Fork in the road.

[Major Tom]

I would like some input on my next camera decision. You all had helpful and interesting things to say in my last thread, hopefully no different here.

In general I want a fast, reliable, easy to use body for traipsing around on the street. I've put several rolls through my Canon IV and I crave something smoother to use.

My plan B is to just wait for Fuji to release the next wave of X series and get the resulting used price reduction on X-E1 or X-Pro1, which I think are virtually perfect for my purposes, present and future. The only "better" system is Leica, it appears.

Plan C is one of the many fixed lens options available, too many to enumerate here. Used X100, Konica Hexar, Auto S2/S3, Canonet, Olympus RF etc.

I'm currently considering these, some of my impressions included:

Bessa R3M/A
+Big, bright, 1:1 viewfinder.
+Aperture priority.
+Fast and simple to use
+Modern. Serviceable. Reliable.
+M mount.
-Questionable resale value. Not exactly collectible.

Contax G1 w/45 mm or a cheap G2 (lolno)
+Autofocus.
+Awesome lenses.
+Resale value.
+Fast and simple to use.
-Manual focus makes no sense to use.
-'Spensive
-Restrictive and expensive lens map.
-G1 autofocus has bad rep.

Canon EOS M
+Fast, modern autofocus.
+APS-C mirrorless for $300(!!)
+Adaptable lens mount.
+Digital, with all the attendant advantages.
-Kit AF lenses are a bit meh.
-Only has zoom overlay for manual focus assist.
-Virtually no resale value.
-No viewfinder.

Ricoh GXR w/M module
+Focus peaking.
+EVF available.
+Potential for expansion/improvement (new modules).
-No interchangeable autofocus mount (yet).
-Resale value and lens options depend entirely on Ricoh's decisions.
-Most expensive option.

Also curious about the Yashica T4, but I know little about it. Thanks for reading this rather long shopping list.

 

[Major Tom]

Or maybe I should play eenie meenie minie moe.

 

[gb hill]

Do you want film or digital?

 

[Major Tom]

Do you want film or digital?

I can do either, really.

The main thing is having something that's "fast". I should probably leave the Contax G1/2 out of the picture because the lenses are just too expensive and they are pretty much AF only. Plenty of cheap LTMs to use with the others.

 

[Richard G]

I think Ground Control are finding it difficult to compute an answer here. Konica Hexar is pretty hard to beat, and you've listed a lot of other good cameras. They can all be fast. It depends on what fast is to you. For some autofocus is a must for fast. For others it might be manual focus, scale focussed and even with an external VF. I think you could make many cameras fast. Most would have other important criteria. I find whatever camera I take out with me is fast enough, except that the plethora of options on the modern digitals can see me snookered on the next shot turning off the ND or missing focus or having to consider some other cleverness that distracts me from the shot. That's why my quickest street shooting kit is a meterless M Leica with a slow 25 and the external VF.

 

[gb hill]

I can do either, really.

The main thing is having something that's "fast". I should probably leave the Contax G1/2 out of the picture because the lenses are just too expensive and they are pretty much AF only. Plenty of cheap LTMs to use with the others.

if you plan to use LTM lenses then I suggest the Bessa R in the classifieds. It's as simple a camera there is & has an outstanding VF. I like mine. If it's a Leica then get an M2.

What focal length for street are you the most comfortable with? For me it's 50 but I'm trying to force myself to fall in love with my 35/2.5 color skopar. My problem is getting in close for the shot.

 

[Major Tom]

I think Ground Control are finding it difficult to compute an answer here. Konica Hexar is pretty hard to beat, and you've listed a lot of other good cameras. They can all be fast. It depends on what fast is to you. For some autofocus is a must for fast. For others it might be manual focus, scale focussed and even with an external VF. I think you could make many cameras fast. Most would have other important criteria. I find whatever camera I take out with me is fast enough, except that the plethora of options on the modern digitals can see me snookered on the next shot turning off the ND or missing focus or having to consider some other cleverness that distracts me from the shot. That's why my quickest street shooting kit is a meterless M Leica with a slow 25 and the external VF.

Well, if I prioritize, I don't think I need AF. I'm not terribly slow considering how puny my viewfinder is, but I can already think of a few shots I missed because I couldn't see the patch from slightly off angle or I couldn't find enough contrast to focus and I just couldn't compose comfortably. By then the moment is gone. What I currently have is kind of fiddly like the example you give, just in a different way.

It occurs to me that if you're using AF it's important to have some sort of confirmation that it's right, which you don't really get if you don't have an eye-level viewfinder, RF or EVF. The EOS M is tantalizingly affordable, but I have doubts it would satisfy me.

I think in my bones I like the rangefinder system, I'm just looking for a better one ala the R3A.

 

[Major Tom]

if you plan to use LTM lenses then I suggest the Bessa R in the classifieds. It's as simple a camera there is & has an outstanding VF. I like mine. If it's a Leica then get an M2.

What focal length for street are you the most comfortable with? For me it's 50 but I'm trying to force myself to fall in love with my 35/2.5 color skopar. My problem is getting in close for the shot.

A Bessa R isn't a bad choice, and it's more affordable. I just get all dreamy thinking of that 1:1 viewfinder and the aperture priority metering in the R3A and wind up holding out for one someday.

 

[gb hill]

A Bessa R isn't a bad choice, and it's more affordable. I just get all dreamy thinking of that 1:1 viewfinder and the aperture priority metering in the R3A and wind up holding out for one someday.

Then you must be a fan of the 40mm perspective. One thing I have found out in catching that "decisive moment" in shooting on the street is that it's the lights in the meter that has slowed me down or caused me to miss shots. You might be totally different in judging light conditions. Thats why I think the M2 would be a good choice. Of course I can always take the batteries out of the Bessa R & shoot right on. One thing I have learned in shooting my rf camera's, especially the R, is that there is a "getting aquainted" period with the camera. Took me a while with the R. My Canonet was much faster.

 

[Major Tom]

Then you must be a fan of the 40mm perspective. One thing I have found out in catching that "decisive moment" in shooting on the street is that it's the lights in the meter that has slowed me down or caused me to miss shots. You might be totally different in judging light conditions. Thats why I think the M2 would be a good choice. Of course I can always take the batteries out of the Bessa R & shoot right on. One thing I have learned in shooting my rf camera's, especially the R, is that there is a "getting aquainted" period with the camera. Took me a while with the R. My Canonet was much faster.

It does beg the question, is it better to do away with all distractions besides focus and composition or to learn to juggle more variables quickly? I think it depends on the person and the shot. On the whole though, I think street photography errs more to the former than the latter. I imagine if I did have metering like that I would try to treat it more like insurance, to be used when things get tricky, rather than something to glance at on every shot. Depending on how some auctions turn out, we'll see.

 

[ChrisN]

Try a Canon P. Just as nice as a Leica, but perhaps even smoother in operation. 1:1 viewfinder is great with a 50mm lens. And you can keep using the lens(es) that you already have.

 

[Eric T]

Of the four on your list, I'd get the Canon EOS M. When it first came out, I was very underwhelmed by this camera. But when the price dropped to $300 with the f/2 22mm lens, I bought it.
It is not a favorite of mine but it is easy to use and takes excellent images. It is decent up to 3200 ISO. I bought the adapter so I can use it with my Canon EF lenses.
In my view, it is hard to beat at its current price.