My Rangefinder Quest (Update)

I still haven't managed to win an auction on Ebay for a decent rangefinder at a more than decent price. (Snipers suck!) Thanks for all the suggestions! I've spent the last few days obsessively researching and learning about many rangefinder cameras. For the kind of money I want to spend right now, which ain't much, I remain focused on Canon's 1970s era Canonet QL17 GIII.

Everything I read about this compact rangefinder seems to say some very good things about it...especially considering the price! I'd love to get one with a black body (Gotta be cool, right?) but they are very scarce.

I'm resigned to the the fact that I'll probably have to replace the light seals on a QL17 GIII camera once I win one. But, in my research on how to do this, it seems a fairly simple "fix" using very inexpensive materials.

I've also spent some time on FlickR forums looking for other peoples' work using a QL17 GIII and it seems very few shooters are using the camera with strobes. Granted, I'll be shooting a fair amount of available-light images--I have an interest in pursuing street photography to some extent--and this camera (as are many rangefinders) is perfect for using as a street snapper, especially with its 40mm f/1.7 glass, quick loading and focusing capabilities, shutter-priority auto-exposure mode, and compact, low-profile design. Granted, the camera's meter doesn't function in manual mode. I'll just have to tuck a light meter in my pocket when I go out to shoot.

I also want to shoot some pretty girl stuff using the rangefinder as well. I know the camera's 40mm lens is not exactly ideal for this kind of work so I'll probably concentrate on bigger images, that is, images where the subject is a smaller part of the overall image... where the environment becomes more important (or as important) as the model's importance is in the majority of my work. That's not to say I'm going to restrict using the camera to street photography and pretty girl shooting and little else. Who knows where this might lead? Maybe nowhere? Maybe somewhere? Time will tell.

Two auctions I'm participating in for QL17s end tonight. I'm hoping to win one of them. But I have another half-dozen similar cameras waiting in the wings in my Ebay "watch" list.

The pretty girl at the top is Alexa from some time ago. I've posted other images from this set before. Canon 5D, 85mm prime, ISO 100, f/5.6 @100, B&W conversion using the Channel Mixer method.

* * * * * * * * * U P D A T E * * * * * * * * * *

Finally won an auction! I'm now the proud owner of a Canon Canonet QL17 GIII rangefinder. I somehow managed to win the camera without resorting to sniping. Here's the rangefinder's description as provided by the seller:

This Canon Canonet QL17 GIII is in excellent+ condition and fully working including the shutter, meter, etc. The 40mm f/1.7 lens is clean and clear and very sharp. The camera's appearance is outstanding and the viewfinder is clean and clear. The camera's light seals have been recently replaced and it is ready to shoot. Includes lens cap, PX625A battery and complete owners manual on CD. High bidder wins it!

Ended up winning with a bid of $62.oo, paid for with part of the loot I earned selling an old, useless lens on Ebay a few weeks back. (Note: The lens was useless to me, i.e., I had no use for it in my kit. The lens itself was in fine condition, fully-functional and, obviously, not useless to the buyer.)

Note to self: Need to buy a few accessories, e.g., 48mm filters (skylight, green, etc.), spare battery, maybe a lens shade... Oh yeah, and some film. Jeez! I haven't bought film in SOOOooooo long!

Anyway, I'm anxious to get my hands on my new toy, play with it, get to know it, play with it more, get to know it more, and see how I do with it. Sorta sounds like dallying with a woman, huh? Here's some pics of the actual item I won. (As usual, click to enlarge.)