leica - rangefinders

[ElFenix]

they're not that much smaller than SLRs

no autofocus

cost more than just about anything

much more restrictive on the lens capabilities



is the ability to see way more than just the image frame really that important? sounds like they're a crutch for people who can't shoot with both eyes open.



though, the new C-LUX 3 looks like the best compact digicam on the market, assuming it doesn't have the heavy-handed noise reduction of its panasonic counterpart.

 

[episodic]

I never got the rangefinder thing either (probably cause all I can afford are 200$ digicams). . .


You should ask fuzzybabybunny in their ask me anything about cameras thread

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

From wikipedia (I have no experience with rangefinders):

Rangefinder cameras do have several advantages over SLRs in certain applications. Since there is no moving mirror, as used in SLRs, there is no momentary blackout of the subject being photographed, the camera is often quieter, and the camera's body is usually slimmer and less obtrusive. These qualities make rangefinders ideal for action-grabbing candid shots and street photography. The lack of a mirror also allows lenses to project deep into the camera body, and so high-quality wide-angle lenses are easier to design. (The Voigtländer 12mm lens is the widest-angle rectilinear lens in general production.) Rangefinder camera focusing is more accurate with standard and wide-angle lenses (whereas an SLR is more accurate with telephoto lenses); on the other hand, the rangefinder may get out of alignment, while focussing element mis-aligments are very uncommon with most SLR cameras.

In addition, for photographers who use heavy filtration to achieve certain effects, a rangefinder camera offers the advantage of not having to focus and frame through the filters themselves - in this case, not viewing through the taking lens is a distinct advantage. On the other hand, some types of filters lend themselves more readily to SLRs, such as graduated filters and polarizers, since one must see through them to observe the variable effect they create.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: episodic
I never got the rangefinder thing either (probably cause all I can afford are 200$ digicams). . .


You should ask fuzzybabybunny in their ask me anything about cameras thread

Ahem, I changed the topic title to "Ask me your photography questions," because I soon realized that I couldn't really handle "camera" questions

 

[ElFenix]

well obviously that wiki entry is no longer correct as sigma makes a 12 mm rectilinear lens for SLRs.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
well obviously that wiki entry is no longer correct as sigma makes a 12 mm rectilinear lens for SLRs.

Yeah. This doesn't mean that it's entirely wrong though, just a bit outdated.