Chicken or egg? - RFF and you

[Fred Burton]

Which came first for you? RFF or rangefinder photography? If RFF didn't exist, would you still be out there buying RF's and shooting film with RF's? Or would you be happily blasting away with a film SLR, or a digital SLR for that matter?

[sepiareverb]

I found this place after I found RF's, and I'm not quite sure how- I think I was googling for info on M mount lenses.

I'm quite happily a shooter/printer first, forum contributor second.

[ClaremontPhoto]

I've been using rangefinder cameras since way before the internet.

[nextreme]

Rangefinder (Minolta Himatic E) was first.

[dmr]

I had my first rangefinder more years ago than I care to admit being alive! I sold it, one of the worst mistakes I ever made. I found RFF when I was on the quest to find another of the same model.

If RFF were not here, I probably would have searched the web more and eventually found the camera on (gag) that auction site but I don't think I would have either of the GIIIs.

[laptoprob]

Chicken I guess...
I got into the Leica world through the Heliar 15mm lens. With a Bessa L that I sold later on because the meter wasn't of much use. After that a few FED2's and now a few Leicas.

I found RFF through a Google quest for god knows what.

[rbsinto]

I first took an interest in rangefinder cameras when I was introduced to the Nikon Historic Society site about six or seven years ago. I bought my first about two years ago and since then have acquired two more plus three lenses and shoot with them as much as I do with my SLRs. I don't have or use digital equipment.
As for this site, I think I became aware of it about the same time I got the first rangefinder body, but my system choices or whether I shoot film or not haven't been influenced by RFF in any way.

[oftheherd]

My first RF was an Olympus of some sort, bought about 1975, after reading a magazine article on carrying them as backups to your SLR. In 1976, while still in Korea, I bought my Super Press 23 to replace the stolen Yashica MAT 124 G. I got it as a friend could get it on the cheap, and for the 6x7 neg. I never have fallen in love with RF just for RF. They are tools, and I like them for what they do for me.

I joined RFF shortly after it began when our own Francisco mentioned it on Pop Photo's forum. He also GAS'd me () into buying a couple of Canonets, but I like them and use them too. Thanks Francisco.

I have recently gotten a Kiev and 4 lenses, as FSU's were much of the conversation topics early on. I enjoy it, probably more than the fixed lens RFs I have. I like lens interchangablility.

Interesting to see the different reasons of others.

EDIT: For what it is worth, I still have and use SLRs, folders, and even a P&S digital.

[ruby.monkey]

The camera came first, then RFF, and then plenty more cameras.

[back alley]

first rf cam was bought about 1970-71.

[rbiemer]

The first camera I remember using was my grandfather's Argus C-3. In the late 60's. Then in my last two years of high school, I shotfor the paper and yearbook with a K-1000. Didn't do any photography again until '98 or so and needed to be cheapabout it so I found the FSU cameras. Went with a Kiev 4a since the SLRs didn't appeal to me much. In the process of trying to educate myself about photography, I found this lovely place. I think I was looking for info about the Canonet and one of the google results was here. I didn't see much of the typical disdain for newbie questions here and have tried to repay that graciousness since.
Rob

[Todd.Hanz]

I had a Contax RF and was looking for info on it's value when RFF popped up, the rest is history.

[FrankS]

Like most others, RFF came up in a Google search for information on some fixed lens RF camera I was using.

[Al Kaplan]

I used some of my Bar Mitzvah "gelt" (money) back in '55 to buy an Ansco 35mm scale focusing camera. Then in 1961 I bought a Canon IIs and shortly afterwards I traded that for a Leica IIIC. I got my first M in '67. Internet? Hell, in '55 we'd just been lucky enough to snag a private phone line instead of the 4 party line, and some of my friends had no phones in their houses. We learned photography from books, photo magazines, older photographers, and from the knowledgeable clerks in camera stores.

Now if these damned forty plus year old Leicas would only have the courtesy to wear out I might have an excuse to "Go Digital". (Fat chance!)

[leica M2 fan]

Used an Argus C3 back in '52 then in '62 got the S2 and in '70 the M2 so I've had them for a while before RFF. But, must say, that my knowledge of photography has come from RFF and all the great people here. Must say that I miss many of the old timers who don't post here much anymore, like Benilliam and Taffer and others as well.

[gb hill]

After years of absense from photography I decided to one day pull out my old slr kit & give it a go once more. I quickly realised I wanted a lighter camera to carry around all day. One trip to Peace Camera & I walk out with a nice Canonet GIII plus a roll of Agfa APX 400. I googled around & as well as finding Kyle Cassidys Canonet site, I also found RFF. I also bought more cameras. Then I started to develope my own B&W film again after many years. Now I'm establishing my own darkroom to do traditional printing. All in a two year period.

[-doomed-]

I think the rangefinder came first for me ,then RFF, I now own three of these things, as well as an oddball argus a2b.

RFF may not have been first ,but it has definitely been an influence, and as it was said when i first posted up about my canonet that my 20d would be spending alot of time by itself on a shelf has become a reality.

I really like the rangefinder experience much better than my DSLR experience.

[Debusti Paolo]

hi I'm new here,I'm 37 and I started with an olympus rc 35 from my grand father then 2 topcon slr,a rolleiflex 2,8f,the first camera I remember that I bought was my nikon f4s when I was about 20 then contax g2,bronica rf 645,903swc......... and some minox,etc

[Michiel Fokkema]

I bought my first M3 20 years ago. Internet didn't even exist.

CHeers,

Michiel Fokkema

[JohnM]

I think I found the site three or four years ago after a Google search on rangefinders. Not sure what camera I was interested in, but even though the site only got a couple of posts a day back then, it certainly kick started an interest in other rangefinders.

But, somewhere along the way, digital captured my interest and my film cameras haven't really gotten that much time recently.

[tbarker13]

Bought my first M3 back 1989. So the camera came first. However, I do have to say that this site (and what I've learned here) has fueled many a lens and camera purchase. Life was so much simpler.

[c.poulton]

I started out with a box brownie, progressed to a cheap russian Zenith SLR, then a Pentax ME Super, but was not happy with either my results or the 'feel' of the camera. I sold my SLR and started using my fathers old Yashica GTN - much happier, better results and a joy to use. I have used this camera for over 20 years, then I started to look at digital, but just could not find what I wanted which was a digital Yashica GTN (this was back in 2003!, long before the RD1) I always used to shoot colour slide - ektachrome, but was slowly looking at B+W again (I used to shoot B+W in the early 80's) and one day via google I found RFF.

RFF opened my eyes to the wonderful world of other RF cameras apart from the GTN, and the enthusiasm of the other members was infectious. I eventually took the plunge and bought a R3A, going against the (then) feeling that film was obsolete. I have since never looked back. I love using RF's and I love using film (B+W re-found the love)

Without the happenstance of finding RFF I do beleive that I might have given up my search and succumbed to a dSLR. I really doubt that I would be finding my photography as enjoyable as it is now if I had gone down this route...

[usagisakana]

I think I owned my himatic first, then found RFF. but RFF has really renewed my interest in rangefinders, I had given up on the himatic before then. Now I intend to eventually buy a interchangeable lens rangefinder, am just saving my money at the moment.

[pesphoto]

i was an SLR shooter(nikon) before I found RFF and read about the Yashica GSN.
All downhill from there......

[Al Patterson]

I had found Cameraquest one day when searching for information on Leica M cameras, and found Steve's page on the 1970's compacts first. I had bought a Canonet QL17 GIII shortly after, and found RFF while searching further info on the canon, as I was looking for a manual.

The rest they say is history.