MoTR
APX Addict
Hey everyone,
Im about to make the leap into the world of range finders due to my love for street photography, but however I cannot afford my M^ with 50mm f1.0 Nocti
So Im looking for an alternative, and the russian gear seems to be very good.
However with such a range Im kinda lost as to which would be best for me.
SO Im asking the pros here
What camera should I choose.
Mostly Black And White Street Photography.
CHeers in advance.
Jay from Ireland
Im about to make the leap into the world of range finders due to my love for street photography, but however I cannot afford my M^ with 50mm f1.0 Nocti
So Im looking for an alternative, and the russian gear seems to be very good.However with such a range Im kinda lost as to which would be best for me.
SO Im asking the pros here
What camera should I choose.
Mostly Black And White Street Photography.
CHeers in advance.
Jay from Ireland
Andrew Touchon
Well-known
MoTR said:Hey everyone,
Im about to make the leap into the world of range finders due to my love for street photography, but however I cannot afford my M^ with 50mm f1.0 Nocti
However with such a range Im kinda lost as to which would be best for me.
SO Im asking the pros here
What camera should I choose.
Mostly Black And White Street Photography.
CHeers in advance.
Jay from Ireland
If your concern is low light shooting why not consider the CV 35mm 1.2 Nokton ? Since it's M mount , you have a wide choice of bodies to mount it on.
DaveP
Well-known
Zorki 6 for what you want to do, with a Jupiter 8 and a Jupiter 12. The Z6 has a good viewfinder,lever wind, is small, opening back and its just plain flat a good camera............
MoTR
APX Addict
So Zorki 6? Nice and cheap too.
The jupiter 8 is only an f2, would there be any faster alternatives for that body? If there was something in the 1.4 range even if i had to pay a bit more?
The jupiter 8 is only an f2, would there be any faster alternatives for that body? If there was something in the 1.4 range even if i had to pay a bit more?
MoTR
APX Addict
Looking at the Jupiter 3 lens it seems like it would be nice, f1.5, is there many drawbacks to a J3?
And Im not really going for low light stuff, I just like the fast street photo style, ala Chris Weeks etc.
And Im not really going for low light stuff, I just like the fast street photo style, ala Chris Weeks etc.
Jocko
Off With The Pixies
MoTR said:
Indeed MoTR - the Jupiter 3 at f1.5. The problem is that although capable of superb results, they had very quirky quality control and often require adjustment.
Remember that the lack of a reflex box means rangefinders are much more stable at longer shutter speeds than SLRs: you can handhold in situations you wouldn't have dared to! That extra half stop isn't essential!
Cheers, Ian
brachal
Refrigerated User
I think the fastest FSU lens you're likely to find is the 1.5 Jupiter 3. I've heard it's a great lens if you can find a good one. Good ones are rare, especially in ltm, and the Jupiter 3 tends to be one of the most expensive FSU lenses.
I'd recommend a good Kiev 2a or 4a with the Jupiter 8 (3 if you can find one) and/or a Jupiter 12. The Helios 103 is 1.8 and has a good reputation. Bear in mind that FSU cameras tend to require more maintenance than what you might be used to. Light leaks and DIY adjustments seem to come with the territory. If you're adverse to that, I'd strongly recommend a Bessa R. A nice body, and you can use most Soviet ltm lenses with it.
I'd recommend a good Kiev 2a or 4a with the Jupiter 8 (3 if you can find one) and/or a Jupiter 12. The Helios 103 is 1.8 and has a good reputation. Bear in mind that FSU cameras tend to require more maintenance than what you might be used to. Light leaks and DIY adjustments seem to come with the territory. If you're adverse to that, I'd strongly recommend a Bessa R. A nice body, and you can use most Soviet ltm lenses with it.
MoTR
APX Addict
Hehe ^^^ Hmmm what I might do is pick up the Jupiter 8 and keep an eye out for a proven Jupiter 3 that is known to be working ok.
And the Zorki 6 does seem like a very nice cam. Good price too at my student income
And the Zorki 6 does seem like a very nice cam. Good price too at my student income
MoTR
APX Addict
brachal said:
Yeah no I wouldnt mind getting down inside, in fact itd be a welcome break from the digital world of sending everything away the min it breaks!
Hmmm only thing being the Kievs seem to be a bit more expensive from what I can see.
Jocko
Off With The Pixies
I think that if you're into fast street photography Dave's choice - a Jupiter 12 (35mm) - would be ideal. With a fast film you'll have no real problems, there's decent depth of field for scale focussing and pretty much any body will do as you'll need an accessory finder. The Zorki 6 is a very usable choice, though the FED 2 handles very well IMHO.
Cheers, Ian
Cheers, Ian
lushd
Donald
Hi Jay - welcome to the FSU corner. What's been suggested so far is excellent. The Zorki 4k is also very useable and likeable and takes Leica screw mount lenses. A reaonable one can be had for little money. I would suggest buying one of the suggestions and trying it. You'll end up owning the complete set sooner or later. May I suggest that you also go out and buy a nice cupboard to store all the gear you will soon own? You'll be glad you did!
Let us know what you buy and post some pictures. All of us here will heartily endorse Oleg Khalyavin as a man to buy from.
Let us know what you buy and post some pictures. All of us here will heartily endorse Oleg Khalyavin as a man to buy from.
MoTR
APX Addict
Teehe definitly one of the most friendly forumsIve visited
I think Ill go with a Zorki 6 and A Jupiter 8 to start and look out for a good Jupiter 3.
Ill report back with my shots and my final purchases.
And yes Id say its something u can really get causght into, just lucky I dont have the money for a lecia
I think Ill go with a Zorki 6 and A Jupiter 8 to start and look out for a good Jupiter 3.
Ill report back with my shots and my final purchases.
And yes Id say its something u can really get causght into, just lucky I dont have the money for a lecia
Jocko
Off With The Pixies
lushd said:
That's absolutely right: he has a reputation second to none. You can get to his site directly by pressing the "Russian Cameras" cool link on the home page. Remember that his pictures show his cameras before he works on them, so some can look a bit rough!
Ian
robin a
Well-known
Ians spot on,I recieved a Fed2d yesterday from Oleg.It didn't look like the same camera I ordered,and ohhh so smooth.Now if he only had a Zorki 3m,I've got bad GASJocko said:
R
ruben
Guest
It depends upon your concept of street photography. If you are talking about buildings and monuments, any system Soviet camera goes.
If you are talking about people, then no Russian RF is up to the job for being too slow to manipulate in general, and specially regarding all time dancing people. Better you find either an autoexposure fixed lens Japanese camera, like the Yashica GSN, for the same price, or the more pricey GX yet smaller and lighter, or you climb upwards in price towards something else.
"My 2 cents"
Ruben
PS: As you see from my avatar, I am a Soviet RFs fan, from the Kiev breed.
If you are talking about people, then no Russian RF is up to the job for being too slow to manipulate in general, and specially regarding all time dancing people. Better you find either an autoexposure fixed lens Japanese camera, like the Yashica GSN, for the same price, or the more pricey GX yet smaller and lighter, or you climb upwards in price towards something else.
"My 2 cents"
Ruben
PS: As you see from my avatar, I am a Soviet RFs fan, from the Kiev breed.
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Jocko
Off With The Pixies
ruben said:
TREASON!
Ruben! You Bukharinite Saboteur! The Workers of the World Stand aghast at your perfidious machinations!
Comrades! Do not heed the siren song of this wicked Yashicaite Class Enemy, diabolical tool of the International Pentax Cyclops!
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R
ruben
Guest
Jocko said:
My attorney issued me a data sheet with the following evidence:
a) my avatar is still the same, and not by accident.
b) http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24640
c) Kievs are for love, if you need to marry better go practical.
d) & e) are kept in secrecy by now.
Cheers,
Ruben
:angel:
Jocko
Off With The Pixies
captainslack
Five Goats Hunter
While I don't want to be hauled in front of the Politburo, I would recommend you look at the Canonet QL-17 GIII before you make any purchases. It's got everything you need apart from interchangable lenses: fast lenses (f/1.7), wind lever, super quiet shutter (quieter than my Leica IIf, in fact), and shutter priority. Not to mention of the sharpest lenses around.
I would recommend you look at the Canonet QL-17 GIII before you make any purchases. It's got everything you need apart from interchangable lenses: fast lenses (f/1.7), wind lever, super quiet shutter (quieter than my Leica IIf, in fact), and shutter priority. Not to mention of the sharpest lenses around.
clarence
ダメ
ruben said:
I would disagree: Not if you have a wide angle lens. I've been using a Cosina-Voigtlaender 25mm lens (and a homemade viewfinder) on my FED-2 for the past few months and just shooting it from waist level on the street or quickly raising it to my eye. Focusing is all done with hyperfocal distance, so I hardly adjust the focus, aperture or shutter speeds. Results have been rather consistently good. The same could be done with a Jupiter-12 35mm lens or an Orion-15 28m lens.
Clarence