35mm film rangefinder buying advice

J

jtwg

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Hi all,

I hope someone can help me out. I've been using a Mamiya 7ii and love it, but I find for street use it's pretty giant and the lenses are quite slow. I want something small and discreet, with faster lenses, so am looking to get a 35mm film rangefinder.

Since the idea is mainly street use, I'm probably going to be mainly using shorter focal lengths. However I would want to be able to occasionally use moderate telephoto lengths.

I'm considering the Bessa R2A, though the widest framelines are only 35mm. The R4A is out, since it only goes up to 50mm framelines. That leaves the Zeiss Ikon, which is a little pricier than I'd like. Leica is just too expensive, period, though I do want to get a camera with an M-mount in case I do decide to splurge on a Leica lens at some point in the future.

Any advice anyone can offer would be much appreciated.

EDIT:

I would also like the camera to have built-in metering capability.
 
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Bessa is great, you can use auxiliary viewfinder for wider lenses, don't rule out some of the cheaper Russian Leica clones, Fed, Zorki etc.
 
You say you would be using mostly shorter focal lengths but the R4A is out because the longest frame line is 50mm? I'm a bit confused. If you want frame lines wider than 35mm, then your choices would seem to be Voigtlander R4, the Leica M4-P, the Zeiss or another M mount body with auxiliary finder. If it were me I would opt for the M4-P unless I really wanted frame lines wider than 28. It's better to save up and get what you really need than make do and buy again once you're disappointed with a compromise.
 
Trius said:
You say you would be using mostly shorter focal lengths but the R4A is out because the longest frame line is 50mm? I'm a bit confused. If you want frame lines wider than 35mm, then your choices would seem to be Voigtlander R4, the Leica M4-P, the Zeiss or another M mount body with auxiliary finder. If it were me I would opt for the M4-P unless I really wanted frame lines wider than 28. It's better to save up and get what you really need than make do and buy again once you're disappointed with a compromise.
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He added that he'd like to use some moderate telephoto lenses, hence the comment about the 50mm framelines being discouraging.

I'd consider the Bessa first, but also Canon and Nikon stuff (in case you can handle going meterless). Canon cameras and lenses are very reliable and very available; Nikon stuff is a bit pricier, but no less reliable.

Good luck in your search!
 
Trius said:
You say you would be using mostly shorter focal lengths but the R4A is out because the longest frame line is 50mm? I'm a bit confused.
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I will very likely be picking up a 75 or 90mm for occasional moderate telephoto needs. I doubt I'd go longer than those, but because of that I know for sure 50 being the max on the framelines would be an issue for me.

Thanks for the reply.
 
Trius said:
If it were me I would opt for the M4-P unless I really wanted frame lines wider than 28.
Click to expand...

Forgot to mention in the OP that I am wanting the camera to have built-in metering. From what I've read it looks like the M4-P does not have one.
 
Any thoughts on the Minolta CLE? Big issue I see with it is the lack of exposure lock, and I've read it can be difficult to get repaired due to scarcity of parts.
 
I have the Bessa r2a (plus the extra grip), which I found to be a perfect "street" workhorse for me. I only use a 50mm lens, but I've contemplated on getting a 28mm.

As the rumor goes the whole of the viewfinder would work more or less as a 28mm frame line.

Anyone conforming this?
 
Will you be keeping the Mamiya?

I've owned the R4A and R3A and they are capable cameras. But, it's hard to beat an M6.
 
The only body which is within your definition, i.e. has usable frames between 28 and 90mm, AE and M mount and does not cost "too much" ( for a working M mount camera ) is Zeiss Ikon. I would advise you not to waste time on cameras that will impair substantially your capacity to take photographs. If a ZI is too expensive, then skip a few dinners and voila', you will be slightly slimmer and slightly richer.
 
ww2photog said:
Bessa is great, you can use auxiliary viewfinder for wider lenses, don't rule out some of the cheaper Russian Leica clones, Fed, Zorki etc.
Click to expand...

With the FSU gear you get what you pay for. Repairs and replacements will cost you as much as, if not more than, a user Leica.
 
You simply want a Leica M6.
Frames, meter, rangefinder.
It is probably way more than you want to spend!
It's Bessa, ZI or nothing 'cause of metering.
I work with clip on meters(primitive) on my M3.
The M6 is great with built in meter.

A RFDR is fun, but not only answer.
 
The Bessa r3m has a 1:1 viewfinder so you can shot with both eyes open. May be good for quick shooting. Bessa prices aren't as out of reach as some others.

Mike
 
Whateverist said:
With the FSU gear you get what you pay for. Repairs and replacements will cost you as much as, if not more than, a user Leica.
Click to expand...
Like user LTM Leica to be exact.

Or you could get already CLA'ed FSU LTM RF for half-price of LTM Leica.

The expensive and difficult part is where exotics are. Nikon RF, Zeiss and Hexar.

But "it is not the thing".

I think, OP is not ready for 135 format RF. He wants SLR. Does classic Nikon F series have exposure lock? If, yes, just add wide and tele, those are cheap for SLRs.
135 format RF is for 35 and nearby range, where 50 is tele already. IME.
 
I use a Bessa R2 with 35mm and 85mm lenses.
It works great, nice viewfinder, small portable camera, with meter.
The Hexar RF is better if you plan to use 28mm lens. I like the Bessa for 35mm framelines.
 
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