Advice Please

[Deep Fried]

I'm new here. First post. I am a former film shooter turned digital portrait photographer wanting to get into 35mm rangefinders 😉. I want to shoot mainly B&W purely for self indulgence. I've decided on CV because of the apparently good price to quality ratio. I want to start with a 35 1.4, probably SC. Question comes down to body. I wear glasses with a strong prescription. I want an "A" version body. I don't need wider than 35, but I am fond of 50's as well. I am right handed but left eye dominant. I guess my main concern is being able to see 35mm frame lines with my glasses on. Would that suggest R4A as the likely candidate? Any more info on viewfinder magnification would be appreciated as I don't understand the reasoning for the different models.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Jamie Pillers]

The R4a viewfinder will likely be too "wide" for your needs. I have the same eyeglass requirements and I find the R2 model a better fit. The 35mm framelines are comfortably just inside the rangefinder window, and the 50 framelines are not too small. The R4 model is the body if you want to use 35 and wider (the 28 frameline feels about the same on that body as the 35 lines feel on the R2 model).

 

[BTMarcais]

Jamie's tried them all I think... 🙂

I'll agree with him on this, if 35's the widest you'll go, the R2 is probably the best choice. Even w/ glasses you should see the frame OK, and the 50 frames will definitely be usable. On the R4 the 50 frames will be pretty small.
-Brian

 

[thomasw_]

Hei, I think you should take a long serious look at the ZI. It is an awesome camera for those who wear spectacles and love to shoot 35s. A zi's longer EBl would give you more accurate focussing than the with the r2a. Try it out if possible, as I had trouble getting used to the VF patch. Most ppl have no problems though.

 

[maddoc]

Hm ... wearing glasses, the Konica Hexar RF (discontinued) might be a good alternative. Has optinonal AE, motor-drive (no film-advance lever will poke into your right eye) and a very good finder with 0.6x magnification. I had this camera for some time and wearing glasses, it was ideal for 35mm lenses.

 

[BillBingham2]

Add the Bessa Trigger Winder as you are left-eyed (would that be goofy eyed?). It's a Bessa copy (functionality-wise) of the best accessory for a Leica M, the Tom A Rapid Winder. It will allow you to advance you camera without taking it away from your eye. It also allows you to hang the camera from the right hand side (extra strap lugs) off your shoulder. Most excellent (IMHO) for quick draws.

The R4x (replace x with A or M) is really a WIDE angle camera. I would not think of using a 50 on her. Besides, I'm not really sure a fast 50 would focus accurately up close wide open. My get tells me the 3A would be best, but you might want to think 2A also. Best way to tell is to touch and feel. Some dealers stock them, where abouts do you live?

Welcome by the way.

B2 (;->

 

[Deep Fried]

Wow, thanks for all the reply's. I live in a very rural part of a very sparsely populated province in a country with very low population density (Nokomis, Saskatchewan, Canada). I will never touch a rangefinder unless I buy it and have it shipped. It sounds like R2A would be the one then? R3 only goes as wide as 40mm according to camaraquest's comparison chart. Zeiss Ikon is too expensive for my budget right now. Not interested in used either because getting anything serviced is alot of hassle due to my location. Will probably buy R2 and 35 1.4 from Harry's Pro Shop in Toronto

Cheers
Jeff

 

[BillBingham2]

If money is a real issue, do not shy away from the older CV 35/1.7. You will need to add a LTM to M adapter, but it's a fine lens. Older build style, the new 35/1.4 is very Leica like. I loved the look, feel and finish of the 40/1.4 I owned a while back.

Bessas are wonderful cameras. I used a T for many years rather than my Leica Ms (young kids can trash cameras by mistake) and was very happy.

Check out the classifieds here, great bargains can be had. But there is something to helping local vendors too. I purchase one item from Harry's and was very happy.

Best of luck and keep asking questions. This is one of the best places to get several good opinions.

B2 (;->

 

[Deep Fried]

The price issue for me is just that this camera will not be earning me money. My digital rig brings revenue so gear decisions on that front are really business decisions. For me, a rangefinder will be an indulgence so I need to make it somewhat inexpensive. That said, I really want to buy something new with a warranty and return privileges. There is no repair facility anywhere remotely close to me, and since this will be my "fun" camera I just want it to be hassle free otherwise it won't be fun. I am also somewhat worried about developing Leica lens lust once I own an M mount camera 😛. I keep going back to the wealth of info on cameraquest and I think R2 is the way to go for me. The 1:1 advantage of the R3 is negated by my being wrong-eyed, plus since I wear glasses seeing the whole viewfinder in order to utilize 35mm focal length may be a problem. R2 should be just right.

This forum is one of the friendliest I've ever encountered. Much apreciated.

 

[BillBingham2]

I forgot about the left eye thing messing up shooting with both eyes open, go R2 (A or M). I agree with the return thing. I got one of the early 40/1.4s and it was not as smooth as I liked, or any of my other CV lenses. Wrote Stephen (where I got it) and sent it back. It came back as good any of my other lenses including my 'Crons.

This is not the place for keeping with small kits. While I have cut back a lot in the past year and a half, most folks here are camera/lens aholics.

That said, outside of perhaps a 50mm for the R2, the only other thing to think about is getting a Bessa L and a 15/4.5 and a 25/4.5. A very FUN combination.

B2 (;->

Hi, I'm Bill and I'm a camera-aholic.......

Less is more, less is more......

 

[BillBingham2]

Jeff,

Take a look at this thread, might be interesting.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=70633

B2 (;->

 

[Morry Katz]

Hi: I use a Rollei 35RF (Bessa R2), wear glasses and am left eyed, too. I can easily see the 40, 50 and 80 frame lines in the finder. The Rollei trigger winder solves the left eye problem.
Good luck with your quest. Brian at Harry's Pro Shop is good guy.
Cheers
Morry Katz
Lethbridge, AB

 

[Jamie Pillers]

As Brian said... I've tried them all (sort of... ). I've had the ZI for a spell too. Don't worry about not trying it. Its pretty, and the viewfinder is very nice, but not THAT much nicer than the R2A or R2M. These Voigtlanders give you the rangefinder experience in *****s! Enjoy.