bensyverson said:
You might want to start off with a fixed lens rangefinder (like the Canonet QL17) before dropping a wad of C-notes on the Bessa... I always assumed I'd get a Bessa w/ 40 f1.4 at some point, but having a couple FLRs has (luckily) quenched my thirst.
Pros and cons?
Bessa:
+ Faster, better lens
+ Newer, sturdier build
+ better rangefinder baselength
+ interchangeable lens (woo hoo!)
- interchangeable lens (look out bank account!)
- heavier
- louder
- focal plane shutter
- way more expensive
Compact 1970s FLR
+ Compact and very light weight
+ very quiet
+ leaf shutter
+ great lenses
+ Can be very inexpensive!
+ fixed lens (your wallet thanks you)
- fixed lens
- most are shutter priority, many prefer AP
- some have no manual setting (avoid these)
- you lose about a half stop -- f1.7 vs f1.4. A big deal? Maybe, maybe not
I've found the metering on my FLRs to be extremely good, but your milage may vary. In auto mode, my shutter priority FLRs seem to be stepless when selecting an aperture (ie, the aperture doesn't lock to full f-stops). My aperture priority FLRs (Yashica CC, XA) also seem to be stepless in selecting shutter speeds.
Just a thought!
Not a bad idea if someone hasn't shot a rangefinder at all. And for 'normal' range lens a fixed lens RF will be ok. My recomendations though as I've shot them and liked them from most favorite first. Olympus 35RC, Canon QL17 G-III, Olympus XA. Some other good ones were some Yashica Lynx, Konica A35 (Automatic), and so forth. The main thing about Fixed lens Rangefinders is some of them typically offer more automatic and compact size than the interchangible ones at a much lower price (epesially something like a Oly 35RC).
The only interchangible rangefinders I've owned was a Canon P, Fed-2A and Fed-2A Type 2C, then now (as of today) a Bessa T. And I've used the Jupiter-3 (50/1.5), Jupiter-12 (35/2.8), Canon 50/1.8, Jupiter-11 (135/4), CV 21/4 on almost all of them (I haven't dare tried putting the J-12 on the Bessa, besides sold it with the P).
I looked at the 40/1.4, but already having a Canon 50/1.8 that I really like I did not see much sense in getting a 40 Nokton aside from ligther weight, compact design, slightly faster lens, and just a tad wider (the Canon 50/1.8 is made of brass and is a heavy peice of material). Also my personal preference has generally been that of Wide-to-Normal. But I could see something like a 21/4 or 25mm , then 40/1.4, and then maybe the 75mm or 90/3.5 voigtlander lens to be a nice setup to have.
But yes before you drop few hundred, plus more on a lens, why not give a compact RF such as the Oly 35RC (which I currently have but rarely use), for under a 100$ a go.