Focusing system

Rangefinder

Features a central bright patch which displays a split image. As you turn the focus control, the image in the patch moves left and right (or up and down) relative to the main image. When the two images coincide, then the camera is focused. This is the most accurate kind of manual focus adjustment. Only one digital camera so far uses this method: the Epson RD-1. Many famous film cameras use it however, most notably the Leica M series. There are many rangefinder cameras available on the used market, and these can be a very cheap yet high quality first camera.

A subclass of the rangefinder is the Auto-Focus Electronic Rangefinder. So far only Contax G1-G2 cameras use this method. In those cameras, the rangefinder windows are still there, but they are used by a small processor within the camea to align focus automatically. (more info)