Leica LTM Bessa L or Leica If for my 21mm Color-Skopar? Help me decide!

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
I'm sorry but that video doesn't tell you anything about shooting with a Leica. There's no film in it, for one thing, you're not going to do the one finger trick if there is.

Get a Leica if you want to have a Leica, that's a perfectly valid reason.

But if you ever need to change films in a hurry, if you ever need slow or fast shutter speeds, if you don't like carrying a meter, get the Bessa.
 
batterytypehah! said:
I'm sorry but that video doesn't tell you anything about shooting with a Leica. There's no film in it, for one thing, you're not going to do the one finger trick if there is.

Get a Leica if you want to have a Leica, that's a perfectly valid reason.

But if you ever need to change films in a hurry, if you ever need slow or fast shutter speeds, if you don't like carrying a meter, get the Bessa.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your feedback. Interesting that the camera can't be wound like he does in the video when there is film in it.

The Bessa L seems fine too. I really like my Leica M, and would like to go with the If for build and compactness, but I'm still open to the L. I do wonder about the L's reliability though.

I don't really see the loading and metering being a deal breaker with the If. This 21mm is not my main lens. I just wanted a dedicated body for it because I don't like changing lenses...
 
A word on the L reliability. I have a Cosina built Yashica FX3 2000 that has the same basic advance and shutter as the mechanical Bessa L/R/T etc..
This camera I bought new in 1990 when My Contax RTS went in for repair.
Hundreds of rolls and nearly 25 years later it's still a lightweight wonder. No change in performance whatsoever. Even with all those "cheap" parts that separate these inexpensive Japanese cameras from the German ones.

Don't let anyone fool you on the value and convenience of having a TTL meter. It's extremely handy and eliminates one more tool in the bag or your pocket.
As to metering through TTL through a wide angle. Well if you know what's up it's easy to overcome.
It's a meter and can be interpreted for conditions and lens used just like a handheld.
"They" also make these weird things called grey cards 😛
 
I too put in a vote for the R4 (A or M) because of the built in meter and the ability to use the 21mm without an auxiliary finder. That's why I bought mine and I can say that I am quite happy with the result. Will it survive the next 30 years and be handed down to my grandchildren - doubtful, but who cares? Enjoy it and pocket the extra cash.
 
f16sunshine said:
A word on the L reliability. I have a Cosina built Yashica FX3 2000 that has the same basic advance and shutter as the mechanical Bessa L/R/T etc..
This camera I bought new in 1990 when My Contax RTS went in for repair.
Hundreds of rolls and nearly 25 years later it's still a lightweight wonder. No change in performance whatsoever. Even with all those "cheap" parts that separate these inexpensive Japanese cameras from the German ones.

Don't let anyone fool you on the value and convenience of having a TTL meter. It's extremely handy and eliminates one more tool in the bag or your pocket.
As to metering through TTL through a wide angle. Well if you know what's up it's easy to overcome.
It's a meter and can be interpreted for conditions and lens used just like a handheld.
"They" also make these weird things called grey cards 😛
Click to expand...

glad to hear some more positive feedback on the L's reliability. Maybe I will have to get both these cameras and see for myself.
Anybody here use both the If and the L?

The meter just isn't a deal breaker for me. The L's layout seems really good and convenient, but I rarely shoot slide film.
 
I use the Standard all the time. It is a great camera. I am not much of an ultra wide fan, the widest lens I own is a 24 and it comes with a bayonet so not much good on the LTM.

I do shoot a lot with a Nikkor 35/2.5 and a CV 35 Color Skopar. I use the old Nikkor viewfinder which doesn't interfere at all with the regular viewfinder. Since the Nikkor one is similar in size to the smaller metal Voigtlander ones I doubt there will be a problem.
 
Pioneer said:
I use the Standard all the time. It is a great camera. I am not much of an ultra wide fan, the widest lens I own is a 24 and it comes with a bayonet so not much good on the LTM.

I do shoot a lot with a Nikkor 35/2.5 and a CV 35 Color Skopar. I use the old Nikkor viewfinder which doesn't interfere at all with the regular viewfinder. Since the Nikkor one is similar in size to the smaller metal Voigtlander ones I doubt there will be a problem.
Click to expand...

The standard looks like a great camera. It sounds like if I got the metal version of the CV 21mm finder it would work.

Most people here have recommended the Bessa L, but it sounds those who actually use Leica screw mount bodies really like them...
 
Two of my favorite Leicas. The one on the right is the Leica Standard wearing the Nikkor 35/2.5 complete with viewfinder. The one on the left is my Leica Null.

 
raid said:
If the feel is important to you :Go for classy; dump the flimsy Bessa L and use the Leica. The combiation of modern glass with vintage camera will give you goose bumps.

If practicalty is important to you : go modern.
Click to expand...

I've had more young chicks complement my Bessa L more than any camera I own. A Bessa L is a babe magnet. 😎
 
Ooops! My fault. I did not have "the chicks factor" on my mind when I said what I said. I mistakenly was thinking of photography during travel.
 
Leica Standard with Elmar.
I often use this sleek camera with wide angle lenses, such as Canon FD 17/4 and Canon 19/3.5LTM, and Canon FD 7.5mm/5.6 ... etc.

5167545-md.jpg


5167527-md.jpg


5145932-md.jpg
 
Some things just don't work well together:

Like an old-style CV finder on a Leica II-type body.*

U20714I1404673102.SEQ.0.jpg


Ok, I guess, if you don't want to change shutter speeds. 🙄

*That's my "old, been everywhere, still works great" Zorki 1d shown with a CV25/4 lens & finder.

(Oleg's CLAs really endure. I got this from him with the usually in-place J-12 back in the early 80's.

It looked a lot better before it spent 20 years on the floors of my various trucks...

even survived a wreck - which that particular truck didn't!)
 
Following up here. I got a If. Its awesome! Actually I was surprised that the shutter is a much louder click than my M3. Are all Barnacks like this?

Otherwise I gotta say this camera is a joy to use with my 21mm Color Skopar screwed on the front and its accompanying finder in the accessory shoe. I don't mind the knob wind one bit. The loading is a bit fussy. But it not really any different than my M3 once the film leader is trimmed.

Thanks for all that made suggestions here. I would still like to try the L if got the chance. Actually I would like to try the T more!
 
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One camera has holes in the shutter so only one in use. The louder one has a slow shutter. I don't know whether any of these things are related or not.
 
WJJ3 said:
A few from my first roll. One thing I noticed right away is that the frame spacing is much narrower than my M3's


autoparts by WilliamJosephJefferson, on Flickr

chickie by WilliamJosephJefferson, on Flickr

flag by WilliamJosephJefferson, on Flickr

hut by WilliamJosephJefferson, on Flickr

spikey by WilliamJosephJefferson, on Flickr

tourists by WilliamJosephJefferson, on Flickr

tree by WilliamJosephJefferson, on Flickr
Click to expand...


These are very nice shots! How close did you have to get to the ladies to get that shot?
I kind of knew--reading through this thread--that you\d end up with the Barnack. I went through a similar dilemma when I got started and ended up getting a Bessa T first, but I couldn't silence my desire for a Barnack 😀 and so I acquired a IIIf one year later. Still have the Bessa, but the IIIf gets more exercise 🙂.
 
Thanks! sorry so late getting back to this thread. The sidewalk photo was pretty dang close. One thing I noticed about using the 21mm on the street is you have to get so close to people that they seem to think they aren't in the frame.
Yeah Im really glad I went for the If. Its been a real pleasure so far!
 
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