Choices, choices...

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Morca007

Matt
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I have admired ragefinders from afar for a long time now, mostly due to Chris Week's utter adoration of his Leicas, and all the stunning photos I've seen from RF users on DeviantArt. It got to the point where I would research, and learn about them to the detriment of whatever I was supposed to be doing (Schoolwork, Comp. Teching).
So, I have decided to jump into RF photography.

Unfortunately, there aren't any local stores, or collectors around these parts, so the internet has been my only resource in researching what camera I want to purchase.

As of right now, I'm setting my budget at about $300-350, including a body and a single lens (35 or 50).

It's main use will be street photography, and portraiture.

My current selection is a Bessa R, with a Jupiter 8 lens. I can buy a new R from cameraquest for $249 (I love black, but $50 extra seems a bit extravagent), and pick up a J8 for about $25 on eBay (which may be problematic, as I don't have an eBay account 😛 ). Now, if I somehow got an eBay account, or if someone here sold me one, do you think it would be worth the savings to go used?
About the R, most of the reviews I have seen are glowing, with two worrying exceptions: Misaligned vf's (Supposedly only on early ones?), and the shutter being none-too quiet, is there backing to this?

Also in my eye is the Bessa T, which, to be honest, I just think is plain sexy. My main worry is about using the seperate viewfinder. I am thinking it will be; More expensive overall to buy the camera+quality VF, and a slight hassle to use.

Suggestions?
 
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Something about best laid plans of mice and men......

The J8 is too deep to work on any Bessa, sorry several of us have tried and come away with messed up bodies. They work on an Fed or Leica Screwmount, almost any M (no M5 or CLs) too, but not a Bessa.

If you want to do street photography and have that budget, get a Bessa L and a CV 25/4. IMHO, best combination on the planet. On your budget, you can get a new lens and a used L with some money for film and processing. You want to learn to shoot quick in street shooting.

The R is a GREAT place to start, but more than you need for most street shots. If you go up to $400, you can get a GREAT starter kit (a new R and a new CV 35mm lens) from Camera Quest. It's not that much of your high end of $350 and it gets you into a wonderful class of camera.

I love my Ts (I have 2) and did not find focusing and viewing from different viewfinder too bad. I am switching over to an M6 because I already had one and my kids are not likely to bump into the camera as they were when they were younger. It is much easier to have a combined rangefinder and viewfinder and the R viewfinder is bright.

There is a wonderful classifed section here that I think is much easier to get true and accurate info on lenses and cameras than from EvilBay. I sell on both, but prefer the folks here.

If you can streatch to the $400 mark, go with the R and the 35 new. If you can not, go used Bessa L and a new CV 25/4 from Stephen or one of the advertisers here. I will bet a good used L will be on the board here within the next week.

Finding a used 25/4 is next to impossible. People who buy them keep them, they are that good.

B2 (;->
 
Er, that pesky rational side of my brain has just thought of something.
Maybe I should just buy a cheap FSU RF first, to see if I like it.
:bang:
 
Don't go cheap to see if you like something, the disadvantages will bite you in the ass and make you not like it.

The FSU cameras aren't ideal for serious shooting, a Voigtlander would be better. Think about a fixed lens camera like the Canonet QL17 though.
 
Morca007,
Couple of things I would add here:
I agree that the R and CV35 is a great pair. I got one a couple of years ago and was very happy with it. I did, to be honest, pass it along but not because it was a bad camera.
I mostly use FSU gear now and like that experience a lot. But there are some serious downsides to the FSU route that you should think about.
No matter how nice the FSU cameras are, they are mostly old(with one exception that I know of). Not a bad thing in and of itself but they may need some mechanical attention to bring out their best capabilities.
And while I'm happy to advise about the most important choice you'll need to make about the FSU cameras--who you buy from--I might also suggest another route to start with:
One of the 60s or 70s fixed lens RF cameras. This has several advantages;
-There are lots of them around.
-Which means most of them are fairly inexpensive.
-Depending on which one you choose, there is just about as much or as little automation as you might want.
-They are mostly compact which makes them easier to carry around with you always.
-If you've not shot with a rangefinder camera before these are a way to see if you enjoy that ethic and if by chance RF shooting doesn't work for you, you're not out much $.
A couple of links to check out:

http://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm
This is a decent over view of the cameras you might want to consider.
and:

http://www.photoethnography.com/
With particular attention to the "Technique" and "Equipment" sections.

And as the lady said,"Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride"!
Rob
 
Sorry about the mix-up J8 vs J12, brain farts come more often as I approach 50!

For what I would call traditional street shooting I would not go with anything longer than a 35mm. Lots of others say nothing longer than a 28. I got good results from several 35mm lenses for street shooting, but that was when that was all I had. The CV 25 is a great people lens, very low in distortion and great flare control.

Again, sorry for the confusion (note to self, increase meds!!)

B2 (;->
 
I've been using a 50/1.8 on my FG, and it seems a really comfortable size to me, enough so that I don't have to get right up to someone (IE; in their face), and short enough that I can shoot from ~4 away and get torso+head.

I've decided to sell all my paintball equipment, trading in one hobby for another (Haven't used it in a while anyway).
 
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