Please help me find my ideal RF

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Windscale

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I have posted a similar message in the Canon RF forum and got some good advice. But I wish to take the matter further.

As I am getting on a bit, the size, weight and focusing of cameras are becoming problems. But I will still not accept digital. I normally use a Leica M3 system which is getting far too heavy these days. As a result of my inquiries in the Canon RF forum, I ended up with a Minolta 7SII, Olympus RD and Canon QL17. All these are very nice cameras. But their 'Yellow Spot' focusing system is really testing my eyes. I also got a Werra which has a very nice 'Split Image' focusing system which is excellent. But the Werra is so heavy, almost as heavy as my M3.

Is there anything out there with a nice Split Image focusing system, not much bigger and heavier than the Minolta 7SII and has a good lens (standard lens will do)? The camera must be fully mechanical (works without batteries). It must have RF focusing, so no Rollei 35 which I already have. But I am not good at guessing distances. Costs will be no object as I will eventually sell my M3 system which will more than make up for it.

Thank you for reading.
 
The bright viewfinder in my Bessa R lead me to sell my fixed lens RF cameras a few years ago. Not because they were not any good, just that they Bessa finder was remarkable in comparison. That lead me down a long road of GAS, which not part of this tale though.

So, back on topic. I think the Bessa cameras are a good way to go. The R is light and well made at the same time. No, not at all like your M3, but nothing is. Chances are if your M3 finder hasn't been cleaned recently, the Bessa finder will be much brighter. The R2 and R2M would also be good choices, and if you don't have an urge towards the wide end of the road, then an R3 with 1:1 finder may work excellently for you. Warning though, if you wear glasses you may find the 40mm framelines on the R3 beyond your field of vision in the finder. And all of the CV lenses are excellent so you can find a match at a reasonable price with little concern about imaging quality.
 
As an aging boomer, I can tell you that autofocus is no one's friend. get an RF with the brightest viewfinder there is. The Zeiss ikon. Try autofocus in the dark. Go for the ZI.
 
The Bessas are very good cameras but I wouldn't think they'd be a magical cure-all for your concerns. Most of the time your lenses weigh more than your camera body. And the weight savings between yor M3 and a Bessa R is approx. 5 ounces, not insignificant, yes, but not all that big a deal, IMO.

Most fixed-lens RFs have dim viewfinders, that's a given with their original lower cost and aging, so I'd think you're either stuck with the M3 (maybe a CLA will help your focusing issues) or forced to reconsider a light weight digital AF camera.
 
Bobfrance said:
Embrace the future and buy a Hexar AF.
Great finder and great autofocus.

Buy a wind-up batterey charger and you can still be self suffucient.
Click to expand...

I second that!

IF you are ready to live with a fixed 35mm, the hexar AF is fantastic.

Fantastic lens; fast and precise AF; AF and AE aquisition on half pression; light but well balanced and rugged enough; the finder is in the corner, a-la-Leica so even people with a nose (like me) can easily place the camera on their faces.

I would say this: at about the quality of a 35mm summicron, half the price of it and a bonus excellent camera, you really can't go wrong...
 
Hexar's are lovely, but the poster wants a RF, and the Hexar is autofocus.

How about a Minolta CLE? It's tiny and light, and the viewfinder is very bright.
 
Okay then. How about A Fuji GS 645?

It has a brilliant viewfinder - even better than the Zeiss Ikon.
Despite being MF it is a folder so doesn't take up too much space and is far lighter than the combined weight of a rangefinder with a lens. Plus being bigger I think it will be easier formore mature hands to handle.


*Runs before the Ikon gang arrive*
 
If weight and brightness are the issues, go Bessa R and the CV 35/2.5 The lens is very low cost right now ($209 or so) and you can find a good used R for a reasonable price. It's straight forward to operate and available.

lZr is right, add the 75/2.5 and it's all you need.

B2 (;->
 
Thanks for all your replies. I have tried out the new Voigtlander lenses. They are lighter and pin sharp but they lacked the kind of 3D and oil painting feel of the older German lenses. I have been pointed to some older fixed Voigtlander cameras with Color Skopar 50f2.8 and Ultron 50f2.0. I will be able to get my fingers on them next week. I will also have a look at the old retractable Leitz 50f3.5 Elmar. This one should be a lot lighter than my Summicron f2. Anyone have any experience on these items?
 
If we're going to focus --heh-- on the autofocus camp, then there's no camera like the Polaroid SX-70 Sonar. You can focus that thing in absolute darkness. The value of a perfectly-focused photo of absolute darkness can be disputed, though.

The point is...well, what is my point? Where's my coffee? 😱
 
Windscale said:
.... but they lacked the kind of 3D and oil painting feel of the older German lenses.
Click to expand...

I can point you to some very nice lenses that use grease and you will have perfect smell of it in CLA time - for instance the Russian Industar 61 L/D, 55/2.8 beauty🙂
No oil painting, but you can do it also
 
A CLA'd Leica IIIc has that magnified RF (separate from the framing viewfinder). It makes it so easy to focus on what you want to focus. Plus it'll take old German lenses with the "look".

Just a different suggestion.
 
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