Shooting in bars - film- what would your set up be?

[presspass]

Have not tried the H2 screen on my F2, but they work wonders with an F3, so it should work with the F2. The H screens take a bit of getting used to, but the microprism across the whole screen makes focusing easier. BTW, there is no depth of field preview with an H screen.

 

[struene]

Well, thats RF-land... Bessa R2 and VC 35 1.4 where my night go out combo. Shot Tri-x at 1600, dev in microphen or D76/ID11. Just perfect for low light and on the go: super easy to focus fast, as the RF-Base is not too long and you don´t loose orientation with the patch, finder super bright. Then the Bessa is the only RF that is nicely holdable one-handed due to the back-side-grip and the light weight toghether with the classic nokton.

Sadly i sold the combo (too many cameras...) now its M6/ZI with a 35 2.0. for that purpused. Flashing a lot recently too...

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

My experience:
Best option is using a Konica HexarAF with TMax400 @ 6400 in Xtol 1+1, but without autoexposure, because it doesn't work 99 times out of 100, so it's better to meter, take a decision and shoot in manual.
Second best option is same film and pushing, but using a longer focal length when 35mm is not the best option, and that's really often... I use an autofocus Nikon SLR with the 85 1.8: the lens is great at 1.8, where it has its best out of focus rendering for backgrounds, and it's a small light lens compared to the faster, bigger, heavier 85.
Third best option, same film and pushing with a rangefinder and a fast lens.
Cheers,
Juan

 

[Wulfthari]

Have not tried the H2 screen on my F2, but they work wonders with an F3, so it should work with the F2. The H screens take a bit of getting used to, but the microprism across the whole screen makes focusing easier. BTW, there is no depth of field preview with an H screen.

Every system camera of that era had a very bright screen like the H2 for low light and high speed lenses, of course they don't offer DOF preview but for this application I don't think it's relevant.

Anyway this was taken with a Pentax Spotmatic at f1.8 and 1/30s, technically speaking is a picture OUTSIDE a pub:

This pic was take with my M3 and 35 Summaron at f2.8, 1/30:

Nightpicture with my M4-P and Summicron f2,0:

This should be take with a Zorki 6 and Jupiter 8, f2.0 and 1/.30:

Finally again the Spottie F in the heat of the night, hand held and Tak wide open:

Personally I find SLRs easier to focus in low light, but it's just me.