What is the best RF fixed lens without meter

[edodo]

I was wondering what is your preffered little rangefinders that just don't have a meter and are fully manual. I like lenses vintage but sharp.

[iml]

How about an Olympus 35 RC or SP with the battery taken out?

Ian

[edodo]

The thing about the meterless recquierment is that for example on the Olympus 35rc, wich I think is a lovely and compact RF by my net reading knowledge, but the meter inside the camera increase the size and bulk with for example the led metering situated in the front ring of the lens making it bigger that without this led. Before the metered fixed lens weren't there beautiful compact RFs that were fully mecanical?

[dnk512]

In 35mm, Konica III A. In 120, Super Isolette/Speedex. All are larger than most 35mm rangefinders of the 1970's with meter and/or autoexposure.

[iml]

Originally Posted by edodo

The thing about the meterless recquierment is that for example on the Olympus 35rc, wich I think is a lovely and compact RF by my net reading knowledge, but the meter inside the camera increase the size and bulk with for example the led metering situated in the front ring of the lens making it bigger that without this led. Before the metered fixed lens weren't there beautiful compact RFs that were fully mecanical?

The RC is still a tiny camera though. Very good one too, fantastic lens.

Ian

[ChrisPlatt]

The Konica Auto S2 is a really high quality camera with terrific lens.
Plenty of bargains on these, especially with non-working meter...

Chris

[edodo]

I have bought an olympus RC. Hope it will be in good working order, the seller did changed the light seals. He said the viewfinder was dust and haze free. I can't wait to try my new little cheap RF

[Kin Lau]

Kodak Retina in its various forms.

[raid]

It really depends how you define the word "best".

I like the Konica II a lot. It is fully manual. It is compact. It has a very sharp lens. It looks classy. It is very well built.


Raid

[Doug]

Meterless fixed-lens rangefinder? Fuji GW670III...

[Kent]

Meterless RF, good lens, pretty compact and really cheap to get but suprisingly not often recommended:
AGFA Super Silette (Version 2) with the Solagon 2/50 - really a nice cam!

[oftheherd]

Welta Weltini. 35mm folding RF without meter. Folds up small, has good lenses, but is a little heavy. Kind of built like a tank. Unfortunately not as inexpensive as some of the later Japanese RF P&S's of their day.

[marcust101]

I'll second Doung's suggestion the Fuji 670, the giant among the rangefinders and oh so sharp

[NickTrop]

You'll be quite happy with an RC in good condition. Probably the best choice if fully manual, and small, and cheap and quality lens are your primary considerations. Stayed away, personally, because I prefer a faster lens but the RC always gets raves. Your only other choices if "small and manual" are musts would have been the Canonet Q17 GIII, the Olympus RD, and the Minolta Hi-Matic 7SII. However, these cameras would be more expensive and more difficult to find in the condition your RC was described. They do, however, have faster sub-f2 lenses.