tough decisions, fed2, kiev, voigtlander??

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mexipike

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Allright so I'm still trying to get some sort of provisional rangefinder system going to replace my leica m (gone forever) Money is very short, so I'm strongly considering a russian system, I like there purity. However my worries are with consistency, I travel a lot and would hate to lose shots because of camera problems. So I thought I'd ask you guys what you think of my ideas thus far.

1.) Kiev II or 4am (they have a real nice black one at Fedka) with 50 mm lens maybe I'd buy a 50 1.5 jupiter 3, does anyone have any comments on the 1.5?

2.) Fed 2 with the 3.5 they send it with at Fedka, and also I'd maybe try to buy the ltm jupiter 1.5, once again how's this lens?

3.) Fed 2 with a fast voigtlander lens if I can swing the budget. How do the voigtlanders couple with the Fed?

4.) going backwards now a Voigtlander R body, with the fastest Jupiter or other russian lens I can find, probably once again the Jupiter 1.5


Obviously options 1 and 2 are the most economical which is what I would perfer, but how will the quality be? will I be able to consistently shoot color positve film if I so desire? I think if I buy any of the russian guys I'll buy from fedka to maintain some quality control. The advantage of the Fed over the kiev is the LTM I suppose. Anyway you guys are the best and your advice is always helpful so I'd thought I'd run these ideas by you so I can make this decision fast and get on the road, take pictures again and actually be able to help people out with there posts.

Thanks
 
I don't have a Jupiter-3 so I can't really say anything about that, but I use a Jupiter-8 (50/2) on my FED-2 and the results are excellent - it's a great lens. But beware - the biggest problem with FSU lenses appears to be quality control, so some examples are excellent but other examples of the same lens are pants. (I have two Jupiter-9s for example, one is excellent but the other is horrible and flares if there's anything vaguely bright in view)
 
Your option #4 seems like the best choice for a traveler on a budget, who wants to shoot color positive film- solid body, respectable lens. As budget allows you can add new CV glass. With slide film, shutter speed stability will be essential.

A voigtlander body seems like the best choice for long term reliability-- there are many people who love thier Kievs and Feds, but I doubt there are many arguments that say they are more reliable than the Voigtlander.

Stick with LTM if this will be your only rig-- allows many more lens options down the road (please correct me if I'm wrong).
 
If shooting colour positives is important, then I would say Bessa R + J8 - I have the same combo.

Otherwise, the Kiev II + 50/1.5 is very nice. It's also a lot easier to get a _good_ J9 for a Kiev than for LTM. I would go with a II over a 4am, but if Fedka can guarantee a good 4am, then why not.
 
Russian yeah !!

Russian yeah !!

I have got some items by Fedka and Sovietcamera, you can trust them.
About the Camera:
I'd choose a Kiev 4 (produced in the 50's) or a Contax II with the zeiss 50 mm1,5.
But a contax II with such lens would cost double to the Kiev.
I'd say : get it two months before travelling and take time to make 1 or 2 rolls to check...😎
 
If reliability is important, go with the Bessa R over a FSU body. The built in meter is also nice. The Jupiter 3 can be a great lens, and the one I bought from fedka (LTM) has been trouble free. That being said, a good Jupiter 8 is almost as nice, only a stop slower, and much cheaper. The J8 doesn't seem to have as many quality control issues as the Jupiter 3. Both lenses work well on the Bessa.

If you go with a Kiev, I'd recommend the Helios 103 over a Jupiter 3. It's only half a stop slower (1.8) and produces great images. Also much less expensive than a Jupiter 3.
 
If shooting colour positives is important, then I would say Bessa R + J8 - I have the same combo.
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I agree also! And one especially nice thing about this combination is that since the J-8 doesn't have click stopped apertures, you can set intermediate apertures with ease.
One caveat, though, there is some variation but the J-12(35mm) lens I have wouldn't fit on the Bessa.
And, with the Bessa R, you won't need to worry about the different shapes of focus cams which will open up a wide assortment of lenses that you will be able to use(Steinheil and Canon 85mm, for example).
Rob
 
Thanks for all the answers.I guess that will probably be my combo, any one know where I can find a used black r? or J8. Although maybe I'll buy new. How sharp is the J8 in comparision to Voigtlander glass?
 
How sharp is the J8 in comparision to Voigtlander glass?
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I can't really say much about sharpness, because I haven't really done any suitable comparisons, but my J8 does seem to be a sharp lens.

But there does seem to be a different in contrast, with the Voigtlander lenses being more contrasty. In fact, in some of the situations in which I shoot (transparencies, bright tropical sun), the high contrast has been a bit problematic, and I'm hoping the J8 will be a bit easier (I haven't taken it to try it yet).

Oh, one thing you have to get used to with the J8 is that because its aperture ring turns the opposite way to the Voigtlander ones, you have to turn it in the opposite direction to the meter indicator arrows.
 
There's a used Bessa R at cameraquest.com right now, but I think it's silver. For the Jupiter, I get most of my FSU gear from fedka.com. I don't know how the J8 would compare to a modern voigtlander lens (remember the optics were developed in the 30's) but I think it's sharp enough.
 
mexipike said:
Allright so I'm still trying to get some sort of provisional rangefinder system going to replace my leica m (gone forever) Money is very short, so I'm strongly considering a russian system, I like there purity. However my worries are with consistency, I travel a lot and would hate to lose shots because of camera problems. So I thought I'd ask you guys what you think of my ideas thus far.

1.) Kiev II or 4am (they have a real nice black one at Fedka) with 50 mm lens maybe I'd buy a 50 1.5 jupiter 3, does anyone have any comments on the 1.5?

2.) Fed 2 with the 3.5 they send it with at Fedka, and also I'd maybe try to buy the ltm jupiter 1.5, once again how's this lens?

3.) Fed 2 with a fast voigtlander lens if I can swing the budget. How do the voigtlanders couple with the Fed?

4.) going backwards now a Voigtlander R body, with the fastest Jupiter or other russian lens I can find, probably once again the Jupiter 1.5


Obviously options 1 and 2 are the most economical which is what I would perfer, but how will the quality be? will I be able to consistently shoot color positve film if I so desire? I think if I buy any of the russian guys I'll buy from fedka to maintain some quality control. The advantage of the Fed over the kiev is the LTM I suppose. Anyway you guys are the best and your advice is always helpful so I'd thought I'd run these ideas by you so I can make this decision fast and get on the road, take pictures again and actually be able to help people out with there posts.

Thanks
Click to expand...
If you are used to the quality of a Leica M, you will probably be shocked to handle a Russian camera -- they are the opposite of Leica M in terms of finish, fit, and build quality. I say go with the Bessa R.
 
Without any disrespect to Leica, many of us value things and judge on their the quality by looking at the price tag.
 
J8's are readily available on ebay - I just bought another for 12UKP including postage. Just throw away the heavy brass rear lens cap.
 
mexipike said:
Allright so I'm still trying to get some sort of provisional rangefinder system going to replace my leica m (gone forever) Money is very short, so I'm strongly considering a russian system, I like there purity. However my worries are with consistency, I travel a lot and would hate to lose shots because of camera problems. So I thought I'd ask you guys what you think of my ideas thus far.

1.) Kiev II or 4am (they have a real nice black one at Fedka) with 50 mm lens maybe I'd buy a 50 1.5 jupiter 3, does anyone have any comments on the 1.5?

2.) Fed 2 with the 3.5 they send it with at Fedka, and also I'd maybe try to buy the ltm jupiter 1.5, once again how's this lens?

3.) Fed 2 with a fast voigtlander lens if I can swing the budget. How do the voigtlanders couple with the Fed?

4.) going backwards now a Voigtlander R body, with the fastest Jupiter or other russian lens I can find, probably once again the Jupiter 1.5


Obviously options 1 and 2 are the most economical which is what I would perfer, but how will the quality be? will I be able to consistently shoot color positve film if I so desire? I think if I buy any of the russian guys I'll buy from fedka to maintain some quality control. The advantage of the Fed over the kiev is the LTM I suppose. Anyway you guys are the best and your advice is always helpful so I'd thought I'd run these ideas by you so I can make this decision fast and get on the road, take pictures again and actually be able to help people out with there posts.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi,

You are looking at 3 cameras in the smae price range, but I think all of them have a different feel in your hands. A contax felt so different to Leica M, then Leica III (s) felt so different to a Leica M. Some of them fall into your hands like a grove, some don't.

One of the camera list above will fit your hands best, and you will be productive right from the start.

I am quite put off from buying a J3 in LTM, but I am lucky enough to have a choice to get it in contax mount, but then I am saving for a CZ/CZO f/1.5 sonnar.

If you are buying from Fedka, you will be alright, my lense arrived yesterday in Hong Kong, and I am very happy with them (one lens have more marks then I like, but then the rest of the lens is mint). The package arrives packed beautifully, carton box, foams, bubble wraps, plastic zipper bags. Damn, it felt good just opening it. Also remind me that I will never be a selling over the internet (LOL), that's professional packing, and no way in Hell, will I ever be that good. (J9, in a zipper bag, then in the plastic cylinder, the in the bubbles wraps, then in foams)

Anyway, give all of them a try before you decide to order.



Will

P.S. I dislike Contax II, III, Kiev, no matter how many time I try them, it just felt so wrong. Then again a Leica III fit me so well, even a beaten up FED felt good.
 
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