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the fuji x series are NOT RANGEFINDERS! they are auto focus cameras and support manual focus with the EVF. They might look a little like rangefinders (in that t

by hnriot 12y ago

the fuji x series are NOT RANGEFINDERS! they are auto focus cameras and support manual focus with the EVF. They might look a little like rangefinders (in that they mostly don't have "hump" for the pentaprism which is an SLR feature) but they do not have coupled rangefinder focusing like the Leica does. Leica are the only rangefinder digital cameras (besides the now ancient Epson R-D1) So much misinformation as usual anytime anything comes up about photography. yes rangefinders are prefered (or were) by street photographers because the cameras and lighter and smaller, the lenses too, with the mirror box to overcome the lenses can focus much closer to the rear lens element which makes for lighter, smaller lenses. The main reason for their success in street and journalistic photography was because what is moving into and out of the frame is visible at all times, and in crisp clear focus, no matter where the lens is focused. if you shooting a tank rolling into the city center its better to know what else is going on around you and you don't want to have to focus the camera before realizing you're going to get run down by an M1A1 Abrams. Please let's confuse retrostyled with rangefinder. That doesn't the Fuji X series aren't good, they are, for an APS-C sensor they are decent performers with some nice lenses.

hypertexthero 12y ago
Yes, the Leica is, unfortunately, the only digital rangefinder camera that exists at this point in time (I own both an M9 and an X100s. See my photography at <http://simongriffee.com> http://simongriffee.com>). The great advantage of a rangefinder is this: With some practice and experience you can _reliably focus_ the camera _without putting it to your eye or pointing it at the subject_. You can do this because the lens rotation stops at both far and close focus points and you can judge the focus distance by feeling the relative position of the finger tab on the lens, or by looking at the distance markings on the lens. The other advantage of the Leica is the simplicity of the manual controls necessary for photography: Aperture, shutter speed, focus, shutter release. Unfortunately Leicas are becoming increasingly complex with the addition of video and so on to the M model. Not that I mind new designs, but I think they should also make a more affordable model focussed on simplicity above all, something like [this](http://hypertexthero.com/logbook/2013/09/design-good-camera/ http://hypertexthero.com/logbook/2013/09/design-good-camera/). When I am asked what camera is best to learn photography with I always want to and do recommend a Leica, but I do it with a heart weighed down by the knowledge of the price of the thing.

by hnriot 12y ago

hypertexthero 12y ago

Yes, the Leica is, unfortunately, the only digital rangefinder camera that exists at this point in time (I own both an M9 and an X100s. See my photography at <http://simongriffee.com> http://simongriffee.com>). The great advantage of a rangefinder is this: With some practice and experience you can _reliably focus_ the camera _without putting it to your eye or pointing it at the subject_. You can do this because the lens rotation stops at both far and close focus points and you can judge the focus distance by feeling the relative position of the finger tab on the lens, or by looking at the distance markings on the lens. The other advantage of the Leica is the simplicity of the manual controls necessary for photography: Aperture, shutter speed, focus, shutter release. Unfortunately Leicas are becoming increasingly complex with the addition of video and so on to the M model. Not that I mind new designs, but I think they should also make a more affordable model focussed on simplicity above all, something like [this](http://hypertexthero.com/logbook/2013/09/design-good-camera/ http://hypertexthero.com/logbook/2013/09/design-good-camera/). When I am asked what camera is best to learn photography with I always want to and do recommend a Leica, but I do it with a heart weighed down by the knowledge of the price of the thing.