Rangefinders

I have several friends who are really into cameras. Walking around the city, my friends make it a point to draw attention to every Leica they see. And we've seen quite a few this past week. If you don't know what Leica is, it's a German company that manufactures a line of classic rangefinder cameras.

Although I could blog about Leica and its line of cameras in detail, I want to focus more on the type of camera Leica primarily produces: rangefinders. If you're interested in mirrorless, SLR, or toy cameras, you can check my previous posts. 

Leica M9-P (Via highsnobeity.com)

What makes a rangefinder camera stand out from the other types is the way it focuses images.  These cameras use a built-in rangefinder device to measure the distance of the object and lock it in focus. Unlike an SLR, it does not need to use a flipping mirror to reflect light to focus. Since flipping mirrors tend to vibrate, rangefinders provide higher quality and sharper images. Also, due to the simplicity of its design, the cameras are quieter, lighter and more compact than clunky SLRs. 

Hasselblad X-Pan II (Via opticalcollimator.com)

With all it's pros, it's really difficult to find any glaring disadvantages when compared to an SLR. There are a few, however. Even though rangefinder lenses are usually of the utmost quality, the cameras do not offer the same macro shooting capabilities as an SLR. Rangefinders rarely focus in distances of less than two feet. SLRs also have the advantage in auto-focusing, which makes it easier to shoot quick actions such as sports.

Another big disadvantage for the casual consumer is the high price. While it varies from camera to camera, rangefinders are a niche market geared towards enthusiasts and professionals. A rangefinder, especially of the ones pictured here, can cost you in the thousands of dollars. You can see from the photos above that the construction and build quality is of high standards.

Oh, if only I had thousands lying around to spend on a camera... A girl can dream.