silkyfeet
Established
hey guys im new to this forum. Im located in london england and im looking to purchase my first manual rangefinder to further my photography.
I got into photography a year ago once i got back from japan (love the east) and opted to purchase a canon 70d with (24mm,35mm,50mm and 85mm)as i could do filming and photography. I love photographing candid organic moments and street photography is well suited to my style. Im wanting to have a camera just for taking photographs nothing more and the rangefinder suits my needs which are:
*small
*quite
*has manual focusing (rangefinder style)
*manual controls
*no extras (video etc)
*
Ive been looking online to find stores and im finding it hard. ive been to aperture in central which they had loads of leicas but not much variety of other brands.
Is there any stores you guys could suggest and also cameras?
not looking for fixed lenses as im wanting a 35mm lens and 50mm.
The bessa r,r2, ikon zm/zi, lecia m2, ,m6, canon 7 are all cameras ive looked at from this site as i would want framelines 35,50.
price? well as its my first i want to take baby steps and see how i get on so leica m9 or mm is out of question lol
any help would be much appreciated
I got into photography a year ago once i got back from japan (love the east) and opted to purchase a canon 70d with (24mm,35mm,50mm and 85mm)as i could do filming and photography. I love photographing candid organic moments and street photography is well suited to my style. Im wanting to have a camera just for taking photographs nothing more and the rangefinder suits my needs which are:
*small
*quite
*has manual focusing (rangefinder style)
*manual controls
*no extras (video etc)
*
Ive been looking online to find stores and im finding it hard. ive been to aperture in central which they had loads of leicas but not much variety of other brands.
Is there any stores you guys could suggest and also cameras?
not looking for fixed lenses as im wanting a 35mm lens and 50mm.
The bessa r,r2, ikon zm/zi, lecia m2, ,m6, canon 7 are all cameras ive looked at from this site as i would want framelines 35,50.
price? well as its my first i want to take baby steps and see how i get on so leica m9 or mm is out of question lol
any help would be much appreciated
cassel
Well-known
Here's a couple in London- within walking distance of each other and the British Museum...
silkyfeet
Established
thanks for the response! im finding it very hard to find a store which has the bessa r or r2m or ikon. i want to see which i prefer in hand.
i spoke to most stores and none of the above stated.
i spoke to most stores and none of the above stated.
Snapper_uk
Well-known
There's a lot of places that sell Leica, not so many for Voigtlander or Zeiss.
These might;
http://www.apertureuk.com/
or for Leica
http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/
These might;
http://www.apertureuk.com/
or for Leica
http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/
silkyfeet
Established
@splitimageview - thanks for the site ill give them a cal tomo
@snapper uk - i was actually in aperture friday gone. great shop and help. they sold a bessa r2a so i was out of luck to try it. i nearly picked up a nikon f3...loved the feel in my hands. so far the only store ive found in uk with all cameras i want to try (voigtlanders,leicas, canons and zeiss) is a store i found on the net in manchester. i may either take a nice drive up or train as the feel of a camera in my hands is important to me.
what would you guys suggest as a good 35mm to start with (testing water out). never shot film before but love the viewfinder and manual focus of a rangefinder. shame the xpro-1 is aps-c and focus is horrible.
@snapper uk - i was actually in aperture friday gone. great shop and help. they sold a bessa r2a so i was out of luck to try it. i nearly picked up a nikon f3...loved the feel in my hands. so far the only store ive found in uk with all cameras i want to try (voigtlanders,leicas, canons and zeiss) is a store i found on the net in manchester. i may either take a nice drive up or train as the feel of a camera in my hands is important to me.
what would you guys suggest as a good 35mm to start with (testing water out). never shot film before but love the viewfinder and manual focus of a rangefinder. shame the xpro-1 is aps-c and focus is horrible.
Brian Atherton
Well-known
Not London, Silkyfeet, but Ffordes (in Scotland) has Bessas:
http://www.ffordes.com/category/Film_Cameras/Rangefinder/Voigtlander/Cameras
My only connection with them is as a satisfied customer via mail on their website. Their used equipment is sent out on a 10 day approval (see their T&Cs).
Also, alas, not in London, Collectable Cameras (Yorkshire) might be worth a call:
http://www.collectablecameras.com
Good luck... let us know how you get on!
http://www.ffordes.com/category/Film_Cameras/Rangefinder/Voigtlander/Cameras
My only connection with them is as a satisfied customer via mail on their website. Their used equipment is sent out on a 10 day approval (see their T&Cs).
Also, alas, not in London, Collectable Cameras (Yorkshire) might be worth a call:
http://www.collectablecameras.com
Good luck... let us know how you get on!
Brian Atherton
Well-known
Silkyfeet, in London there is
http://www.richardcaplan.co.uk
Currently http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/cameras/35mm-film.html has three Bessas.
http://www.richardcaplan.co.uk
Currently http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/cameras/35mm-film.html has three Bessas.
Bruno Gracia
Well-known
go to Aperture they're among the best, kind, friendly and funny people.
Dralowid
Michael
Now these people used to be something of an Aladdin's cave in Croydon but it looks like they have moved into town:
http://www.mrcad.co.uk/
http://www.mrcad.co.uk/
silkyfeet
Established
@brian atherton thanks for the info. i contacted ffordes but then realised a trip up north is not so practical as well as wanting to try the camera out due to feel. the nickwhite shop is in dorset which could be a drive to check it out.
@bruno gracia they truly are! When i went last week they was soooo helpful as this is all new to me. i got to the store at around 6:30pm and they allowed me to stay after 7pm which is the closing time of the store. if they had all the cameras i wanted to try i would just deal with them. this is where i tried the leica m6,m2 nikon f3 and f2. i call in everyday to check new stock lol
@dralowid just rang them none of the cameras i looking for but ill go and check them out.
i found a used bessa r3a with a 40mm nokton f1.4. not the framlines im looking for. In good condition how much would you expect to pay. Im planning on meeting the person today to look at camera. seems only way to checkout the bessa range.
@bruno gracia they truly are! When i went last week they was soooo helpful as this is all new to me. i got to the store at around 6:30pm and they allowed me to stay after 7pm which is the closing time of the store. if they had all the cameras i wanted to try i would just deal with them. this is where i tried the leica m6,m2 nikon f3 and f2. i call in everyday to check new stock lol
@dralowid just rang them none of the cameras i looking for but ill go and check them out.
i found a used bessa r3a with a 40mm nokton f1.4. not the framlines im looking for. In good condition how much would you expect to pay. Im planning on meeting the person today to look at camera. seems only way to checkout the bessa range.
bjmc
studying/printing
+1, absolutely the nicest guys in town. Fair prices, good service, etc.
All kit apart from Hasselblads is now in their Rathbone place shop, the Museum St. shop is now known only as the Camera Café, and sells coffee and Hasselblads
TennesseJones
Well-known
Big vote for Aperture from me.
Excellent service from expert staff, always buy from them if I can.
Excellent service from expert staff, always buy from them if I can.
kuvvy
Well-known
silkyfeet,
I'm guessing the store in Manchester you mentioned is the one where I work, The Real Camera Company. We only deal in used gear. We do have a decent selection in stock though this varies so much as we never know what's coming in through door at any time. We are always glad to help so I'd say give is a call or even send an email and we can tell you what's available.
Paul
I'm guessing the store in Manchester you mentioned is the one where I work, The Real Camera Company. We only deal in used gear. We do have a decent selection in stock though this varies so much as we never know what's coming in through door at any time. We are always glad to help so I'd say give is a call or even send an email and we can tell you what's available.
Paul
MikeDimit
Established
A question from my side. Does any of these shops take camera on consignment? have some cameras for sale and a nephew living in London. I dislike ebay and do not want to make my nephew life hard by giving him the task of selling cameras one by one. Any recommendations?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Spluff
Saras
Another vote for Aperture and R G Lewis.
In the British Museum Area, try York Cameras http://www.yorkcameras.co.uk
Or Museum Cameras - both a stone throw from the Museum itself.
Commission Sales - I have had superlative service from Ffordes. They will collect as well if the collection is sizeable. Great after-service as in full audit trail of what they are doing with your cameras/lenses etc.
In the British Museum Area, try York Cameras http://www.yorkcameras.co.uk
Or Museum Cameras - both a stone throw from the Museum itself.
Commission Sales - I have had superlative service from Ffordes. They will collect as well if the collection is sizeable. Great after-service as in full audit trail of what they are doing with your cameras/lenses etc.
Chrisrw
photomonkey
Can't recommend a store, but I sure love my Bessa R2. Sold my M5 in fact to buy one. Not as quiet as Leica, but...
Good luck and enjoy the search
Good luck and enjoy the search
bjmc
studying/printing
Aperture do this if you ask. 20% commission below £2k, 17%ish above. If your kit needs cleaning or servicing they'll subtract it from the final value achieved.
RichyD
Established
Camera World in Wells Street off Oxford Street also sell on consignment, similar 20% terms. I have done so and they are also helpful. London Camera Exchange also sell on commission, they have a branch in Strand.
silkyfeet
Established
guys cant thank you enough! i went to red dot camera today and its like camera porn lol. i felt like a kid in a candy store. so today i tried the m2,m3 and bessa r3a with a nokon 40mm 1.4. what i noticed is the brightness in the focusing square are miles different from lecia to bessa. m3 seed brighter in viewfinder than m2 which was a tad darker. both framelines and focus square in leica was very bright compared to the bessa.
i met a friend who was selling the bessa r3a,nokon 40mm 1.4, lens hood,grip, yellow filter, neck strap and polariser for £325. the condition of the body was good. tested everything for about 30mins. the lens was fine no dust. focus ring was smooth. the thing is the focusing square in viewfinder was not as bright so a tad tricker to focus. it needs a dust down as his not used it for a while.
why have i been exposed to leica loool. prob gonna still buy from friend and if i like it after a couple rolls of films ill upgrade. ill be making profit anyway. what do you guys think?
i met a friend who was selling the bessa r3a,nokon 40mm 1.4, lens hood,grip, yellow filter, neck strap and polariser for £325. the condition of the body was good. tested everything for about 30mins. the lens was fine no dust. focus ring was smooth. the thing is the focusing square in viewfinder was not as bright so a tad tricker to focus. it needs a dust down as his not used it for a while.
why have i been exposed to leica loool. prob gonna still buy from friend and if i like it after a couple rolls of films ill upgrade. ill be making profit anyway. what do you guys think?