Rangefinder

Contax IIa – Zeiss Ikon’s Best Classic Rangefinder Reviewed

2400 1350 James Tocchio

In 1944, Allied invasion forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in France. With the first wave of troops was a young combat photographer named Robert Capa. In his hand was the Zeiss Contax II, then…

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FED 5b – The Joys and Pains of Shooting the Soviet Union’s Beer Can Rangefinder

1956 1100 Jeb Inge

For those who argue that the third part of a trilogy is typically the worst, The Godfather Part III is People’s Exhibit A. The political intrigue of financial malfeasance in Vatican City was destined to disappoint…

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Which Leica Rangefinder Should I Buy?

2200 1237 James Tocchio

Want a Leica rangefinder, but not sure which one is right for you? Our buyer’s guide can help you pick your best fit.

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Canon’s Canonet Rangefinder Does the Impossible – A Canon Camera That’s Not Boring

2200 1238 Chris Cushing

Canon makes boring cameras. Sometimes they make really boring cameras. I have an F-1 and I love shooting it, but like many Canons, it simply cannot be name-dropped. It’s a bit like trying to impress your coworkers…

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Olympus 35 RD – Olympus’ Final 40mm Rangefinder

2200 1238 Dustin Vaughn-Luma

It was 1975 when Olympus made the call to launch their final Hail Mary in the competitive 40mm fixed-lens rangefinder game. Olympus engineers aimed to better the already well-received Olympus 35 SP and replace it…

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Ricoh 500 G – A Dark Horse Compact Rangefinder Film Camera

2200 1238 Dustin Vaughn-Luma

Have you ever taken a trip to a distant city and deliberately avoided the favored tourist destinations in exchange for quaint alleyways and lesser-known pathways? If so, you’ve probably come away with some of the…

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Contax G2 Camera Review – The Anti-Rangefinder That’s in a Class of Its Own

2200 1238 James Tocchio

The Contax G2 is like no other rangefinder on Earth. In fact, its technological ethos employs certain tricks that are outright heresy to diehard fans of the classic rangefinder; it runs on batteries, its manual…

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The Metro Case 3D Printed 35mm Viewfinder Could Solve Your Viewfinder Troubles for Under $20

2200 1238 James Tocchio

If you’ve ever wanted to shoot a 35mm lens on a camera that lacks 35mm frame lines, you know how annoying and expensive this problem can be. To shoot a 35mm lens on Leica’s M3,…

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Leica’s Worst Summicron 50mm F/2 is one of the Best (and Priciest) Legacy Fifties Around – Summicron V3 Lens Review

2000 1125 Josh Solomon

Longtime readers of the site will know that I’m far from a Leica fanboy. I generally prefer Japanese manufacturers and often champion their products’ value over their pricier, hyper-mythologized German counterparts. Considering my aversion to…

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Five Photography Products We Want to See Rise From The Dead

2000 1125 James Tocchio

It’s Halloween, All Hallows’ Eve, that ghoulish night of the year dedicated to remembering the dead. It’s also the night of the year in which the unlikely reanimation of rotting corpses seems most possible. Zombies…

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A Week Away with the Contax T – a Perfect Travel and Street Rangefinder Camera

2000 1125 James Tocchio

Three film cameras; ten rolls of film. That’s what I packed for a recent week away. Among these cameras was the Contax T, an unbelievably compact 35mm film rangefinder that somehow marries luxurious excess to…

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Zeiss Ikon ZM 35mm Rangefinder Review – Everything a Rangefinder Should Be

2000 1125 Dustin Vaughn-Luma

A few months ago, I sang the praises of the Zeiss C Biogon 35/2.8 M mount lens. In that earlier review, I spoke to my wife’s sixth sense and how she dealt me a whopper…

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Five Great Soviet Cameras – Guest Post by Colonel Troskovoynicovsky

2000 1125 James Tocchio

Greetings, Western imperialist sow. I am Colonel Troskovoynicovsky writing from within the great Soviet Republic. Your days are numbered, but be joyful temporarily, for while we design your inevitable collapse and political re-education you may…

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Nikon Nikkor H C 50mm F/2 LTM Lens Review – A Leica Alternative That’s More Than Just a Copy

2200 1238 Josh Solomon

In my Leica M2 review, I mentioned a certain lens, a Nikkor-H.C. 5cm f/2 in Leica Thread Mount. The lens sparked a mini-revolt in the comments section, with its detractors crying “Heathen!” at my mounting…

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