gotta talk about this...

back alley

back alley

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i know some people hate when i start one of these 'what if' threads about gear but i want some feedback and you guys are all i have when it comes to gear talk.

ok, here goes.
you may already know that i bought an r4m and loved the camera but kept forgetting to check the meter - too much time with the zi i guess - and so i bought an r4a with the thought of keeping the r4m as a mechanical backup and plus i really like the frame lines for all those wides.

now i wonder if i should get an r2a to handle the 75 lens i just got, and to also use it with my 35 and 50 cv lenses.

so, the r4a for 21/25/28 and the r2a for 35/50/75.

of course the r4m would have to go to pay for the r2a.

good idea or has cabin fever set in early?

joe
 
Sounds logical - I'd do it. Aperture priority is a great option, especially when it is just that - an option you can choose to use or not. And if you like the 75FOV, the R2A is a good choice.
 
since you are so use to auto exposure cameras Joe, the R2a seems like a good fit for the 75mm lens.
good idea I would say.
 
i remember using the canon p and hand held meter and sometimes not even using a meter but i have grown lazy and like the ae on a camera.

does anyone have both an r2 and an r4? would you say that they about equal in build?

joe
 
Why not, Joe... if you know what you want and can get it then enjoy! Sounds like a good plan.
 
I have taken my r2a through many rough parts of china without a problem except the rangefinder becoming slightly out. Build is fine. I use the 35 50 combo on my r2a without a problem, even though the 35mm has 90mm framelines in it, doesn't seem to be a problem. 50 is well separated, and so is 75. I personally think they should have stuck 75 and 90 together as it seems more people use the other framelines more often but I can understand why they didnt.

Question though, you already have a zeiss ikon, why do you need a r2a?

I would love to get a r4a and a zeiss 25 2.8 on the end of it, talk about a great two camera set.....r4a and z 25 and r2a with z 50
 
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I took the Bessa *R* through rough parts of China and all around the world without problems (kayaking, backpacking, etc) -- I think the Bessa build quality is underappreciated. I suppose you need two bodies if you use all of those lenses regularly and have the cash--I'd lean towards getting one body with traditional framelines with viewfinders for the wides.
 
to clarify a bit...i don't need an r2a and i already have an r4a.

the r4a is a great combo with the zi but i shoot them seperately, i like having 2 completely seperate and different m systems. i like to use the small cv lenses on the r4a and the zm lenses on the zi, they all seem to 'fit' better that way for me. i could just keep the r4m and hold on to it as a 'just in case' body or i could sell it and just have 2 bodies. the 75seems ok on the zi.

i could just sell the r4m and put it towards a laptop...
 
back alley said:
does anyone have both an r2 and an r4? would you say that they about equal in build?
Click to expand...

I would imagine that they are identical in build quality if they are both new build. Especially post Zeiss Ikon contract when the standard went up by all accounts.

As I understand it the Cosina factory works on batches of cameras all coming along the same production line and all using more or less the same parts. Monday and Tuesday they are making R3A's, then they change to R4A's on Wednesday and so on.

Moe should be able to answer this better than myself.
 
Joe,
I love the Aperture priority in my FE2, so that's what I like to see. The Bessa R is still my favorite RF body.

BTW- We've got snow coming down here today, thought of you ~ ; - )
 
I would look at a R3A for the 75. The lack of 35 frame is not a big deal, as the 40 frame will take care of that, BUT the 75 frame in the R3 makes that lens as easy to use as a 50 on a M3!
The R4/R3 combination is great, 21/40/75 or 21/35/50/75. Not to big and heavy package.
Vancouver has snow today and as usual is a mess. There is a swap meet out in Richmond tomorrow and the planning to get out there in 2inches of snow is similar to Amundsen going to the North Pole!
It is not me i am worried about (growing up in Sweden and driving Rallye's during the winter tought me how to) - but it is the people who think that a/ A largish SUV can still stop short on black ice and b/when in doubt slam the brakes!
I left Sweden bedause I hate snow! Where is global warming when we want it?
 
Climate change mens that the Sahara is getting bigger, and we are seeing the fringes in southern Iberia. Morning and evenings in December are wooly jumper time but day times are shirt sleeves.

Never any rain worth mentioning so jumping the puddle photos are problematic.

Photographically it means good strong clear light all day every day. My usual 100 ISO film can sometimes feel too fast, and I consider finding a 50 ISO or 25 ISO instead.
 
We haven't had hardly any rain and what is snow?;) Oh yea! thats that white stuff Bing Crosby sings about at Christmas time. Seems all we ever get from Canada is a blast of cold air. Right now we are having 60 deg. days & 30 deg nights. Joe I hope you got some shots of Mugsy in his snow boots.
 
Whatever happened to your CLE, Joe ?

Agree with Tom, the R3* are 50/75mm machines.
And the R4* must be very usable with 35.

Roland.
 
I am thinking along the same lines as Tom and Roland....but......

Why not the 75 on the ZI? 85mm is not that different than 75mm.
 
Well, I guess I know the answer too. It is the frame line thing, 85 is close, and of course, if you got the R3 that would mean a 40mm lens would follow.

I am the same way sort of.
 
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