GAS troubles

They do have meters for the M2, 3, and 4, though it makes for a somewhat bulky package. Same with the Canon P.

PF
 
You said you hated the Mac, so there's no sense trying to reason with you..... ��

But.... I'd say skip the rangefinder altogether. I wish i had. Would have saved me a ton(ne) of money and an equal amount of frustration. Some people just aren't made for rangefinders. I do recognize the allure, though, and it was strong for me. In the end, though, I really just dislike composing and focusing with those mechanisms. If you like your Pentax, I'd ask just what you think you're missing in the RESULTS. Seems like you feel it's the Leica EXPERIENCE you want, and I get that. You've got x dollars. If you were to buy an M6 or 7 on credit or borrowed funds, you could sell it for the same amount after a year of experimentation. An Ikon, for me, was a better experience than my M7, but I still recognize I had to get the M thing out of my mind to know better. As good as voigtlanders are, they never felt nearly as good as the zeiss or Leica to me. Earlier Ms are beautiful, but for he kind of stuff you want to shoot, do you really want to be guessing at exposures?

Medium format - the Bronica rf645 is quite nice, when it works. Same with a Fuji ga645....

But, I think I'd recommend you stick with a 35mm SLR and add a more 'rangefinder-ish' lens like a 35 or 28mm. Maybe pick up a PENTAX ME Super for a song. Amazing viewfinder.
 
Answering a few points from above here:

Well, I can answer the Apple Mac hate thing quite easily. I'm a Windows guy, have been forever, so the keyboard differences mostly drove me mad. That said, the Mac Mini I bought in 2009 is still going strong (with a few upgrades) long after a Windows PC would have grown too old and slow.

Thing I didn't like about the M240 - nothing I hated about it, but having picked it up and had a little play, I felt that it was a £5K camera with nothing special that made it feel any better than my beloved Fujis. And frankly, I preferred my Fuji! Sure, nicely put together etc. but nothing extraordinary in feel. Didn't give me a sense of occasion, so to speak.

Lots of good suggestions on cameras. Need to see for myself what a good medium format output looks like - need to give this Hasselblad a bit more of a go just to see if I like its output, even though the camera itself isn't for me.

I did look at the Fujis and that GF670 looks lovely.

To be honest I've looked at a LOT of cameras. Problem is, looking isn't the same as using. I really need to find a way to try...

My Pentax MX is a cracking little camera, and the 50mm 1.4 is great. The B+W car photos on my flickr account were mostly taken on it with Ilford HP5+ so I know it can do the job. Not sure I like the focussing that much for critical focussing but it's not too bad.

I'm a man with GAS though, you all know this problem I'm sure 🙂
 
I think I'll track down a classic camera fair or similar and go along and have a look at stuff. See what I like.

Hi,

When you do leave your money and plastic cards at home. Spend the time looking and thinking but not buying.

Remember there are millions of Leicas out there. And as for getting your money back, that assumes the one you buy is perfect and you never drop or damage it and nothing goes wrong. (And that it has the right lens cap; they cost a fortune if needed but are valueless if sold with the camera.)

Then you have to find someone with money burning a hole in their pocket...

Regards, David
 
£700? A king's ransom.

Have a ponder along these lines...

A fully functional Ricoh GR1, S or V (I don't really know the differences). This is a truly excellent, easily pocketable camera that is so small it encourages you to take it anywhere. Look up the reviews, they are much loved but beware, the screens deteriorate.

AND...

Something like a Mamiya C330 for you to heave around and feel like you have a huge chunk of machinery with you. Wonderful interchangeable lenses, fabulous camera, again much loved... etc etc. A 'proper' bit of kit.

An entry into two almost separate worlds. One becomes second nature and the other an enjoyable hobby.

My experience of UK camera fairs has not been that great. As David says, spend your time looking. A lot of satisfaction can be got out of looking for things, probably more than is found in acquisition. I've been 'looking' for a classic car for a few years, it is a lot cheaper and far less hassle than buying one!

Michael
 
What I forgot to add in my previous post is that the two cameras mentioned are no more than examples (although in my opinion great ones).

What I am suggesting is the use of two different approaches...
 
Problem with too many cameras in the cupboard is that some of them have to be neglected and stay at home , and every time you are about to go out shooting you are wondering which camera to take, and you are never sure if you have the right camera with you in the end. So my advise is buy nice book for some inspiration instead.
 
Mamiya C330 is a TLR, not buying another TLR but I take your point, it was just an example.

I agree, too many cameras do mean some just sit at home and I never know which one to take so end up taking two, or three.... I sold a couple recently - Yashica Mat and XPro1. I'm down to a mere 6. Or 7. Plus a few more I don't consider bothering with anymore. Some mostly sit on the shelf anyway. I've used them, they work, I wouldn't bother again but I can't ever sell them and wouldn't. My mum's old Brownie for one.

I've got a number of approaches already. My go-to carry-anywhere film camera is my Oly XA now. A point-and-shoot with a fair bit of control and a great lens. My carry-anywhere-camera-always is my phone.

Maybe I don't NEED another camera (OK I know I don't NEED one, I just WANT one).

Really though, I need to shoot more. That's what I really need to do.

But oh a nice rangefinder for those holidays when you can wander about the streets.... that's what I love....
 
Buy R2a with skopar 35 f2.5 if you really want rangefinder . Huge viewfinder , so much easier to focus quickly using rangefinder , lens is tiny sharp at any setting.
 
The results from that Skopar 35 f2.5 look good from a quick google.

The Skopar 35/2.5 is quite a good lens, although best on film.

That said, the Voigtländer Perkeo II I mentioned has a cracking good lens and the 6x6 format nets a feel and a look almost impossible to achieve with 35mm. Getting a top notch example of these now 60-year-old cameras is the tricky bit ... I bought my Perkeo II in excellent shape, but it did still need a thorough CLA to become fully consistent and dependable.

G
 
The overwhelming majority of photography discussions on social media is about GAS, so you're not alone. Like you a majority of photographers are researching and wondering what to buy next. GAS is a full-time hobby in it-self.


It does not really matter what you eventually end up buying because GAS never ends, so buy what you desire the most, not what is the most rational purchase.
 
Yep, it is. People love their "stuff", irrespective of what their interests are.

I'm not sure about the 6x6 format. Just sat here scanning my first roll of film from that Hasselblad. Never got anything worthwhile out of the Yashica (also 6x6) but let's see what this thing produces.
 
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