The Pocket Rangefinder

dcsang · 12-15-2005

As someone who loves the fact that I can carry around my entire RF kit; which includes 2 bodies, 3-5 lenses, Moleskin, pen, wallet, etc. etc. etc. in a shoulder bag that is a lot smaller than most laptop bags, I'm pleased as punch to find smaller and smaller rangefinders.

The "ideal" pocket one is the Olympus XA imho. The lens ain't half bad; really. I've got some decent shots with it and may decide to use one for the RF book.

The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that it may have been "too small". The camera was an RF but it reminded me a lot of a p&s.

So when I started to look at smaller than "M" cameras that were decent to look at and were good and offered the option of interchangeable lenses I eventually decided on the older Leica screwmount bodies. I currently have a Leica IIIc that looked like it could be the "slip into the coat pocket" camera (personally I think i'd get some weird looks if I tried to shove it into my pants pocket ... "Is that a Leica in your pocket or are you just happy to see me??")

Today I received, from Roland (aka ferider), a nice little 35mm f3.5 Summaron in LTM to go with the IIIc. When I was in NYC, to prepare for the Summaron's arrival, I picked up the VC Meter II and the VC 28/35 brightline minifinder.

I really really really think that this is about as small as I can get in Leica-ville.

Everything is just big enough for the "going out but don't want to carry any bags with me" sort of day/evening. I may long for other lenses but with a 35mm on the cam and some fast film in it (Tri-X b/w 400 and 3200 depending on the situation) then this should be just fine..

The sad thing about this whole thing is, well, it's going to start GAS all over again...

What's your favourite "pocket" RF ?

Cheers
Dave

einolu · 12-15-2005

pick up one of those 28mm skopar, thats what i would do

.

Really nice outfit.

JoeFriday · 12-15-2005

without hesitation I'd say my favorite pocket RF is my Contax T.. it has a 38mm Sonnar and metering that is possibly the best of any camera I own.. here's a photo of me holding mine

and a couple shots I've taken

back alley · 12-15-2005

i always carry a bag with me, work or play so i don't worry too much about pocket cams, but i noticed today that the 35/3.5 i just got is way smaller than the 50/1.9 collapsible i had.
on a bottom feeder this would be a very small kit indeed.

joe

gns · 12-15-2005

My Plaubel Makina W67. When folded, it's flat and fits easily into a jacket pocket. It is more pocketable than my Leica and yielda a 6 x 7 neg!

In reality though, I never carry a camera in my pocket. Don't know why not. Just used to hanging it over my shoulder.

Gary

Byuphoto · 12-15-2005

This is exacltly what i wanted the CL for and now that I got the M4-2 I have went back to my Canonet QL17 GIII

wlewisiii · 12-15-2005

I almost always have my bag on me with my small handfull of lenses and (now

) the 7. But if I need compact I'll dig out the Karat 36. Compact as you can get and a sweet Tessar clone lens (Solinar 50/2.8).

William

flipflop · 12-15-2005

I really like the Contax T...I had the T2 but I dont think it is in the same league as the original.

flipflop · 12-15-2005

check this bad boy out if I had the cash for a nice point and shoot this is what it would be !
It looks really nice in black
http://cgi.ebay.com/Contax-T-35mm-Ra...QQcmdZViewItem

FrankS · 12-15-2005

I like the screwmount and compact lens idea too.

If you really want compact, with control and great results, it's hard to beat a Rollei 35 T, TE, S, or SE.

reagan · 12-15-2005

That's a great looking compact kit Dave. As they say at home on the farm, "Ya done good."

In the [coat] pocket, I usually carry a Zorki 1 w/ Industar 22 or 50. More times than not though, it's in a fanny pack over my shoulder. The Orion 15 is pretty small (short), so it's occasionally attached.

RayPA · 12-15-2005

CLE with a CV 28/3.5. Other than my half-working XA, I ain't got a smaller RF.

FrankS · 12-15-2005

My CL has a wonky meter. Thinking about removing the meter ganglia so I can collapse a lens into it, for a compact outfit.

bean_counter · 12-15-2005

I'm a big guy, so I can get away with a IIIf and an Elmar 50/3.5 in the jeans pocket. Car keys, Sekonic L-208, and a spare roll of HP5+, FP4+, or K64 (pre-trimmed for bottom feeding, of course) in the other pocket.

If I wear a jacket, I add an SBOOI, sometimes swap to a Summitar if I need speed. The Summitar is not nearly as compact, tho, and requires the barn door shade often.

fredus · 12-15-2005

Rollei 35S ... Couldn't be happier. Way better than Olympus XA. I can do 3200. YEs sir !!

Fred

Poptart · 12-15-2005

The XA is a favorite just for the cool design, but yes, the rfdr baselength is too short by half. But that's a problem of physics, I guess--the CL was also too short for proper focusing with very fast lenses, as Leitz noted.

Honus · 12-15-2005

Amazing, 3 of my alltime favorite cameras mentioned in one thread:

Leica IIIc
Plaubel Makina 67 (granted, it was a W67)
Rollei 35 S

... that is all.

- robert

caila77 · 12-15-2005

I love iskra and retina IIC
but the best for me is my Canon IV-Sb2

wlewisiii · 12-15-2005

Mmm. Yummy. What lens are you using on you Sb-2? I have a IVSb that I'm looking for a FSU collapsable 50 for.

William

ClaremontPhoto · 12-15-2005

XA for sure. Especially the wide angle lens version. XA3 or XA4? I used to have one for work and I made a case for having this one but can't remember the model designation now.

New there's the Olympus mju V, which looks pretty nifty for pocket-carrying. Seems like an updated XA in a nifty metal casing.

Although yesterday I glanced in a shop window and saw the Sony T5 (I know it's digital) which is amazingly slim. And not just pants pocket size, but shirt pocket size.

allthumbs · 12-16-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Claremont

New there's the Olympus mju V, which looks pretty nifty for pocket-carrying. Seems like an updated XA in a nifty metal casing.

That comment made me run to the website. It's the Stylus Select in the US. Nice casing, but the lens is an f5.6 zoom

And it looks like the famed Stylus Epic with the fast 35mm has been "archived", though still listed as the mju II in Europe.

Something tells me they did not do this to make room for a new XA model. And why is it that the modest elegant shooters tend to be held back from the US market in favor of the BigZoom Thises and HyperAuto Thats? Wait, please, I don't really want to hear the answer to that.

12-16-2005

The pocket rangefinder is the Olympus 35RC or something similar.

Damn! I shot a roll in my 35RC thinking it was B&W, but everything was shot indoors because I don't have a yellow or orange filter. Today I dropped off the film and saw that is was COLOUR! Oh, well. I hope the indoor lighting wasn't too yellow. I've got my fingers crossed. So wish me luck or call me stupid. Either one is fine by me.

My problem is that I have too many cameras.

Beniliam · 12-16-2005

I have test the Olympus Xa. Tomorrow I imagine that I finish my film test... I tested the lens in wide aperture, and low speed... I dont know about the result that I find when I developed the roll.

Some months I had the Contax T of one friend, the camera was in ugly condition... but works. I like it. The viewfinder is better (much better) than the Xa, and have a cool design, but its strange to find. I dont know... I wish buy one pocket camera with great quality. I dont believe that the Canonet that I have was a really pocket camera. I consider pocket cameras the minox, the rollei 35, the olympus Xa/Mju, the contax T... but no the Yashicas Gsn/Lynx, the Olympus SP... even the leica screw mount cameras...

In Christmast I see if I try to buy other Contax T or I continue with the Xa, for me its important that the camera have rangefinder, why one aperture of 2.8 if you cant use it !!??

If Im decided to buy other T, I will request you help.

Jacob · 12-16-2005

...strange that my favourite escapistic thougths allways turn up as threads at RFF...

The Bessa T with a small 35 or 28 and the mini finder fits in larger pockets but feels like a "real" camera in Your hands. It is a little bit larger than old bottom loaders but it is lighter, and it has a meter and a super accurate rangefinder.

The CL with the 40/2 is about the same size as, or even smaller than, a Canonet. And You can bring an extra lens in the other pocket.

rover · 12-16-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wlewisiii

Mmm. Yummy. What lens are you using on you Sb-2? I have a IVSb that I'm looking for a FSU collapsable 50 for.

William

I have an ID 50 on mine William to make a small package.