Agfa Optima 535

[stnicholas81]

Hi guys, i am still on my voyage to search for my pocket cam. Saw the above cam at TCW, but couldn't find any info on it on CS. any CS-ers got any experience with the above camera?

[Gosu_John]

Originally Posted by stnicholas81 Hi guys, i am still on my voyage to search for my pocket cam. Saw the above cam at TCW, but couldn't find any info on it on CS. any CS-ers got any experience with the above camera?

Hey there,

Wow, the first thing that came to mind was the Minox! How much were they selling this for at TCW? There is this site that is selling it for 36 pounds. Not including shipping/tax.

How is the Yashica Electro GSN? I thought that it was a tad big for my preferences.

[stnicholas81]

i already got a gsn, too big, looking for smthg smaller. canonet lor. boh bian. i already started another thread but want to find out more abt the agfa

[BrianS]

Originally Posted by stnicholas81 i already got a gsn, too big, looking for smthg smaller. canonet lor. boh bian. i already started another thread but want to find out more abt the agfa

St. Nick, I'd recommend an Olympus XA, and check this site out:

http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/p...gefinders.html

It has a lot of great information on RF's.

I'd really like to check this camera out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/CHINON-35-EE-CAM...QQcmdZViewItem

According to Matt Denton's page, it's almost like a scaled down Yashica GSN!
http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/p...on_35eeii.html

Alfred Klomp thinks that the Agfa xx35 series are very intuitive and great, even though he isn't much of an Agfa user:
http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/optima1535/index.htm

Good luck mate!

[Gosu_John]

Originally Posted by stnicholas81 i already got a gsn, too big, looking for smthg smaller. canonet lor. boh bian. i already started another thread but want to find out more abt the agfa

Canonet? But isnt that as big as the GSN? Unless you mean the QL-17.

I am looking to buy a QL-17 myself, the camera which BrianS showed in the Ebay thread looks interesting, and its almost half the weight of the Yashica GSN!

[stnicholas81]

Ql-17 III and QL-17 the same right?

[Gosu_John]

Originally Posted by stnicholas81 Ql-17 III and QL-17 the same right?

Yea its the same.

[juggler]

More info about the Canonets in the Canon Museum.
Linked from http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/canonet.html

There are a few versions of QL17.

[stnicholas81]

Originally Posted by Gosu_John Yea its the same.

The QLs ususally ard 100 can get already. correct? I am looking for one, any one want to try to sell to me? =) think the f 1.7 lens justify it as it is versatile.

[GC1]

Originally Posted by Gosu_John Yea its the same.

Well, they are almost the same. But not quite.

From Stephen Gandy's site:
" As a footnote, I should mention that Canon really liked the name "Canonet 17." In fact, they liked it so much they used it on THREE different cameras. The first was in 1965. It has a longer 45/1.7 lens and was noticeably larger than the later two QL-17's, but made along basically the same lines. The next Canonet QL-17 came out in 1969, looking very much like the later Canonet G-III 17 QL of 1972. The QL-17 G-III added a stronger rewind lever, a battery test light beside the battery test button, and according to Canon "improved quality," but they are almost identical in appearance."

http://www.cameraquest.com/canql17.htm

The full name should be Quick Loading(QL)-17 Grade up(G) 3rd Generation(III)
Seems that the difference is a stronger rewind lever and a battery test light beside the battery test button.

And i know that the black version looks really pretty. For those new to rangefinders and intend to buy this fella, please don't consider the black seriously because it goes for silly prices like USD200 and above on EBAY. And that's really overpriced! One could get a user Bessa R for that price.

[Gosu_John]

oops hah sorry bout the mistake. seen your 100$ bid in the B&S section

[BrianS]

Yeah, the Canonet QL-17 GIII is an awesome camera. It has beautiful lens, its compact, it's cheap (!!!!) and the image quality is comparable to Leica cameras (which surprised me.)

I got mine off of ebay for $20USD because the viewfinder was chipped. But I got a friend who helped me get a top plate from a broken camera, so it's going to be new!!! Well almost new... I need to change the light seals.

Oh and about that ebay auction I posted, that one might not have the aperture ring. I think that might be very much like the Konica C35 (which is a great camera!) It's shutter priority, and the aperture and shutter is kind of linked. Nevertheless, the hexanon 2.8 lens are beautiful and can beat digital (maybe not the Epson RD-1 )

I still think a Oly XA would be great. I would advise against the LOMO LC-A because it's not really an RF, but a viewfinder/guesstimate camera.

-Brian

[ricohflex]

One of the few that I have.
Well, its lens may NOT be up to Leica standards, but it is more than good enough for me as a hobbyist.

[stnicholas81]

ah and u still refuse to sell me hor ricohflex bro. haha =)

[Zann Tiang]

Originally Posted by stnicholas81 Hi guys, i am still on my voyage to search for my pocket cam. Saw the above cam at TCW, but couldn't find any info on it on CS. any CS-ers got any experience with the above camera?

if you are looking into agfa optima range, just get the 1535.
that's the only true rangefinder of the set.

do take note that this is an automatic camera, shuttle speed and aperture are controlled by the camera via the cds. aperture control for flash photography only.

the full range of optima include
optima 335
optima 535
optima 1035
optima 1535
optima Flash camera

optima flash camera is the last camera of the range. and it is the only one with built-in flash.
however, do take note that the rangefinder option is taken away again and focusing is done via guesstimation. it uses AAA sized batteries as well.

i can't remember well, but think LR44 can be used on 1535...or is it CR4? hrmm~

nice saturation with the lens from the whole range.

if you are looking for other small rangefinders, can consider
Rollei XF 35
Ricoh 500G
Ricoh 500GX

do note that both the ricoh models have productions from Japan and Taiwan, never get the Taiwan sets.