alright, here is my what camera thread

emraphoto

emraphoto

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ok, sorry to add another what camera thread to the glut but i am truly stumped. you would think i would be able to figure it out by now.

assembling a two (film) body, two lens m mount kit for travel and work. they must be tough as nails. one 28mm f2 and a 50mm f1.2

so bodies? i want one aperture priority capable body and one non-battery dependent. i am flippin' between a m6 .72 and hexar OR a m7 .72 and a bessa R4M (tough to use the 50mm should i get down to 1 body).

thoughts folks?
 
M6 and Hexar fer sure. It's the cheaper combo and the tougher cameras. The Hexar is way better on batteries than the M7, and the M6 is better built and has a better VF than the R4.
Here's a curve ball: R4A and M6?
 
I had the Hexar RF and used it with the 50/1.0. Focusing is possible but a little miss and hit, magnifier made it easier. My choice would M7/M4-P, one with AE and one totally independent from batteries. That's what I have now and use.

Hexar RF / Noctilux @f/1.0

96370181.jpg
 
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hmm, just stumbled upon an m4-2 in very good shape. that would mean and m4-2 and m6 budget wise. man, tough choices to make! i would have to give up AE... well i guess thats what the sekonic is for.
 
emraphoto said:
would you go r4a over a hexar Dave?
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Personally, I don't like the R4 VF. If I hold it close enough to my eye to see the 21mm framelines, the whole image goes blurry. I really like the Hexar. With the auto frame advance it's a great camera for quick shooting. The last wedding I shot was with a Hexar for B&W and a Fuji GA645 for colour. Worked great!
But if you like to shoot wides and don't want to mess with external viewfinders than an R4 is a good buy. You can get a brand new one with warranty for the same price as a Hexar. Tough call!
 
Up until recently, I just had a pair of Hexar RFs, and can't say enough good things about them after seven solid years of use (and counting). But earlier this year I added an early-edition M2 which for me is the perfect counterpoint to the Hex, which, along with the Zeiss Ikon, is about the least-distracting, electronically-embellished camera I've come across. Regarding the M2: all-mechanical, smooth, swift, one-frameline-at-a-time VF, robust...all the M virtues people would beat me about the head with in years past are present-and-accounted-for here. (The v1 ELCAN 35 f/2 Summicron that came with it is mighty fine too.)

So, for an auto-M-type body, the Hex is the one for me, but I like the ZI a bunch, too. The M7's nice, but you need more scratch to buy one.


- Barrett
 
m6 and r4 personally, I've never used an r4 but in theory they should compliment each other. Keep a 21mm-28mm on the r4 and a 35-50mm on the m6 and it would be perrrfect!
 
emraphoto said:
hmm, just stumbled upon an m4-2 in very good shape. that would mean and m4-2 and m6 budget wise. man, tough choices to make! i would have to give up AE... well i guess thats what the sekonic is for.
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perfect.

I decided to go for a M6 + M3 combo. The M6 would hold the 28 and the 50/1.4 for lowlight shoots. M3 for the 50s and a 85.
 
John: Throw the ZI into the mix. Longest RF base available, so using the 50/1.2 should be fine. Framelines for 28mm to suit your preference for wides. I find it hard to believe you won't go wider than 35 ... What's one more tiny RF lens?! :p

If it were me I would go ZI and M4-2/P.
 
Well as it turns out I went m6 and m4-2. No aperture priority but I suppose that is OK.

For a long term travel kit I will run the 50 f1.2 and 28 f2.

A sekonic 358, film safe, pack of batteries and the rest film. Still takes up a fraction of y usual kit.

Thank u for the advice!

John
 
hexar or bessa R4M tough as nails? I dont think so.

Tough as nails you're talking Leica -- with all its blemishes and flaws.
 
I think the choice is pretty obvious for what you want:
M7 0.58x + Summicron 28/2 - it will also keep you covered for the 35mm frame and I find the AE more useful in this FL range for quick street shots.
M6/MP 0.85x ( I suggest an MP a la carte or a modified MP or M6 WITHOUT the 75mm frames, as they are a PITA if you mainly use the camera for the 50mm fl) + 50/1.2 (I imagine you will want the Hexanon as the Noctilux is a really old lens , BTW, I think the Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH with a half stop push would be a better choice). This will also keep you covered for an occasional use of a 90mm.
 
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I am pleased with the m4-2, M6 combo. I have spent many, many moons on the M6 and know it like the back of my hand. The m4-2 seems solid as a rock and will prove a decent platform for the 50.

I would of course consider the lux or the hex 50 however I already have the 50 f1.2 so I suppose I will run with it.

The m4-2 seems to be about as NEW as one could find? Incredible shape!
 
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