Best $300 RF body for CV 50mm/1.4 Nokton

Jamie Pillers

Jamie Pillers

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I currently have a like-new Voigtlander 50mm Nokton lens advertised in the RFF classifieds but haven't got any responses, so I'm thinking of keeping it. I'd like help choosing a body to go with it. I currently have a Bessa R4A to use with my CV 28mm and 35mm lenses. I don't like the small 50mm brightlines in the R4A, so I'm thinking of getting a second-hand RF body with a rangefinder designed primarily for the 50mm lens.

I'd like to find a body with the brightest, biggest viewfinder in which the 50mm brightlines take up nearly the entire viewfinder. It would be nice if the viewfinder was nearly as clear and big as the one in my R4A. Cost... $300 or less. I don't have to have a meter, and a perfectly quiet shutter is not required. I'd like back-loading, not the older Leica bottom-loading style.

I've read a bit about the Bessa R, Canon P and Canon 7 bodies but I've never held them and can't judge what their viewfinders are like. And if I bought a Canon 7, how long can I expect that old meter to continue to function? And if that old meter is dead, can it be repaired? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
The Bessa R finder is pretty much identical to the Bessa R2 finder. Great with the Nokton.

If you don't mind a "fuzzy" RF patch, but want a 1:1 finder, the Canon P is a really great camera.

Roland.
 
Jamie,

The P's viewfinder is made for 35mm, while it has 50, it's a bit small too. The 7 is a fine choice, but I'm not sure much about it. The R is wonderful as it will handle much like your 4A, a bit lighter I think. There's more plastic in her than the 4A. They hold up well and you can find them with reasonable ease. You might want to look at a T with an external brightline finder. Built kind of inbetween the R and the R4A as far as robustness. The advantage of the R is it has parallax correction built into the finder. On a 50 and above, very handy to have close up.

If you go up market a bit, you might find a used R3M or A for a bit more. Build will be the same as your 4A and it's 1:1 finder ROCKS.

My order would be the R first for price, the R3M or A for a bit more. I would not go with the Canon as it's a very different feel from the Bessa.

B2 (;->
 
If you can live without a meter..... I would vote for the Canon P. The finder in mine is just as bright as my M3 and with 1:1 magnification it is a perfect match for a 50mm lens. I think the Bessa R, R2 or R3 of any form are also good choices, but the P is great if you want something a little older.
 
Roland,
Thanks for the response. In the next post, Bill B. says the full Canon P viewfinder is for 35mm lens and that the 50 brightlines would also be a bit small. Agree?

By the way, yesterday my family and I were driving up the coast from Monterey. When we passed the Pigeon Point lighthouse, I thought of your great B&W nighttime photo of it during the 07 fresnel lens lighting. 🙂
 
Jamie -- I have this lens, and also have an R, P, and 7. I agree w/ Roland that the R makes a great combo with the Nokton 50, mainly b/c of the R's bright viewfinder. The 50mm framelines in the R give you a large-ish area in the vf. This is a body/lens combination that our fellow RFF member Nico has used to such good effect (see his Gallery).

Nokton/P combination: the lens blocks a portion of the 50mm framelines in the P, and it's a pretty noticeable portion w/ the hood on. I try to shoot w/out the hood when I can. It's still a nice shooting combo, although I think the Nokton looks a bit too large on the P.

Nokton/7 combination: VERY nice! I think the lens balances very well on the 7, and does not intrude on the 50mm framelines. (I also really like the Ultron 35 w/ the 7). The magnification in the 7's vf is .85, which puts it between the R and the P. A clean 7 vf is bright with sharp and labeled projected framelines, close to Leica M2 or M4, but not as bright as the vf on the R.

All three camera bodies can easily be found in good condition for under $300 these days. There is (was?) a nice looking R in Classifieds last night.
 
Find a R Bessa not to spent more money for adapter and if you are not planning to buy M-mount cam later.
R is great. Small and has a bright viewfinder
 
Rover,
I've never used a camera without a meter, but I'm familiar with the sunny 16 rule, etc..

Do you work without a meter? Or do you carry a handheld meter? If you do without, do you find that your experience (and maybe a little help from film's foregiveness) gets the exposure right? I'd like to try working that way... sort of like "going with the flow". 🙂
 
Thanks a lot Jamie for the comment on the photo here and on flickr ! 🙂


The P has a true 1:1 finder and 35, 50 and 100mm framelines (all visible together). To see the 35mm framelines you need to look a bit "around the corner" even without glasses. The P has a relatively long EBL and can focus fast 50s, easily. It feels and behaves much like a Leica M3, except it looks even better (kind of Bauhaus style 🙂 ).

The only major use difference when I compared it to Bessa and Leica was that the RF patch (round) does not have a clear border/geometry as you know it from your R4. I think it is a really great 50mm machine, and you can use it for 35 in emergencies, but I agree with Bill that it feels different from your Bessa.

Hope this helps. Best,

Roland.

PS:

A few of us RFF members in the Bay get together every so often for beer - you should join us !
 
Thanks everyone.

Thanks everyone.

Thanks everyone for your help. Given what you've said, I think I'll look around for a nice Canon P... just to try something different from my Voigtlander equipment. 🙂

Jamie
 
Bingley,
Thank you for pointing out Nico's photo gallery. Looking at his work convinces me that I should keep the 50mm. Since coming to rangefinders last year, I've been loving the 28mm lens perspective. But Nico's photos remind me of the "details" in the world that can be picked up with the longer lens. Thanks again. I'll post a thanks with Nico as well.
 
I love the P. In addition to the virtues others have noted, the shutter can be very quiet (comparable to M2) if the camera is in good shape or has had a CLA. That, plus the nice vf for 50mm, makes it a terrific street shooter, if you're interested in that area of photography.

As for the absence of a meter -- what Rover said. I bring along a VCII for metering indoors, but otherwise use Sunny 16.
 
Bingley,
Yes, I plan to use this camera and the R4a/28mm for street photography primarily. I use a Nikon D40x for family photos, around-the-house stuff, etc..

By the way, can you recommend a nice rugged, but unobtrusive camera bag that would hold both the R4 and the Canon?
 
Jamie Pillers said:
By the way, can you recommend a nice rugged, but unobtrusive camera bag that would hold both the R4 and the Canon?
Click to expand...


I recently bought a Domke 5xb from B&H; about $50 IIRC. Rugged canvas and small, but holds both my Bessa R and Canon P w/ room for an extra lens and some film, but not much more than that. I think it qualifies as unobtrusive, although it looks a little purse-like to my eye (I'll live w/ that). Works well for day outings when you don't need to carry a lot of gear, photographic or otherwise.
 
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