My brand new R3a!

[Johnmcd]

Hi from Oz,

Just caught the Rangefinder bug!

Birthday on Friday so I splashed out and bought a R3a and 40/1.4. Have been thinking of going back to the basics of film for a while. Looking for a 'low-light street' camera. The 1.4 looks perfect. Especially for some low light band shots. Will try it out at the Radio Birdman gig on the 29th July for those Australians old enough to remember 🙂

Been shooting digital (20D) for a few years now and it has its place too. But without a large sensor DSLR high iso is poor at best and lugging that around is out of the question at times.

Now looking forward to developing my first roll of HP5 @ 1600. I used that combination for years for interior weddings with my trusty OM1.

It was a tough decision to go with the R3 or R2 but the 40/1.4 made the difference. I wasn't going to buy today but as soon as I held it in my hands, it was a done deal 🙂 It is a work of art. Also held a Leica M6 Titanium - I like the Voit better, or am I just biased?

Will post some pics as soon as I can.

What next? hmmm... 21mm I think.

Cheers,

John

PS - I think I'll be asking lots of questions until I get the hang of this beautiful camera.

 

[Don Parsons]

Hi!

Hi!

Hello John and welcome!

Congrats on your purchase.

I was in NYC this weekend and held a R2a and a M4. I liked the feel of the R2a better. I can get two of them for the M4's price. I have a 35mm canon screwmount lense, so I'll be off and running shortly.

Let's see some photos from it!

don

 

[simonankor]

Nice one, John... hello from SA. I'm lusting after an R3a and Nokton at the moment, but I think I can resist the temptation as long as my R is still running nicely - which it is!

Enjoy 🙂

 

[chug]

Yeah but an R3a is so much nicer.. Hell, an R3m and lens would way better.. You know you want one Simon.. Or even an M6.. you saw the price tag on mine! 😉 The 40mm 1.4 lens is fantastic and so so nice to use. Works well on any M mount camera you put it on. 🙂 Dont forget about the 15mm lens, its good too! 🙂

 

[Johnmcd]

Thanks for the welcome Don. Off to buy some HP5 and chemicals. Now where is my old change bag and tank...? Photos to come soon 🙂

Cheers,

John

 

[simonankor]

*rocks back and forth chanting* I don't need to buy Chug's M6 I don't need to buy Chug's M6 I don't need to buy Chug's M6 I don't need to buy Chug's M6 I don't need to buy Chug's M6 I don't need to buy Chug's M6 I don't need to buy Chug's M6 I don't need to buy Chug's M6

 

[chug]

You so do.. Next time you might get more of a chance to play with it and then you'll be doomed! 😉 Altho you could just get an R3a from mainline with the 40mm lens much cheaper. 🙂

 

[Rafael]

Welcome to the forum John. I look forward to seeing your pics. I just ordered a CV 21/4 for myself. If you're interested, there has been quite a bit of discussion about that lens here in the past few days.

 

[Fred]

Welcome John.

I love the CV21, its a very small lens but does vignett a tad at wider apertures more noticeable if your using slide film like Fuji Velvia. Not as obvious using negative film though, stop down to F8 and it improves a lot. The R2/3A cameras are pretty robust and have the useful aperture AE.

 

[mercedes_sl1970]

Hi there John

I'm attracted to the 40/1.4 and hence interested in the 3A - it and the 2A both look like excellent cameras. Haven't managed to handle one yet (maybe next week in Sydney). How do you find the 1:1 viewfinder (I don't wear glasses)? Conceptually, it seems like a good idea, but I have read some mixed reports. Appreciate yours or anyone elses thoughts.

Thanks

Andrew

 

[atelier7]

where do you guys in aus buy your vc equipment from?
One of our sponsors here on RFF or in local shops?
any recommendations for shops in sydney?

 

[Johnmcd]

where do you guys in aus buy your vc equipment from?
One of our sponsors here on RFF or in local shops?
any recommendations for shops in sydney?

Hi,

Mainline Photographics in Crows Nest. Very helpful and have a good stock of cameras and lens.

http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au/webcontent2.htm

Cheers,

John

 

[Johnmcd]

Hi there John

I'm attracted to the 40/1.4 and hence interested in the 3A - it and the 2A both look like excellent cameras. Haven't managed to handle one yet (maybe next week in Sydney). How do you find the 1:1 viewfinder (I don't wear glasses)? Conceptually, it seems like a good idea, but I have read some mixed reports. Appreciate yours or anyone elses thoughts.

Thanks

Andrew

Andrew,

I am still getting used to the 1:1 finder as I have used a SLR for many years. I just need to keep my eye centred and it is becoming very easy after some practice - so is the focussing! You feel very 'close' to your subject and more intimate.

Cheers,

John

 

[mercedes_sl1970]

Thanks, John. That's good to hear. I'll hopefully be going to have a look next week at Mainline Photo when I am in Sydney. How's the lens? I like the "compromise" of a 40 compared to a 35 or 50, and it does get very favourable reviews.

Also, what are the 75 and 90 framelines like? Not too small? I'm thinking about a combination of a 40 and a 75 or 90.

Andrew

 

[Johnmcd]

Andrew,

All the frame lines are very visible. In fact the 40mm are the hardest to see as they are closest to the edge of the viewfinder. You can 'lose' some of them if your eye isn't centred. Those with glasses might struggle. In that respect the R2a is probably better. The beauty of Mainline is you can have a fiddle with both cameras and compare directly. Likewise with the lenses.

I am looking forward to using the 40/1.4 in low light. How much would it cost me to get a 1.4 lense for my D20? 🙂 I think the 40mm will be just right for a small theatre like the Metro if I can get close enough to the stage.

Cheers,

John

 

[Ted Witcher]

I also took the plunge and bought an R3a and 40mm Nok, then exchanged the 40 for the 50 because the framelines were difficult to see, wearing glasses as I do. The I came across an excellent deal on eBay for a nearly mint M6 TTL and picked that up, too. I was way overbudget last week, let me tell you! Then I started selling my G2 stuff to pay for it and am catching up.

About the CV: that 1:1 is pretty amazing and really affects how the pictures are made. My habit has been to use my left eye and help to steady the camera by pressing it against my nose. Then, sort of by accident, I put it up to my right eye and a whole new world opened up. With both eyes open it's like, well, watching the world as you normally would, only you have framelines superimposed over it. And the rangefinder patch seems bigger, as well. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't -- I'm not sure of the specs -- but it certainly seems that way. I immediately thought Leica should offer a 1:1 VF in their line-up. There are definitely things to recommend the R3a.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Then, sort of by accident, I put it up to my right eye and a whole new world opened up. With both eyes open it's like, well, watching the world as you normally would, only you have framelines superimposed over it.

Yes, here too. It not only affects your seeing the subject but also how the subject sees you back. Closer, more involved. Works best with people, not landscapes though.

 

[jmilkins]

hi from Melbourne John. I use the R3a with a rokkor 40, and like it a lot too. I picked up a side grip and later a trigger winder that make the erognomics even nicer IMHO.

I bought the R3a from Steven Gandy when he had a free freight special just before they were released. - it's number 00053x. lowish. They didn't have an english instruction manual then (not that you need one) so Steven sent me a pdf.

I also really like the 15mm and have a 75 on the way which I reckon will match nicely with the 40.
looking forward to your Hp5 shots.

 

[Johnmcd]

John,

Hi. Just picked up some FP4 and HP5. Didn't realise how scarse this stuff had become at what I thought were large photographic outlets (Ted's and Camera House). All Digital...

One had no chemicals at all and the other had only one type. From memory I'd like to get some Micrphen to push to 1600. Neither had any 35mm developing tanks or such, lucky my brother still has all my old stuff.

Times have changed and I didn't even notice. It seems like one day all the stuff is in stock and the next day nothing!

Now I have to decide whether to load 125 or 400 - can't change iso at will like I am used to 🙂

Cheers,

John

 

[kully]

Now I have to decide whether to load 125 or 400 - can't change iso at will like I am used to 🙂

This is when you start justifying a second body... ;-)