:( Could use a little guidance with equipment! Any recommendations?

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PatrickCheung

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Hey RFF! I'm at a little crossroad with my equipment right now, and I really can't decide which path to take! I thought I'd post here as I don't really trust myself to make the best decisions when it comes to gear and spending money!

Alright, well... I've been finding myself neglecting my Nikon D7000 for the past few months... it's kinda just sitting around collecting dust. It's way too heavy to bring out! However, over the years I've racked up quite a bit of DSLR gear... I've got a:
- 80-200/2.8
- sigma 10-20/4-5.6
- 85/1.8
- 35/2
- SB-600 and SB-900 flashes
- D7000 body and grip
- Lighting kit...

I find that I've pretty much replaced my D7000 with the FujiX100 when it comes to digital cameras... and I'd really like to expand my rangefinder/film equipment just because I use it a LOT more.

At the same time, I don't really want to get rid of my nikon gear and spend it on film gear because... well film costs quite a bit, i'll lose a sum of money due to depreciation, and well... most of my nikon gear were gifts and I wanna make the most out of them!

Now I've come up with two choices:

1. sell some of my Nikon gear (mainly the 80-200 and 10-20), accept the loss from depreciating value, and spend it on an M body and lens, or better lenses for my iif. Maybe get a digital rangefinder.

OR

1. pick up a film nikon and use all my film compatible lenses, sell the ones that aren't film compatible. I don't enjoy SLR shooting as much, but at least I'll be using my equipment!

I find that I'm enjoying rangefinder photography a LOT more than slr/dslr photography... and I'm leaning towards the first option... but it seems kinda stupid.

I'm sorry if this thread is a waste of time or what not D: I'd just like to gather a few opinions before doing anything too stupid.
 
STOP! You have two digital cameras. You are lusting after a film rangefinder. You say you are enjoying RF photography more than SLR, but you don't seem to have a rangefinder camera.

Do you REALLY want to shoot film? Buy it, process it, scan it? Or are you just lusting after a Leica M and can't afford an M9? Whichever way you go is, of course, completely up to you. Just be honest with yourself before you dump the DSLR stuff. An X100 is NOT like a manual focus RF camera.
 
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The 'maybe get a digital rangefinder' option is not going to cost less than $2000.00 unless you get an Epson so I'd be crossing that off the list!

Where does the llf fit into your shooting ... how often are you using that?
 
the X100 isnt! It's been more of my everyday camera! It's not a rangefinder replacement for me, more of a companion to my iif!

😛 Shooting film is a whole 'nother experience... I cherish my keepers a lot more than digital... I feel like I'm actually photographing things when I shoot film. I feel like I'm understanding what I'm doing. It's taught me so many aspects of photography that I've failed to learn with digital. I love shooting film, but I just don't know if I can afford it!

I WAS lusting after an M, but all I really want is a good system and nice, reliable glass, whether it be SLR or rangefinder. However, like I said, I do enjoy rangefinder photography a LOT more, because of the feel, because of the equipment, because of the compromises I make. I've never had much success with 35mm film on an SLR, maybe because of my lenses, maybe because of my body (i used to use an EM).

However, while I am leaning towards rangefinders, I've been a little more curious and open to film SLR shooting.
 
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Keith said:
The 'maybe get a digital rangefinder' option is not going to cost less than $2000.00 unless you get an Epson so I'd be crossing that off the list!

Where does the llf fit into your shooting ... how often are you using that?
Click to expand...

Ah, I've just recently acquired the iif, but it's been with me pretty much everytime I go out. I like it more and more with every roll I get back! I like the fact that it's compact (easy to carry) and easy to shoot with. I wouldn't mind a bigger/brighter rangefinder though.

I must say that recently I've been doing most of my shooting with the X100 because of the 35mm focal length. I do often wish for a quicker, more efficient manual focus (I've never been a fan of autofocus). Leads me to think that most of my shooting might be done with my iif and a 35mm if I were to acquire one.
 
PatrickCheung said:
Ah, I've just recently acquired the iif, but it's been with me pretty much everytime I go out. I like it more and more with every roll I get back! I like the fact that it's compact (easy to carry) and easy to shoot with. I wouldn't mind a bigger/brighter rangefinder though.

I must say that recently I've been doing most of my shooting with the X100 because of the 35mm focal length. I do often wish for a quicker, more efficient manual focus (I've never been a fan of autofocus). Leads me to think that most of my shooting might be done with my iif and a 35mm if I were to acquire one.
Click to expand...


I also have a llf and as much as I love it the viewfinder is a drag at times. With a 35mm lens on it and an accessory finder it's a far better camera IMO.

Maybe, not sell too much other stuff and pick up a cheap Bessa body to see how you go ... if you don't like the Bessa you can always get rid of it and not lose much. They're a little clacky but they have a very good finder!
 
Since you already have a IIf, buy a Nikon film SLR and see if you like it enough to keep the kit. If you don't, sell them and put some money into a Bessa. I shoot a lot more on my M2 since I've gotten it, but I still use my Bessa R3M regularly. I wouldn't give it up. Great finder, lightweight, mechanical with accurate meter, very easy and fun to shoot with.
 
Put me in the 'get a Nikon slr' category too. You already have a good Leica, and the Nikon camera would work with all of your lenses (except maybe the 10-20, but check it - many DX lenses work fine on film toward the top of their zoom range.) Since you have AF lenses, look at Nikon AF cameras. The N80 is really nice - it's laid out like the digitals, but is smaller and much lighter.
 
humm! thanks for all the help and suggestions guys!

I like paul's suggestion of shooting with the iif for a month and seeing where that takes me :O That way I get to find out what I like and don't like... I get to save up a little more cash, and I guess I could make a more educated decision!

I guess I do have a few more questions though. I was thinking of selling the 10-20 because it's one of those digital lenses (i COULD use it on a film camera, chris, but it would have have the blacked out edges) and the 80-200 because... well it doesn't see much use. It's pretty limited to zoo trips and the odd job I get that requires a little more reach (I usually do fine with just the 85, much lighter too). I was just wondering if... I'd lose too much money? I see the 80-200 going for around $850 used... I paid near $1200 for it. That's another thing holding me back from selling my stuff. The 10-20 I don't lose quite as much.

Also, IF I choose the Nikon SLR route, even though I have AF lenses, I don't really like using AF... I was thinking of picking up a Nikon F with the waistlevel finder (I really enjoy using waist level finders)... but I'm kinda new to this whole film SLR thing, what would you guys suggest?

IF I go for a better rangefinder system... I'd probably go for a bessa... which lenses would you guys suggest?
 
The CV 35/2.5 is cheap and good, an underrated lens. If you need the speed, the 35/1.4 is a good one, but mind the focus shift (though it hasn't affected me, but probably because I'm not picky). For 50mm lenses, you can look at the Russian-made Jupiter 8 (50/2) or even the Jupiter 3 (50/1.5), or the Canon LTM lenses. Just pop an adapter and it's good to go.

I'm not familiar with waist-level finders on SLRs though, but I've always liked the Nikon FM2 and FM3. They look great and from my limited time handling them, work like a charm.

Keep us posted of your decision 🙂
 
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tiltody: I wish I could, but the d7000 DOES come in handy for those times that I need a DSLR (on jobs and all).

ctham: humm! thanks! I might just get an adapter for the LTM lenses if I'm short on money...

I think I might make a little compromise between the two options! I just got a $100 freed up and I might spend that on a Nikon body... then sell a lens (probably the 10-20) for some money towards a lens for my iif or an M system!

Right now I'm debating between the Nikon FM (there's one locally for $100 with a motor, 50/1.8, small flash), the FG (local, $80 + 50/1.8), an F2 photomic($250, local, 50/1.4, vivitar 28/2.8, zeiss 80-200), or a Nikon F with a waist level finder from KEH ($123 shipped)...

I wouldn't mind an FM, and that deal looks great... but i've always wanted to try the F with a waistlevel finder... I'm not too keen on the FG (especially with that FM deal) and the F2 sounds great, but I don't know if I want to spend that much money! I also like the customizability of the F... and just how rugged it is.
 
Or ... spend a few hundred dollars on a good OM-1 with a 50mm and 35mm lens and forget all that other stuff! 😀
 
I think you should consider what pictures you like to make and choose that way. Weight of course is a consideration if you are out shooting. I have a little Bessa R4A and tiny 25mm colour skopar.
 
Dang. I hate it when I am in complete agreement with Pickett. But ya: OM-1n is quite possibly at the pinnacle of film cameras. Put the right ground glass in the OM, and it is as good as most RF focusers.


Naturally any M has a better focussing mechanism, as RF focusing does not involve any judgement calls, but we are talking about RF alternatives, k?
 
I'm with three of the posts....

I'm with three of the posts....

If money is any real issue (when is it never), then selling the D7000 makes the most sense. Right now the body has the most value it will ever have, and it will soon be passe techologically. It will, as said, depreciate more than the lenses.

Also agree on the "find the best OM-1", although I'd opt for an OM4t and a couple of lenses in the right range. Zuiko glass excels in some choices.

However, you really seem to put a lot of roadblocks in the way. You need the D7000 for work. Doesn't work come before play, and if so, is the rangefinder desire just that...desire for play.

Sounds like a decision we can't help with very much.
 
Ahh, Kuzano is right about the roadblocks, I'm sorry about that... and he's right about the rangefinder (and film) desire being a desire for play.

Well, if it's any consolation, I'll probably be selling the Sigma 10-20, it's not really film compatible, and it's optics aren't the best. That should free up about $400 and I've got an extra $100 to spend... so about $500 in total.

I've been doing a little research on the OM-1, and it sounds rather enticing. A small SLR body with a big bright viewfinder! I did a little search on KEH and it seems like an OM1N with a broken meter and a 50/1.8 with a busted filter ring could be had for around $110 with shipping! I don't mind the damage on the equipment (I don't use the meter much anyway, and I rarely attach filters). an F with a waistlevel finder is about $123 shipped on KEH and is what I was leaning towards (until I did a little research on the OM-1). then there's the local FM + 50/1.8 series E + motorwinder for $100 which sounds kinda sketchy.

I guess the benefits of sticking with the nikon system would be that I already have lenses and I can put them to use. The benefits of an OM-1 would be that I get to try a new system (one which sounds pretty awesome), but I'd have to invest in it again. And well... getting a rangefinder, again I'm investing in a new system, something completely different, but I think I'll get a bigger kick out of it.

If it helps in any way I'm mostly a 35 or 50mm shooter... I'll use the 85 when I get the chance to, but I'm mostly a 35/50 guy.

I really appreciate all the help you've provided and all the patience you guys have with me! Must be annoying when you guys post and I lay down more restrictions every time! I'm sorry for the silly questions!
 
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