Bessa R2M or...?

[Fabionsky]

Hi all!
This is my first post here on rangefinderforum.com and needless to say, I'm asking you an advice. 🙄
It's one year I'm shooting and I was photographically born 'digital', as the vast majority of people in the digital era. But with the 2010 around the corner I really want to convert to analog religion. It's a whole different approach on photography, more say zen-like, but most of all it brings many advantages in Street Photography which is my field.
Since I could not afford the noble Leica m6 (I could only buy the body w/o lens) I am seriously thinking of buying either a Voigtlander Bessa R2M (x0.7) or, alternatively, a Leica M4-P coupled with an external viewfinder on top of it. In both cases I would also buy a Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm/2.5 lens. The difference in price between the two solutions would be about 200 euros. What would you choose? I would go Leica just for the more silent shutter w.r.t. the Voigtlander and the more accurate mechanics, but on the other hand, the R2M has a built-in light meter which I think simplifies things in Street, and that 200 euros could be invested in a scanner, or films, chemicals, etc...I don't know what to choose, could you give me an advice?

Thanks!
F.

PS. Any other solution is welcomed, given that I can't spend more than 800-900 euros (lens included), that the camera has to have a 35mm brightframe, a light meter and a x0.7 viewfinder or more.

PPS. For the admins: if this thread need to be moved on a more appropriate forum, please do so.

 

[Macpod]

I would get the R2A instead, it has aperture priority mode with easy to use exposure lock and compensation. Never used the R2M but for me its hard to justify the cost given it has less REAL features, mechanical shutters can be a feature but i dont see it as one on this camera.

have only used the M6 which is similar to the M4. Even though i have a hand held meter, the lack of in camera meter affects my photos more than anything else between these cameras so i would choose the R2A again if i couldnt afford the M6.

the bessa R2A is a much more feature rich and easier to use camera than the Ms. But of course Leicas are leicas and im saving up for an MP personally.

 

[BenXiaoHai]

Hey mate, i've got a Bessa R2M with 50mm f2 for sale man. Just sent you a pm. Selling it cause I just upgraded to M6 🙂

 

[Disaster_Area]

I would also recommend the R2/3A instead of the M... LR44 batteries are dirt cheap, small and last forever so the "keeps shooting with no batteries" which is pretty much the only "feature" of the M's is barely a feature... plus aperture priority will let you shoot from the hip in changing light a LOT easier. If you're coming from digital AE will also let you ease in to the whole manual film thing... you can always shoot full manual too.

 

[ferider]

Consider a Leica M2 instead (the M4P is great, too, just usually more expensive used).

Cheaper, more robust, quieter, and easier to focus in the dark (more patch contrast), and beautiful single and bigger 35mm frameline.

And, if ever you want to add a 90 to your 35 (a natural combo), much easier to focus.

 

[Fujitsu]

The R2M is my favorite Bessa. Much like the M6 but available new with with warranty for less than a used Leica.

Note that most used M6 bodies available do have some sort of problems by now (misaligned rangefinders, metering issues), I´ve been through all the hassle.

Except for a little premium in build quality, there´s no reason shooting Leica for me. My lenses are all Voigtlander anyway.

 

[BillBingham2]

F,

Welcome.

I would not worry about a built in meter for Street Photography. I have found that you are either shooting for what's in a shadow or in bright light. If it's overcast it's mostly in one exposure zone. My assumption is that when you mentioned a "external viewfinder" on the top of the M4-P it was actually a meter, am I correct? I've always preferred a hand held meter when shooting as I find it quicker to remember two different readings (direct sun and shade) and adjusting the camera as I raise it to my eye. While I've never owned the coupled meter from Leica I always found my Sekonic L-318 to be very fast and accurate. I prefer incident light metering vs reflected.

While I really like the Bessa line (great bargain for the euro) I would agree with Roland above and say go Leica. The M2 vs the M4-P is a toss up for me, I've owned the M4-P, it was my first M and loved it. The M2 is a wonderful machine but I'm really bad at resetting the exposure counter (learned this with my Nikon S2). Not a big deal in my style of shooting one exposure for most pictures.

Any of the CV glass is a great choice. There are better but you need to multiply the price by anywhere from 3 to 10 times.

There are digital alternatives for street photograph (Ricoh GRD line) but there is a magic about film and even the GRD does not handle like a Leica M does.

Again, welcome and please share your thoughts, experience and result so we can all learn with you.

B2 (;->

 

[mfogiel]

I think using AE for the street is almost a must if you really want to concentrate on what is around you and not on fiddling with the dials. The R2A is the obvious choice, and a 35mm lens is a good starting point - if you can afford it, get a faster lens than f2.5. The next most important expense will be a decent scanner and developing tanks.

 

[Disaster_Area]

yes... I'll definitely second the "get a good scanner" option... there's absolutely no sense in spending hundreds if not thousands on a RF kit if you can't get a decent digital copy of your negs... you may as well buy a FSU or a lomo if you're going to cheap out on a scanner or just get lab low rez scans. Best bang for the buck is the Epson V500... and do yourself a favour and get the betterscanning ANR glass inserts... they're cheap and work wonders on curly film.

(obviously if you're doing we printing follow the same advice... only apply it to a good enlarger 🙂

 

[Fabionsky]

@macpod: I always used my DSLR on Manual mode, because I like to manage aperture and shutter separately. I've choosen a DSLR with two gears (A and T) for that reason. Thanks for your reply.

@Ben: I'll think about it, thanks.

@Disaster_Area: Like I said before, I've always shoot in Manual mode with my DSLR, I see no reason to change this when going Analog...I'm only concerned about exposure when using M4-P with an external light meter.

@ferider: "[The M2 is] Cheaper, more robust, quieter, and easier to focus in the dark (more patch contrast), and beautiful single and bigger 35mm frameline." ...sounds interesting, I will consider this other option, thanks for replying!

@Fujitsu: It's what I think, but then again I've never used a Bessa nor a Leica...

@Bill: A really interesting reply, for me. And Yes, I wrote "external viewfinder" in place of "external lightmeter" 🙂 ...sorry for the mistake. "I prefer incident light metering vs reflected."...yes, the light read from the lightmeter is more accurate for this reason, and maybe this could bring me towards the M4-P, lessening the worry of using an external lightmeter...
Thank you very much for your time, Bill, I appreciated and I will surely share my choice with you and my experience with it.

@mfogiel: ehehe..you are right too. Sometimes you have to change exposure very fast...and that extra money could be spent as you said. Thanks for replying!

@disaster_area: thanks for your precious advices!

 

[Fabionsky]

I was writing while the last two replies appeared...

 

[MCTuomey]

R2A, a budget M7 in my view, gets my vote. the R2A was my first RF when i re-entered photography. a great camera. couple it with a 35 and 75 for not much more than the price of an M4-P, and you're well-equipped. coming from the more automated side, you will probably appreciate AE. while i love the feel of M cameras, especially M2 thru M4/-2/-P, i would trade that feel for AE readily if my shooting was principally street work.

 

[MCTuomey]

by the way, saw this over at p.net:

http://photo.net/gc/view-one?classified_ad_id=1061070

 

[Fabionsky]

Thanks for the adice and for the link, McTuomey !

 

[Fabionsky]

I made my mind, I'll take a Leica M2.
I'm searching for one in good condition and fully working, of course.

Thank you all. I'll keep this thread posted when I can tell you more.