Metered rangefinders?

[SR18]

Hi all, I recently picked up my first RF from a local recycle centre, a mint Zorki 4. It was cheap, felt great in the hand and looked in great condition. After playing around a little and getting to grips with it I'm loving the thought of having a RF for my carry around spur of the moment camera. The one thing I wish the Zorki had was a built in meter of some form.

After stumbling across this site I realize that there are for more RF's out there than I ever thought but I would love to get something with the same feel as the Zorki but without having to sell a limb. My Zorki has the black Jupiter 8 so would that be a good enough option to let me look for a body on its own and save some pennies?

Just a few thoughts to send me in the right direction would be great.

Thank you

 

[hamradio]

What kind of budget are you on? A Voigtlander Bessa-R may suit you, if it is within your budget.

 

[SR18]

Thats a tricky question, I guess up to around £150/180 including a lens or using the Jupiter. But then I only paid £10 for the Zorki and if it had a meter i'd be happy with that. I think if were to spend nearer my max I would look at it to replace my dslr for a while so it would need to be very capable and really have 'that feel' to it. Then if I didnt need to get a scanner and sent everything off I could stretch to about £300 but I'm not sure I ready for that just yet.

 

[rbiemer]

You have 2 or 3 primary choices here, I think.
1) a used Bessa R. It should work very well with the J-8, has a really good VF and a good meter. This was my major kit for several years. I still have and use both the R and the J-8. I'm in the US and don't really know what used Rs are going for in the UK so I'm not sure about staying in your budget. 150 pounds is about $250 now, I think, and that seems like enough for a decent R.
2) an auxiliary meter to use with the Zorki and J-8. Lots of choices well with in your budget and you'd be able to continue to use the camera you have and like.
You could look for something small that will fit into the accessory shoe on the Zorki or find a hand-held meter.
And there is one other option as well; learn to shoot with out a meter. It will cost you a bit more for film but it is learn-able. One nice thing about doing that is that you only need carry your camera and some film; it's less "stuff" to keep up with. And when you get your next FSU* camera, which likely won't have a meter either, you'll be that much more able to go out and use it.
Welcome aboard!
Rob
*FSU= Former Soviet Union

 

[mh2000]

I agree that a small handheld meter would be cheaper than a new camera, plus unless the camera is new you will potentially be adding to things harder to find working. I'm pretty happy with my sekonic twinmate-II, but Gossen makes a few nice options as well. I also agree that you try learning to shoot without a meter, especially if you are using color or c-41 b&w film. Sunny-16 or an exposure table will give you great results.

 

[SR18]

Well thanks for the advice so far, I do like the look of the Bessa-R but wonder other than the meter what I would gain over Zorki if I stick with the Jupiter 8.

Switched the dslr to manual and spent the day practicing sunny 16, did better than I expected apart from when I needed to grab a shot quickly and in a couple of tricky situations but for general outdoors not to contrasty shots it was fun. I'm still very undecided either way but will continue to look into both.

 

[payasam]

If you do mainly outdoors work, you're probably OK with what you have. If you do not need low light capability (indoors, small windows), a selenium meter is the obvious option. Optically, you probably do not need anything "better" than your J-8. Assuming that you use a hood, that is.

 

[Gaspar]

I have a bessar. Really nice camera but I have recently bought a R3a from a fellow here and would sell my Bessa R if you are interested.

 

[SR18]

Thank you Gaspar, I'll will keep your Bessa-R in mind. Could you send me a PM with some more details.

 

[ZeissFan]

There are a lot of rangefinder cameras out there, especially if you include those with fixed lenses.

There are many fixed-lens Japanese rangefinders from the 1960s through the 1970s, although most will need new foam seals, which not everyone is willing to tackle.

Also, many will need to have their shutters serviced and some routine service, so perhaps a newer camera will be a better choice.

 

[Gottfried Sandow]

...why not consider an FED 5C. It is "FSU", it is metered, it goes with your J-8, it won´t exhaust your wallet... well it´s bulky but it has "the feel"...

Good luck!
Gottfried

 

[BillBingham2]

With any FSU you play a bit of russian roulette. With the R you get a well understood camera, perhaps not as solid as a Leica M, but with a Kick Butt viewfinder. Go with the R, you will enjoy it more.

Another option for a spur of the moment camera is a Black Bessa L with a CV 25/4 snap-shot on it. IMHO the best cost effective combo ever made for a take everywhere camera. Built in meter, great lens, very light weight.

B2 (;->

 

[SR18]

I don't want to ask but I'm going to have to, what does the CV stand for?

 

[Rogrund]

I don't want to ask but I'm going to have to, what does the CV stand for?

CV = Cosina Voigtländer, the company behind the modern Bessas and many fine lenses.

 

[SR18]

Okay got it😱😱

 

[SR18]

After looking at some scans from the Zorki I see that there is large parallax effect, is this true of all RF cameras or would the likes of the Bessa-R eliminate this?

 

[rbiemer]

The parallax is true of all RF cameras. Some cameras have ways of indicating what the actual framing is going to be; moving framelines in the VF or marks to indicate close focus, for example.
At close distances, the parallax effect is bigger.
If you need very precise framing, RFs are not the best solution.
After a while you'll learn your camera and be able to mostly correct the framing to minimize the parallax.
Rob