Greetings: Seeking Help

[marcus_yam]

Hi,
I don't need to tell you that I'm a beginner when it comes to RF, but I really want to learn. I'm a convert from a digital photojournalist. So, in other words, I'm an extreme convert. A shout out to the frequents on this forum. I discovered this forum from a fellow photographer who's keen in RF photography. I'm currently in the market for a VOIGTLANDER BESSA L body since it's inexpensive as compared to a Leica M body. Since I'm uneducated, I would appreciate it if somebody pointed me in the right direction. A website with FAQs about RFs would help, or a website that explains the brands and the systems.... any of those sort.

A quick question before placing an order on the Bessa L, what sort of lenses do I look for? I'm looking to do headshots; I'm thinking of a 50mm f/1.8 or something of that sort and a wide angle. I understand from some readings that it uses Leica mounts; but I'm not sure if they are the same Leica mounts I know. Could someone explain this to me? Thank you!

 

[jmilkins]

Welcome to the wonderful RFF Marcus. They're a great bunch of people and I've learnt plenty, and been inspired by the gallery images.

Stephen Gandy's CameraQuest website will keep you occupied for weeks! It's where I started, and wher eI bought my second RF after the L. it is at http://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm

I use the Bessa L most with a 15mm Heliar or 25 mm Snapshot Skopar - the latter is the more "useful" for general photography.
Bear in mind that the L does not have a rangefinder, just add on viewfinders, so you'd have to scale focus with a 50mm, or 75/90mm for headshot portraits - this would make critical wide aperture focusing very difficult. The Bessa R however does have a rangefinder and is great value at the moment...

Happy surfing!

 

[ChrisN]

Hi Marcus. Welcome to the forum. You will find lots of good advice here. For starters consider that the Bessa L is actually not a rangefinder - it doesn't have either a viewfinder or the built-in rangefinder mechanism. It was designed especially for use with very wide-angle lenses with enormous depth-of-field, and separate viewfinders that mount in the accessory shoe. It is best suited to lenses of 25mm focal length or wider.

For portraits (headshots) I'm thinking that you want 50 to 100mm focal lengths, but there will be others who can offer better advice on that. For a camera, the Bessa R would be a very good choice amongst the new cameras available, or there are many other choices amongst the leica thread mount or M-mount cameras.

One of the site sponsors, Cameraquest, has an excellent website with lots of good information. www.cameraquest.com

 

[rover]

Marcus, you will get scores of suggestions, most will center on the Bessa R as a great starter camera. Simply put, for a new product it and great starter RF camera it has no competition. The price tag with an excellent 35mm lens is $400. More than the L but not as much as you think as the L with 25mm lens will run you $315. As others mention, there is no means to judge focus on the L other than your ability to guess the distance from your subject. The large DOF afforded by a wide angle lens is why this camera is well suited for them, lots of room for error, but shooting a 50mm with an L will be quite a different task.

http://www.cameraquest.com/voigrf.htm

You can also pick up a used fixed lens RF camera for much less. See here and act fast if you are interested.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=114474#post114474

These cameras by Canon, Yashica, Minolta, Olympus and other manufacturers are an incredible bargain. They offer very nice features, excellent construction and wonderful lenses.

Poke around the Cameraquest site, in the Camera Articles, and you will find a whole lot of info to digest.

Good Luck

 

[marcus_yam]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the advice. I read the stuff on cameraquest and looks like I still have alot to learn. I'm now looking at the Bessa R3A and the 40mm f/1.4. Does this lens work on the Bessa R?

 

[rover]

No, the CV 40 has a Leica M mount, the R has a Leica LTM mount. LTM lenses can be used on an M body with an adaptor, but the reverse is not true.

 

[marcus_yam]

No, the CV 40 has a Leica M mount, the R has a Leica LTM mount. LTM lenses can be used on an M body with an adaptor, but the reverse is not true.

Thank you for the information. Looks like I have to take a leap of faith huh?

 

[rover]

Either camera, R or R3a, is a good pick. The R3a has more bells and whistles, but the R is a joy to carry around. All the CV lenses are very good at worst. Actually they are better than that. The only knock I can see against them is that the Leica lenses are so excellent that a lesser excellent lens suffers. You can't get a better bang for your buck to start out than to go with a CV kit. Heck, it doesn't have to be a starter kit if you don't want/can't/need to move up the food chain. CV stuff is that good.