Fixed lens rangefinder camera lenses, what to look out for?

[Layer-cake]

looking for some advice regarding brilliant lenses I can use from a fixed lens cameras, I've done a couple of conversions, most of them have not produced great results, with the exception of the yashica GS lens and the Minitar lens from an LCA, the lens from the instamatic 500 is generally good but isn't particularly sharp...

the one thing I never really liked was the minimum focusing distance of the lenses but realised that even the LTM lenses have similar MFT so instead of buying expensive LTM lenses I want to explore some other options from the fixed lens cameras.

The vivitar 35es and Minolta 7sii and the different variants of these cameras have caught my eye with their 40mm 1.7 lenses (its said they are similar to the Minolta 40mm F2 LTM lens) I think to Konica S3 might be related but haven't found any conclusive proof of this, besides they are quite costly so they are out of the equation.

I know similar questions have been asked but I'm looking for more of a defined category, lenses shorter than 40mm and faster than F2 and that don't glow too much wide open.

there is also the Olympus 35rd that gives good results, but again are quite expensive.

[calvin83]

If you can find a completely broken Olympus Wide Super with a non-broken lens...

[Layer-cake]

that's the first time I've heard of this camera, I'll keep a look out for it! many thanks Calvin.

[bernhardas]

Edited

[Layer-cake]

that they do indeed, I know of the slower lenses like the tessar and trio plan but I don't really recall anything faster.

don't get me wrong theirs nothing bad about slower lenses mostly they produce better results than faster ones, I found a cassarit 50mm 2.8 after I saw klauses photo and I'm really liking it.

[luisalegria]

Petri rangefinders. There are many models with f/2 or f/1.9 6 element type lenses.

The lenses are good, the bodies are generally no good because the shutter cocking linkage wears out and is a real pitb to work on.

Canter Beauty. Very nice lens. Not a bad camera, except the cocking linkage was designed to go wrong with just a bit of wear.

Aires. Good f/1.9 lens. (Notice a pattern?). Bodies always have faded beamsplitters. Good luck swapping them.

Walz Envoy. This had a Sonnar, not a double gauss like the others.

Lots and lots of others. Ricoh, Mamiya, Yashica, Konica, everybody had rangefinder cameras with f/2 or better lenses, usually 45mm. If I had an evf mirrorless I would definitely give this a go as I've got a half dozen lenses on dead bodies.

[calvin83]

Thanks Luis. I have get some ideas what cameras should I hunt for.

[Layer-cake]

indeed thanks Luis, and yes I have come across a couple of those, mostly 45mm as stated. there is also the canon ql17 which has a 40mm 1.7 but from what I can gather from reviews is that its quite glowy wide open.

the lens from the ql19 is great too but I prefer the yashica GS lens, when it comes to the 45mm range.

just some extra experience, I did a conversion of a Konica S1.6 lens but its quite unusable wide open. super glowy. I also tried to do a conversion of an aires with the 1.9 lens but the shutter was jammed up and I did a bit too much damage trying to get too the shutters, so it was a bit of lost cause, same with the pen with the 35mm F2, I did a bit too much damage to it but it also seems quite glow wide open so its a nice ornament at this point.

regarding digital viewfinder cams, I really like the Fuji bodies and the lens option are great but a bit pricey so I'm currently saving up;)

[blotafton]

I have a Rokkor 45/1.7 ready for conversion, early test looks promising.
http://forum.mflenses.com/rokkor-pf-45mm-f-1-7-rf-lens-t67634.html

[Layer-cake]

that's a good lens but from I've seen quite difficult to convert and maintain infinity.

[luisalegria]

Glowy is good !
That's the period look.
Same deal as the Wollensak Tessar copies usual on Speed Graphics.

[kansalliskala]

[Layer-cake]

[luisalegria]

I would go have a look at the contemporary photo magazines, like Popular Photography, from when this stuff was current. Pretty much the whole run of Pop Photo from the 1930s-50s is now online on google.
Back in those days these mags were nearly all about technique and results, not gear.

Any other good collection of photojournalist work of the 30s-70s would be interesting too.

[Lightshow]

https://www.cameraquest.com/com35s.htm