Budget in hand, help me join the RF ranks

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MolteniOrange

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Hello, all. I’m most impressed with the gentle guidance and intelligent commentary on the forum. After reading many posts on this site, I'm eager to jump into rangefinder photography and could use some informed opinion.

BUDGET: My wife has dictated no more than $1,100 USD.

BACKGROUND: I've been happily shooting with a Nikon FM2 for several years with a 24/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/1.4, 85/1.8 and 105/2.8. I also have a Sekonic 508 meter that I love. Flash is a monster Nikon SB-16. I shoot C41 b/w film and Fuji chromes. I scan with a Nikon 4000, tweak in Photoshop and print to ink jet. It's a happy workflow.

Documentary is my passion, and I want to increase my comfort level with street photography, thus the desire for a smaller, quieter kit to supplement the Nikon.

My dream would be to move to a Mamiya 6 or 7, but I can't afford a body, lens AND a scanner. And my budget probably precludes Leica.

So I keep coming back to a Bessa, particularly the new R2A and R3A because the aperture priority is something my FM2 doesn't have, and I think I would use it.

QUESTIONS:

Ideally, the CV 40/1.4 or the 50/1.5 seem like good choices as my primary. Because one is M mount and the other screw mount, I'll need an adapter if I get the 50, right? I couldn't find a definite answer on Gandy's site.

The CV 21/4 is my next choice because I love super wides at close range. (My Nikkor 24 gets a lot of use.) Some of you have mentioned that the R3A is not good for wide lenses. Is that because a top-mount viewfinder is necessary? Or is there another reason? Adapter needed here, too, right?

Next choice would be a 90mm to round out the kit for portraits.

I've handled a Leica MP/M7, Bessa R and Rollei RF35 at the local shop. The Leicas obviously were most impressive and easier to focus. Also, I don't wear glasses, which might make the viewfinder issue easier.

Anything else I'm forgetting?

With an $1,100 budget, how would you intelligent shooters spend it? Based on my interests, would your recommend other focal lengths or camera bodies? Or just one lens with an RF body? Or a good used body/lens?

I'm all ears and all ready to order! I was whisker-close to buying a digital body last week, but I just couldn't do it. So here I am!

Thanks in advance. Sorry for the length.
 
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Bessa R2A, 35 pancake II or 40 1.4, that'll put you close to 1000 bucks, use the rest for film. wide angles for street photography are the norm nowdays, the pancake 35 is wicked sharp with good bokeh, but if you need the lowlight go for the 40mm. The R2A and R3A are M mount so no adapter is needed for either of the two lenses I've mentioned. Other wise, I wouldn't get the 40 and the 50, IMHO they are too close in field of view.

Good Luck,
Todd
 
Wow, that's a tall order. For $1100 you should focus on one body and one lens to start with and then take some time to grow. If a quiet shutter is really important to you, then unfortunately the Bessa might not be a good choice. It's just as loud if not a bit louder than the FM2. I have both. The shutters are the same type. If the FM2 is not too loud for your purposes then the Bessa R2/R3 line is a good choice. For the money it can't be beat. The 50/1.5 lens is also a very good lens for the price. Below are a few pics taken with it. I was really surprised by the results, and yes you will need an adapter. Also if you are into wides then you should go with the R2A, the outer frame will approximate the 28mm view, with the R3A the outer edges of the VF are about 35mm. Hope that helps, also you should push to get that $1100 raised up a bit 😉
 
I would buy one of the Bronica 645RF kits with the 65mm lens that KEH has listed in their used department and look for an Epson 2400 scanner or one of its newer sisters. That's if my wife would let me have $1100 all at once.

Wayne

PS I am probably not quite right in the head, 'cause I like larger negatives than 35mm.
 
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The R2A and 35 pancake is a good choice as mentioned. If you want to save a bit more, look for the remarkable Pancake I, they retail for under $200 if you can find stocks of this discontinued lens. Don't bother with the R3A, how many other 40mm lenses are you going to own?

I won't hesitate to look around for used gear, you can definitely fit 2 lenses and a body within your budget that way.
 
Excellent advice. I appreciate all of it!

I'm not Leica savvy, but I did notice that KEH has several M3s in bargain condition. Perhaps one of those and a CV 35mm? I prefer something faster than the Pancake, like the Ultron, because I like low-light, available-light shooting indoors and out. But I'm open for convincing. Does the M3 have a meter?

The Bronica tip was a good one. I'll have to do some homework on that one, too.

Wish I could squeeze a few hundred dollars more from my wife, but I know when not to push. I'm sure you all can relate 😉
 
The M3 is a great camera but be aware that its 2 big drawbacks is that is doesn't have framelines for 35mm and it doesn't have a meter. Voigtlander does have a cool looking clip on meter for like $150 or so, but that may put you over budget.
 
Molten, welcome to the RFF. One simple route, as has been noted, is to go for an R2a and and either a CV 35/2.5 (2 versions) or a CV 35/1.7, and you'd be under $1k no problem. You could also look for a Leica M2, as these seem among the most affordable of the Leicas. In the last two days, photo.net, a site that many RFFers frequent, had an m4-2 go for $600 and today there was an M4 for $850. One advantage to buying a Leica is that, if you buy carefully, when you decide to sell (or upgrade) it, you will get most of your investment in return. A disadvantage is that the camera will eventually need an expensive CLA.

Not long ago I was in your shoes; I was (and still am) shooting Nikon mf gear and wanted to try rf, and nothing but a Leica would do. After a 2 month search, I found a very nice M2 and a Konica 50mm lens, and I'm enjoying the learning process a great deal. I will add briefly that an R2a or an M2 is not really significantly smaller than an FM2; in street situations you are still a photographer w/ a camera and people will either notice you or not, the mythic Leica quietness notwithstanding. Feel free to PM me--a great feature on this site--if you have questions re my experiences moving between slr and rf.
 
Here are my 2 cents:

If I had $1100 to spend, I would buy the best vintage Leica M body (or Canon P or VI-L) I could find during 1 month of searching, and add a Russian 50mm lens (for less than $50). With your kind of money, you could get an M6 with built in meter. The Russian lenses offer excellent/outstanding value. You are, in the future going to spend more money on this kit anyway, so then you can add more expensive lenses. Don't think for a minute that you're going to spend only $1100 on camera gear. This will be a system that you will add to. You may as well go for the best.

I'm sorry, I can't help it. Leica bodies do it for me. I have no qualms about using non-Leica lenses though.
 
I'd say, if I had that type of a budget and couldn't find an M3 set (camera, Summicron, meter) on Ebay, that you should look into a Canon P and possibly a Voigtlander lens. The P bodies usually go for around 400 bucks and since you have a meter, you're set. The 35/1.7 would be a good starter lens.
 
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