Newest of the newbs.. A friendly hello!

[f/stopblues]

Hey all! I've been lurking around these parts for a while now and thought I'd finally show myself! I've been very impressed by this little community here. It seems to be a very friendly and knowledgeable bunch , and I look forward to picking your brains in the future! It's nice to see a place where photography is treated like a craft and an art, instead of a race to the biggest, baddest peice of technology on the market. It's about the love baby! 😀

A little backround on my place on the photographic food chain.. I've been shooting for about 4 or 5 years now, a relative infant compared to most of you! In the last year or so I've come to realize that the simpler my equipment, the more I can concentrate on what I'm really out to do. That realization led me to switch to a handful of primes to let my feet do the zooming, a focus on limited types of film/developer/printing, and a simple switch to that little "M" on my program dial. One other thing was the single biggest contributor to my photographic knowledge and confidence, which was to buy a Mamiya TLR and a grey card. The mystique of exposure was suddenly wiped away! Matrix metering does nothing for the learning curve..

Very soon I'll be weening myself completely off the slr and picking up one of those oh-so-tasty 35mm rangefinders and off I go. Thanks all, for being such a cool group!

Chris

 

[cp_ste.croix]

Welcome to RFF! This truly is a sanctuary in an oasis of poop.

How do you like your Mamiya? Do you have different lenses for it? I've been thinking about getting one.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

> simple switch to that little "M"

In my book, "M" stands for "M3". As in Leica M3. Not that any of us have strong opinions, "P" stands for Canon P, "7" stands for Canon 7, "SP" stands for Nikon.

It sounds like you really want to get into this. Look at a few of the "Advise wanted" threads on picking out cameras. You will quickly convince yourself to learn by others errs! Look at the galleries, a lot of good examples of the different cameras. And be sure to look at the Cameras and Coffee Thread for shots of almost every RF made.

Some of us also use SLR's and Digitals. But just on Bad Days...

 

[back alley]

welcome!

this is the place for lovers of rf gear and photography in general.

joe

 

[Stephanie Brim]

We can help you with that whole buying cameras thing, can't we guys? 😀 *evil smile*

 

[DerekF]

Welcome to the forums, Chris! Hope you enjoy your stay here, but be careful... if you value your money, you've come to the wrong place because within weeks, you'll be spending it on new (used) gear. :angel:

 

[f/stopblues]

I see what you guys mean about spending money.. After just my first post I already got a private message about a rf for sale! Must.. resist..... This could prove to be tough! I've already tried to justify in my mind an M6 and some delicious looking lenses.

I wish I had a little switch labeled "M" that changed my camera to an M.. mmm.. but by the "M" I meant manual, but I'm sure you know that! Just clarifying 😎

As for the Mamiya, I love it but I think it mostly has to do with what a radical departure from 35mm it is. I have a couple lenses but 90% of the time I use the 80mm. The other is a 55mm. It came with a Porrofinder which IMHO is junk. It was dark and akward and not fun to use. About the only reason to use one is if you have some terrible phobia of looking down into the camera. I bought a magnifying finder that switches from 2x to 6x with a dial and it's a joy to use and much easier to focus. It's not a work of mechanical art by any means, but it seems to get the job done. The one problem I've had is that it doesn't space frames very well. Out of about 30 or so rolls, I've had about 3 or 4 frames that have slightly overlapped. Overall I'd say it's a great way to get into med format without dropping $$$ on bodies and glass.

Take care!
Chris

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Eh, M6. Nothing could be better than the mechanical beauty that is the M3. 😉

 

[peter_n]

Welcome Chris! 🙂 As Stephanie says, we can definitely help you with spending your money. So my advice is when you think M well that's M for modern so that means an M6TTL or M7. Nothing else will do! 😀

 

[johne]

M3s were first and grand but, for 35 mm shooting, the M2 reigns! IMHO THAT IS.
JOHNE

Of course, I jsut ordered an M2 with 50mm summicron and am waiting impatiently for it. Gassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!

 

[kiev4a]

I see what you guys mean about spending money.. After just my first post I already got a private message about a rf for sale! Must.. resist..... This could prove to be tough! I've already tried to justify in my mind an M6 and some delicious looking lenses.

I wish I had a little switch labeled "M" that changed my camera to an M.. mmm.. but by the "M" I meant manual, but I'm sure you know that! Just clarifying 😎

As for the Mamiya, I love it but I think it mostly has to do with what a radical departure from 35mm it is. I have a couple lenses but 90% of the time I use the 80mm. The other is a 55mm. It came with a Porrofinder which IMHO is junk. It was dark and akward and not fun to use. About the only reason to use one is if you have some terrible phobia of looking down into the camera. I bought a magnifying finder that switches from 2x to 6x with a dial and it's a joy to use and much easier to focus. It's not a work of mechanical art by any means, but it seems to get the job done. The one problem I've had is that it doesn't space frames very well. Out of about 30 or so rolls, I've had about 3 or 4 frames that have slightly overlapped. Overall I'd say it's a great way to get into med format without dropping $$$ on bodies and glass.

Take care!
Chris

Never had much use for the Porrofinder on a Mamiya. Like you said --junk. The Mamiya is a great camera, however, even if it isn't RF. And the 120 negs are a joy to work with.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

>Eh, M6. Nothing could be better than the mechanical beauty that is the M3.

And who would we be to disagree with a woman with such fine taste.

 

[Skinny McGee]

Hey Chris this is an awesome site the people are great.

On the other hand this site can lead you down a dark path..... Where you will do anything for money to get that next thing on the horizon.. Watch out for the pushers...... The first one might be free but boy will it cost you in the end....

Just kidding ( not really)
Welcome to show
Skinny

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Heh, Heh, Heh. Yup, sending out those FREE Flash Socket caps for the M3 that Someone just bought.