Do you have a dream camera that you don't own?

[Don_ih]

A Leica rangefinder does what you make it do. It's good at that.

 

[Milpool]

I only had one Leica SLR - a Leicaflex SL. It did not disappoint.
My disappointment is with the Leica rangefinders.

I’ve never used a rangefinder but I don’t think I’d like it, Leica or not.

 

[eli griggs]

I’ve never used a rangefinder but I don’t think I’d like it, Leica or not.

Just wait for that series of future fast moving shots within which, you'll desperately discovery your photographic vision, blocked by your SLR mirrors and your, yet expressed groan, over not carrying a rangefinder.

Camera kit content's are, always adjustable, so make it so learn and use it all!


IMO

 

[BradS]

I’ve never used a rangefinder but I don’t think I’d like it, Leica or not.

Really, the only good thing they have going for them is that they're quiet ... and a little bit smaller than most SLRs.

 

[logan2z]

Really, the only good thing they have going for them is that they're quiet ... and a little bit smaller than most SLRs.

The near-silence of a rangefinder definitely has its benefits. The ability to see outside the frame can be useful at times too.

I started with a rangefinder so that's my preferred focusing mechanism, although a split-image screen in an SLR isn't too far off.

 

[Sirius Glass]

While the near-silence of a rangefinder is smaller, lighter and quieter; I prefer the SLRs because I find the split window hard to focus in dim light.

 

[MFstooges]

When I was a teenager, I dreamed of owning a 1969 Corvette convertable. Many years later when I finally bought one, I realized that some dreams are, perhaps, better left unrealized. The dream was much better than the reality. Same experience with Leica rangefinder cameras - what a huge disappointment.

This is true.

 

[Anon Ymous]

Really, the only good thing they have going for them is that they're quiet ... and a little bit smaller than most SLRs.

You're being harsh. A rangefinder gives you endless opportunities to photograph lens caps.

 

[BobUK]

"Do You Have A Dream Camera That You Do Not Own? "

Yes Officer. A stolen Hasselblad.

 

[guangong]

When I was a teenager I wanted the Bronica S over any other camera; as an adult about ten years before I retired, I settled for a Hasselblad 503 CX with seven lenses, 2XE extender, extension tubes, and a Hasselblad 903 SWC. I have managed to make due with those since then.

Sirius, how can you survive with such a paltry outfit? Poor boy! Just kidding! Quite imprssive an outfit.

 

[BHuij]

I'm pretty spoiled on the camera front, but that never seems to turn off my GAS. I've gotten a handle on it in recent years. Really focused in on servicing, upgrading, repairing, and USING the cameras I already own, and downsizing the collections with cameras that don't *ahem* spark joy anymore.

So... I wouldn't mind a Chamonix 45F-2 to upgrade my Intrepid 4x5 Mk IV, though of course... the pictures coming out of it would be indistinguishable. 4x5 sheets in particular don't seem to understand that they're supposed to look better when I keep them in a more expensive dark box immediately prior to exposure.

Also wouldn't mind a Canon F-1
A Minolta SR-T 101
A Pentax MX and/or LX
An Olympus OM-3Ti
A Rollei 35AF

But all of those would be some combination of "redundant" and "dangerous gateway drugs into further lens purchases in systems that are not functionally different from the 3 lens mounts I'm already deeply invested in." And I don't believe in shelf queens.

I have this same problem with fountain pens.

 

[Don_ih]

A Minolta SR-T 101

No idea why you want that. It's hard to give those away. Also, most of the aperture strings are gummed up and unresponsive. Also, they take the stupid battery. And the lenses work on less heavy and more-likely-to-work cameras.

 

[MFstooges]

You're being harsh. A rangefinder gives you endless opportunities to photograph lens caps.

The exact reason why I no longer dream about Mamiya 7

 

[Jim Peterson]

OK, A Fuji GFX 50R.

 

[dokko]

Really, the only good thing they have going for them is that they're quiet ... and a little bit smaller than most SLRs.

I prefer to view through a good SLR viewfinder, but rangefinder cameras have a lot of advantages.
- smaller (with MF a lot)
- quieter
- no mirror slap, making it easier to get sharp images at longer exposure times)
- easier to focus under certain conditions (like wide angles or low light)
- very compact lenses of really high quality, specially on wide angles.

The last point is the most important for me, to get a quality comparable to a Voigtländer 35mm I‘d need something like a Sigma Art 35mm, which is like 10 times the size and 3 times the weight.

All that said, there are plenty of advantages for SLR cameras as well (wysiwyg and possible autofocus being the most obvious).

The exact reason why I no longer dream about Mamiya 7

I don‘t put a lenscap on my rangefinders, I only use a lens hood (and a protective filter if I am in dirty environments). Prevents shooting with the cap on, and allows me to react much faster on unexpected moments.

 

[MFstooges]

I actually found the RF isn't easier to focus in lowlight. SLR's split image helps me better in manual focus cameras.

 

[BHuij]

No idea why you want that. It's hard to give those away. Also, most of the aperture strings are gummed up and unresponsive. Also, they take the stupid battery. And the lenses work on less heavy and more-likely-to-work cameras.

Sounds like you might have one for sale?