Some R4M and R4A information

Thanks, Abbazz ... I always admired the Fujis. Like looking at a pretty woman but then feeling guilty about the wife (Hassi) at home ...

Cheers,

Roland.
 
Abbazz said:
Not always true, Roland. The Fuji GL690 and GW690 series have automatic field adjusting framelines: when you focus closer, two right-angled framelines move closer to each other to reflect the actual FOV. On the GL690, the viewfinder shows 95% of the image at 1m and 92% at infinity, which is outstanding for a rangefinder camera. As far as I know, there are very few other RF cameras with automatic field compensation. Even Leica doesn't offer it.
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Compensating framelines are also found on the Koni-Omega medium format rangefinders. My aunt gave me hers last year but they need some work before I can use them (light seals going, 58mm lens shutter not working, chews up test film etc).

On the subject of effective baseline length, the Bessa R4A/M bodies will have an effective baseline of just 19.24mm (assuming they have a physical baseline of just 37mm like the other Bessa Rs). I researched calculations of minimum effective baseline, and ran some numbers in Excel, using circle of confusion of 0.025mm and 0.015mm (corresponding to larger enlargements). The calculation is proportional to the square of focal length times aperture divided by aperture and circle of confusion, so increasing focal length has the most dramatic effect on needed baseline. See
http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/149-digital-m-3.html#post1676
for details.

An effective baseline of 19.24mm is way more than needed for wideangles, and should be good even for 35mm/1.4 or 35mm/1.2 lenses at maximum aperture under the more demanding standard. 50mm should be pretty good at f/2, and even 50mm f/1.4 and f/1.5 lenses should be useable wide open for small prints. Calculations show the camera would not be good with 75mm lenses until stopped down to f/3.4 or f/4 at a minimum, or f/5.6 or further down for critical work. This is no doubt why Cosina decided not to put a 75mm frameline in the new machines.

As someone who likes 21mm, 25mm and 28mm lenses, the R4A camera is very tempting, especially for the first two of these. It would really speed work with very wide lenses. For my 75mm/2, I'll stick with Leicas and their larger baseline and bigger 75mm framelines.
 
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Abbazz said:
Not always true, Roland. The Fuji GL690 and GW690 series have automatic field adjusting framelines: when you focus closer, two right-angled framelines move closer to each other to reflect the actual FOV.
Abbazz
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Hi-- This is actually not uncommon for fixed-lens RF cameras, but I'm not aware of any interchangeable-lens RF that has this FOV correction. Must be too complicated to implement for different focal lengths.
 
Dougg said:
Hi-- This is actually not uncommon for fixed-lens RF cameras, but I'm not aware of any interchangeable-lens RF that has this FOV correction. Must be too complicated to implement for different focal lengths.
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Dougg, the Fuji GL690 and the Koni Omega do have interchangeable lens.

Cheers,

Abbazz
 
dazedgonebye said:
Does anyone know at what aperture the R4A will be able to focus the 75mm lens? f2.5? f2.8? f4?
How about a 50mm lens? f1.5? f2? f2.8?
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I would take the non-existence of the 75 and 90 frames as a clear indication that this camera is not meant to be used with these lenses. I know there are accessory finders ...

Anyway, when reducing finder-magnification from 0.7 (standard Bessa R/R2 finder) to 0.5 (Bessa R4), the EBL goes down by a factor of 70/52 = 1.35. If you are comfortable focusing a 50/1.5 reliably on a R or R2 you can rely on a 50/2 to be accurate on a R4. (Just multiply 1.5 with the 1.35, this is a good approximation to the math of DOF calculation). From a 75/2.5 you get a reduction to f/3.4 and from a 90/3.5 you get f/4.7. If your personal "limits" on what you call reliable are different from the speeds of the fastest CV lenses, you know how to proceed ;)
 
Abbazz said:
Dougg, the Fuji GL690 and the Koni Omega do have interchangeable lens.
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Hi Abbazz, yes, I knew that... but I didn't know they had expanding/contracting framelines for FoV correction. Thanks, that's impressive! :)
 
dazedgonebye said:
I think I might have gone with framelines at 25/28/35/40/50 and kept a slightly longer EBL. Of course, I have now idea if that would work anyway and what do I know?
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I would prefer those framelines as well!

Actually, ideal for me is 28/35/40/50. I hardly shoot with anything shorter than 28 or longer than 50...

I'd love an R4 but I'm a bit worried about the 50mm frameline being not very useful. The 28 and 35, however, are great though
 
The more I think about it, 21/28/35, all the tiny Skopar versions, fast film, AE in your pocket....I may be the target audience.
 
I'm definitely thinking about getting an R4A with the 28 1.9 Ultron and possibly 21 4.0 too sometime this year. It'll depend on how much I work and what else I decide I 'need' to have, though...
 
Just a wild guess: the R4 will be released together with a fast 2[45] making a perfect and unique combo ?

Roland.
 
I would say maybe with an f2.8 25mm that is rangefinder coupled. It's so nice to be able to anticipate an innovative RF film camera. :)
 
ferider said:
Just a wild guess: the R4 will be released together with a fast 2[45] making a perfect and unique combo ?

Roland.
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The R4 by itself is an exciting event, but I really think they will be missing a trick if they don't release a coupled 25mm at the same time. f2.8 seems a good target.
 
R4A - looks fantastic
Stephen's point on his website sums it up for me - couple it with an R3A (which I already have) and you're ready for anything

Personally I'd love to couple it with a 28mm
I'm waiting to see if there's a new one of these on the horizon as well

I'd agree that we'll probably see a new 25mm - but is now the time for a whole new set of wide angles in an M mount. I wouldn't be suprised

Glyn
 
This thread is not helping keep money in my wallet ;)

The R4A could be the perfect body to support my LTM lens lineup of 15-25-35-50. My only concern is the viewfinder. As a glasses wearer I can appreciate the higher eyepoint and frameline visibility but I'm concerned that the entire VF window will be too "tunnel-like."

I've currently enough funds set aside for an R4 & LTM adaptor and with a baby due to arrive at roughly the same time as the camera this might be as close to a Leica as I get for the next 20 years!
 
STOP, ya'll, I can't take it:D
I just now broke my nickel and dime piggy-bank for an enlarger and accessories. Yes, it was a hell-of-a piggi-bank from a beer mini-keg, but I don't have another one for an R4.

It looks like an exciting camera though!
 
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