R4a + 15mm

[iandg]

Hi all.

As my Bessa L has given up the ghost, i was thinking of using the 15mm on my R4a untill i get a replacement L.Is anyone using this combo and have you any advice that might be helpfull.The only downside i can think of is looking through the camera viewfinder for exposure and then of course the external for composition.Something i am not used to doing so it will slow me down. Thanks in advance.

Ian🙄

 

[jmilkins]

Ian

I use the L + 15 combo a lot, - love the simplicity.

But also the 15 with an R3a and it's not too much of a problem - you'll adapt quickly if you just remember the meter is what you're in the in camera finder for....

 

[mfogiel]

I am using this combination now, and I find it much better than using Bessa L, which BTW has confirmed my opinion that non autoexposure rangefinders defeat their most important characteristic: the speed of capture. The 15mm has basically 2 working apertures: f5.6 and f8.0, so it is quite awkward to set your exposure well, while at the same time you have to prepress the shutter and turn the exposure time wheel with the same hand.

I have started a project aimed at making my street shots more dynamic, so I moved from the 25-50mm lens range to a 15mm/135mm combination.

I love the way in which a prefocused 15mm on my R4A lets me pass by people and shoot them freehand from 1 meter distance, while I have my sight firmly directed elsewhere. By the time they realize something has happened ( and often they don't), I am already 3 or 4 steps away and disappearing in the crowd...

The only caveat with the exposure is to avoid using it thoughtlessly if you have big portions of open sky in the frame.