Poor Man's Digital Leica

[DonLashier]

Originally Posted by David_Buzzard

I've got an Olympus 7070 that I use as a range finder camera.

David, does the Oly have a rangefinder? If not, then how do you use it as a range finder camera? Aside from size/weight, the key thing for me about a range finder camera is the range finder , and of course the ability to interchange lenses which I believe the Oly also lacks. Unfortunately there are no cheap substitutes for the Leica M8. The RD-1 comes close but is not that much cheaper.

- DL

[David_Buzzard]

The 7070 has a great traditional range finder. The screen works pretty well too, but I find it unnatual to hold it out from my body. 99% of the time, I have it set at the 28mm setting (that a film equil.), but I can zoom it out with just the touch of a button.

I really wanted the Digilux 2, but I got a look at some of the files and they were awful. At about 1/3 the price, the 7070 been a good camera and faithful friend. I find that when I take personal photos, I always use the 7070. The Nikon pro bodies and lenses I use professionally are just too massive to carry around, and people are always staring at them.

Here's a couple of shots with the 7070...





David Buzzard's Technical Blog

[DonLashier]

Originally Posted by David_Buzzard

The 7070 has a great traditional range finder.

Nice shots indeed David, but I read several reviews and find no mention of a rangefinder, only a viewfinder, and in the pics of the camera I see no second window that a rangefinder would require. For a small light carryaround this does indeed look like a nice choice, but no way is it a replacement for a true rangefinder for focusing purposes, let alone its lack of interchangeable lenses.

- DL