Help me choose my next camera

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BlackbirdKing

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A little background: I am a hobby shooter, taking a mix of street, portraits, and some landscape snaps. I have a few Canon P bodies and lenses and two Olympus 35sp cameras. I was thinking about getting a new rangefinder and I have narrowed down my options to the following:

Olympus XA - pro: easy carry con: small viewfinder
Kiev 2/2A - pro and con: different system from my Canon P setup
Zorki 6 - pro: similar to my other rangefinders con: ???
Fed 2 - pro: ??? con: ???

I've also been reading about Bessa R, early Leica M models and seriously considering getting into an SLR system instead of another rangefinder. The Bessa r would use lenses I already have, but seems a little underwhelming to me. The Leica rabbit hole would be expensive and deep, and I am not sure I want to go there. SLRs seem boring to me, but I have looked at SRT, OM and Canon systems.

So I have been reading and researching with not much decisiveness. I can only own so many Canon P and Olympus 35sp bodies before I don't have room for any more. Help me branch out. Should I buy a camera listed above or something else entirely?
 
It sort of depends on your goals
If you want a camera that is fun and not overpriced , yet with room to expand and experiment with
Interesting lenses etc try the Nikon S2

If you want a more modern camera with built in meter etc , maybe a bessa
If you want a nice slr - these are cheaper than the Nikon RFs , you can get a nice Olympus kit

If all depends
 
Of the ones you have listed the XA all the way.

The Nikon S2 one of all time favorite cameras, the easy of focusing, most excellent viewfinder, and easy to load. I had a bad experience with several FSU cameras, but lots of folks here love them.

A lot depends on what you are looking for that your lovely little P doesn't do. The OM system is as close as you can get to a rangefinder, it's often spoken of as a honorary rangefinder here. A P for wide and a OM for telephotos would be a great kit.

What are you looking for?

B2
 
marcr1230 said:
It sort of depends on your goals
If you want a camera that is fun and not overpriced , yet with room to expand and experiment with
Interesting lenses etc try the Nikon S2

If you want a more modern camera with built in meter etc , maybe a bessa
If you want a nice slr - these are cheaper than the Nikon RFs , you can get a nice Olympus kit

If all depends
Click to expand...

My goals are just to have another camera. :) Seriously though, I just want a general use camera for everyday fun. I passed over the S2 when I got into the Canon P setup. I didn't like the Nikon when I had a chance to handle one alongside the P. It was more expensive and the viewfinder wasn't good for me.

I really don't want a modern camera. I like metering, and manual cameras with limited need for batteries. It's why I got completely out of digital to begin with.
 
Any FSU is hard to find working and find CLA for it is even more difficult.
XA are getting old and lens is nothing special. Just small size of the camera matters.
Not so good for street and portraits.
Earlier M is pure joy. They are still CLA'd. Canon LTM will works on them. You'll pay a lot of money for some difference with P.

Take old simple Nikon from F series. It is Leica on SLR side, but not expensive. AE mode is cheap with SLRs.
 
aadi said:
The Olympus XA is fun to use, really. And not expensive :D
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BillBingham2 said:
Of the ones you have listed the XA all the way.

The Nikon S2 one of all time favorite cameras, the easy of focusing, most excellent viewfinder, and easy to load. I had a bad experience with several FSU cameras, but lots of folks here love them.

A lot depends on what you are looking for that your lovely little P doesn't do. The OM system is as close as you can get to a rangefinder, it's often spoken of as a honorary rangefinder here. A P for wide and a OM for telephotos would be a great kit.

What are you looking for?

B2
Click to expand...

2 votes for the XA. It's definitely in my top three possibilities at the moment.

I use my Canon P group when I have time to think before I shoot, and when I want to use a portrait lens. I use the 35sp when I go to street festivals, so I can switch over to AE if there is a lot going on and I don't want to fiddle with dials. I don't really think there is a huge hole in my photography equipment. I'm not selling fine art landscape prints, so no full size camera needed. I'm not a wedding or portrait pro, so no expensive pro bodies or lenses needed. I'm not street shooting regularly, so no digital zone focusing.

I just need to blow some money. That's about what it comes down to. Ha ha. Don't get me wrong, I can and probably will keep buying nice P and 35sp bodies when I come across a good one. I love getting one in the mail each and every time: it's like I'm five years old at Christmas again. I just can't decide what vintage camera to add to the herd. I'm not bored with the P and 35sp, I just want to open something new, and get the excitement of shooting through a new viewfinder.
 
Dear BlackbirdKing,

My vote is for a Nikon SLR. You have many choices depending on your requirements for portability. You can find a clean Nikon FM if the physical size of the camera is a consideration. It is close in size to a typical 35mm rangefinder. If AE is a priority a similar sized Nikon FE or even an FG would work as well. With a budget of $ 150.00 or less in many cases you can find clean serviced well functioning examples of each of those cameras. With careful shopping it's not unreasonable to think that for $ 150.00 - $200.00 you could score 2 of those three mentioned, along with some lenses?

Lenses are where Nikon has the greatest advantage. Not because they are necessarily the best available lens in a given focal length. In most cases they are, or at the very least come close enough. The real advantage is that they are far more numerous than lenses from any other maker.

Regards,

Tim Murphy
 
Ko.Fe. and Tim,

Nikon F series, hmmm? Interesting. I was looking at the OM series 1 and 2, but passed because of finding so many that had ruined prisms due to melting foam. SRT just didn't grab me. Same with Canon SLRs.

I'm going to read up more on the Nikons. Any suggestions for lenses? I have a lot of fixed glass already in the P line (35,50,85) and the 42mm of the Olympus. Would you suggest a short to medium zoom and a medium to long zoom to start with, or should I stick with fixed? I like fast, sharp glass so usually that means fixed, but maybe I should get some zoom lenses for something different.
 
Class SLR w/o batteries think Nikon F plain prism, but if you didn't like the way the S2 handles, you may not like the F (the feel very similar to me). You might like an F2 plain prism, don't need to use batteries and it's a bit smoother.

You might look at the original LeicaFlex SL or SL2. Old Leica SLR glass is fine and prices are pretty reasonable these days.

While I'm not a fan, the original Canon F with some good classic Canon glass.

B2 (;->
 
BlackbirdKing said:
.... Any suggestions for lenses for the Nikon?......
Click to expand...

If you like the class look, go 105/2.5, 300/4.5 for longer. The 180/2.8 is wonderful, fast, sharp and fun. I started with an 85/1.8 and still love it. From the 85 I went to a 24/2.8, it distorted more than like but a fine lens if you watch for football head.

I'd suggest use the P for wide and normal. Pickup Nikkor 28/2.8 AI-S, it's too new to be classic but it's sharp, focuses REALLY close and is low distortion. You might start with a 85 or the 105, and then perhaps pick up the best early zoom, the 80-200/4.5 Nikkor. Alternatively Vivitar Series-1 70-210 was almost as good at a lot lower price point. Early Series-1 glass was excellent (e.g. Solid-Cat lenses) and very unique.

B2 (;->
 
BlackbirdKing said:
Ko.Fe. and Tim,

Nikon F series, hmmm? Interesting. I was looking at the OM series 1 and 2, but passed because of finding so many that had ruined prisms due to melting foam. SRT just didn't grab me. Same with Canon SLRs.

I'm going to read up more on the Nikons. Any suggestions for lenses? I have a lot of fixed glass already in the P line (35,50,85) and the 42mm of the Olympus. Would you suggest a short to medium zoom and a medium to long zoom to start with, or should I stick with fixed? I like fast, sharp glass so usually that means fixed, but maybe I should get some zoom lenses for something different.
Click to expand...

Dear BlackbirdKing,

Keep in mind that Nikon F series and the cameras that I mentioned are two different birds. The original Nikon F is pretty much just a Nikon rangefinder body with a pentaprism finder. The same goes for the Nikon F2 and F3. They are physically large cameras.

The FM, FE, and FG that I mentioned are closer in size to the Olympus OM series of cameras. The FM is a full manual camera. It has a lightmeter but all functions can be set manually if the battery is dead. The FE and FG are automatic cameras that rely on the battery to power the lightmeter. They have manual over-ride but without a battery it is limited to 1/90 shutter speed.

As far as lenses go Nikon AI and AIS series lenses will work 100% with all the cameras I mentioned. See this chart and know that the FG falls under the limitations of the Nikon EM. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

When you start researching potential lenses there is no shortage of information available on the internet via Google. What I can tell you is that for the most part even the absolute best Nikon manual focus lens can be had for a fraction of their initial cost. With WA's and telephotos unless you require f/2 lenses they can be had for about $ 100.00 - $ 150.00 a piece, and often for less in focal lengths from 28 to 135mm, a 200mm f/4 will be similar in price, and you can get to a 300mm f/4.5 for the same money if you shop wisely.

If you want f/2 lenses in the WA's and shorter tele's you will spend more but they will still be bargains compared to the equivalent lens today.

Regards,

Tim Murphy :)
 
Easy task

Easy task

Hey this is easy...wait until the new zenit millionairebound cameras hit the market...can´t loose.

;)
 
Well, this is starting to get fun. I've been reading about the Nikon FM and FE. Nice vintage quality but new enough to find a lot of working examples. I think these would fit in nicely with what I already shoot with. Olympus 35sp for everyday carry, light and good AE if needed. Canon P for full manual, good wide end and portrait options. Then a combination of FE/FM bodies with the 80-200 f4 for starters would round out my collection. I'm still reading about lenses to see if there's a good short tele in between 28 and 70.
 
BlackbirdKing said:
Ko.Fe. and Tim,

Nikon F series, hmmm? Interesting. I was looking at the OM series 1 and 2, but passed because of finding so many that had ruined prisms due to melting foam. SRT just didn't grab me. Same with Canon SLRs.

I'm going to read up more on the Nikons. Any suggestions for lenses? I have a lot of fixed glass already in the P line (35,50,85) and the 42mm of the Olympus. Would you suggest a short to medium zoom and a medium to long zoom to start with, or should I stick with fixed? I like fast, sharp glass so usually that means fixed, but maybe I should get some zoom lenses for something different.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about the dealuminizing prism on an OM. Just clean the goo off and feather the edges. The bare glass will reflect almost as well as the mirror surface. I have one OM-1 like that and cannot see any effect in the viewfinder. If you like RF viewing a good clean Olympus RC is a nice camera with a slightly less wide angle than 35mm, it is a 42mm f2.8 and has full manual override available, something the XA cannot do.
 
I'll jump in. Remember, this is all opinion and suggestions. You are the only person to finally judge which camera is for you.

Nothing wrong with Bessa R. Not sure why you're shying from it. The metering is sure nice when you want it. Uses the lenses you already have. Nice top shutter speed. Hot shoe.

If you like tinkering, FSU could be for you. Doing a CLA on your own Fed2 is not outside the capacity of many of us. The things are cheap, so if it doesn't work out, well, it doesn't work out. Will use lenses you already have.

XA. I have one. Unlike Ko, I think the lens is good. You can get some interesting vignetting in really, really high key situations (at least I do), but its a real nice, tiny camera. It is completely dependent on battery power though. Like I said, I have one (actually I have four), but I almost never seem to take them out. I seem to gravitate to other cameras.

Olympus OM. As said earlier, an honorary RF here, mostly because of the lenses. Oh, the OM Zuiko lenses. I have an OM (actually I have four), but I rarely use them unless I want to use my Zuiko 90/2.0

Nikon SLR. What a fantastic deal these are nowadays. Truly. I have Nikon SLRs (I have 6) and they have a reputation for a reason. You'll want to get one of the "real" Nikons, not the plastic cheapo consumer stuff of the later film days. I'd recommend the FE2 as the ultimate bargain, but old F, and F2 bodies are out there for amazing prices. Nikkor lenses are good. Some better than others, but there's the fun of it. Find them! And there's plenty of 3rd party lenses to be had too. Also, you can use more recent AF lenses (with aperture indexing ring). Hard to go wrong with Nikon SLRs for quality and reliability and fun without spending a fortune.

You're wise to avoid Leica. But let's all meet here again in a year and see how well you've done. So many of us (myself included) say we don't want/need a Leica, but the curiosity is strong, so strong.
 
You forgot a Kiev con - crappy little viewfinder (like many cameras of its era).

Personally I'd dust off the SPs and put the money I'd saved towards a bottle of good whisky.
 
Looks like you are committed to film: good.
These are the most logical cameras to own in your case:
RF- Leica M2 or M4 or whatever else according to budget. You can use your existing LTM lenses on adapters. In my opinion going for lesser cameras is long term more expensive and less satisfying.
SLR - Nikon F2 plain prism, full stop. This is religion, so don't contradict me please.
Snaps - Ricoh GR1 or anything similar from Nikon , Contax or Olympus: should have AE though.
I suggest going along the lines of FL:
28mm - Ricoh GR1 - the lens is as good as anything else out there
35mm - a rangefinder lens with your M2/M4
50mm - you should have two, one RF one SLR - the SLR version could be slightly longer and macro, like Nikkor 55/3.5, ideal would be Macro Elmarit R 60/2.8 on Leitax adapter.
85mm - this should be an SLR lens, Nikkor 85/2 is small, inexpensive, slightly softish wide open for portraits, and sharp as anything else from 2.8 on, better still Elmarit 90/2.8 R on Leitax adapter.
Remember to find a budget for a Seconic L398 and a good scanner or darkroom
You sound like a young guy, if you have little money think about extra work, it will be good for you and for the universe.
 
I agree with refasten...nothing wrong with a Bessa. I have an R2M and I absolutely love it. It feels nice in the hand...and since you already have lenses for it you can't go wrong. My R2M is a camera I keep coming back to because it feels so great in the hand. Another fun camera to consider is a Rollei 35. They are super compact and fun to shoot with too.
 
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