Looking for ideas for new Rangefinder Camera

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I have been enjoying my Canonette GL 17 III, but it appears that it is on its way out. The canon was my first Rangefinder and I love the simplistic style and small body size.
That being said I am looking at replacing it w/ something else, with interchangeable lenses. The Bessa cameras seem to get good reviews and the Voiglander glass is mentioned quite3often.
Does anyone have any recommendations or experiences that they would like to share with these systems?
The price for these systems new is very attractive and quite reasonable I believe.
Between the models which are preferred and which should be avoided.
The most common lens I would be using would be in the 35-40mm range. I enjoyed the 40mm on the Canonette, but have never shot w/ a 35mm.
Thanks in advance for your help.
 
Depends really, if you're wanting a new camera, and don't want to spend a lot, Bessa cameras are great. Never had a problem with my R4A. Also, the 35mm f/1.4 is probably the nicest lens I've ever had, so small, fast, lovely to use, and image quality looked the same as my Summicron to my eye.

If you're buying used, you should look at Zeiss Ikon and of course Leica, but with Leica, you need to spend a lot to get Aperture Priority or even a meter, if you want it.

My views on the Voigtlander gear is that the lenses are fantastic, the bodies are *good*, in no way is that a slight though, just compared to Zeiss Ikon or Leica, the build is just a *little* lacking, still better than 99% of modern cameras though.

With the Bessas you also have a great choice of frame lines, the R4* even has lines built in for 21mm, and the 35mm lines are useable, so that's pretty cool if you want the wide angles.

Shutter noise is a little "clacky" compared to Leica, but then again, it's made of metal and won't develop pinholes, so you take the rough with the smooth.

If you want modern features, it's hard to overlook the Bessas.
 
As above...
If you don't go wider than a 35mm, the Bessa R3 Manual body or Semi-Automatic model. And has a 1:1 VF with a 40mm frame line.

The R2 is the standard Frames Lines set with a .72x VF.35/50/75/90 also in a Manual or Semi-Automatic models.
The whole VF is close to a 28mm, (as in the Leica's)
 
I am considering buying new, just to get a few more modern features (oh the horrors I know, lol). Is there any consensus on whether the manual shutter or electronic shutter is a better model? I do like not having to rely on a battery, quite a few of my other cameras are all manual minus metering.
 
I also don't think you'll be disappointed with the Voigtlander cameras or lenses. The R4A or M does have usable 35mm lines, the 50mm is a bit tiny and I never used it. It's there but not sure how accurate it would be. The R2 might have better choices with both 35 and 50mm being useable. And the R3 series has a nice 1:1 viewfinder with 40mm frame lines. You might like that one the best.

They are nice cameras and can be found used. The 40mm lenses can also be found. You do have to choose whether battery dependence is something that you worry about. The A series are completely battery dependent, but I like the AE and the batteries are cheap and readily found. But the M series can be shot without metering if the battery fails. I really like the exposure compensation on the R4A I had. It's much better implemented than the Leicas.

If you want a used setup for under $1000 than I don't think you need to look much further than a Bessa and a 40mm lens or 35 or 50mm lens. Mr Gandy even has a new Voigtlander Bessa R3M 250th Anniversary Leica M 35mm Rangefinder Camera Set with 50/2 Heliar Lens - BLACK with CASE for $1200 over at cameraquest.com. Which I think would be a great set to get into rangefinders.
 
Manual shutter works without a battery, but does not have aperture priority, so it's just which you'd prefer really, AE or working without batteries.
 
I was in a similar situation after I purchased a Olympus 35RC. While I liked the camera, I was interested in getting an interchangeable RF with a few more options (faster shutter speed was one of them and a better VF). At first I thought I would love to get either a CLE or a R3 (either A/M) with a 40mm lens. After selling off some equipment I realized that a Bessa R would fit my needs perfectly. Currently I have an R witha Canon 35mm f1.8 and an Industar-61 and I'm pretty happy. I'll probably upgrade the 50mm at some point (would like an extra stop...), but it really fits my needs and I'm glad I saved some cash compared to a CLE/R3 and a 40mm.

TL/DR : I like my Bessa R with a 35 and 50 a lot after stepping up from a 35RC.
 
I've had an R3A alongside my Leica Ms, Zeiss Ikons and CLE for several years now and it gets a good regular workout. It's especially nice with the fast 40/1.4 and AE. No problems with it at all.

I'm travelling away with work at the moment, abroad for about six weeks: the R3A with the 40mm and 15mm voigtlander lenses are all I've brought with me for those brief opportunities for a half-day somewhere with a camera in the midst of a busy schedule. Last weekend was the gold and spice souks in Dubai, this weekend Bahrain and next weekend Muscat. It's the perfect combination for such occasions.

The one thing that ever so slightly disappoints is that it is the M versions that come in the better finish than the A versions do. I'd rather have the black paint one but value AE more. It's still a fine looking camera.
 
R3A for 50mm, R2A for 35mm and R4A for 28mm are very good cameras. If you do not want AE, skip all that and get a Leica M2 instead.
 
I have an R3A and I love it. That being said, after owning mine for awhile I would recommend the M models (R4M, etc.) since I've only used the AE mode probably 4 or 5 times and since the Ms work without a battery. Since none of them have average or matrix metering, the AE is kind of impractical. There's an AE lock, sure, but it's almost always just as easy to shoot in manual, especially for how intuitive and fast the meter is. Also, I had no idea how much I loved wide angle lenses until I bought one for my SLR, and now I'm stuck with having to buy a viewfinder for any lens I get that's wider than 40mm.

You more than likely will have different wants/needs in a camera than me, but make sure you really weigh your options before you buy one since they're all pretty specific.

The top of this thread would be useful in helping you decide which model you'd want.
 
Is the Zeiss that big of step up in quality when it comes to the bodies of these cameras? They sure are pretty, lol.
Are the optics between the Zeiss and Voiglander comparable or is it an apples and oranges thing?
 
I agree w/ suggestions that you look at a Bessa R2* if you want to buy new. VF is v bright and metering is excellent. It will have 35 mm frame lines which you could also use w/ a 40.
 
Zeiss IS a big step up, but it is also difficult to adjust on a DIY basis if you have to recalibrate, for example. The body is more solid, it is not so small, so bigger lenses do not intrude so much in the vf and the vf is simply in another league. The RF is twice as accurate, and the body does not have that obnoxious backward tilt when you use a strap.
If Leica M7 is a Porsche, then Bessa RXA is a Volkswagen and the ZI is a Ferrari.
As to the lenses, this is an entirely different story, you have to decide what you like. Personally, I have RF lenses spanning over 70 years, and I like them all for different reasons.
 
Thanks again mfogiel, that's what I was thinking, that the Zeiss was in a different league.
I am starting to realize that this was maybe not the easiest question to ask, lol.
Would the Zeiss w/ the 35mm f2 biogon be a good place to start?
No, I'm not rich, but do appreciate quaility.
Thanks again
 
Does it have to be a Leica M mount?
If so, then the best bet would be an M2, M4-2 or M4-P.
If you want metering then the Bessa line would serve you well.

If you're open to a different system, the Nikon S2, SP and S3 are amazing. The 35 f/2.5 and f/1.8 are stellar lenses. The cameras are incredibly reliable and pretty easy to clean by yourself, using only a minimum of good quality basic tools.
Last year I switched over to the Nikon RF system because I didn't see any difference worth the 10x price increase that was the cost of entry into Leica. Mind you, I've been a daily Leica user for almost a decade and was heavily invested in glass as well as M bodies. The Nikon RF bodies are generally less expensive but the lenses are where the savings kick in. My whole lens kit from 21mm to 135mm cost me less than what I sold my well used Leica Super Angulon for.
Might be an option to think about since you're not yet invested into any one line of lenses.

Phil Forrest
 
Consider a manual (Leica M or Bessa RxM) body if your camera is to be used outdoors in the cold.

("Button-battery" powered cameras cease to function when the temperature approaches freezing.)
 
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