bessa r vs. canon p/7 vs. leica query

[paulfish4570]

brand new member here. recently got serious again with film photography, and i like manual cameras. an old praktica ltl 3 has served me well enough for a few years. recently nabbed a pentax sp1000 to share m42 lenses. but the rangefinder is where my heart is.
got a gorgeous minolta A5 from e-bay a couple of weeks ago. best $28 i've spent in decades. the rokkor 45/2.8 is a wonder in b&w and fuji realia. but i've a yen for a leica screwmount rf with swing open back. as much as i loved a double-stroke m3/50/2.8 elmar i had 30-odd years ago, i can't go bottom film feed because of a neuropathy that causes shakes and, well, digital confusion. i could do it, but it would be nerve-wracking ...
also, i need a bright, contrasty viewfinder. that kind of leaves the canon and the bessa r in my price range - along with the plethora of FSU and other lenses at a cost far below that of m series lense.
this is a fantastic site as i have gleaned from grazing. your advice is much sought and appreciated.

 

[ethics_gradient]

I found the viewfinder of the Canon 7 a bit more to my liking than that of my Bessa R3a: a bit brighter, and with a much more useful selection of framelines (for me, at least). On the other hand, I found the match-needle meter to be really annoying to use: you have to take your eye away from the VF and look at the reading on the top of the camera, then adjust shutter/aperture accordingly. I know the R doesn't have AE, but you can still adjust the shutter speed without taking your eye away from the viewfinder. The Canon feels a lot nicer, it's very solid and everything seemed like a nice step up in build quality from the Bessa. Personally though, my vote would still be for the Bessa.

As far as lenses, the Jupiter-8 50mm f/2 is a fantastic bargain, but beyond that you'll likely be paying $200+ per lens. The J-9 is a nice lens but difficult to find a good copy of, and there are no really cheap lenses wider than 50mm (the Russian 35mm f/2.8 will not mount on most non-FSU cameras).

 

[wlewisiii]

I've had both the 7 & R in the past. While I sold them and moved into a IIIf instead, I understand your issues. Both are very good cameras depending on your desires.

If you need modern metering, get a Bessa R otherwise get the 7. The Bessa is better than a lot of folks give it credit for but the 7 was the final refinement of an excellent line of cameras.

Glass - first get a CV 35/2.5 Color Skopar. That's the nicest "cheap" 35mm on the market - if you're as lucky as me, it can be as low as $150. If you get a Canon 7 then you can use the Jupiter 12, however it is a very tight fit and if you can't use a bottom feeder, those problems may make you not wish to change a lens with that tight of tolerences. Then look for a chrome Canon Serenar 50/1.8. Still undervalued in the market, it's one of the top ten lenses of all time in my book. Those two lenses will do most of what you need. If you decide to look for a portrait lens, the Elmar 90/4 or one of the Canon 100's will do well for a sane price - $100 - 200.

Good luck & good light.

William

 

[Mablo]

Bessa R with Color Skopar 35/2.5 is a great combination. Bessa has big, bright and contrasty viewfinder. The rangefinder patch in my Canon P is inferior.

 

[BillBingham2]

I understand the issue and think a Bessa would be a fine choice. While the P is a kick butt camera I think you'd be better served by a Bessa R. You might think of stepping up to a Bessa R2 of either type as it's M mount that might be easier for you to mount lenses. I'm not sure that the R is a robust as a P but with a bit of care it should last many years.

B2 (;->

 

[Bingley]

I've had the 7 and R, and have a P and an M2. In your situation, I agree w/ William: get the Bessa R. Although the vf on the Canon 7 is excellent, the vf on the R is fantastic by comparison, and you get the benefit of modern metering to boot. I also agree w/ William's recommendations on lenses. Also note: you can shoot a 28 on the R, using the entire vf to frame. A Canon 50/1.8 and Voigtlander 28/3.5 is a wonderful lens combo, doesn't cost that much, and works like a charm on the R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

brand new member here. recently got serious again with film photography, and i like manual cameras. an old praktica ltl 3 has served me well enough for a few years. recently nabbed a pentax sp1000 to share m42 lenses. but the rangefinder is where my heart is.
got a gorgeous minolta A5 from e-bay a couple of weeks ago. best $28 i've spent in decades. the rokkor 45/2.8 is a wonder in b&w and fuji realia. but i've a yen for a leica screwmount rf with swing open back. as much as i loved a double-stroke m3/50/2.8 elmar i had 30-odd years ago, i can't go bottom film feed because of a neuropathy that causes shakes and, well, digital confusion. i could do it, but it would be nerve-wracking ...
also, i need a bright, contrasty viewfinder. that kind of leaves the canon and the bessa r in my price range - along with the plethora of FSU and other lenses at a cost far below that of m series lense.
this is a fantastic site as i have gleaned from grazing. your advice is much sought and appreciated.

Frances has a similar problem (a 'benign essential tremor' which can get pretty bad when she's under pressure -- like it can be hard getting food on a fork to her mouth) but finds Ms no harder to load than opening-back cameras. She says it took her a long time to get used to it, but that once she did, it's just as easy as loading from the back. She also says, practice when you're well relaxed. Have you actually tried an M since the problem developed?

Cheers,

R.

 

[paulfish4570]

thanks to all.

roger: no i haven't handled an M in almost three decades. so perhaps i should reconsider until i've practiced a bit; i could get a fed 2 or something similar to do so. and yes, small tasks are easier when i am relaxed, but mightily frustrating. i gave up most fishing because it was so frustrating to tie lures onto ultralight monofilament; a task of 15-20 seconds became a sit-down task of 2-5 minutes ...

 

[paulfish4570]

by the way, all, metering is not an issue for me. i'd just as soon use a handheld, if at all ...