BillBingham2
Registered User
DO NOT READ THIS POST. NAS (Nikon Acquisition Sickness) might get into your blood stream........
I used to use my M4-P and M6 with a 35 'Cron on it with one hand. The focusing tab as about in the right place and in the other hand I used a Vivitar 283, weddings and night stuff. It worked OK for most of time and when it didn't I used a few fingers from my left hand.
Because everything is not in the sweat spot for what an RF does (without lots of add-ons) I carried a Nikon SLR with two lenses. 85/1.8 and 180/2.8 ED (and a teleconverter) that allowed me to reach out for stuff I could not get any other way. It was a bit of a pain as I had to think about which camera I was bringing to my eye to shoot with. You see I adjust my cameras as I bring them up for focus and/or exposure. Nikons move one way and Leica's move the other. While it worked I never got used to it. I think that cameras are a tool and to me a good tool is one that you do not think about when you are using. It blends into a part of you so you can concentrate on the task at hand, not what you are using. Even though both tools were world class and I can use them in my sleep, together not so much.
After a very expensive and frustrating nine month trip with two Keivs and 1 FED-2 that included shipping them back across the pond to a well known serviceman I had it. I really like the hold on the Keiv but could not justify any more russian roulette with time, film or cash.
I bought what looked to be a good S2 and 50/1.4 on Evil Bay and had it shipped right to Stephen for CLA. While I knew the shutter would be fine, I did not want to loose any more time. She came back wonderful, all adjusted and cleaned. I found that I like the S2 even better for one-handed work than any of the other camera that I ever had. The focusing wheel worked like a charm on the 50 and with a 25/4 CV that I got. This was the RF I had been longing for for years. Damn I should have looked at the used Nikons when I first bought my M4-P new years ago. I should have stopped there but I added a 105/2.5, the classic. It was a perfect three lens kit.
It did not stop there, I went for a somewhat used S3-2000 and picked up a CV 35/2.5. The built in frame lines almost required it. Then I got a 35/1.8 Nikkor and sold the CV 35.
Nikon RFs are faster loading than an M. The 1:1 finder ROCKS and when you add an AR-1 IMHO it does not get any better. Sold all of my Leica glass and Ms (including my Bessas) and did not miss them, except the 15/4.5 CV. I was looking for an F to S adapter so I could buy the CV 15 F mount but did not find one.
While I really liked my Ms and the cost of a RapidWinder for the M is much less than the S3/SP versions when the come out, I will never go back. I like the look of Nikkors and there still is enough great CV glass at very good prices. I sold all my film RF stuff (except for stuff I got from my father) but I can tell you if I ever go back to a Film RF it will only be a Nikon and odds are it will be an S2. I will have a 50/1.4 and a CV 28 and that will be all I need. I found that the 28 matches the full frame on the S2 very nicely.
I think you will love an S2 or an S3-2000 that you can pick up for a bit more these days. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
B2 (;->
I used to use my M4-P and M6 with a 35 'Cron on it with one hand. The focusing tab as about in the right place and in the other hand I used a Vivitar 283, weddings and night stuff. It worked OK for most of time and when it didn't I used a few fingers from my left hand.
Because everything is not in the sweat spot for what an RF does (without lots of add-ons) I carried a Nikon SLR with two lenses. 85/1.8 and 180/2.8 ED (and a teleconverter) that allowed me to reach out for stuff I could not get any other way. It was a bit of a pain as I had to think about which camera I was bringing to my eye to shoot with. You see I adjust my cameras as I bring them up for focus and/or exposure. Nikons move one way and Leica's move the other. While it worked I never got used to it. I think that cameras are a tool and to me a good tool is one that you do not think about when you are using. It blends into a part of you so you can concentrate on the task at hand, not what you are using. Even though both tools were world class and I can use them in my sleep, together not so much.
After a very expensive and frustrating nine month trip with two Keivs and 1 FED-2 that included shipping them back across the pond to a well known serviceman I had it. I really like the hold on the Keiv but could not justify any more russian roulette with time, film or cash.
I bought what looked to be a good S2 and 50/1.4 on Evil Bay and had it shipped right to Stephen for CLA. While I knew the shutter would be fine, I did not want to loose any more time. She came back wonderful, all adjusted and cleaned. I found that I like the S2 even better for one-handed work than any of the other camera that I ever had. The focusing wheel worked like a charm on the 50 and with a 25/4 CV that I got. This was the RF I had been longing for for years. Damn I should have looked at the used Nikons when I first bought my M4-P new years ago. I should have stopped there but I added a 105/2.5, the classic. It was a perfect three lens kit.
It did not stop there, I went for a somewhat used S3-2000 and picked up a CV 35/2.5. The built in frame lines almost required it. Then I got a 35/1.8 Nikkor and sold the CV 35.
Nikon RFs are faster loading than an M. The 1:1 finder ROCKS and when you add an AR-1 IMHO it does not get any better. Sold all of my Leica glass and Ms (including my Bessas) and did not miss them, except the 15/4.5 CV. I was looking for an F to S adapter so I could buy the CV 15 F mount but did not find one.
While I really liked my Ms and the cost of a RapidWinder for the M is much less than the S3/SP versions when the come out, I will never go back. I like the look of Nikkors and there still is enough great CV glass at very good prices. I sold all my film RF stuff (except for stuff I got from my father) but I can tell you if I ever go back to a Film RF it will only be a Nikon and odds are it will be an S2. I will have a 50/1.4 and a CV 28 and that will be all I need. I found that the 28 matches the full frame on the S2 very nicely.
I think you will love an S2 or an S3-2000 that you can pick up for a bit more these days. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
B2 (;->
