Help needed, RxA with 35/40mm

[kuningasmikko]

I'm from Finland and new to rangefinders. In Finland the rangefinder -scene isn't that big so I have to go overseas for help. Luckily it isn't that hard with a computer.

So, I fell in love with a Olympus Trip 35, showed me by a friend of mine and I bought it from him for 20$ though it has some light leaks (I'm working on it). And as a result I'm selling my 30d and all the digital stuff. I never was in love with my dsrl kit, I never really enjoyed taking pictures. So, I'll follow my heart and go the simple way.

I have been thinking of getting a Bessa and to begin with, either the new 35/1.4 or 40/1.4. I'm guite sure I won't go beyond 50mm. So I will expand my kit to wider end (next lens probably 21mm or 15mm). So, the R4A would seem to be the best camera but since I'll be using the 35/40 most of the time, R3A or R2A might be more convenient.

I would like to test the bessa range before ordering anything but since it is quite impossible to get hands-on here in Finland I have to trust your knowledge.

So, what will it be?

With kind regards,

Mikko Laine

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Same here. No stockists, no chance to try.

I bought the R3A with 40mm lens about two years ago, mail order and untried, and have never ever regretted it.

 

[Doug]

Welcome! I have the R4a and find it very suitable for 25-35mm where the viewfinder shows a useful amount of space around the frame. At 21, the lens barrel inevitably intrudes more into the view, but the capability for 21 and 25mm frames is uniquely attractive. The R4 is fine with the 50mm frames too, but offers nothing longer. Very useful little rig!

The only Voigtlander with 40mm frames is the R3a, and the frames are far out nearly invisible (especially if you wear glasses) at the edges of the window. This one will need accessory viewfinders for anything wider, and is well suited for the 50mm and longer lenses. A good companion for the R4a!

 

[Spyderman]

Welcome to the forum Mikko.

I myself have a R2 and 35, 50, 85 lenses. My favorite lens is the 50, and this body is just about perfect for 50, because there is enough space around the 50 framelines to see what's happening outside the frame. I can use also the 35 sometimes, with a little less space around. (It is said that the entire viewfinder of R2 is a rough aproximation of 28mm.)

But it's hard to decide for you... I'd say buy a R2x and if you don't like it you can sell it and buy another (R3 or R4)...

 

[kuningasmikko]

And of course there's the issue of money.. With the price of R4 + 35/1.4 one can almost get R3 + 40/1.4 + 15/4.5.

But in a way I'm tempted by the R4. It's hard to decide when you cannot try the cameras beforehand.

Maybe I'll just flip a coin.

 

[Hates_]

I think it really depends on what you are gonig to be using it for. For me, as I do nearly 99% street stuff, I reckon (I've never tried) putting a 35mm on the R4 would drive me potty trying to judge the framing quickly on an inner frame area. As I wear glasses, my view through the finder on the R2 is pretty much exactly the 35mm frame lines. I'd rather have the R2 and use an external viewfinder if I got a super wide lens, if the 35mm was going to be my real work horse.

You can see the frameline differences here:

R4: http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigt/v-camera/rangefinder/r4a-flame.jpg
R2: http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigt/v-camera/rangefinder/r2a-flame.jpg

Even those images are a bit misleading I think. The 90mm frame on the R2 is tiny IMHO and if I take my glasses off, there isn't that much space between the 35mm framelines and the actual border of the finder.

 

[tbm]

This last week I exposed four rolls of Delta 100 and four rolls of Acros 100 via my R3A and 40mm f/1.4 Nokton multi-coated lens in our house with my Metz flash and got incredible results! By simply moving my body forward and backwared when necessary, I was able to duplicate the perspective of 50mm and 35mm lenses respectively, easily. Thus, I effetively had three focal lengths available. The R3A is a wonderful camera, using flash with it is easy, and the 40mm Nokton's capturing ability is Leica-like to my eyes.