Newcomer Question

[prunci]

Hi,

I am new to the Forum and am contemplating my first rangefinder. I've used SLRs for years, but am intrigued by the possibilities of rangefinders, as everyone else is around here. I'm looking at either the Bessa R2A or R3A as a point of entry.

My question concerns viewfinders. My understanding is that the key feature of the R3A is the 1:1 viewfinder enabling one to keep both eyes open during use. I am left-handed and would use my left eye in the viewfinder, which would mean the camera body would obscure the rest of my face and right eye. So, would there be any reason for me to prefer the R3A viewfinder over that of the R2A, seeing that keeping both eyes open wouldn't matter for me? I'm also thinking ahead here. Assuming I might move up the ladder to a Leica/COontax/etc. in the future, would it be advantageous not to get used to a 1:1 viewfinder?

Thanks for your help!

Paul

 

[RayPA]

I don't have the R3A, and I've never shot with a 1:1 vf. I like framelines (as opposed to an external vf), so I'm glad that I have an M because it gets me down to 28. The R3A stops at 40 (by virtue of the 1:1 finder) and the R2A at 35 (thanks to the .68 finder). I guess it depends on what you want. If you're good with the choice of 40, 50, 75, 90 framelines, and external vfinders for everything else, then the R3A will work. If you prefer the 35, instead of the 40, then the R2A, R2, or the R may be what you want. If you want framelines for everything then maybe a used/user leica or something else is what you want. 🙂

 

[Doug]

True, and I understand the R2a's 35mm framelines are much easier to see than the R3a's 40mm frames. If left-eyed, you'd see the scene with both eyes only for vertical shots, and then only if you are a "wind-lever-down" vertical shooter! I too am left-eyed, so I just totally dismiss the 1:1 viewfinder issue... Except I have a couple of external Voigtlander finders that are 1:1 and that's pretty nice. 🙂 BTW, a lot of external finders have bright framelines, the better ones anyway.