Help with choosing an RF camera

[bellchri]

Hello everyone,

Thanks in advance for your help/ advice. I have not yet officially entered the RF world yet but am considering it. I am looking to buy a RF camera to have mostly as an alternative to my Rollei for doing street/candid work, though it would also be nice to have a rangefinder as a lightweight camera to carry while hiking. Street/Candid work would still be the primary focus however. I also feel that aperture priority would be a desirable feature for grabbing that quick candid shot. I would mostly be looking to use lenses shorter than 50mm.

I have done a fair bit of research on available RFs and have perhaps come no closer to a decision than when I started. First off let me say that Leicas are perhaps a bit pricier than I would be looking to spend.

I love shooting medium format because of the amazing detail, however with street photography MF might be overkill, as I appreciate raw, grainy street shots which 35 mm would likely produce more easily. Still, a medium format RF might be nice to have for the added flexibility.

The camera I first began looking at was the Mamiya 6/7. As a current Mamiya owner I like their build quality and features. But two things scared me off about the 6/7: first is the price of equipment (even used, bodies and lenses are somewhat pricy) and second is the lack of fast lenses.

I also have scoped out the various Fuji medium format RFs, but while their prices are more tolerable than the Mamiyas, the lack of fast glass is again upsetting.

As far as Leicas go, I absolutely love the umatched feel and quality of them, however as I already mentioned, the prices (especially of those offering aperture priority modes) keep scaring me off.

I have also considered the Contax G2, but don't know how I feel about auto-focus.

I am quite intrigued by the Bessa R2a/3a/4a and the wide availability of lenses, and these are perhaps the cameras that I have been looking at most seriously.

I guess, what I am trying to say is that I am feeling lost in my search and am looking for guidance/advice on my search.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Pablito]

The Bessas, The Zeiss Ikon and the Leica all fall within distinct price areas, with significant jumps as you move up the price ladder. Since price seems to be a big factor for you, the choice should be pretty straightforward. All these cameras are quite good. I'd stay away only from the Contax G series even though the lenses are excellent optically, the viewfinder is terrible and they really don't have true manual focus.

 

[alternatve]

You might want to start with LTM cameras, due to the huge variety of LTM lenses available. Good cameras to start with is a Canon 7, P, Leica IIIa/c/f and of course a Bessa R. There are FSU LTM copies, but the quailty may not be so good. Theses cameras and lenses, (with exception of the Bessa, and it's lenses) are typically very old now, so if you are shooting professionally, you might not want to go this path.

Whichever way you go, I wish you all the best in your venture into RF photography. 🙂

Regards,
Samuel

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Chris,
if you like mf, the fsu Iskra is compact, handles well and has superb
glass.
Dave😉

 

[spiderfrank]

I have a Bessa R and it's very good for the kind of shots you like. I think my favourite focal is 50mm: the view is very natural, and you have some little space in the viewfinder around the "shot window" to preview "intrusions" in the picture.

Sometimes I like to use an old (veeeery old) Zeiss Nettar IIb: it's a small and compact 120mm folding with a 75mm lens: people tend to ignore or smile to you: nobody think you are really taking photographs with that strange object... It's nice...

Ciao
Franco

 

[mfogiel]

Chris, there are 3 things to consider:

1- if you wear glasses
2- if you want to shoot indoors as well
3- if you want to use the 50mm as well, or stop at 35

Generally, it is wise to spend more on lenses, and the necessary for the body.
If the answer to the first question is yes, then your choice is narrowed to ZI and Bessa Rxx. If the answer to the second question is yes, then your choice is narrowed to ZI.
If you have no problem with glasses and want to shoot mainly outdoors, the Bessas are the correct choice.
If the above applies, and you want the 28/50mm range it is Bessa R2A, if it is the 21-35 range, then it is R4A.

Best universal carry around do everything kit: ZI with CV Nokton 35/1.2.
Best universal price/performance kit Bessa R2A with CV 35/1.7 Ultron
Best wa price/performance kit Bessa R2A with CV 28/1.9 Ultron
Best wa street/landscape kit Bessa R4A with Zeiss Biogon 25/2.8

 

[ernstk]

Some questions...

Some questions...

Chris,

Do you want to buy new or used? Do you want a built in meter or not? You mentioned aperture priority, hence my question.

If you can buy secondhand, there is a wide range of very high quality bodies (with and without built in meters) and lenses available, often at surprisingly good prices.

If you want to work in the range of 35, 50 and 90mm lenses, then an M2 (or an M4, for slightly more money) would be a good choice. You would have unrivalled build quality and a camera that would provide years of service. The M4 would also allow you to use a 135 lens with its viewfinder framelines. If you don't need anything wider than 50mm, an M3 would work for you.

None of these cameras have built in meters but I don't see that as too much of a disadvantage. If you really need a meter, then there are many used M6s around, or, if you like the look and feel, an M5.

Sorry to bombard you with choices. I've inferred from your post that you like the feel of Leicas. This being the case, if you're happy to buy a used model (and there is no reason not to) then there should be a camera out there that meets your requirements.

Good luck with your search.

Regards
Ernst

 

[bellchri]

guess I should add a couple of bits of info that came up in your responses, as they might be important.
1. I do wear glasses
2. I would be looking to use the camera for mixed professional/personal uses.

Thanks for your replies ths far!

 

[payasam]

You've answered your own question, Chris.

"...aperture priority would be a desirable feature.... I would mostly ... use lenses shorter than 50mm."

"I am quite intrigued by the Bessa R2a/3a/4a...."

 

[Abbazz]

I also have scoped out the various Fuji medium format RFs, but while their prices are more tolerable than the Mamiyas, the lack of fast glass is again upsetting.

Chris,

I have a few Fuji medium format cameras and I use them a lot. The lack of fast lenses is a very relative problem. My most used film in MF is Fuji NPZ800/Pro 800z (800 ISO), which has about the same grain as Superia 100 ISO film in 35mm. That's a 3 stops gain, so your f/4.0 MF lens effectively becomes an 1.4 super fast lens. The big 6x9 Fujica cameras are a little bulky but the Fujica GA 645i (60/4.0 lens) and GA 645zi (55-90/4.5-6.9 zoom) are very effective cameras for street shooting and candid shots. They are quite small and light for medium format cameras, yet the negatives are so sharp that you can make great 30x40cm(12x16in.) prints. And that's with 800 ISO film.

Cheers!

Abbazz