...new guy

[ranger]

Well, lurked long enough. Never used a rangfinder but have always been interested. Have an old Nikon FE and F2A. Always thought I'd buy a Leica some day but wow! they just don't get cheaper do they?! Did a lot of research and ordered myself the silver Bessa R with the 35/2.5 From what I've read here, I probably won't be disappointed. Would like to get back into the B&W again. Always fun doing darkroom. So it sounds like the focussing is just a matter of lining up two images? Anyone have a screen shot of that? This camera is just what I need to get back to the simple basics of just taking nice photographs. Too much high tech can be boring sometimes. Glad to meet all of you. Rob.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

If you can handle a "K" screeen, you can handle an RF!

Welcome aboard. You'll have a lot of fun with the Bessa R.

A user condition M2 or M3 will dip under $700, add a lens you are under $1,000. Occasionally something cheaper comes along. But I remember paying $485 for my (Then) new F2a in 1979 and another $260 for the 43~86....

 

[egpj]

Glad you could make it into our little corner of cyber space. I think you find this forum really cordial and informative. Please post your pics when you fire that Bessa up.

WELCOME!

 

[ranger]

sounds good. Looking forward to learning lots from you guys. I'll post 'em when i get 'em. Rob

 

[Andrew Touchon]

Welcome! 🙂

 

[reagan]

Leicas ain't gettin' cheaper and neither is hanging around on this forum. These guys have got contagious terminal GAS and don't mind passin' it to others. You don't even have to be a member. You can catch it just by lerking... oh, but I guess you know that. 😉

Just the same, welcome aboard, Rob. Since you've already been infected, you might as well hang around and enjoy your new Bessa. .... A good choice, by the way.

 

[ray_g]

Welcome, Rob. C'mon in, the water's fine. 😉

 

[sf]

a patch from my RF645

a patch from my RF645

here is the best shot i have of the patch. I would take a better one, but my digicam is dead - probably permanently since i don't feel like paying the cost of a Bessa R and lens to fix it.

How it works, is that you will see one patch (in most cases), and two images sliding side to side within that patch, according to your twisting the focus on the lens. You'll see double vision inside the patch until things are focused. And, just for clarity, there is one image inside the patch that doesn't move, and the other than moves with your focus, side to side.

It is REALLY easy, and much easier, in my experience, to get super sharp focus since you don't have to eyeball the focus as you do with an SLR. You just line up the split images. Allows people with imperfect vision to get things done.

I have circled the patch where the focusing happens in my viewfinder.

 

[sf]

I agree with the too much high tech is boring. Very much so. I really got disgusted with all my high-tech junk. The only high-tech gear I really appreciate is the pocket wizard. Oh, how i love that little guy.

You'll love it here (at RFF and in RF-land). We'll push you into a Leica sooner or later. Or, at least, they (Leica users) will. The Skopar . . . I assume that is what your lens is, is fantastic.

 

[JoeFriday]

welcome aboard, ranger.. you'll get the hand of the RF/VF patch in no time.. just spend some time practicing around the house in order to be able to focus quickly.. and that CV lens should give you some nice sharp photos.. good choice!

 

[peter_n]

Welcome Rob! 🙂

 

[ranger]

Wonderful! I didnt expect that about the 'patch' I just assumed the entire image shifted. Very cool! I've read this is a very exact way of focussing. Yes, it's the skopar lens. And yes, I still find myself looking online at all the RF Leica's. Like a kid in a candy store!

 

[ray_g]

So it sounds like the focussing is just a matter of lining up two images? Anyone have a screen shot of that?

Not to fuel your desire for Leicas 😉 , but if you download any of the Leica M instruction manuals you will find detailed descriptions and illustrations about focusing, holding the camera, etc, which are applicable to RF's in general.

 

[Gerry M]

Welcome to THE forum Rob. I'm sure you will adjust to rf focusing very quickly. I have R2a/Skopar 35-2.5 also. Very sharp lens. My Nikons are mostly shelf bound these days.
Best regards, Gerry

 

[wlewisiii]

Welcome, sir. I, too, think you'll learn how it works fast and easy. Just mount your lens, point it at darn near anything and start turning it. You'll catch on in no time.

As for Leica lust, that's well understood around here. However, you have to be even more careful or you might find yourself infected by Canon Curiosity... it's a much more subtle bug carried by joe, Brian S. and myself as well as more than a few others 😀 I know this all too well :bang: :bang: :bang: :angel: 😀

William

 

[ch1]

Welcome, sir. I, too, think you'll learn how it works fast and easy. Just mount your lens, point it at darn near anything and start turning it. You'll catch on in no time.

As for Leica lust, that's well understood around here. However, you have to be even more careful or you might find yourself infected by Canon Curiosity... it's a much more subtle bug carried by joe, Brian S. and myself as well as more than a few others 😀 I know this all too well :bang: :bang: :bang: :angel: 😀

William

And don't forget Nikon Necessity.

Welcome Rob, I too have joined the RFF community with a Nikon S2 and Bessa R2S.

And I've also learned a whole new appreaciation for what it is to have GAS! 😀

 

[robert blu]

Wellcome Rob ! I'm also new in this forum and after (but still sometimes using hi-tech SRL, sorry friends) started to use a Bessa R for curiosity I'm using it more and more. I'm also waiting the ... moment (and money !) to buy a Leica M, but mainly because my father was german, I learned from him to take photos and I desire to find my roots ! Bessa R is a good camera, you'll be happy with it ! ciao, robert


my photos http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=3692

 

[dostacos]

Welcome Rob, stick with a nice side opening Bessa, after all do you REALLY want to deal with a camera who's BOTTOM falls off? 😀

 

[kmack]

And don't forget Nikon Necessity.

...find yourself infected by Canon Curiosity...

Lets there is also :
Leica Lust
FSU Flu (Fed fever)
Bessa Burn
Hexar Hoarding
Zeissgeist (The Contax Disease)

and more 😀
They are all contagious.

 

[ranger]

I already have 'Canon Curiosity' The Canon P. I've liked the look of those for a while. Actually if anyone has one in good shape with a decent lens, I'd be willing to unload Nikon FE or Nikon F2a. They just sit there anyway....someone would make off quite well I guess. (although I don't even know what a 'P' is worth! ) Anyway, keep it in mind. Never traded anything or did an 'E-bay' before, so I dont know exactly how it's done. Rob


ps Where is my Bessa? I now have three days off, maybe the delivery gods will be with me. 😛