Which Fixed Lens Camera has a Great Lens?

raid · 03-07-2006

I suggest that we collectively put together a list of cameras with photos for those cameras we believe to have excellent lenses. Who wants to start?

Brian Sweeney · 03-07-2006

Raid, this will touch off a serious round of GAS for all of those who followed you into the great March Buy-Out.

I'll wait until next month to put up the picture of my Mint Konica S2 with the Sharpest lens of any Fixed-Lens RF. You can get these for ~$30.

But it is March.

bmattock · 03-07-2006

Those which I have some experience with:

* Canon Canonet G-III QL-17
* Minolta Hi-Matic 7S (and 9)
* Yashica GSN/GT/G
* Yashica Lynx 14 (but it will flare heavily)
* Olympus SP/RD/RC/35-S II/XA
* Agfa Karat IV/36 (Solagon & Xenon & Xenar lenses)
* Fujica ML/Compact Deluxe
* Ricoh Five-One-Nine
* Petri Racer

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

raid · 03-07-2006

Are we that weak?! By the way, I got one of these Konica II cameras with a Hexanon 50/2.8 lens. It's a very nice camera.

Wimpler · 03-07-2006

from personal experience:

Minolta high matic 7 and 7s
Zeiss ikon Contessa 35

Kim Coxon · 03-07-2006

IMHO The Konica S2 beats the Olys and Canons. No experience of Minolta.

Kim

squeaky_clean · 03-07-2006

I've used the Yashica GSN and the Canon Canonet G-III. Both have great lenses.

jonasv · 03-07-2006

I've had Canonets, Yashicas and Minoltas. The Minolta 7s lens was better than the Yashica (45/1.7 version) and Canon GIII lenses, in my opinion. Heard nothing but good things about the Konica's, but can't compare them myself.

raid · 03-07-2006

Is there a difference between the Konica S2 and the Konica II ?

bmattock · 03-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Coxon

IMHO The Konica S2 beats the Olys and Canons. No experience of Minolta.

Kim

If I had to rank them on sharpness/contrast, IMHO, the Minolta would win, just barely, over the Konica. And for whatever reason, it has been my experience that the Minoltas are often found in working/immaculate condition - the Konica's almost always seem to arrive broken/dirty. Just my experience, YMMV.

I would also put the Ricoh Five-One-Nine over the Konica, but again, a real squeaker. The Ricoh is a real unsung hero. Oddly-made but easy to use, the trigger-wind and the double-focusing tabs make using it a breeze. Loading is less enjoyable, but not as bad as a er, ahem, certain bottom-loader.

If I had to also figure in convenience, the Olympus RD wins in a walk for having nearly that good of a lens and being much smaller.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

bmattock · 03-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by raid amin

Is there a difference between the Konica S2 and the Konica II ?

Yes indeed. The Auto S2 is more like the Minolta Hi-Matics in build. The III's are a bit more odd, with lever cocking (I do not know know the II, but would suspect it is an earlier III?). Here's a write up:

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/koni3.html

Here's the Auto S2:

http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/p...ca_autos2.html

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

telenous · 03-07-2006

I hadn't seen this thread, just started another one praising the Konica S2. I was amazed with the photos, superb Hexanon lens. I like it better than the Canonet QL19 but have not tried the Minolta to compare. I will post a colour photo I took the other day later.

dmr · 03-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by raid amin

I suggest that we collectively put together a list of cameras with photos for those cameras we believe to have excellent lenses. Who wants to start?

I would second the QL17 GIII and also nominate the Mamiya Super Deluxe as both having fast and sharp lenses.

telenous · 03-07-2006

Here's a link of a colour photo with the Konica. The lens is wide open, I like the result very much.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/phot...7&limit=recent

PS Does anybody know hot to attach a thumbnail at the end of the post?

bmattock · 03-07-2006

HTML Code:

[IMG]http:/url/to/photo[/IMG]

bmattock · 03-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmr

I would second the QL17 GIII and also nominate the Mamiya Super Deluxe as both having fast and sharp lenses.

I had forgotten about my Super Deluxe, you're right. But I only have the f1.5 lens, there are a couple others on the same body, all called 'Super Deluxe'.

I would also nominate the Super Deluxe as 'most like a brick'.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

tarasi · 03-07-2006

Konica Hexar AF has a superb lens.

tarasi

dnk512 · 03-07-2006

My Konica S3 is at least as sharp as my nikkor gear and has neutral/good out of focus areas. I heard/read good things about the konica III and I bought me one. It is in the mail. The konica S2 is about as sharp, but in the expense of the out of focus areas. The S3 is about half the weightsize of the S2 and the III, but it needs battery (mercury kind) for any aperture other than wide open, and, has no speeds below 1/8".

pesphoto · 03-07-2006

My vote is with the Yashica Electro GSN. Here's two from pics from mine. I haven't had a chance to use a Hexar though.

amateriat · 03-07-2006

Well, the problem here is, where does one start? There are many fixed-lens compacts that rate at least a "pretty good" ranking in terms of lens quality. Separating those from "fantastic" might take some doing, and we won't all agree on what makes that shortlist.

My experience with past cameras: Yashica 5000E Lynx (not bad); Yashica Electro 35 GT (better); Canonet QL17 GIII (great, but y'all know this already); Konica S2 (ditto); Olympus XA (darn good); Konica Hexar autofocus (well...what else is there to say? Magic!)

Present – and only – fixed-lens 35 is a Konica Auto S3, which I've wanted for a long time. All I'll say is that it was more than worth the wait.

- Barrett

Kyle · 03-07-2006

A bit OT, which fixed lens RF has the widest lens?

sbug · 03-07-2006

I have two fixed lens RF's, Yashica GS and Canonet QL17 G-III. While I greatly prefer the size and build of the Canonet, the Yashica lens is undeniably sharper to my eyes.

zuikologist · 03-07-2006

I love my Vivitar 35ES - sharp, small, black, cool.

amateriat · 03-07-2006

If you're talking fixed-lens RFs, I doubt you'll see anything much beyond 35mm in focal length, give or take a few mm. Back in the day – even now, to an extent – it cost a good deal to go from a reasonably fast 38-45mm optic to, say, 28mm (even a somewhat slower one), and most of these cameras, even the really good ones, were built with a given price point in mind, so something had to give. A decent compromise, IMO.

- Barrett

AlexC · 03-07-2006

The 38/2.8 Sonnar T* on the Contax T should qualify as a great lens.