Large bright viewfinder

[lrochfort]

Hello all,

After receiving excellent advice from fellow RFF members I was going to buy myself a Leica M3 or M2 and lens. However, being a father and a husband that money has gone elsewhere.

So, I'm looking for recommendations for a range finder with a large bright viewfinder with easy to see RF patch. Isn't everybody?

I've posted in this forum because I've got a Zorki 4 and Kiev 4, both with Jupiter 8s. I think the Jupiter is wonderful, however loading the Kiev drives me absolutely crazy (I have no problem with bottom loading Leicas) and the viewfinder/patch on both cameras deters me from using them.

I may still bide my time and slowly save for an M2/3 body and use the Jupiter, but I'd love to know people's opinions on alternative bodies and lenses.

If anybody has serious non-LTM contenders then shout, it just seems LTM lenses are prolific.

My budget is around £300.

Cheers all,
Laurence.

[wallace]

Bessa R would be a good choice.

[VictorM.]

Bessa R, Canon P, Canon 7 in ltm.

[ferider]

Try the Canon P. Very close to an M3.

[Phil_F_NM]

Nikon S2.
One of the biggest and when cleaned, one of the best.

Phil Forrest

[kchong]

Any of the Bessa R's would have the best viewfinder in the price range. If you don't need anything wider than 40mm, the Leica CL makes a good choice as well but the Bessa's would still have a better/larger finder.

More specifically, go for the R3A if you can live with nothing wider than 40mm. I had a R-D1 with the same glorious 1:1 (lifesize) finder and it's even better than the one in my M8.

[Dez]

The Bessa R has an excellent finder: many would say that it the equal of the Leica M's. And of course, it has behind the lens metering, which will require a large investment with a Leica.

But the Bessas keep reminding me that they are mostly plastic, and if that is a problem for you, the Canon P is an excellent choice. It has parallax-compensating frame lines for 35, 50, and 100mm lenses. The finder is also 1:1, which I don't think any Leica achieved.

Then there is the Canon 7, which is basically a Canon P with a light meter and a switchable finder for 35, 50, 85/100, and 135mm lenses. It has lots of great features, but is not as pretty as the model P.

Cheers,
Dez

[lrochfort]

Thanks everybody.

I was very tempted by the Canons, but in the end I went with the Bessa R3A that was in the classifieds.

The modern, AE type camera is quite a new thing for me, but I thought I'd give it a go to see if the immediacy and bright modern finder helps. That and knowing I wouldn't have to CLA it.

Who knows, my penchant for all metal classic cameras may overcome me and I'll find myself with a Canon

Cheers,
Laurence.