Sorry to say... but I'm leaving the Ms...

[NL2377]

First off, let me say that this is not an april fools joke... After having experienced the M craze, I am in love... will always be. I now know what it is like to be a lover, and a loather... so I have put my M in the classifieds :bang:

As much as I love my M2, I haven't been using it nearly as often as I had wished to... I found the lack of TTL metering to be too much of a hinderance to my liking, and thus am stepping down the latter towards the bessa Rs.

The idea of being able to shoot with a $270 setup, including a metered body and a J8, makes me feel much more at home then walking around with $1000 in equipment for just one camera (M2, Summitar, Sekonic meter...)

not to mention that the film loading is much easier in the bessa R (IMO)

I've owned a bessa L before, so i know what kind of quality decrease I will be getting myself into, but for some reason, its justifiable, knowing that I will be able to get somewhat similar results, and feel much more comfortable taking more pictures more often with a less expensive, more functional (for me) camera.

I do fully intend on picking up a metered M body in the future... either M6 or ZI (the ZI has that whole AE thing that I am quite fond of!!!) but for now, I'm saying my farewells to all of you!

 

[Kent]

Tough decision, but in some ways understandable.

 

[back alley]

farewell to leica?
or to rff?

your post hit a small nerve with me as i was just sitting here thinking if it would be a better move for me to buy this great used m2 or get the new r4m.
still no decision...

joe

 

[Nokton48]

Having owned a nice button-rewind M2 twenty years ago, I am exactly in agreement with using the Bessas. I'm never too worried, when I go out with one.

Having used them for three years solidly now, they feel the "feel" of shooting with them is very similar to my M-experiences (I also used an M4 for a bit).

Instead of buying an expensive digital body, I have opted for multiple Bessa bodies, for about the same money. Which is nice, when I have so many choices of different 35mm films to use🙂

 

[Pherdinand]

i don't see any of those two on your "to do list", joe... 🙁

 

[back alley]

i don't see any of those two on your "to do list", joe... 🙁

yes, mother...😉

 

[NL2377]

farewell to leica?
or to rff?

your post hit a small nerve with me as i was just sitting here thinking if it would be a better move for me to buy this great used m2 or get the new r4m.
still no decision...

joe

Oh, Dear NO! I am saying farewell to neither leica nor RFF. I will be back w/ leica in one way or another someday... and I definately am not leaving RFF!!! where would i go with my keiv, fed / zorki's, and my soon to aquire Bessa? This place is my home away from home... I couldn't leave that!

The R4m sounds like a great camera... I've not been terribly much into wides though... I guess I'd just suspect zone focus and shoot, or use an SLR if you wanted true wide composition... but none-the-less it sounds to be an amazing advancement in affordable RF!!! Good luck w/ it if you decide to buy, and let us know how you feel about it!

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[rpsawin]

Nick,

I think you are making the right choice. Photography is about "gear" only to the extent that you find the right gear that allows you to produce your work/express your vision/find your voice...

If the M2 is not working for you then buy all means find the camera that does. Nothing is more pathetic than the boob who holds onto "the right gear" even though he can't or won't use it.

Keep us posted, and best luck.

Bob

 

[Peter55]

Why not get an M5 for around $800 at KEH.com, it has TTL metering using match-needles.

 

[einolu]

the Bessa R is my favorite camera as well, after 2 years I'm just used to it. I played around with some M's and a CL but each time I have come back to my well used R. I'm just about to buy a second one. I plan on seeing how many years they can last, heh.

 

[wlewisiii]

I can certainly sympathize. I chose to sell my CL & collapsible Summicron earlier this year & get a LNIB used black Bessa R & have a range of high quality Canon lenses to use with it. The other option would have been to have the CL given a CLA & meter adjustment but for me it made much more financial sense to get something I knew would work & spend the rest of the money on the excellent & still underpriced Canon glass. I carry it daily & am actually shooting more as well. Hope it goes the same for you.

Good luck & good light.

William

 

[maitrestanley]

I agree with rpsawin. As nice as an M2 is, if it isn't sufficient for your work, then it is not the appropriate tool to use. One's equipment should always be able to keep up with the needs of the photographer.

 

[migtex]

Nick
just do it right this time...
bad beahvior brings troubles...

 

[lubitel]

I have an M2 and bessa-R, and although I love shooting with M2 (and use it most of the time), I am always pleasantly surprised when I grab my Bessa-R for a change. Its a lot lighter and with the meter its obviously easier to get the right exposure. So i can understand you decision.

 

[OurManInTangier]

If you can't get to grips with it or aren't comfortable with it then you've certainly made the right decision. It is just a light tight box after all so you need to make sure you have one that works for you.

Good luck with the new camera!

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[BillBingham2]

Nick,

I moved to Bessas (T and L) when my R1 found gravity and a hard wood floor from about 5 feet up. After several years in the closet, my Leicas are now coming back out. I chose the T as I would use the same glass (if I wanted to) as my Ms, in hind site, a great decision for me.

The R is a fine camera, not as sturdy as an M2, but if you use her with a reasonable level of respect, she will work fine for years. My main camera these days is a M6, just for the built in meter. If I wanted to spend a few more seconds with each picture I would not need a meter, but I admit it, I am LAZY.

You are right, cameras are but tools that allow us to capture one view of a moment in time. To create something special, we hope. I would have gone with an R2 rather than a T except for two reasons. One, I have a somewhat unnatural love for fast medium telephoto lenses. The Bessa Rx are not made for 90/2, 105/2.5 or 135/2.8 up close. Not that I use them a lot, but when I do, my camera must handle it. The other reason was I got a great deal on a Demo T.

For me, I like using cameras that do not force me to think about how to use it. I want it to be a natural extension of me. I do not want to think about how to adjust this or that via a menu five levels deep. I want to do it. The best tools are ones that you forget about and just use. Some of that comes from practice, some of it comes from design.

Worry not about stepping away from a Leica, there are many other great cameras.

B2 (;->

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[nrb]

My Bessas are easier to use and give very much the same results as my M2.