R2M or R3M?

K

Kristopher

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Jan 28, 2007
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Hi everyone,

I am new to rangefinder photography. I usually use a Pentax *istdL dslr but I felt in love with the 40mm Nokon. In fact I realized that it was way less expensive to get high quality rf lenses than slr one's.

I am planning to buy a Bessa. First I tough that a R3M was the best option because of the 40mm viewfinder but since I wear glasses (small ones) I wonder if the R2M could be a better choice using the 50mm viewfinder.

I will use it mostly for street b&w photography and sometimes indoor. (digital is very poor for b&w).

Finally, if someone have a convinsing argument about going for the r3a, go for it, am open to all possibilities !

Thank a lot!

Kristopher
 
Welcome.

Many people with glasses get on fine with an R3 and 40mm. I can't always see the framelines but they're so close to the edge of the viewfinder that I frame with the whole viewfinder area anyway.

Who ever frames perfectly for street photos anyway?

Check out the upcoming R4 with framelines for 21/25/28/35/50 (but not 40, would need to use the 35 framelines and guess a little). That would be my choice today.
 
I wear glasses and I use the 40mm without a problem on a R3M.

"Who ever frames perfectly for street photos anyway?"
 
It's really a matter of what you think will be your standard lens and making sure that there are framelines for that. A lot of street shooters like the 35mm so the R2 A or M is the one to choose.

I always find 40mm a slightly odd focal length, either too short or too long.
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I too love the 40mm Nokton and I have to agree with Jon. I don't wear glasses but when I'm shooting (I shoot almost exclusivly street and editorial projects) I really don't worry about the framelines and compose with what I can see. The 40mm framelines are so close to the outside that, unless your subject is RIGHT on the framelines (and in this situation you could just situate yourself), anything slightly cut off is minimal and has no bearing on the image.
 
A last question

A last question

Thanks a lot for your help.

I have a last question, Is the exposure meter clearly visible?
If yes, I thing I will go for R3M.

What a wonderfull forum!

Kristopher
 
Well I own the R3A and can see the red LEDs perfectly at night...really good during overcast days...and it can sometimes be a little hard to see in bright daylight but if you take a second to look at it you won't have a problem.
 
"Who ever frames perfectly for street photos anyway?"

No disrespect intended, but several names come to mind. Alex Webb, Cartier-Bresson, Constantine Manos....

I don't wear glasses, but I have an R3M and find I have to get my eye right up against the viewfinder to frame see the 40 mm lines well enough to frame confidently. So close, in fact, that the viewfinder started fogging up a bit in the cold winter air last night.

The 1:1 finder is great, though. Perhaps buy the 3 and contacts?
 
Consider the Rollei 35 RF. It has 40 mm frame lines, but uses the same 0.7x magnification as the Bessa R3M, making the frame lines much easier to see. It's built by Cosina & is in most ways a clone of the Bessa R2 but with 40/50/80 frame lines. It''a a little cheaper than the R3M.
 
I've got the R3A and can't use it with glasses on - but I don't like any camera with my glasses on

I've simply put a dioptre correction lens on it so I don't need to use my glasses - works fine for me

If you're going for 50mm - the bigger magnification of the R3's makes sense
The only reason for going for the R2's would be to used the 35mm

Glyn
 
I'm with Glyn in that I use a corrective diopter with my R3A and never attempt to wear glasses while shooting. I even used a 35mm lens on it for awhile using the entire field of view as a frame.

Later, I did get an R2A as well (also with a diopter) so my bases are covered.

Anyway, if you can manage it, you might consider going the diopter route sans glasses.
 
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