Rangefinder Cameras

While rangefinder cameras were once all the rage, their decline began the first time around in the 1970s with the high tech SLR cameras. However, in recent years, the digital rangefinder camera has popped up on the horizon and seems to be blazing a path into the marketplace. Because these cameras have not been around for years, you are probably wondering, what is a rangefinder camera, and how does it work? Is it superior to other types of cameras, or is it good for special applications?

When photographer Douglas Duncan from Life Magazine covered the Korean War discovered the Nikon rangefinder camera in 1950, he put it to good use and created an epidemic, with this particular model becoming the standard for American photojournalists for the next decade. It was favored for its high quality optics and clarity. Another favored manufacturer of these cameras was Canon, who manufactured them from the 1930s into the 1960s. They were popular especially from 1951 on because on these models, the Canon rangefinder camera lens (50mm f/0.95) could be mounted to a bayonet mount, while a thread mount could be used for other lenses.

Since the rise of a Yasuhara camera released in Japan in the 1990s, rangefinder cameras have seen a bit of a revival. Several manufacturers, including Cosina (who makes the Voigtländer rangefinder camera) have begun producing these mechanisms again. Even Nikon has produced some new expensive limited edition rangefinder cameras for collectors and aficionados. However, it is not extremely likely that these particular camera styles will overtake the market anytime soon.

How to use a rangefinder camera depends on the model in question. In older models, the camera typically shows the focusing distance, and the user has to transfer this value to the lens focusing ring. In these, the rangefinder is typically separate from the viewfinder. In newer models, then you have what is called coupled rangefinders, in which the focus is adjusted within the rangefinder (typically appearing in the center of the viewfinder) and the lens by the same lens control, which is usually a ring on the lens itself.

Rangefinder cameras are quite intriguing, which is why they have returned to the market with newer, more advanced technology. Individuals who desire more control on the camera focus really enjoy using these devices. However, their application is still limited due to the standard consumer desire for autofocus features and a lack of desire to fiddle with such tender components.