Converts?

C

Conner999

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Going to be experimenting with the RF concept shortly via borrowed M7+50 'cron and was curious. How many folks here have effectively converted from SLR to RF and why/why not? Figured I'd post this in the M8 forum because it was likely the trigger for many.
 
The two camp offer different advantages for different situations. You'll lose a lot of quality and opportunity if you are exclusively on one side.

Why convert? Embrace both 🙂
 
shadow - true, neither are mutually exclusive, but I know that when having two systems, there is always one that get the most 'air time'. The term convert is a bit of a stretch...

I have an R8, 30D, 180/2, 50 cron, 90 elmarit latest, 28 elmarit latest, etc and an FE2 - guess which camera gets grabbed the most often when just wanting to have a camera handy just in case? Figured this was trying to tell me something.
 
Was using my Nikon F4s like a rangefinder, so why keep 100% viewfinder and all the bulk, especially when most shooting was manually focusing wideangles in low light?

Did buy a Nikon again. Fun to use now and again, but really more to play with: interchangeable screens, prisms etc.
 
You're right Conner, you always gravitate to one. I still have my 5D, can't bear to part with it but it sees little use. I used the 5D on manual focus about 80% of the time so the manual focus thing wasn't a big transition.

The style of shooting is different as you know. Here are the major pros and cons in my view of a dslr vs digital rangefinder.

1. Manual focus - if you shoot manual focus alot anyway then that one's easy.

2. Weight/visibility - when I travel I now love taking the M8 with me. The other benefit is that you don't get people gawking at this great big camera and lens when you're out shooting.

3. Landscapes - People will say you can shoot landscapes with the M8 but this is where I love the 5D, plus tripod plus manual focus plus cable release. It forces me to slow down and really look at the landscape and enjoy it.

4. File quality - there is absolutely nothing to compare with Leica glass. I use an Oly 18/3.5 and Oly 21/3.5 and Canon 24 TSE mostly for landscapes but have still found nothing straight out of the camera to compare with the M8.

Some quick Saturday morning thoughts but there would be more if I sat and thought about it a while.
 
I started out with SLR (Pentax in about 66/67) and since the mid 70s I've used Nikons -- but far more, I use Leicas, which I first started using in about 1970.

It's 'horses for courses' but in 35mm I only use an SLR when I really can't conveniently use an M2/4-P/P. In MF I use both cheapo SLRs (Kowa, Pentacon six) and serious direct-vision (Alpa, Graflex XL, Polaroid with RF back adapters).

Cheers,

Roger
 
You feel like an idiot reaching for a cheap FE2 when your cabinet has an R8, 30D (was a 5D), a 180/2 apo, 90/2.8 latest, etc. But there is something about the size, mechanical nature, lack of palstics, etc. The VF is also sweet.

Had ugly issue getting my 5D to MF accurately with the super matte screen. Should have sent it to Canon for calibration (apprently necessary with some 5Ds + precision matte screens), but got PO'd and sold it. 30D is nice, very nice, but the VF even with a Katzeye (recommended) is still a bit dark.

The R8 I love. Hate the idea of parting with it. Am experimenting with film, but local lab options are very, very limited and I'm used to the acuity of digital (have owned 5D, 1ds Mk1 & 2). DMR would be nice, but for 1/2 the coin could get a 1ds mk1 with the thin AA filter, same ISO performance and size and save the R8 as backup....?

I am strictly MF on R glass, so that's not an issue. The size would also be nice. Had my R8+180/2 out the other day and you stand out like a sore thumb.

Always said if someone made a small, robust minimalist digicam with great (metal) interchangable optics decent noise performance (I print heavily in B&W and shoot soley RAW so some noise in high ISO conversion is fine) and a skinny AA filter I'd be there. The more I look at it, the more the M8 fits that bill.

The 180/2 and my scanning gear may have to sacrificed on the M8 altar afterall.
 
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