GAS - my plan to control it

[mfunnell]

Damn, being new to the world of RF cameras, and having never even known that 'orrible TLA "GAS" before, I now find myself subject to it. I can't avoid it (I'd be fooling myself if I said otherwise) but perhaps if I have a plan I can keep it under control. Nice theory!

Here's my plan to fight back:

1. I have the two "real" cameras I want - a Hexar RF and an M3. Good so far...

2. I have the two lenses I really want for the Hexar RF - M-Hexanon 50/2 and 35/2

3. I have one of the two lenses I really want for the M3 on its way - a 75/1.4 Summilux that's off being CLAd (I got a very good deal on this).

4. I want a Noctilux for the M3. It will happen, some time, but that's expensive enough that the GAS factor there can take care of itself, because its controlled by the price factor (yikes!).

This leaves me with something of a conundrum with the M3. I want it to be my low-light camera, but a 75/1.4 won't work on all occasions. And its far from compact. I was almost convinced to go with a collapsible Elmar 50/2.8 (not exactly a low-light lens, but compact), but now I'm reconsidering. Would I be totally out of my tree to go with a CV 40/1.4 (for a fairly compact low light lens) and put an Industar 50/3.5 collapsible (with LTM-M converter) on as a "body cap you can take photos with"??

The rest of my GAS, I think, can be handled on the FSU camera side. I have an early Zorki 4 (with J8) and a Zorki 6 (with collapsible I-50). I'm thinking that if I stay on the lookout for a FED 1 (to simulate the pre-M Leica experience) and some kind of early Kiev (to simulate the Zeiss experience) then I might be OK - nothing too expensive, aiming for decent user cameras that show me "how things were".

Leaving the Noctilux out of the calculation (which I'll have to do for a while) this sounds, to me, as if I'll be OK. The CV 40/1.4 isn't that expensive, and FSU GAS looks like relatively inexpensive fun in comparison.

Or am I just deluding myself. (For example, can I resist the pull of Japanese RFs? I'd like to think so, but who knows...)

...Mike

 

[Trius]

I'm not sure control is ever appropriate when discussing GAS 😀 .... but other than that, and without ever having used the Nokton 40/1.4, I'd say that's a very good strategy. Once you get the Noctilux, you may even decide to keep the Nokton, both for it's FOV and signature. But if not, you can sell it for a good amount. Next just decide whether to get the MC or SC. 😉

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Mike,

Don't click on this link if you suffer from Noctilust ... I'm serious, don't click it, ok?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moaan/tags/noctilux/

A very appealing surreal look about it at 1.0, especially paired with low ISO color slide film.

 

[clintock]

For the m3 you just gotta have some more 50s. CV nokton 1.5 for your low light needs and the color skopar 2.5 for your compact times- it's smaller than the collapsable summicron collapsed. (i've mentioned that before on another thread I think..)

 

[back alley]

if you can find a nice clean sample of the canon 50/1.2, it will mate with your m3 perfectly (need an adapter obviously).

 

[mfunnell]

For the m3 you just gotta have some more 50s. CV nokton 1.5 for your low light needs and the color skopar 2.5 for your compact times- it's smaller than the collapsable summicron collapsed. (i've mentioned that before on another thread I think..)

Sorry, but I'm almost allergic to the CV Nokton 50 (but I do like the look of the 40, go figure). But, damn it, my whole point here is to manage ('cause I sure can't avoid) my GAS. Flyfisher Tom, in particular, deserves the bastinado 😀 because my Noctilust needs no feeding, and you're surely right that I need more 50s that I don't need. But I'm trying to talk myself out of that collapsible Elmar 50/2.8, and a few other 50s besides. And for my Hexar RF (and the 35s that go so nicely with it), don't even start me on the CV Nokton or (way worse) the Summilux ASPH. I ...AM ...NOT ...GOING ...THERE. I'm not. Really.

Give me the Noctilux to aspire to. Let me wait on my 75 and see how that works out. My plan (remember, I have a plan) is to diffuse my GAS with FSUs of assorted varieties. Help me stick to the plan. Suggest what I should do by way of FEDs and Keivs. Please. Please!

...Mike

 

[Trius]

But Mike, if you don't get the Nokton 40, what will you do until you get the Nocti?

Being in denial is a terrible thing.

Earl

 

[peter_n]

[snip] Or am I just deluding myself.

Yes you are Mike. 🙂 Here is another helpful link on the subject of the Noctilux:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/noctilux/ 😉

 

[drewbarb]

I would think the Nokton 40 would make a very nice compliment to the 75 Summilux for the M3. But even better, do as back alley suggests and pick up a Canon 50 f1.2 and LTM adapter. I shoot with this combo a lot, and just love it for a low-light/available darkness shooter.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Yes you are Mike. 🙂 Here is another helpful link on the subject of the Noctilux:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/noctilux/ 😉

It is clear Peter and I are willfully unqualifed as interventionists.

On the plus side, we're pretty good enablers 😉

 

[clintock]

Sorry, but I'm almost allergic to the CV Nokton 50 (but I do like the look of the 40, go figure).

...Mike

😕How could anyone not like the cv Nokton 50? What's not to like? Too good? Lacking character?
As to the FSU thing, you can sort of have a hybrid of the kiev and fed at the same time in one body with the zorki 5 or 6.. Huge rangefinder base like the kiev but LTM screw lens mount like the fed. That sort of pares the GAS by one fsu body, saving what 30 dollars or so?

 

[amateriat]

Aren't enablers wonderful?

And, speaking of enabling: when you finally gather the cash for that hot Nocti, you might want to do a quick scouting around for one of these kits as an alternate choice first (see the bright-finish Hex on the right). Killer 50mm f/1.2 M-Hex, and you get a nice, matching HRF to go with it.

Of course, if I was going for something fast (with the choice of buying used or new), I might look into one of these instead:

http://cameraquest.com/voigt3512.htm

There...I can be a troublemaker too when I want to be. 😉


- Barrett

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Barrett, you lucky dog ... I've never seen the 50/1.2 hex-m for re-sale. What do you think of it?

 

[amateriat]

Barrett, you lucky dog ... I've never seen the 50/1.2 hex-m for re-sale. What do you think of it?

Not as lucky as you think: this image is from a defunct site that was actually highlighting the half-frame Hexar RF Konica made a limited (50) run of. Hold on tight, I'm firing up the RFf Wayback DeLorean:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22169&goto=nextnewest

I don't own one of those, either (just a pair of the standard-issue RFs) At least one RFf member does own a Millenium Edition HRF kit (edit: the kit was the only way you could get your mitts on that 50 1.2), and hopefully he'll read this and pipe up about the lens, and maybe have some sample images to share. But the few lucky folks I've talked with who own the set have all said lovely things about that 50.


- Barrett

 

[hth]

Actually, there was a 50/1.2 with some XXXX/0005 numbering wandering around (the kit is numbered XXXX/2001) on photo.net and the Hexar RF list. I saw it pass ownership twice. So I guess it might be possible that the lens was released without the body, though only 5 of them in that case.

I have a Hexar RF millenium kit, which I bought here on RFF 1.5 years ago. I mostly got it for the body. I have a weak spot for chrome bodies and Konica in particular. Well, the body is not really chrome, but close enough.

Regarding the lens I have not much to report, since I have hardly tried it. 😱

I took some very few photos way back when I got the kit, but mounted it on my M2 and took a couple more recently (film still to be developed). I will try to give it some more use in the future. It is a big fellow. (I much prefer the tiny UC Hexanon which sees a lot of use on my cameras.)

All this got me interested in the design of this lens and I had a look. The design is similar but not identical to the Noctilux 50/1.0.

I guess that trying it out is really overdue, I will familiarize myself with it the near future.. Thanks for bringing it up! 😉

/Håkan

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Hakan,

Please do let us know when you've tried it out more, I would be most interested in your impressions.

thanks

 

[amateriat]

I'll second Tom – would love to see any results from it. Of course, if shooting with it isn't your cup o' tea...perhaps we'll be in touch? 😀 (WhatamIsaying?)


- Barrett