damn that’s cool, why have I never heard of that before 🙂 definitely going to try it out.
Thanks for telling me.
Yep I also have a few MF camera’s that fits in a back pocket.
Yes MF is more expensive than 35mm, and don’t get me wrong I love shooting 35mm as well – and I shoot more 35 than 120 – but there is just something about seeing a slide “negative” from my Fuji GW690, that blows me away.
B.
Try projecting medium format slide.
Now *that* is something else!
So bright and so incredibly high resolution.
You will never print that big at that quality.
In some ways projecting is the ultimate experience of film.
It’s the original medium with no generational loss, and it’s much higher contrast than any other display technology available.
Never tried that.
But I can imagine that it looks awesome and big 🙂
Why are there so many of these in Denmark?
They outnumber the contemporary Yashica Electro 35 and Konica Auto S2 by at least four to one.
Not complaining though, since this is probably the best of them in hindsight.
It looks and feels very much like the S2, which I for some reason always find malfunctioning. From what I can see, the lens is better weighted optically than the Konica lens.
Just as high resolution, but less naively “sharp” or less harsh.
I don’t get why you don’t top rank the looks? It gorgeous! What other fixed lens rangefinder looks better‽
Hi Helge
I didn’t know there were that many in DK, but like you I’m not complaining, it’s a great camera in many ways.
I’m not with you on the looks, agreed it looks good, but I think it’s a bit on the big – clumsy – side, I personally like smaller rangefinders, but nice to know that we’re not all alike.
Cheers
B.