peripatetic
Well-known
I find myself unaccountably attracted to owning a rangefinder camera. I guess it's mostly because I am attracted to decisive moment photography.
I have increasingly found myself using only a 50mm lens on my Canon 5D, I haven't used anything else for months.
I would love a digital rangefinder, but the Epson seems too risky to buy as it is now discontinued. I tried the M8 in a shop but found it a little difficult to see through the viewfinder with my specs on. There is no doubt that it is a work of art, as I am sure are the M7 and MP too. I was hoping to fall in love with it, but found myself distinctly unsure when I left. Like I had met a movie star and come up disappointed. Also having used the 5D for a year now I find myself very reluctant to go back to a crop sensor, even one as good as the M8. The change in focal length, and attendant loss of shallow DOF means that I would be wanting the 35mm f1.4, which with the M8 body comes in at around £5500. That is a lot of money for a camera with one lens and some real flaws.
So it looks like until a new digital rangefinder comes along it's back to film.
The M7/MP Leicas are an option of course, but still pretty expensive, although I would expect an M7/MP to last for the rest of my life, unlike the M8. But I'm not 100% sure that I want to join the Leica club. It's OK if one is a photojournalist, but for an amateur it seems like a club for rich folks; a real indulgence - and the viewfinder of course is the same as the M8. So I am rather leaning away from the Leicas for now.
The Voigtlanders look OK, but although very practical they aren't terribly exciting. There seems to be no romance about them. I have no doubt however that I would end up with a couple of VC lenses before long.
One camera that I handled and did love was the Mamiya 7II with the 80mm f4. But there is the whole 120 issue. I would have to get a flatbed scanner. Getting the film processed is more hassle and more expensive, it's a mail-order thing rather than local lab. It's still on the table. But it's a big camera, lighter than the 5D, but it lacks that "carry anywhere and everywhere" quality that I was hoping to gain. Price and quality are excellent though.
But here's the thing, I always hankered after a Contax with its Zeiss lenses when I was younger and could not possibly afford it. And the ZI has captured my imagination. I haven't been able to hold one, but the viewfinder is clearly good enough when wearing glasses. The lenses are obviously wonderful; different but not really worse in the real world (as opposed to test charts) than the Leicas for a fraction of the price. I really like the look of the the body too. (Black or Silver? - tough choice - they are both so nice!) Combine with the C Sonnar 50mm and I find myself captivated, like a mouse hypnotized by a cat.
So here is what I am thinking:
Zeiss Ikon + ZM 50mm f1.5 Sonnar + Nikon Coolscan V comes in at a little under £2000 including VAT. That is £3500 cheaper than an M8 with 35mm f1.4. Which is a LOT of film and procesing. The cost of a roll of film, processing and low-rez scanning to CD costs about £10. That's 350 rolls. I reckon I will average no more than a roll a week, after all I am not planning on selling my 5D. Which is nearly 6-7 years until break-even with an M8. I seriously doubt an M8 would last that long. After a while I would likely add 2 or 3 more lenses. probably a 25 or 28 Biogon, and perhaps a 35 and 75 VC for occasional use.
In 5 years I think the odds of being able to find a new digital rangefinder body at a more reasonable price (or a truly compelling Leica) is pretty likely. By that time I will have a small collection of M lenses and be in a position to take advantage.
Am I mad? Probably. Changing from one SLR to another certainly doesn't make anyone a better photographer, but maybe, just maybe, learning to use a RF might help me make better images of the sort I really like. And even if my images are no better I can hardly see them getting worse.
Just a few of the sort of pictures I have managed not to mess up too badly...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peripatetic/sets/72157594434616919/
Your thoughts and comments appreciated. Should I join the club?
I have increasingly found myself using only a 50mm lens on my Canon 5D, I haven't used anything else for months.
I would love a digital rangefinder, but the Epson seems too risky to buy as it is now discontinued. I tried the M8 in a shop but found it a little difficult to see through the viewfinder with my specs on. There is no doubt that it is a work of art, as I am sure are the M7 and MP too. I was hoping to fall in love with it, but found myself distinctly unsure when I left. Like I had met a movie star and come up disappointed. Also having used the 5D for a year now I find myself very reluctant to go back to a crop sensor, even one as good as the M8. The change in focal length, and attendant loss of shallow DOF means that I would be wanting the 35mm f1.4, which with the M8 body comes in at around £5500. That is a lot of money for a camera with one lens and some real flaws.
So it looks like until a new digital rangefinder comes along it's back to film.
The M7/MP Leicas are an option of course, but still pretty expensive, although I would expect an M7/MP to last for the rest of my life, unlike the M8. But I'm not 100% sure that I want to join the Leica club. It's OK if one is a photojournalist, but for an amateur it seems like a club for rich folks; a real indulgence - and the viewfinder of course is the same as the M8. So I am rather leaning away from the Leicas for now.
The Voigtlanders look OK, but although very practical they aren't terribly exciting. There seems to be no romance about them. I have no doubt however that I would end up with a couple of VC lenses before long.
One camera that I handled and did love was the Mamiya 7II with the 80mm f4. But there is the whole 120 issue. I would have to get a flatbed scanner. Getting the film processed is more hassle and more expensive, it's a mail-order thing rather than local lab. It's still on the table. But it's a big camera, lighter than the 5D, but it lacks that "carry anywhere and everywhere" quality that I was hoping to gain. Price and quality are excellent though.
But here's the thing, I always hankered after a Contax with its Zeiss lenses when I was younger and could not possibly afford it. And the ZI has captured my imagination. I haven't been able to hold one, but the viewfinder is clearly good enough when wearing glasses. The lenses are obviously wonderful; different but not really worse in the real world (as opposed to test charts) than the Leicas for a fraction of the price. I really like the look of the the body too. (Black or Silver? - tough choice - they are both so nice!) Combine with the C Sonnar 50mm and I find myself captivated, like a mouse hypnotized by a cat.
So here is what I am thinking:
Zeiss Ikon + ZM 50mm f1.5 Sonnar + Nikon Coolscan V comes in at a little under £2000 including VAT. That is £3500 cheaper than an M8 with 35mm f1.4. Which is a LOT of film and procesing. The cost of a roll of film, processing and low-rez scanning to CD costs about £10. That's 350 rolls. I reckon I will average no more than a roll a week, after all I am not planning on selling my 5D. Which is nearly 6-7 years until break-even with an M8. I seriously doubt an M8 would last that long. After a while I would likely add 2 or 3 more lenses. probably a 25 or 28 Biogon, and perhaps a 35 and 75 VC for occasional use.
In 5 years I think the odds of being able to find a new digital rangefinder body at a more reasonable price (or a truly compelling Leica) is pretty likely. By that time I will have a small collection of M lenses and be in a position to take advantage.
Am I mad? Probably. Changing from one SLR to another certainly doesn't make anyone a better photographer, but maybe, just maybe, learning to use a RF might help me make better images of the sort I really like. And even if my images are no better I can hardly see them getting worse.
Just a few of the sort of pictures I have managed not to mess up too badly...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peripatetic/sets/72157594434616919/
Your thoughts and comments appreciated. Should I join the club?
