Are Rangefinders Just Hype or the Real Deal?

Leica M9 Titanium

Recently one of my readers named Reacher Rau suggested that I write a blog post on the pros and cons of using rangefinders. He told me how he always heard how awesome rangefinders such as Leicas were good for street photography, but never heard a discussion about the pros and the cons. Although I have to disclaim that I am not a rangefinder master, I still have enough experience using them so I feel that I can give a pretty unbiased opinion on both sides of the issue.

Before I start, a little background on myself and rangefinders. Before inheriting my grandfather’s old World War 2-Era Contax IIIa Film Rangefinder, I primarily used my DSLR for street photography (my Canon 5D). Although my Canon 5D is definitely not the most discrete camera for street photography (it is rather large, clunky, and has a loud shutter), it has served its purpose quite well. Being full-frame, I can toss on my 24mm f/2.8 or my 35mm f/2 and actually have them at the ‘true’ focal length. For about 80% of my work I use auto-focus, and the remaining 20% in manual when shooting from the hip.

My Contax IIIa Film Rangefinder

When I first started shooting with my film rangefinder, I first noticed how truly different an experience it was to shoot street photography. The first thing I noticed was how I felt so much more calm roaming the streets, with my rangefinder strapped around my neck. However this was mostly due to the fact that I was using a film camera, not necessarily because I was using a rangefinder. Knowing that I had only 24 shots per roll, I was very meticulous and careful with my shots–making sure not to waste even a single shot.

However what I quickly realized was how frustrating it was to use a rangefinder. Due to the fact that it was fully manual, I actually had a difficult time getting my exposures correct. When in the streets with my 5D I typically have my camera on Av or even P more, which gives me an automatic exposure. However due to the fact that my rangefinder doesn’t have a light meter built in, I have to judge all of my shots with my eye. I recently have been using the Sunny 16 rule, which is a way to guesstimate your exposures based on the sunlight without a light meter. Although it has been a rewarding experience what aperture and shutter speed by heart, there are times that I wasn’t able to adjust my settings quickly enough (when moving in and out of shade) to get my shots.

The Sunny 16 Rule

Not only was learning how to manually judge exposure difficult, but using manual focus 100% of the time was frustrating as well. With rangefinders, the way that you focus your images are quite different. Instead of seeing through the lens and focusing your image (as with DSLR’s), rangefinders focus by stacking two imposed boxes on top of one another until they are focused. Watch this video on YouTube and you’ll see what I mean. Although there are many trained street photographers out there who are able to manually focus their camera nearly as quickly as camera with autofocus, it takes time. A beginner to a rangefinder will be miles behind a modern DSLR with autofocus. Below is a pretty entertaining video comparing the focusing systems of the Canon 5D Mark II, the Olympus EP-1, and the Leica M9.

However there are still definitely many merits about shooting with a rangefinder. First of all, you are far less conspicuous when shooting in the streets. People definitely seemed far less threatened with my ‘old school’ camera when compared to my big and somewhat threatening 5D. Rangefinders definitely make you look much more like a hobbyist, while a DSLR screams ‘pro’. Not only that, but having a near silent shutter definitely draws a lot less attention to you as well. When shooting with my Contax IIIa, it makes a nice and quiet ‘swishing’ sound while my Canon 5D gives a loud and unrefined ‘clunking’ sound.

Although I have not had the opportunity to shoot with a Leica yet, I still believe it to have many advantages when shooting with street photography. Chris Weeks highly praises using a rangefinder in his free online book “Street Photography for the Purist” as well as his street photography documentary “Street Photography: Documenting the Human Condition“. However the biggest issue that most street photographers have is not the issue of wanting to shoot with a rangefinder, but it is more the issue of being able to afford to shoot with a rangefinder. With the Leica M9 starting at $6900 for just the body, it definitely isn’t a camera that everybody can afford. You can hear Chris’ thoughts on the subject in the video below:

Solution? Try getting a used film rangefinder or even a Leica M8 to start off with. Although the street photography community is in love with the idea of having a rangefinder, I truly believe that they aren’t for everybody. Everyday I see on the internet tons of talented street photographers who are able to take great images with point and shoots, micro 4/3rds, DSLR’s, and even iPhones. Even when I had my street photography workshop, I presented my participants with an array of images taken with different cameras. It was nearly impossible for them to distinguish which cameras took which photos.

So what is your take? Do you think rangefinders are just hype or the real deal? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!