$1000 gear budget

GSNfan said:
As I said before, my experience with 40/1.4 SC is with b&w only. I ended up really disliking the lens signature, so its subjective in that way... I like the 1:1 VF of R3M only when I was using it in zone focus. Otherwise i found the RF patch really tiny and hard to see especially in daylight, and thus hard to focus... So, in my humble opinion if someone wants a 40mm RF kit, they at least should give the fixed lens RFs a try before spending their money. Also they should check the image quality using flicker pools.

In the end perceived image quality of a lens is subjective, if OP likes the photographs taken with of 40/1.4 he should go for it.
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so these sweeping statements about cosina gear are based on using one lens?
 
back alley said:
so these sweeping statements about cosina gear are based on using one lens?
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Not really, I have experience with most of their bodies and lenses if not my own but some from friends. But then again that was just my opinion... I don't think CV lenses would stop selling just because some forum user does not like them.
 
selling lenses isn't my business, but i use these lenses and get pissed off when some yahoo spouts off about their inferior quality.

it's fine if you dislike a particular lens but it's another story to badmouth the entire line of gear.
 
thomasw_ said:
This statement by Bill is further proof that our perceived sense of what works best for ourselves is highly personal. For my shooting a M2 body is much more useful and more enjoyable than shooting a Bessa body. Simplicity is beautiful, elegant and powerful; the M2 is result of the principle of simplicity applied to RF design.
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even with a self powered shot counter and removable bottom?

😉
 
I find the M2 simply sublime. And I don't use that word every day.

It's like a black, plain-prismed Nikon F2., or a Rolleiflex. Just perfect.
 
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Lots of good ideas here. Don't know where the Nokton 40 hate comes from. Perhaps there is sample variation. I bought one and it has made my 35s and 50s largely redundant. Mine at least draws great at F2 and smaller stops. I bought an M2 for the 35s, but find that I can shoot the 40 with the full VF of the M3 and the 35mm frames of the RD1s. I don't think I am alone.

Tests also show the Nokton 40 outperforms both the Summicron and Rokkor 40s, but I'm not here to flak that lens.

Seems to me you can pick from Leica M3, M2, Voigtlander R3, and Canon P or 7 and from many 35s, 40s, and 50s from CV and Canon and stay within your budget.

Choice might go with how much you want a meter and what FL you shoot and anticipate shooting.

I'd buy from the classifieds here before eBay -- particularly w used Leica and Canon -- less risk.

Not sure you can go far wrong in usability and value retention whatever you choose.

Good luck and happy shooting.
 
If a nicer finder wasn't a requirement, I'd suggest trying a bottom loader. I picked up a Leica III and Summar here - both CLA'd in last decade - for $325. Wonderful pair to use, lots of less expensive than M options out there.
 
Just checked out the Nokton 40mm 1.7 group on flickr... Not bad at all. I also looked at some Yashica electo groups whose pictures are pretty awful but I think it has to do less with the lens and more with the photographers. I like the quality of my electro pics but I am not very happy about the ergonomics and focusing. I think the RF patch stinks (compared to the bigger brighter canonet) and I'm not crazy about the focusing ring. The dimmer and smaller RF patch on the electro results in less keepers for me when shooting at large apertures. Btw, I wear glasses. Lenses aside, How are the rangefinder patches on older leicas and other lower budget RFs?
 
Bessa R3m & a nokton 50/1.5 on the classifieds at a killer price right now. Both less than a grand! Just the camera alone is a deal & has the 40mm frame lines you want if 50mm isn't your thing.
 
The Rangefinder patch on my two CLA'd M3's look like they were put in using exacto knifes. Bright, sharp, easy to use. An amazing viewfinder.
 
So after a week of doing research I've decided to go the leica route. Sold one of my canon EF lenses to increase my bottom line to $1500. Still a measly amount for the world of leica and m mount lenses but I'll make it work. I'm trying to be patient and waiting for a decent M6 to hit the classifieds here. In the meantime, trying to figure out which fast (f2+) 35mm lens is the best for under 500-600 bucks. I've read some pretty harsh things about the 1.4 Nokton. Read some good things on the 40mm m-rokkor and 40mm summicron but I'm not sure I want to deal with estimating where the frame ends in the finder. The Biogon 35 f2 looks great (albeit a little large) but its price used is a bit beyond my means now. I know opinions highly vary here but any advise on an all-around good lens on a budget?
 
Consider an M4 body - very similar to an M6 in layout and handling. I can't speak to Voightlander glass but it's a cheaper route.

I did see a Contax G2 (G1?) in the classifieds with a 28 and 45 lens...nice shape for about $600. I sure wouldn't complain about Zeiss glass!

Consider a Zeiss lens if you go the Leica route also - they're a sharp quality lens.
 
A thousand bucks?

I got the camera and lens you see in my avatar for that much. No meter, but that taught me a whole new way of exposing, which was worth a grand in itself. Net zero. I haven't bought a new lens for it yet, but I'm getting the urge for something longer.
 
Rezultz said:
So after a week of doing research I've decided to go the leica route. Sold one of my canon EF lenses to increase my bottom line to $1500. Still a measly amount for the world of leica and m mount lenses but I'll make it work. I'm trying to be patient and waiting for a decent M6 to hit the classifieds here. In the meantime, trying to figure out which fast (f2+) 35mm lens is the best for under 500-600 bucks. I've read some pretty harsh things about the 1.4 Nokton. Read some good things on the 40mm m-rokkor and 40mm summicron but I'm not sure I want to deal with estimating where the frame ends in the finder. The Biogon 35 f2 looks great (albeit a little large) but its price used is a bit beyond my means now. I know opinions highly vary here but any advise on an all-around good lens on a budget?
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I dont really think you can go wrong with any of the 35mm or 40mm lens options. They are all solid performers, whether vintage or modern. Plenty of people love their 35/1.4 noktons so dont let some harsh reviews deter you if that is the lens you want.

Also, framelines are not terrilby accurate so I wouldn't worry about not having 40mm framelines worry you. Or, go with a R3a / R3m and then you'll have 40mm framelines.

If you can do without an in-camera meter, do consider a m2. You should be able to land a m2 for a lot less than a m6. Alternatively, if you want to allocate more money towards a lens, but still require an in-camera meter, consider a voigtlander body (used, not new as the new prices seem rather high, at least to me).
 
I'll keep it simple, M2+Summaron 35/2.8. Stick to Leica stuff if you dont need loads of lenses. And I know, f/2.8 is not fastest in the world, but come on, last year I've been shooting Adox 50 and Rolleiflex 3.5 without problems.
 
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