More affordable rangefinder camera's at a low price: - ZORKI/KIEV 4A, Contax or Leica 1/1 Sovjet copy with Zeiss sonnar-like lens for 50$. Copy is 1/1 cause the sovjets captured one of the Contax factories in Germany! - Rollei XF35 automatic with (Zeiss) Sonnar lens goes under 50$. It has its flaws but an amazing lens. - Petri 7s with manual control also goed for under 50$ - Ricoh 500G, manual control and a dedicated switch for double exposure, also under 50$
I bought a Ricoh 500g for 20€ and it's one of the best purchases I've made. I think they sell for around 50-80 on ebay, so I def recommend that. Only gripe I have with it is how small it is compared to my huge hands. The Yashica Electro 35 GSN is also a pretty good rangefinder, and they also go for relatively cheap.
The Minolta AL rangefinders from the early 60s are a favorite of mine (I have two) and I definitely recommend picking one up. One of mine has an accurate selenium light meter which doesn’t require batteries and is coupled to film speed, f-stop, and shutter speed 😍
Found a Kodak Retina 2F for $18 at an antique store a few weeks ago. Tagged as "broken" but was really just in need of a thorough cleaning. Only thing messed up is the 10 second timer, but if you avoid accidentally hitting that it works fine. Tons of fun, and the camera is built like a tank.
Something to be aware of with some of these cameras is the shape of the aperture. The little olympus has a square aperture which gives an unusual look to the out of focus areas. I have a couple ( okay, 4) of yashica electro 35's and although they aren't exactly a pleasure to shoot with, they produce incredible images when you nail the focus due to their lens.
Love rangerfinders....since I used my Dad’s Canonet.... got Oly 35SP and XA ...easy to carry and great to learn on. The film school kids use to run around the city with Oly OM-2000’s and Pentax K1000’s back in the day.
Around $200 can give you a Canon LTM rangefinder like the Canon P or 7 models. They can take a ton of old screwmount Leica glass and Canon's own excellent LTM lenses.
The Olympus XA is definitely worth every penny. I bought a "Bargain" priced one from KEH camera cause someone had engraved a tracking/serial number lightly on the bottom and I think it only cost me like $130? Nothing else was wrong with the camera. I came from using mainly a 50mm on a K1000 and it took no time to adjust my shooting style! For me, the biggest factor in purchasing was size; Its great for when you wanna be unobtrusive or dont want attention brought to yourself. The camera has _never_ given me a bad result unless it was user error. I highly recommend!
Canon P is my top recommendation - about $150? Or the Konica Auto S2 - the fixed lens is exceptional - $50 maybe (and my first rangefinder). Soviet stuff are good but a can be tricky to use - like you MUST cock the shutter before changing shutter speed or you'll break the camera. Ideally, get a canon P but use soviet LTM/m39 screw mount lenses (The Jupiter and Industar lenses are really quite good and should be less than $100)
I have refurbished and sold at least 3 dozen GIIIs and EVERY ONE I got needed new film compartment foam. Every single one. The original just deteriorates so if you're buying one, look for one that's been refurbished in this way. It's a messy, half-hour job but is necessary. Can be a DIY if you look up instructions, get the foam and have patience. I actually got tired of doing it and haven't dealt with any GIIIs lately but yes, as the "poor man's Leica" it is a solid, very good camera.
The Canon was my first 35. I used it for years before discovering the auto mode. Ther is an "A" on the f-stop ring(I think). Shutter speed priorety auto only. Double check that for me. It used a PX 675 or PX 13 battery. Those batteries are no longer made, but a replacement is avail. Great vid.
I got both 😁 Great Cameras, I love them both! My great grandfather gave the ql17 g3 to my father as a present and he gave it to me, for that reason it has a special place in my heart! And i found your channel when I bought the XA, so I also love it just for that ...and i course because it's an amazing little camera! 😄 Great Video! It reminded me to use them more, thanks for that!
You can easily get a Wein Cell battery for the Canonet and the meter will work perfectly. (Assuming the camera isn’t broken) I used to use one in mine before my Canonet broke, and exposures were always spot on without any kind of compensation.
I’ve been buying the Weincell battery replacement sold on Amazon, I just compensate for the lack of Mercury but overexposing by a stop. YOU DONT NEED A NEW EXTERNAL METER!
Liked your video. I have a couple of questions. I have the canon QL G17. What is the make of lens hood you are using. The light meter on the Leica what is the make/model of it.
Another thing that might be a drawback for the Olympus XA Is the shutter release button. It is super sensitive and it’s easy to trigger with any kind of touch. I have at least one accidental exposure every roll LOL
My parents had an Olympus Mju when i was little. I remember playing around with it when i was like six years old. I would love to have one nowadays, but these go for insanely high prices on the secondary market in Austria, if the camera should be in mint conditions.
The other thing I found after refurbishing at least 3 dozen GIIIs is that it is not that unusual for the shutter blades to be gummed up and slow or inoperative. Fixing that is a "bigger" job and requires some special tools and a heap of patience. If you can personally test one before buying it, that would be a preferred path or buy from someone you can trust.
Lots of great rangefinders out there with less hype therefore less $$... check out the Petri models, German Balda and Frank’s cameras, even the Argus C3 will make amazing photos once you get used to it 😁😁
The QL17, and its contemporary Olympus RD, are nearly identical in terms of size, weight, and features. Their optical performance is identical, and they may be the best lenses ever mounted in cameras of this type. Trying to favorably compare these cameras with the XA is just ignorant.
don't forget Yashica! i am using a yashica minister 700 its a tank. And olympus 35 lc. both very luminous, 45mm 1.7 lenses. Each one for 40 dollars in argentina.
I think you got the direction wrong about loading the canon...You load it from the other side you said. If you noticed, thats where the film rewind lever is situated and has the space for the 35mm film cartridge. Advancing the film winder the way you did would rewind the film back into its canister, no?
The XA lacks significant user control over exposure, and it has one of the worst lenses mounted in a main line 35mm camera in modern times. It is fit for very conveniently shooting 3x5" snapshots, and little else. Anyone who pays more than $70 for one is screwing themselves. The praise heaped in the XA here is just YT blow forward based on other videos of similar thoughtlessness.
@@randallstewart175 I can't really say. It does what I expect a point and shoot to do. It's quick and small and to be honest I can't complain about the quality of the pictures. It was gifted to me so I definitely didn't overpay.
Under 200$ ? Soviet rangefinders every time. Every. Single. Time. Canon QL17 G3 ? Olympus XA ? Get an Elektra-112 ; it's better and it has added rarity. FED 35, FED Mikron 2 and Sokol (among others) works too but they are bulkier and the best lenses clearly are on the Elektra and Sokol. Hell, the Sokol even goes for less than 50$ sometimes, AND it has a better lens than both of the Japanese ones... talk about underestimated ay ? And I'm not even mentioning interchangeable lenses rangefinders (they are more controversial though, but far from "bad") Edit : all of the cameras aforementioned have integrated CdS meters, and as a matter of fact, both the FED 35 and FED Mikron 2 are partly aperture priority (limited speed range in manual mode))
@@cielyves7379 Though the dents have no impact on the performance of the camera. Mine shutter curtain is wrinkled (the camera is nearly 60 years old) but it works like a dream.
The XA does not have the same lens as the mju 2 though. Mju 2 is 4 elements in 4 groups and the XA is 6 elements in 5 groups. So even though they both have 35mm f/2.8 lenses, there is still a difference.
The Olympus xa doesn’t has the same optics as the mju 2 . The mju has a 4 elements in 4 groups with an aspherical element, while the XA has a 6 elements in 5 groups. Really different render from both cameras !
I got them both. As you state, while they are both rangefinders, yes, they are totally different shooting experiences. I prefer the FOV, heft, built, 100% mechanical operation of the QL17. Just a quick note, the regular XA has 6 elements in 5 groups. I believe the mju II has only 4 elements in 4 groups. The XA 1, 2, 3 have the same 4e/4g setup as the mju II.
It just that any battery powered cameras are destined fail soon. Specifically 60s and 70s camera. They are simply not made to last. Although some of them have stunning lenses, I would not invest in them. Unless they are mint conditioned and made in the 90s-00s (still plenty of life in it). I am sure in 10 years time there will be almost no people making videos on battery powered cameras. Witnessed people making expensive mistakes through purchasing Hasselblad XPan.. So.. QL17 is clear win for me.
a great man once said: if you're gonna buy RF, may as well get the Leica cuz you're gonna lust after one anyways. The (cheapest and) closest thing to a leica is the canon 7/p, then again, those cameras aren't even as good as the leica anyways. It's all come down to how you use it and the SUPER BRIGHT, CLEAR AND WELL DEFINED RF patch. tbh, buying these cameras are just a waste of money.
Stellar camera and, if you have a clean copy, the rangefinder patch is as good as or even better than a Leica imo. Also, the 40mm Rokkor is a gem for the price.
More affordable rangefinder camera's at a low price:
- ZORKI/KIEV 4A, Contax or Leica 1/1 Sovjet copy with Zeiss sonnar-like lens for 50$. Copy is 1/1 cause the sovjets captured one of the Contax factories in Germany!
- Rollei XF35 automatic with (Zeiss) Sonnar lens goes under 50$. It has its flaws but an amazing lens.
- Petri 7s with manual control also goed for under 50$
- Ricoh 500G, manual control and a dedicated switch for double exposure, also under 50$
Those little ricoh's are fantastic, I find mine gives a contrasty and sharp image.
Also very good options. I love my FED and Zorkis. Need to have my Kiev 3 repaired.
Zorki is amazing and love mine!! Maybe not as fancy for hipsters tho :P
@@jyangphotoatx It used to be. Besides selling LOMO LCAs Lomography started out refurbishing Zorkis and FEDs too.
@@certs743 Good to know. I was just playing and Zorki 4 is one of my favorite cameras
I bought a Ricoh 500g for 20€ and it's one of the best purchases I've made. I think they sell for around 50-80 on ebay, so I def recommend that. Only gripe I have with it is how small it is compared to my huge hands. The Yashica Electro 35 GSN is also a pretty good rangefinder, and they also go for relatively cheap.
For $200 you can buy a Canon P which is 90% a leica M3, and trust me it's super well built
I also recommend the Minolta Hi-Matic series. My Hi-Matic 9 is definitely my favorite camera.
The Minolta AL rangefinders from the early 60s are a favorite of mine (I have two) and I definitely recommend picking one up. One of mine has an accurate selenium light meter which doesn’t require batteries and is coupled to film speed, f-stop, and shutter speed 😍
Found a Kodak Retina 2F for $18 at an antique store a few weeks ago. Tagged as "broken" but was really just in need of a thorough cleaning. Only thing messed up is the 10 second timer, but if you avoid accidentally hitting that it works fine. Tons of fun, and the camera is built like a tank.
The predessor to the XA, the Olympus 35RC can be had for under $100 - it's a great camera and for under $200 you can pick up the 35SP
Something to be aware of with some of these cameras is the shape of the aperture. The little olympus has a square aperture which gives an unusual look to the out of focus areas. I have a couple ( okay, 4) of yashica electro 35's and although they aren't exactly a pleasure to shoot with, they produce incredible images when you nail the focus due to their lens.
I use a 675 hearing aid battery in my QL 17. I place a small rubber ring around it to make it fit. Works great.
Love rangerfinders....since I used my Dad’s Canonet.... got Oly 35SP and XA ...easy to carry and great to learn on. The film school kids use to run around the city with Oly OM-2000’s and Pentax K1000’s back in the day.
Around $200 can give you a Canon LTM rangefinder like the Canon P or 7 models. They can take a ton of old screwmount Leica glass and Canon's own excellent LTM lenses.
The Olympus XA is definitely worth every penny. I bought a "Bargain" priced one from KEH camera cause someone had engraved a tracking/serial number lightly on the bottom and I think it only cost me like $130? Nothing else was wrong with the camera. I came from using mainly a 50mm on a K1000 and it took no time to adjust my shooting style! For me, the biggest factor in purchasing was size; Its great for when you wanna be unobtrusive or dont want attention brought to yourself. The camera has _never_ given me a bad result unless it was user error. I highly recommend!
Ql17 GIII has shutter priority mode, that works when you set your aperture to A, and camera selects the right aperture
Konica auto s3, and fujica 35-ee are my favorite rangefinders
just bought myself the QL17 G3, can't wait to try it out! :D
Olympus trip 35 also, reliable, sharp, almost fully automatic and it doesn't need batteries
Canon P is my top recommendation - about $150? Or the Konica Auto S2 - the fixed lens is exceptional - $50 maybe (and my first rangefinder).
Soviet stuff are good but a can be tricky to use - like you MUST cock the shutter before changing shutter speed or you'll break the camera.
Ideally, get a canon P but use soviet LTM/m39 screw mount lenses (The Jupiter and Industar lenses are really quite good and should be less than $100)
I recently got my QL17 GIII for about $30 (I'm in Guatemala). This video made me so much happier for my purchase!
I’ve been shooting with my Canon QL-17 G-iii for a couple years now and it’s still my favorite camera to shoot 👍🏼
I have refurbished and sold at least 3 dozen GIIIs and EVERY ONE I got needed new film compartment foam. Every single one. The original just deteriorates so if you're buying one, look for one that's been refurbished in this way. It's a messy, half-hour job but is necessary. Can be a DIY if you look up instructions, get the foam and have patience. I actually got tired of doing it and haven't dealt with any GIIIs lately but yes, as the "poor man's Leica" it is a solid, very good camera.
I have been wondering why so many people are reviewing $5000 cameras when everyone I know is struggling. Good for you for bucking the trend.
Thanks for another cool video, can you please inform were i can find that lightmeter?
The Canon was my first 35. I used it for years before discovering the auto mode. Ther is an "A" on the f-stop ring(I think). Shutter speed priorety auto only. Double check that for me. It used a PX 675 or PX 13 battery. Those batteries are no longer made, but a replacement is avail. Great vid.
You can use a 357 or LR44 cell with an adator. You can make the adaper yourself with an O-ring.
I got both 😁
Great Cameras, I love them both!
My great grandfather gave the ql17 g3 to my father as a present and he gave it to me, for that reason it has a special place in my heart! And i found your channel when I bought the XA, so I also love it just for that ...and i course because it's an amazing little camera! 😄
Great Video! It reminded me to use them more, thanks for that!
You can easily get a Wein Cell battery for the Canonet and the meter will work perfectly. (Assuming the camera isn’t broken) I used to use one in mine before my Canonet broke, and exposures were always spot on without any kind of compensation.
I’ve been buying the Weincell battery replacement sold on Amazon, I just compensate for the lack of Mercury but overexposing by a stop. YOU DONT NEED A NEW EXTERNAL METER!
I see a lot of people recommending stuff here so I'll throw one I like into the ring: Konica C35.
I have heard that the Russians cameras are really poorly made and not real reliable. Is this wrong?
0:53 RANGEFGINDERS
I use a standard PX625 cell in my Canon QL19 with no problem, it gives the same exposure reading as does my Pentax Super A.
Liked your video. I have a couple of questions. I have the canon QL G17. What is the make of lens hood you are using. The light meter on the Leica what is the make/model of it.
Another thing that might be a drawback for the Olympus XA Is the shutter release button. It is super sensitive and it’s easy to trigger with any kind of touch. I have at least one accidental exposure every roll LOL
Bought an XA two days ago in perfect shape and with the flash for 60€, what a blast of a camera
My parents had an Olympus Mju when i was little. I remember playing around with it when i was like six years old. I would love to have one nowadays, but these go for insanely high prices on the secondary market in Austria, if the camera should be in mint conditions.
Can’t speak for the Oly, but the QL is awesome. Brilliant camera for the money! Picked up mine for well under £200 👍
The other thing I found after refurbishing at least 3 dozen GIIIs is that it is not that unusual for the shutter blades to be gummed up and slow or inoperative. Fixing that is a "bigger" job and requires some special tools and a heap of patience. If you can personally test one before buying it, that would be a preferred path or buy from someone you can trust.
The Minolta Hi-matic 7 and 7s are also amazing cameras under $200 I found mine for $50 CDN
Yo I haven’t seen your vids in a while, you look great!!
a great option if you're on a tight budget is the Yashica Electro 35
@KingJvpes how do you feel about the minolta hi-matic 7s as a rangefinder?
Lots of great rangefinders out there with less hype therefore less $$... check out the Petri models, German Balda and Frank’s cameras, even the Argus C3 will make amazing photos once you get used to it 😁😁
The Canon QL17 has an exposure meter and will shoot shutter priority.
indeed, I was surprised by the sudden misinformation at the end of the video
As a QL17 user, I approve of this message ;) Thank you for all the efforts you put into these videos. (btw you've got a typo in the intro).
The QL17, and its contemporary Olympus RD, are nearly identical in terms of size, weight, and features. Their optical performance is identical, and they may be the best lenses ever mounted in cameras of this type. Trying to favorably compare these cameras with the XA is just ignorant.
don't forget Yashica! i am using a yashica minister 700 its a tank. And olympus 35 lc. both very luminous, 45mm 1.7 lenses.
Each one for 40 dollars in argentina.
I think you got the direction wrong about loading the canon...You load it from the other side you said. If you noticed, thats where the film rewind lever is situated and has the space for the 35mm film cartridge. Advancing the film winder the way you did would rewind the film back into its canister, no?
Love the video. I’m gonna get the XA soon. BTW, where can I find a light meter like the one in the video?
It’s the KEKS EM01. There are lots of hot shoe light meters on the market nowadays.
hey could you please make a full review about the QL GIII, im still confused about the focus and those things. THANKS! i LOVE YOUR CONTENT
The XA is a fine little camera! Definitely one of my favorites.
The XA lacks significant user control over exposure, and it has one of the worst lenses mounted in a main line 35mm camera in modern times. It is fit for very conveniently shooting 3x5" snapshots, and little else. Anyone who pays more than $70 for one is screwing themselves. The praise heaped in the XA here is just YT blow forward based on other videos of similar thoughtlessness.
@@randallstewart175 I can't really say. It does what I expect a point and shoot to do. It's quick and small and to be honest I can't complain about the quality of the pictures. It was gifted to me so I definitely didn't overpay.
Under 200$ ? Soviet rangefinders every time. Every. Single. Time.
Canon QL17 G3 ? Olympus XA ? Get an Elektra-112 ; it's better and it has added rarity. FED 35, FED Mikron 2 and Sokol (among others) works too but they are bulkier and the best lenses clearly are on the Elektra and Sokol. Hell, the Sokol even goes for less than 50$ sometimes, AND it has a better lens than both of the Japanese ones... talk about underestimated ay ?
And I'm not even mentioning interchangeable lenses rangefinders (they are more controversial though, but far from "bad")
Edit : all of the cameras aforementioned have integrated CdS meters, and as a matter of fact, both the FED 35 and FED Mikron 2 are partly aperture priority (limited speed range in manual mode))
In Poland, you can get Zorki 4 for under 50$ in near-mint condition (Same FED 3 or 4).
Okay, about the QL17, *wheres the ASA/ISO dial?* is it fixed at one ISO forever????
Bought my Canon P for $200 AUD last year, now its selling for a lot more😅
And a lot of them have dents on shutter curtain 😖
😪
@@cielyves7379 Though the dents have no impact on the performance of the camera. Mine shutter curtain is wrinkled (the camera is nearly 60 years old) but it works like a dream.
@@cielyves7379 The wrinkled shutter curtains have no impact at all on function. It’s purely visual.
Canon LTM rangefinders are undervalued a couple of years ago but they're catching up quick in prices.
Nice review, where do I get an external meter accessory like that? Thanks.
Hi, could you tell me the name of the attachable external lightmeter you showed? Thank you!!
I have a Ricoh 500G (much smaller than the Canons) for manual mode and I'm looking for an Olympus XA2 for quick shots :)
Where did you find that lens hood for the canon canonet g-lll QL?
The XA does not have the same lens as the mju 2 though. Mju 2 is 4 elements in 4 groups and the XA is 6 elements in 5 groups. So even though they both have 35mm f/2.8 lenses, there is still a difference.
I thought this as well, I love my XA but it's nowhere near as sharp as a Mju ii
Me in the comments 👀✍️✍️✍️
so much knowledge in this community, thank you for sharing!
Hey buddy what's the little light meter that you are using?
Any opinions on the Yashica Electro 35 GSN
I had one of those Olympus and I was always loosing it so small it just set it down and you had trouble finding it .
Try Yashica Electro 35 GX and Minolta hi-matic 7s II, super sharp and not everyone knows about them.
Where do you get your film dev/processed? Thanks
What light meter are you using with the cabinet?
the Olympus 35 RC is another good rangefinder camera for not to much $
How mm lenshod for canonet ql17?
Nice video I learned another camera
and another idea road to 100k subscribers
Why is the hot shoe limiting in the Canon?
The Olympus xa doesn’t has the same optics as the mju 2 . The mju has a 4 elements in 4 groups with an aspherical element, while the XA has a 6 elements in 5 groups. Really different render from both cameras !
Man, did you ever seen any other rangefinder cameras apart of those which are in your room?
have you ever thought about trying out a
Canon P
I have a Nikon 35Ti that I just started using.
The sound that it makes when switching on it outright scary
might as well get the ql17 instead of the ql17iii they are almost exactly the same and i got my ql for $60
What about the Canon Model 7 / Canon P?
I got them both. As you state, while they are both rangefinders, yes, they are totally different shooting experiences. I prefer the FOV, heft, built, 100% mechanical operation of the QL17.
Just a quick note, the regular XA has 6 elements in 5 groups. I believe the mju II has only 4 elements in 4 groups. The XA 1, 2, 3 have the same 4e/4g setup as the mju II.
Can we get an update POV video on the canon q17 🙃🙃🙃
Pissed I miss the sale yesterday
Light meter link? 🙏
What light meter is that ?
Love the XA!!! Baby Leica
fujica g690 missing for absolute dibs ;)
Kingjvpes are you interested in expired film?
It just that any battery powered cameras are destined fail soon. Specifically 60s and 70s camera. They are simply not made to last. Although some of them have stunning lenses, I would not invest in them. Unless they are mint conditioned and made in the 90s-00s (still plenty of life in it). I am sure in 10 years time there will be almost no people making videos on battery powered cameras. Witnessed people making expensive mistakes through purchasing Hasselblad XPan.. So.. QL17 is clear win for me.
#CanonGang!!!
a great man once said: if you're gonna buy RF, may as well get the Leica cuz you're gonna lust after one anyways. The (cheapest and) closest thing to a leica is the canon 7/p, then again, those cameras aren't even as good as the leica anyways. It's all come down to how you use it and the SUPER BRIGHT, CLEAR AND WELL DEFINED RF patch.
tbh, buying these cameras are just a waste of money.
The XA is a very fragile plasticky camera, dont buy it if youre a bit rough with your gear because it will def break.
I love my leica rangefinders. Made reviews for them on my channel but id like to review those too
Pleas include images🙏🏼
best
Canon P >
I got the Minolta CLE #MINOLTAGANG
Stellar camera and, if you have a clean copy, the rangefinder patch is as good as or even better than a Leica imo. Also, the 40mm Rokkor is a gem for the price.
@@TonTon.2142 i wanna buy a 35mm lens. You know if its possible use one? I read that the 28mm frame activates. Sorry, but my english isnt good
Amazing man, i am looking for one if u happen to know where i can get a good one🙏🏽
@@AkaTamimi i purchased from ebay
Bro look at the canon p
Stop! Stop talking about the XA!
Out here blowin up the spot...
Muare
Pare tanong ko lang Pinoy kaba pre
Pinoy kasi ako pre ehh
hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe
hahahahahahaahahahahahahahahaha
Ql17GIII defenitely.
2 to 3 mm, 2cm... Man, you're not really good at this, are you?
Don't wear this shirt on camera. It makes lesser screens trip
What external lightmeter you use?