Enough lurking, I'm finally joining...

T

Tim

Guest
Yep, after nearly a year of lurking and thinking "I should..." I've finally joined. And it's thanks to Kris' Olympus 35 SP for sale. After all, it's been a few weeks since I bought an old camera.....

Anyway, now I'm here, here's a brief bio:

Found this site thru Google about a year ago, was looking for info on Bessa R's. Been taking photographs (mainly landscape and wilderness) for years, got to Rangefinders by way of SLR's (finding them too bulky to carry hiking so they often got left at home), then pocketables (Rollei 35, Minox 35 - nice, but no interchangeable lens, and other quirks), so I surfed and read then gulped deeply and bought a chrome CV Bessa R with CV 35/f2.5 and CV 75/f2.5 lenses. Instantly hooked - small, light, great quality, easy to carry on long hikes or on trips. Gotta love a fully manual camera! (found it REALLY helped my photography - made me think more!)

Since then I've upgraded to an Bessa R2, and now have CV 21/f4, CV 35/f1.7 and CV 75/f2.5 lenses for it. But then with my interest re-kindled, the insidious disease started........

A Canonet S for $10 at a market started it. Then a couple of Zeiss Ikon Nettar folders. Yashica TLR. Contaflex IV SLR. Minox 8x11's. And then the ultimate piece of silliness - a Leica IIIf. (I just HAD to have it, it was sooooooo beautiful)

So that's me. (and my cameras) Like many here I seem to have succumbed to the lure of collecting too many of the damn things. At least only 2 of them are worth anything much.....

I mostly shoot landscapes in colour with the Bessa, and use the Leica around town - but am still getting the hang of the whole black & white / street photography thing. But I'm enjoying learning. And I'm just taking the first tentative steps in developing my Ilford HP5.

There's no hope for me, is there? Oh well, at least here I'm in good company!

tim
 
well tim, it's about time! :)

welcome to the forum, you're joining quite a well represented contingent from oz.

i too started with the bessa and 35/75 combo recently and quite like it. i think i'll stay with the r for a bit and wait to see what the new bessa is going to look like.
i also just bought canon p and am waiting on the mail system to deliver it.

it sounds like you're looking at the oly sp, let us know how that goes for you.

joe
 
Welcome Tim as others have mentioned you're most welcome here and by the sound of your description you are bound to fit in really well ;)

Now go posts some phots as well so we can have a look :)
 
Tim -- great journey to bring you to this point. You'll find this to be a very helpful and friendly group. It's a real credit to the site's creators.
 
Welcome to the forum Tim, it would appear that you have come well prepared, look forward to seeing some pics!

Todd
 
Welcome Tim! Jolly good to see another R2 user here! I stayed in Sydney for 2 years in 2000-2001 when I did my post-graduate study at University of Sydney. Do you stay in the city area?
 
Welcome Tim ! I'm also near my first own developing of HP5 myself, that's if the parcels I'm waiting arrive, of course :D

And no, there's no hope, and wait, 'cos you haven't discovered Soviet rangefinders yet ! ;)
 
Welcome Tim. I had kept my head up for a long time (actually, just my nose in the air :D ) with a Mamiya Press Super 23.

However, I have fallen and recently purchased an Oly SP myself. I haven't had time to take any photos yet, but every time I handle the thing I like it more. I am looking forward to using it, along with my non-RF folders which I really like too.

Note to self: You don't need no stinking RF folder, thank you! :bang:
 
Hey, Tim, and welcome to the boards!

Looks like you've got the line-up that I'm working towards. Though I went wide first versus long. I have the 15mm Heliar and am thinking about 75/2.5 over the 90. And like Joe, I'm waiting to see what the new R3 looks like. But then, contrary to many folks here, I feel no rush for more kit.

And be careful about getting mixed up with those Russians! I nearly bought a lovely FED II last week, direct from Ukraine! :p
 
Chris, I had the 15 Heliar as well. But I (gasp!) sold it. Why? well, I bought it on impulse, not because of any need for it. And I always had trouble getting good shots with it. Nothing against the lens, I just couldn't seem to get my mind to work with it. The 21/f4 Color Skopar I have no problems with, but that jump to the 15 my tiny mind couldn't handle. So it became part of the funding for my R2 and 35 Ultron. Which I'm reeeeeeeeeeally happy with!

Me, I have no desire for a Bessa with AE, so I can't imagine anything in the R3 that would drive wild possesive urges. I just want a brand new black MP - there's one with a 35 'cron in a Camera shop in town, shop demo, special deal for you mister, just AUD $7050

The missus would kill me........

Tim
 
Yow, Tim, that's a lot of money! But a lovely camera+lens. I could see myself with that...
 
Doug, yeh, so could I. That's the sad part. But unfortunately the better half is a photographer too, and knows what a Leica MP is and what it's worth.....

And I really can't justify the expense. Sure an MP and 35 'cron is better than an R2 and Ultron. But 4 times better?. Can't imagine my pics automatically getting THAT much better instantly, sadly.

But it's so nice.......just have to win the lottery so money is no object.

Tim
 
Right now I'm just secretly longing to see the R-D1. This is one camera I could justify buying, with some effort but still. And I still have that M2 that needs some special care and attention. I won a few bob (really justa few!) in the monthly lottery so I can at least pay for the mail bill to Germany. :)

Tim, welcome to the Hotel California of lost RFF souls. :)
 
Tim, I've had a Leica M2 & 35 'Cron since 1967, and the story starts out sounding like a "Brian story" since he's so talented at finding good deals. :)

I got the stuff from a retail camera store in downtown Seattle. The M2 body was $150 used, and the brand new 35 Summicron (1st version, 8-element!) cost $164.50. At that time, the body was 10 years old, the M4 had just been released, and SLRs were on the ascent to dominance. The M2 was obsolete and out of style.

To put those prices into perspective, I was a beginning draftsman at Boeing, making $118 per week; take-home pay less than that after deductions. So this purchase represented nearly a month's pay for me, not cheap at all.

I'm glad I did it, as I have enjoyed using that fine gear for almost 40 years, have a bunch of pictures I like. As luck would have it, the package is still worth a respectable amount today. This lens is especially valued for its special "look."

Well, I was a bachelor then and had few responsibilities, so an outrageous purchase only had to be justified to myself!
 
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