Newbe!!!!

S

stevewadlington

Guest
Hi to all,

I've been lurking for a few weeks and finally joined. A little history: in the 70's I shot for gov and industry but got burnt out and dropped out. I used to shoot whatever cameras were needed at work and leicas on my own. At some point I needed to use slr's for my own work and sold the leicas (everyone shed some tears). I have missed them ever since!

I really haven't shot alot for 20 years except family pics with point and shoots. I still have all my old nikon gear but it's not the same when you don't have a darkroom anymore. Photography loses its' immediacy when you don't see the results for a long time. This summer I bought a nikon d70 and it brought back the fun of seeing results. Personally I hate the camera itself, it feels like a computer game, but its' really neat to get on the computer and output results.

Which brings me to the point! I do miss rangefinders, they're not for everything, but they are special for many things. I would like a leica m6 system but really can't justify the money because I will use the slr mostly. So I put a deposit on a R2A today.

Steve Wadlington
 
Welcome Steve! :) Congrats on the R2A!! You have a lens for it?

Don't forget to register as a member of the forum... ;)
 
Lens'!!!!!!!

Lens'!!!!!!!

So many choice's. I want a rf for a compact camera I will carry everywhere, so rf lens are pretty compact. I have a bunch on nikon lenses, so I could put one of those slr adapters on and use a 24 and 35 and maybe a 50, but then I lose the compact nature. I still have a month to decide till the R2A comes in, of course I've been trying to decide for the past 6 mo. Decisions, decisions! I still need to get a scanner which demands money too. I loaded up some TriX in a nikon fe w/ 50/1.4 and did some shooting this week (I work on a oil platform for a week at a time) so when I get home I'll do the first processing in 25 years. I need!!!! a scanner, the wife has started shaking her head lately, O no, it's happening to him again.

Steve
 
hey steve, welcome to the forum.

good luck with the new bessa, i doubt you will be disappointed.

maybe think about a cv 35 or 50 to start with. one of the slower (2.5) ones would be a bit less money without a great sacrifice unless you really like those 'available darkness' shots.

another suggestion is to try shooting xp2, ilford's chromogenic film to start with. this way you can get 1 hour processing plus scans done by a decent local lab for not too much cash.
all the while hoarding your change till you can afford the scanner of choice.

just a thought based on what i'm doing while waiting for a scanner of my own.

joe
 
Welcome Steve.
And tell the wife she's joined a "head-shaking" community here - LOL.
 
Welcome, Steve! And take my advice, don't argue when your wife tells you you've gone off the deep end. It just makes it worse :rolleyes:

I never used anything but SLRs until recently, and I'm having a lot of fun with rangefinders. I'd recommend a CV 2.5/35mm if you want something compact. I got the 35 and 50, but find myself using the 35 almost exclusively.

Another thing, hang around here and you'll wind up buying some used beauties like a Yashica GSN, a Canonet GIII 17, or even (gasp) one of the Ukraine models..

May your pictures prosper..

Michael
 
Yes, you'll know that you've sunk to the lowest levels of rangefinder depravity when you order a FED from someone named Igor in the Ukraine and wonder if anything will show up.
 
Memories

Memories

Gordon,

Your picture brings back memories. I had one of those fold up flash bulb units. One time I was struggling to put a bulb in in a hurry but my hand was pushing the trip button on back, so as soon as the bulb went in, it went off. Melted my finger tips and left me with a big round light floating in my eyes, I couldn't see the view camera screen for 30 mins. I never had a m. universal, I did have a Koni Omega though. I've always liked oddball stuff too.
Used to ride BMW motorcycles but now Harley.

Steve
 
Steve, welcome to the forum and welcome back to the world of rangefinders. I know you're going to enjoy that R2a. Based on your Leica experience do you have a focal length preference? 35mm? 50mm?

Picking up on what Joe said, XP2 is a fine way to get back into B&W and one of your options these days, at many photo labs, is to have your film developed, no prints, but scanned to CD. That gives you computer-ready images while you're deciding on a scanner.

Gene
 
Hi Steve & welcome.

I'm a newcomer to this forum and as you said. "I've been lurking for a few weeks and finally joined." (nice group here)

I share your pain in the loss (sale) of my one and only Leica. It was a late model IIIf, in pristine condition. It could have used a good CLA but the lens coating & front element had scartch marks.

I sold this camera on impulse then gave the money to my younger daughter for a wedding dress. All's not lost because in February we are expecting our second grandchild.

In the meantime, I have been busy on eBay and have aquired several RFs , among them a KIEV 4a from a fellow called Oleg.

After a little tinkering and cleaning, I was quite pleased with the results.

One of these days, I'm going to excavate my "workshop/office" and re-activate my darkroom.

Best regards to all,

Bill K.
 
Welcome Steve and Bill!

Steve, I'm still a BMW rider, and Bill, it interesting to see more members from the Toronto area. We're going to have to have a RFF "local" meeting some day.
 
Welcome! I think you will find as I have that these folks are very freindly and helpful and slightly twisted(its a good thing). They have helped me with some really dumb questions and been gracious about it! And the gallery is amazing. I haven't seen but a small bit of it but I try to look at some of it every time I stop by.
Lots of good stuff here! Glad to have you around.
Rob
 
Hi Bill, and welcome from another GTA member.

FrankS said:
Bill, it interesting to see more members from the Toronto area. We're going to have to have a RFF "local" meeting some day.
Click to expand...

I'd say we have just about enough Toronto area members to form a pub lunch! :D

Gene
 
Hi Gene and thanks for the welcoming words.

I have just had a quick look at your gallery and must say it's very impressive.

Are you a boater (sailor) by any chance?

I used to sail out of TSCC in Toronto many years ago.

Regards,

Bill K.
 
Back in universtiy (many years ago now) I had a girlfriend who's father had a membership and a sailboat at RCYC. Very hoiti-toiti! White pants and a tie required to board the private ferry to the club on the island.
 
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