dusting off the family jewels

[fondueman]

hello all. i was dusting off the family jewels the other day when i was sprung by a friend with some of my best toys on the kitchen table. i am a retired pro photographer, shooting now more for pleasure rather than money and in the past couple of years i have started accumulating different cameras for various reasons. trying to avoid what you all call GAS i have collected a few leicas over the years and some bessas recently. my friend asked me why so many cameras (i only had four out) when, didn't they all do the same thing?

i said leicas did this because... and the bessas were a less expensive version fo the same thing, in short. then i began to wonder. i have always used cameras as tools not trophies, grabbing the right tool for the job, from film to digital SLRs.

so i began to think, which two would i take to cuba and eastern europe with me next year. i have an Epson RD1s which i bought because so many people raved about it. i like it a lot. so i thought i'd take that with maybe a CV21 on it. but i have to take a film camera.

i began to toss up the M6 against the R2A or the R4M. i'm a very fit and active 63 year old, not a "tour traveller" with white runners (i prefer RedWing hightop soft toe work boots) and will be moving around a lot with as light a load as possible, probably eurailpass in europe.

other lenses (for expense economy in case something were to happen to my cameras) i thought the Nokton 40 and maybe the CV 28/1.9. i like these three lenses a lot and to mix and match over to the RD1s and the film camera gives me an assortment of focal lengths.

so i thought i'd pose the question to you lot. M6 or R2A/R4M...and WHY?

thanks,

frank

 

[ChrisN]

Difficult choice! You are a man who appreciates the feel of fine tools in the hand, and the differences between cameras; their strengths and weaknesses. I like to think I'm a bit that way myself. For me the choice would be easy - the M6, for the richer sensual experience of using it; the weight, the sound, the feel of it.

Have a great trip, whichever camerayou decide on!

 

[Steve Bellayr]

If you are taking two cameras and you have the options that you state then take two of the same kind, one loaded with color & one with black and white. You would be able to inter-change lenses so basically it is one camera with lenses and a spare body.

 

[Krosya]

Well, its pretty simple I think - If you are taking 21mm lens - take R4M, so you dont have to mess with external VF. Plus its all manual, so even if battery goes caput - you are good.

 

[sienarot]

... well that was a misleading title... Haha