I'm officially less of a tourist at this website! Just arrived today: CV Bessa R3M, with the CV Nokton 40mm/1.4f single coated lens.
For the last two years I've been exclusively shooting medium format -- with a Bronica SQ-Ai, mostly. Doing so while on journalism assignments and while wandering about town had led me realize that I could really go for a camera that's not huge and doesn't take so much strain to operate (I mean, it's not so bad, and I won't complain about the results, but it's definitely slowed me down at times and forced me to ponder the alternatives). So, to put it simply, I became fixated on rangefinders. I browsed and researched all over the place--especially this site--for two months while saving up money. And now I can finally say that the camera has arrived! I, finally, have arrived.
Starting tomorrow this thing's going around my neck and under my jacket. And that's where it'll stay. Except when I take photos. When I do that I'll be removing it from within my jacket, and, you know, like holding it up or whatever. (and no, I won't abandon medium format -- I'll just be shooting twice as much.)
I'll be posting up my results in my RFF gallery.
Thanks for help, forum members.
And about the camera, it feels very solid, very well-built. I've very happy with how it's handled while I've been wandering around my house pretending to take photos.