My all-time favorite classic rangefinder is the Canon G-III QL17. Very inexpensive and a lens which is quite good -- 40mm 1.7. They go < $50 in pretty good shape. Just use a 675 battery for proper voltage/metering.
Another option might be a simpler rangefinder like the Olympus XA. 35/2.8. Also inexpensive. A76 battery. If you would like more electronics with it, there is the Contax T2. 38mm f2.8. Certainly the nicest point-and-shoot I've ever used. 123A battery. And you can always spend a bundle on a Leica. If you'd like the versatility of digital and a rangefinder together, with lens interchangability, there is the Leica D-Lux for $TooMuch, or its $500 Panasonic equivalent. I think I got this with with a Canon G-III: http://www.brendemuehl.net/images/nufsaid.html My favorite characteristic is that the viewfinder shows you extra -- this allows you to see what is coming in and shoot accordingly. It's just a fraction of a second, but it helps. And it is so light-weight that you can take it anywhere. The only issue is finding 48mm filters, but that's not a really big deal. Sincerely, Collin Brendemuehl http://kerygmainstitute.org "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" -- Jim Elliott >Back to photography, I was wondering if anyone has the same affliction >I do; that is, using certain focal lengths almost exclusively. I find >that 90% of my needs are covered by the rough range of 24mm - 85mm >(this being a 35mm equivalent range). That is wide through portrait - >clearly, I don't do any birding or serious sports work. Recently, I >had a friend told me I should try out a RF for my needs - of course >I'd love an M9 - but I've yet to win the lottery. Any thoughts on >this focal length constriction, and the use of a RF for street >shooting versus a DSLR? -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
