Help me decide! Down to 2 cameras

[kid_a]

Hey all, so I bought my first rangefinder about a month ago. It's a beautiful Nikon S2 with an excellent 5cm f1,4 lens. Great condition, a dream to use. I've completely fallen in love with the rangefinder way of shooting, I love developping my own film, I just really like everything about it. However, I've run into the realization that the Nikon SC mount lenses are quite hard to come by. I've decided to move into an M mount system.

These are the 2 cameras I have it narrowed down to:

a) Voigtlander Bessa R2M Anniversary Presentation Kit with Heliar 50mm f/2 Classic. This is brand new, with warrantee, presentation box, everything. I've read good things about this lens, seems sharp, simple, relatively small.

Price: $800USD. This seems like a very good price to me, almost $200 less than everywhere else I've seen, and it's a reputable dealer. I figure if I bought this, and didn't like it.. I should easily be able to resell and not lose money, maybe even make money. Is this accurate?

b) Voigtlander R2A with Bessa Winder, and Hexanon 50mm f/2. Virtually the same body as long as I'm responsible with batteries. The lens seems to be in a league of it's own frmo what I'm reading. Seems quite incredible for the price. This camera is used, but in great condition. The lens is virtually like new in box. Comes with box/papers, it's never been used. Of course this one has no warrantee.

Price: $890USD. Prise seems fair. I'm not sure about the used prices on these items, but this seems pretty normal. Is this accurate?

Which way would you go? It's virtually the same camera.. so it really comes down to the lenses, and the fact that one body has the trigger winder on it. Sway me one way or the other because I really can't! haha.

Cheers,

Dylan

 

[dazedgonebye]

The functional difference is down to aperture priority AE, which the R3A has and the R3M does not.
The R3A is battery dependent because of this and some people find that a factor, I do not.

 

[kid_a]

The functional difference is down to aperture priority AE, which the R3A has and the R3M does not.
The R3A is battery dependent because of this and some people find that a factor, I do not.

I do not either, does it make a difference shooting?

The way I see it is this: If you are responsible with batteries, always having spares and whatnot, it makes no real difference. You won't run out, and I suppose have AP can only be a good thing. If you don't use it, you can just ignore it and use it manually.

 

[uhligfd]

How about neither Bessa and more lenses (not 50 mm again) for the Nikon S2?

Why have multiple cameras with near identical f = 50 mm length lenses?

 

[kid_a]

How about neither Bessa and more lenses (not 50 mm again) for the Nikon S2?

Why have multiple cameras with near identical f = 50 mm length lenses?

I'll be selling the S2 right when I get the new camera, so I won't have multiple 50's. I'm nto a huge fan of 50mm to be honest, but the deals are there 😉 And it's MUCH MUCH easier to find a wider 28 or 35 for the M mount than it is to find one for the SC mount.

 

[Bill Harrison]

You seem happy with the Nikon, have you used a Bessa? I'd rent one to make sure, if you haven't.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I've had both a Bessa R*A and an R*M, and they are comparable in every way. I prefer the "piano" finish on the manual cameras, but I now own the R4A and think it's great. I use AE 95% of the time and the metering is highly effective and easy to compensate for in tricky situations. Batteries last a while and are easily found at any drugstore.

I used to have the Heliar Classic as well, and I think it's an excellent lens. The Hexanon is said to be really good too, though.

 

[back alley]

i prefer ae cameras and do not live in fear of battery dependency.
the bessa cameras have accurate meters and once you figure out how they work for you there should be no problems.

i might search out a sperate body and a 35 mm lens, especially if you don't care for the 50 fov.

joe

 

[kid_a]

You seem happy with the Nikon, have you used a Bessa? I'd rent one to make sure, if you haven't.

I'm very happy with its performance, but not happy with the availability of accessories and lenses. I got it for a good deal too so I won't lose anything by selling.

Also, I figure if I don't like the Bessa, I'll be able to sell the anniversary kit for at least $800 USD, and also not lose much, if anything, if I went the Hexanon route.

Am I way off on this? The $800USD seems like a steal to me, for a brand new unit, boxed, from a store.

 

[kid_a]

i prefer ae cameras and do not live in fear of battery dependency.
the bessa cameras have accurate meters and once you figure out how they work for you there should be no problems.

i might search out a sperate body and a 35 mm lens, especially if you don't care for the 50 fov.

joe

Well, I can get the R2A from the guy for $450USD. I could pair it with a 28 or a 35.. something fast. I guess eventually I'll want a wider and a 50, so I think I'll stick to buying a kit, just to save a few bucks. Starving student budget, y'know 😉

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Get a Voigtlander 28mm in Nikon Mount. Or a 21mm. For a cheap 35mm, get a Jupiter-12.

http://cameraquest.com/inventor.htm

 

[kid_a]

Get a Voigtlander 28mm in Nikon Mount. Or a 21mm. For a cheap 35mm, get a Jupiter-12.

http://cameraquest.com/inventor.htm

Lets forget about the Nikon. I've convinced myself that the M system is where I should be, and I don't need more options confusing my head! haha 🙂

The S2 has a 1:1 viewfinder, which is great for focussing longer, faster lenses, but the fact that I need a viewfinder for wider stuff bothers me. The R2A's framelines will accomodate a 35, which is close enough to 28 for me if I go that route.

Another big factor is that I have a store within a daytrip/s distance (Calgary), that often carries M mount lenses. So when I want to see them, buy them and not pay shipping, or just drool over them.. they're there. SC mount lenses are few and far between, and once cameraquest sells out, they're gone. I don't see prices going down at all, especially once they're all out of retailers hands.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Lets forget about the Nikon. I've convinced myself that the M system is where I should be, and I don't need more options confusing my head! haha 🙂

The S2 has a 1:1 viewfinder, which is great for focussing longer, faster lenses, but the fact that I need a viewfinder for wider stuff bothers me. The R2A's framelines will accomodate a 35, which is close enough to 28 for me if I go that route.

Another big factor is that I have a store within a daytrip/s distance (Calgary), that often carries M mount lenses. So when I want to see them, buy them and not pay shipping, or just drool over them.. they're there. SC mount lenses are few and far between, and once cameraquest sells out, they're gone. I don't see prices going down at all, especially once they're all out of retailers hands.

To avoid more trauma and sleepless nights - I'd recomend you get a Canon G10....happy shooting! 🙂

 

[kid_a]

To avoid more trauma and sleepless nights - I'd recomend you get a Canon G10....happy shooting! 🙂

15MP on a sensor the size of my fingernail? No thanks!

I have about $15,000 in digital equipment that I've basically ignored since getting the S2, I don't think a point n shoot would change that 😉

 

[George S.]

If you're not a fan of a 50, forget it altogether. Get a 35 or even a 40 and then see what you need depending on your style. There's a few choices in the 21, 24, 25mm focal lengths nowadays.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Kid A, get an R4A. You don't need accessory viewfinders all the way down to 21mm--it is the only rangefinder camera ever made that accomodates all those wides without an extra finder.

 

[kid_a]

Kid A, get an R4A. You don't need accessory viewfinders all the way down to 21mm--it is the only rangefinder camera ever made that accomodates all those wides without an extra finder.

Too expensive. I want to keep the combo under $900 USD, shipped, at my door, ready to shoot.

 

[back alley]

sounds like you really have already decided...

 

[kid_a]

sounds like you really have already decided...

Not quite. I'm leaning towards the Heliar kit though.

Am I offside in thinking I can get $800 USD for the kit if I decide I don't like it?

 

[back alley]

check out ebay finished auctions.