Can rangefinders (Leica m7, m6, etc.) be used by professional fashion photographers for fashion magazines?

Answer 1

Yes.

The real question is are they? Probably not. Rangefinders are inherently slow to focus, a lot of fashion photography needs the ability to focus quickly and change focus quickly. Autofocus is a great tool in these situations.

Paralax is another problem. On a rangefinder, what you see through the viewfinder is not the same image being projected onto the film plane. For shots taken from several yards away, this usually isn't a problem, but up close, the distance between the viewfinder and the film plane makes accurate framing impossible.

In those shooting situation where you are taking more time with each shot and don't need an SLR's quick focus advantage, you will find those fashon photographers who ues something other then their 35mm (or digital) SLR will want to move up to a medium format camera - 6X4.5, 6X6, or 6X7. If you're going to go to the expense of getting a second system, you may as well get one that will give you better results. 120 based film cameras blow away 135 based cameras at every point when it comes to image quality.

Answer 2

Yes they can, but the question is why? Although Leica produces the best 35mm rangefinders, there is an inherant design flaw with rangefinder cameras. A lot of fashion photographers like to work in somewhat close proximity to their subject/models. When you work in close range to your subject parallax becomes a big problem with framing which makes the SLR design far superior and much quicker for fashion shoots. But that is not to say that you can't do a photoshoot with a rangefinder, but if you are paying a model by the hour and you are spending half your time making sure that your framing is correct, you are wasting money, and at the same time destroying spontaneity which in some photo shoots can be important. Perhaps this is the reason when I shoot fashion I don't use my 4x5. Leica has great optics, but a larger format will always trump the smaller format. If you are going to shoot fashion try a Hasselblad or Mamiya if you want a good combination of speed, dead on framing, and tac sharp optics.

Answer 3

The answers above me are a complete joke. Nobody that shoots fashion seriously shoots a DSLR except for a Hassleblad which cost 10's of thousands of dollars. For digital anyway. So you might not have that kind of cash, OK, shoot film, the standard for fashion bar none is the Mamiya RZ67, it's a medium format camera that was made for fashion, it is the industry standard. All these Canon and Nikon camera's are great , but honestly they are not all that. If you want professional quality shots go with a great camera, not these consumer camera's that are in all the magazines and stuff. The consumer camera like the Canon and Nikon may be popular, but the RZ67 is for the professional, Go pro or go home Here is the kicker, these camera's like the Mamiya RZ67 are a lot cheaper than a great DSLR. The difference is amazing, you can pick out dust on an eyelash. NO consumer DSLR can make that claim. Expect to pay about 700 to 1000 for a set up with a normal lens (110mm), a comparable DSLR will run about 40,000 dollars I simply cannot explain how important this is. This the industry standard.

Answer 4

The results are what matters, not the equipment. A Leica is a good camera, so in the hands of a competent photographer will yield photos good enough for magazines.

Answer 5

Get yourself one of the Mamiya 7 medium format range cameras and have a blast. They are used by man fashion and model photographers and give results that are unequaled.

Answer 6

A fashion photographer can use whatever they feel is necesaary to get the shot they need. I do not know of any that use them. Those I do know use 35mm SLR/DSLR and medium format cameras.

Answer 7

Absolutely.