Hey everyone, brand new to the RF system and looking foward to it.

[Guaranteed]

My names Christian and I'm pretty jazzed about figuring all this stuff out. I've been using Dslrs for the past four years or so and a decade or two prior to that was a few rolls of 35mm in a fully automatic P&S along with a Disc camera and the old 110 cartridge cameras.

A little background, about six weeks ago I picked up a Nokton 50mm 1.1 for my EP2 and I really enjoyed how it forced me to slow down the process. I've been skulking about for a few weeks here and decided to dive in head first and order myself a Bessa R3A along with a 90mm f/3.5 APO Lanthar w/adapter and a few rolls of Ilford XP-2. I figure that will keep me busy/happy for a bit.

Don't be to shy about telling me if my images are crap, I'd never get any better otherwise. Heck, I don't even know how to load the film so it may be awhile before I put up any shots. 😀

 

[johannielscom]

Hi Christian,

welcome to the forum, we hope you won't keep us in suspense too long.

I'm pretty sure you can figure the film loading bit out 😀

 

[robbeiflex]

Hi Christian, and welcome to RFF!

I also started with digital but somehow got the bug to shoot some film. I got started with rangefinders less than a year ago and within a few months I was even developing and scanning my own film. I'm sure you'll do fine and I look forward to seeing some results soon!

Cheers,
Rob

PS: I used to live in Vermont and I do miss New England some times. I hope you post something with some local character once in a while. 😉

 

[jesse1dog]

Hi Christian
That sounds like a pretty formidable collection of gear that you have picked up. Take some time getting to know it. One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given was - read the handbook every evening for 10 minutes before you go to bed! It was good advice and I'll add - handle your camera and lenses every day to get really familiar with the feel and how they work.
This is a great forum. There are friendly guys here who are very knowledgable and very willing to share.
Welcome.

jesse

 

[mfogiel]

Start with thinking what you will do with film in order to obtain images. This is the most important part. RF shooting is great, but I would start with a smaller 50mm or 35mm (40mm) lens first.

 

[Guaranteed]

Hi Christian,

welcome to the forum, we hope you won't keep us in suspense too long.

I'm pretty sure you can figure the film loading bit out 😀

Thanks, hopefully it all went out today and I have at least one roll developed by the middle of the week.

Hi Christian, and welcome to RFF!

I also started with digital but somehow got the bug to shoot some film. I got started with rangefinders less than a year ago and within a few months I was even developing and scanning my own film. I'm sure you'll do fine and I look forward to seeing some results soon!

Cheers,
Rob

PS: I used to live in Vermont and I do miss New England some times. I hope you post something with some local character once in a while. 😉

Thanks, I'm actually looking around for a class so I can do my own developing also. It's to bad I didn't do this about five weeks ago, at the end of June/beginning of July I was in Maine and New Hampshire, two weeks later I was in the Berkshires. I'll still see if I can sort out something with character for you, no promises though. 😀

Nice! RFs aren't for everyone, but if it jives with you - this could be a big moment. 🙂

I'm hoping for it to jive, problem is I hope it doesn't jive to quickly as I seem to become weary of things pretty fast. Lol.

Hi Christian
That sounds like a pretty formidable collection of gear that you have picked up. Take some time getting to know it. One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given was - read the handbook every evening for 10 minutes before you go to bed! It was good advice and I'll add - handle your camera and lenses every day to get really familiar with the feel and how they work.
This is a great forum. There are friendly guys here who are very knowledgable and very willing to share.
Welcome.

jesse

Thanks, I figure I'll run a roll through with each lens so I can get a feel for them. I usually bring my EP2 with me whenever I leave the house so I'll just grab the RF and one of the lenses instead and keep chugging away and experimenting.

Start with thinking what you will do with film in order to obtain images. This is the most important part. RF shooting is great, but I would start with a smaller 50mm or 35mm (40mm) lens first.

That's the thing that intrigues me about going with film, I've got to think about the shots out instead of just hammering away with the Dslrs. I had originally picked up the 50mm with a specific purpose in mind, problem is I enjoyed the process of it much more, so here I am. The reason I picked up the 90mm is for my cousins wedding next weekend, her immediate family is rather large in numbers and she's the last to get hitched. I'd have to say with all her brothers and sisters and their kids alone it's gotta be in the neighborhood of thirty or so never mind all my other cousins, I've no idea about the grooms family. I figured if I could stand off a bit all the better.

 

[t.s.k.]

Welcome to the slippery slope of RF's.
Take your checkbook and credit cards and lock them up NOW !!
Don't say I didn't warn you 😀 *Have fun !

 

[Guaranteed]

Lol, thanks.

I can see what your saying though, so many variations of the same focal length. At first I was getting a bit punch drunk with all the new terminology but I just kept reading and reading, now it's only half Greek. Lol.

 

[bobby_novatron]

Congrats Christian -- I think you'll have lots of fun with your new rangefinder adventures.

Not trying to tell you what to do, but I also vote for getting a wider lens, especially if you're going to be at a wedding. Otherwise, all your wedding shots will be tight shots, shoulders-up style. You won't be able to get any photos of the larger context, if you know what I mean.

The other thing is that framing your shot with rangefinders is somewhat inexact compared to SLR's due to parallax. This is especially true with longer lenses like a 90mm. The R3A has a smaller rangefinder baselength compared to other cameras, meaning there is more inaccuracy when using longer lenses. I even encounter this issue when using a 50mm with my Bessa R3A. When I look at my developed shots, I sometimes notice that the image is not exactly the way I composed it -- the images can be a little off-center. This will be much more pronounced with a 90mm lens.

At any rate, enjoy yourself and have fun "regressing" to film. It's addictive. 🙂

 

[robbeiflex]

Thanks, I'm actually looking around for a class so I can do my own developing also. It's to bad I didn't do this about five weeks ago, at the end of June/beginning of July I was in Maine and New Hampshire, two weeks later I was in the Berkshires. I'll still see if I can sort out something with character for you, no promises though. 😀

A class is not a bad idea. I did without, but it only took a little trial and error. There are some great resources online including this forum and the many great documents on Ilford's website. People here are very helpful too when it comes to darkroom processes, chemistry, etc. No worries though, one step at a time, shoot some colour and some XP2+ or T400CN and have your local lab process it to get started, then if the black and white bug catches you take it from there.

It sounds like you had some great travels this year. Now you have a new hobby to accompany (and document) your travels!

Enjoy!
Rob

 

[Guaranteed]

Congrats Christian -- I think you'll have lots of fun with your new rangefinder adventures.

Not trying to tell you what to do, but I also vote for getting a wider lens, especially if you're going to be at a wedding. Otherwise, all your wedding shots will be tight shots, shoulders-up style. You won't be able to get any photos of the larger context, if you know what I mean.

The other thing is that framing your shot with rangefinders is somewhat inexact compared to SLR's due to parallax. This is especially true with longer lenses like a 90mm. The R3A has a smaller rangefinder baselength compared to other cameras, meaning there is more inaccuracy when using longer lenses. I even encounter this issue when using a 50mm with my Bessa R3A. When I look at my developed shots, I sometimes notice that the image is not exactly the way I composed it -- the images can be a little off-center. This will be much more pronounced with a 90mm lens.

At any rate, enjoy yourself and have fun "regressing" to film. It's addictive. 🙂

Thanks for the tips, I'll keep that in mind when composing the shot. I've never been much of a wide angle guy as I usually shoot tele(even more so when crop factors are added) so even the FL choices for the most part are going to be new to me.

A class is not a bad idea. I did without, but it only took a little trial and error. There are some great resources online including this forum and the many great documents on Ilford's website. People here are very helpful too when it comes to darkroom processes, chemistry, etc. No worries though, one step at a time, shoot some colour and some XP2+ or T400CN and have your local lab process it to get started, then if the black and white bug catches you take it from there.

It sounds like you had some great travels this year. Now you have a new hobby to accompany (and document) your travels!

Enjoy!
Rob

I think I'm going to hold off on doing up a darkroom for now, not much space for one anyhow.

All of the stuff should have come in today, only the film and adapter made it though. 🙁 Turns out the lens was on back order (even though emails and website state otherwise) and had only "partially packed" the camera waiting on the lens. The crux of it is the lens is remaning on back order until sometime in September and I never got any call or email to inform me about the wait. So I canceled the lens this morning and told them to ship the body today as it was ordered Friday morning with overnight delivery. I've managed to source the lens elsewhere so "hopefully" both will be in my hands tomorrow.

I wish I had made the decision a little sooner, I would have ordered it from CQ instead of the others.

Live and learn.

 

[oftheherd]

Welcome to RFF. You have some good gear. Get to know it and shoot to your heart's content. Keep it fun.

 

[gliderbee]

The R3A is a great match for the Nokton (or is it the other way around ?); be careful with one common mistake though: when firing the shutter in A-mode and the lenscap still on (it happens to everybody sooner or later), DO NOT touch the advance-lever before the shutter has completely finished it's cycle; it can take quite a few seconds; just keep waiting until you hear it click again.

I'm not sure it's only a thing with the Bessas, but trying to cock the shutter again while it's still open is asking for problems. Otherwise: a great camera !

Stefan.

 

[Guaranteed]

The R3A is a great match for the Nokton (or is it the other way around ?); be careful with one common mistake though: when firing the shutter in A-mode and the lenscap still on (it happens to everybody sooner or later), DO NOT touch the advance-lever before the shutter has completely finished it's cycle; it can take quite a few seconds; just keep waiting until you hear it click again.

I'm not sure it's only a thing with the Bessas, but trying to cock the shutter again while it's still open is asking for problems. Otherwise: a great camera !

Stefan.

Lol, that's going to be the tough part because I'm so used to the sound of my 1D MkII N mirror slapping about.

Thanks for the heads up though.

 

[Guaranteed]

Well the Bessa made it finally, a little bigger than I thought it might be but still happy it's here.

Nobody seems to know where the lens is though, B&H said they shipped it while FedEx said they never received it. :bang: Kind of ran in circles with that one for a few minutes with the CSR from B&H. Who knows how long my money is going to be tied up with that one, I'm thinking next time I speak with them I'll request an RMA be sent. Hopefully I can find it elsewhere, maybe the third times the charm with this lens.