A or M - Significant difference in reliability?

[Grey Thumper]

Hi everyone. This is my first post, but I've been lurking on these forums for quite some time.

I'm planning to get my first interchangeable lens rangefinder (I have a bunch of 70's Canon and Olympus RFs though). I prefer shooting wide on my SLR, and an RF seems like a much better tool for that, so I'm leaning toward an R4.

I'm just wondering if there's any notable difference between the A and M? The reason I'm asking is because I'm from the Philippines, and the nearest CV dealer is in Hong Kong. I assume mailing stuff back and forth would - aside from being a hassle - even put the camera at further risk. If there was a dealer nearby, chances are I'd get the R4A since having the option of using AE is - IMHO - more versatile.

 

[photophorous]

I've had my R2A for about 2.5 years and the only problem I've had with it was once when the batteries died. I'm on my second set of batteries. Mine has been very reliable.

Paul

 

[Avotius]

I have had my R2a for a while, bought it used, so it was put through its paces before I got it. No problems except that the viewfinder gets a lot of dust in it and I cant seem to figure out how to get it out.

Go for the R4a, I dont think there is any negative to getting the a over the m, even if you get the m you will want batteries for the light meter so might as well go for the a.

 

[Johann Espiritu]

Hey! I'm from Manila too!

I just got my R2A over a month ago as a back-up to my M7 (wanted the AE so I wouldn't miss it). A good friend of mine (also from Manila) has been using an R4M for almost two years. I also have other friends from Manila who've been using both A's and M's (and the models before them) for longer times..

None of us has any specific problems relating to whether they are A's or M's. Some of us had the same complaint for either (oh-so-slightly vertically misaligned RF patches), but as I said, these don't relate to whether the cameras were A's or M's, since both had the same problem. (It's possible that, since all of us were Leica users who were looking for back-ups, we were used to the stricter tolerances and QC of Leica that maybe we were just looking for something to complain about or had over-high expectations. But as I said, there was no specific issues to whether it was an A or an M.)

In the end, it really comes down to whether you're looking for AE or battery-free operation. If you want AE, then an R4A is the only game in town for wide angle.

If you need a good dealer in HK, I can recommend one too. Just send me a PM.

Hope that helps!

 

[Grey Thumper]

If you need a good dealer in HK, I can recommend one too. Just send me a PM.

Hope that helps!

Many thanks. Yep, it helps, and yep, sent you a pm re dealer 🙂

 

[Fujitsu]

I always prefered the manual Bessas. I suppose there´s less that can go wrong with them.

 

[Grey Thumper]

I always prefered the manual Bessas. I suppose there´s less that can go wrong with them.

Yeah, I'm having a tough time deciding, especially since I'm likely to shoot manually most of the time anyway.

 

[Avotius]

You can always shoot manually with the A as well, just take the shutter speed dial off A and you are manual. Best of both worlds as far as im concerned.

 

[Grey Thumper]

You can always shoot manually with the A as well, just take the shutter speed dial off A and you are manual. Best of both worlds as far as im concerned.

You're right, looks I'm leaning strongly toward the A now. It's still nice to have the option of AE for when you feel like it. And after checking out the difference in viewfinders, I prefer seeing shutter speeds.

 

[Johann Espiritu]

What you may want to consider is the work flow of other cameras you have. For example, the R2A is very different from an M7, which is my main workhorse. I need to "warm up" to it when I use it, since both the on/off switch and the shutter speeds go opposite ways from the M7 (but would be the same as the M4).

I'm saying this might be a factor as judging from RFF'ers behavior, you'll probably end up with another camera sooner than you expect. 🙂

But if AE, is a must then an "A", it must be. 🙂

Either way - you can't go wrong, so don't really lose to much sleep over it.

 

[xxloverxx]

For me, I'd choose the M just so I wouldn't have to rely on batteries. Just my style.

 

[wgerrard]

I've used an R4M for a few years with no problems at all. Haven't used the R4A, but I doubt there are any real reliability differences between the two cameras.