Looking to get my feet wet...

[ishpop]

I have been lurking on these forums for a little bit because i have been researching RFs and am interested in buying my 1st one. I have no prior experience with RFs at all, have only used typical SLRs in film and now Digital world.

Since this will be my first foray into this world, I do not want to drop too much money off the bat, so looking to spend less than $500 total on a body and lens. Given the techniques used to operate a RF are a little different (I have been reading various tutorials), what do you reccomend as a good learning RF which produces quality images?

Thanks in advance!

Scott

 

[wyk_penguin]

Many questions before suggestions,
1. What focal lengths will you use
2. Do you need TTL metering
3. M or screw
4. Define quality

These aside, I am sure many of us (myself included) got hooked by using FSU RFs.

 

[remrf]

Welcome to the rf forum. I'm sure others will be along shortly to greet you as well. My first thought when reading your query was to remember that I got my Leica IIIa and Summar 50mm lens for about $350.00 by watching ebay for about a week. However the IIIa is not in my opinion an easy camera to use and would probably not be a good starter rf unit. I'm sure many would mention the Russian Leica copies as well but I would not do so for the same reasons I think the IIIa is a bad place to start. The Bessa's are probably the most bang for the top end of your range but I think you could do very well looking at the Yashica Electro 35 series. They have an excellent lens and usually cost under $100.00. Easy to use and the viewfinder is pretty bright. I got mine from a fellow rf forum member who fixes them up and mine is a honey that works very well and cost me $60.00 plus shipping. Check out the Yashica forum and the classified ads.

And I hope you enjoy the rf experience.

 

[Robert Price]

OK here it goes...Like every one else has said above but with a twist... If you don't mind spending some money get a new camera Bessa, Ikon what have you. I started RF with and Argus C3, it was weird for me because I too was used to SLR's then I decided to unload my slr's and got me a Contax G2 when it came on the market. Now I will be after a Voigtlander R3A soon.

Your RF experience will be directly related to your choice of RF camera you choose, so I would recommend a new RF camera for that reason. If you try it and don't like it it may be easier to sell.

Welcome to the boards...

 

[ishpop]

Hey everyone, thanks for the welcoming and tips. I have considered both spectrums you mentioned, from the ultra cheap Yashica to the mid-range bessa stuff.

As far as focal length, it will mostly be 50mm and shorter, and at some point would like to do some wider angle stuff, city landscape and street stuff. I will continue to use my Oly E1 for nature and macro stuff. At the longest end it would just be for candid portraits.

Since I am learning, and since the Yashica is so cheap, I suppose I could start there and then after getting comfortable spend real money on an R3a or something so i could begin trying different lengths.

As always, I apppreciate all of your input and from what I have seen thus far, there is a load of knowledge and talent on this site, glad I found it!

 

[fishtek]

I chose the Bessa R because I wanted a mechanical camera, not dependent upon batteries. Even if the meter goes down, I can still use the camera. Being recently made, the technology is more or less current. The lenses available via Bessa are fine, and there are LOTS of lenses available because of the screw-mount configuration, and they're less expensive than "M" mount lenses.

There are lots of FSU cameras out there, as well as lenses, but they may require some fiddling to get 'em just right. There are lots of advocates for early Canon, Leica, Contax, etc., and availability might be as strong a reason to acquire as concerns of quality/reliability/function.

The Bessa "R" kit with a 35mm/2.5 from Photo Village or CameraQuest will meet your budget, and give you a NICE rig.

Regards!
Don

 

[rpsawin]

I have been lurking on these forums for a little bit because i have been researching RFs and am interested in buying my 1st one. I have no prior experience with RFs at all, have only used typical SLRs in film and now Digital world.

Since this will be my first foray into this world, I do not want to drop too much money off the bat, so looking to spend less than $500 total on a body and lens. Given the techniques used to operate a RF are a little different (I have been reading various tutorials), what do you reccomend as a good learning RF which produces quality images?

Thanks in advance!

Scott

Scott,

Log onto cameraquest.com and read up on rf's and then look at the package deals Stephen offers. Currently he is offering A Bessa R2 with a 35mm F 2.5 lens for $399. This would be an excellent way to get into rf photography without breaking the bank.

Also, check out popflash.photo.com for similar packages. Both Stephen and Tony are top flight people to deal with and they both support RFF.

Best of Luck,

Bob

 

[40oz]

A Canonet is what I started with. I found one that had just been "overhauled," and had no issues. It takes great pictures, and was very easy to go from auto to manual as I got used to what it was doing and how to manipulate it. I paid just over $100 for the camera, case, and flash. I'm guessing any of the Japanese rangefinders with manual capability would work equally as well. The Canonet's metering cell makes using filters easy, and

I "graduated" to a Kiev, then added a Leitz/Minolta CL which I am still getting used to. Another, "cheaper" (heh, yeah right lol) path might be to get a Bessa. I seriously eyed them all along, but another "right" camera at the right price kept popping up before I ever pulled the trigger on one. I bought the CL primarily because it was about the same size as the Canonet.

The advantage of going with either a Kiev or a FED/Zorki is that you can feel free to acquire additional lenses and upgrade the body down the road, without having to start over. The Kiev's seem to have climbed in price a bit in the past little bit, but are still huge bargains even (especially?) if you pay top dollar. The FED/Zorkis give you a bit more flexibility in lens choices, and allow the possibility of moving to a Leica M or Japanese LTM body at will.

 

[haagen_dazs]

The Bessa "R" kit with a 35mm/2.5 from Photo Village or CameraQuest will meet your budget, and give you a NICE rig.

Regards!
Don

i second that
i started off with the exact same rig

 

[shutterfiend]

Run! As fast as you can, as far as you can go! 3 months ago when I started my budget was more like $50. I'm about $500 out so far.

 

[shadowfox]

My first "real" RF camera is an Olympus 35 SPn. But the more common 35 SP (at eBoy) is basically the same camera. If you wait a while, they can be had for less than $100.

I recommend this camera because of its sharpness. I know the Yashica Electro and the Canonet GIII QL17 are more popular, but I think this camera beats those in terms of lens quality and also *In my opinion and a few others* in functionality.

Here's a sample picture with tricky lighting (cropped also):

The rest of your budget can be allocated to get a second-hand Leica *if* you decided that you like RF shooting.

 

[Xmas]

Scott

If you are poor buy set of watchmakers screw drivers and a parts Kiev.

(If you are richer try and get a working Kiev from a local forum member.)

Fix camera, spend money on film.

Noel

 

[40oz]

Run! As fast as you can, as far as you can go! 3 months ago when I started my budget was more like $50. I'm about $500 out so far.

Probably the best advice lol

 

[ishpop]

Wow, so many recommendations, maybe I opened pandoras box asking a bunch of collectors what to buy! 😉

Seriously though, I am reading through every post, then reading about every camera at the various informational RF sites. All of them seem to have their advantages and nuances. Like typical SLR lenses, some may be sharp but have wierd bokeh, others really creamy but no contrast, etc...

The Oly 35sp example photo posted sure looks nice though, and I saw a few on ebay for under 50.00... It sounds like the metering system is interesting, although maybe a little arduous for on the fly focusing and shooting. I would like to hear more about it from a user experience.

On the other hand, the newer Bessa systems have the draw of being, well, new. So no chasing down batteries and the like. I was reading about the Bessa T as it is a little cheaper than the R2a and R3a systems. Not sure how expensive the glass is for the T system (but its the cheaper of the Leica glass it seems?), but it seems to be a quality body, so not sure why its so much cheaper, must be something I am missing.

As for the Zorki and the others, again, I guess they all sound feasible for someone like me who has never touched any of them. 🙂

Thanks again to everyone for their input, once I find the right deal, I will definitely shoot some rolls and share the results.

-Scott