Use of R3a and R4a with new CV 15mm

Juan Valdenebro

Juan Valdenebro

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Hello everybody...

This is my first post. I live in Barcelona. I'm so glad I found this forum on Bessas and CV... (Photo.net member link).

I've been reading here for a couple of weeks, and I just want to say that I have never ever felt so enthusiastic! I guess all of you rff cv members once felt this way too...

It was may 2009 when I discovered Bessas do exist! It was may 2009 when I discovered a new, affordable, 52mm filter M mount 15mm with no distortion does exist! It's so unbelievable...! And those beautiful mechanical and automatic cameras!

Not even years ago when I was a photography student, working hard on summer, buying Nikon first, and then Hasselblad little by little, was I so happy. Neither when buying my 4x5 system... Knowing now that rangefinder wideangles are an unavoidable path sooner or later, I feel like a child going crazy for the toys most of you enjoy long ago for sure...

I'm waiting -a week ago- for that CV 15mm, from Adorama. Too late I discovered cameraquest, (They have it in stock), but Adorama told me yesterday that they'll have the lens in two weeks: I told them no problem, because I'm in no hurry. So, my not taken yet decision is on the body...

I'd appreciate any advice to go for the R3a or the R4a. Even if someone prefers the R2a, I would consider it. I won't use any other lens than the 15mm.

Without having used or seen any of them, I feel attracted by the 1:1 R3a's viewfinder... That's what I wanted first, even if part of the 15mm remains well out of the viewfinder. By now I don't want an external one. A few days ago one forum member wrote he uses the 15mm on an R3a with joy... Great!

Then I read another member pointing that he fills completely his R4a's 21mm viewfinder when composing for his 15mm... Another option. He states that it has a very comfortable viewfinder too, although not being 1:1...

And what if the slightly wider (than R3a's) R2a's viewfinder works fine with the CV 15mm?

Thanks a lot in advance for the comments!
 
The R3A's 1:1 finder is a moot point since you will most likely not be composing with the RF body's framelines. You will probably be using an external finder.

With a 15mm it does not matter which body. Set the aperture to f8 and the distance scale to 1 meter -- just about everything will be in focus. You will frame with an external viewfinder.

Even if you actually want to do some critical focusing, it would not matter which body, since you will frame with the external finder anyway.

Now, if you do NOT wish to use an external finder and only wish to use the RF body's framelines to compose, then youd be best served by the R4A, which was framelines for 21mm.
 
Since discovering the 15mm Heliar a few years ago I hardly use anything else! I have a Bessa L, sadly now discontinued, which has no built-in rangefinder or viewfinder. I carry it everyplace! This morning I was shooting a Memorial Day service at the park. I shot with the 15. I'm about to head over to a friend's house for a barbeque. The only camera I'm taking is the Bessa L with the 15. I should have some of the pictures posted on my blog in a few days, but then most of the photographs on the blog are taken with that 15mm Heliar, mostly with the Bessa L. I do have a LTM to M bayonet adapter so I can use it on an M body also. Here is the blog: http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com The best part about the 15mm is you can get in your own photographs!

I just leave the focus set at one meter even if subject is really far away like a landscape or closer, like half a meter. Even wide open at f/4.5 the photos look sharp! I have the 15mm finder that came with the lens but seldom use it. I "just know" what'll be in the frame from experience I suppose.
 
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Hi mate,

15mm len is too wide for R2/3a, even for R4a. You wont be able to use the viewfinder effectively on these cameras, you need an external viewfinder. I really cant see any other ways around this
 
I use my M-version 15f4.5 on a R4M. The full finder is closer to a 18 than a 15 - but it is easier to crop than to add to an image!
The AE versions are a bit trickier with extreme wides as you dont really see how much sky gets in to the image and scrambles the meter reading.
I would suggest the R4M and get used to "add" mentally to the view in the finder.
Welcome to the rather wacky world of rangefinders too.
 
Message from Helen at Adorama Camera

Message from Helen at Adorama Camera

Juan Valdenebro said:
Hello everybody...

I'm waiting -a week ago- for that CV 15mm, from Adorama. Too late I discovered cameraquest, (They have it in stock), but Adorama told me yesterday that they'll have the lens in two weeks: I told them no problem, because I'm in no hurry. So, my not taken yet decision is on the body...

Thanks a lot in advance for the comments!
Click to expand...

You might be glad that you discovered us first..........

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/CameraQuest


Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com
 
Valid?

Valid?

I don't want to start a slanging match, but I looked up the site referred to and found two unhappy campers from 4 years and 2 years back.
Well, my recent experience of buying a lens from Stephen by internet, from Australia, couldn't have been quicker, easier or more communicative.

Maybe the other guys got to him before coffee time!
 
The Real Question

The Real Question

I have both the R3A and the R4A. I consider the R4A to be much the better unit if you use WA lenses habitually, and not having the full 1:1 viewfinder isn't a problem. I use the 25mm lens on it a lot. About the only time you wish for the R3A instead is when you fit a 50mm lens.
I also have the 15mm lens and it's no problem to fit the external viewfinder. As it's a hotshoe fit it's optional anyway. But as others have remarked, the full frame on the R4A is about 18mm equivalent so you just "add a bit" in your mind's eye for 15mm.
 
Thank you all for your kind welcoming and answers... !


My conclussions are: 1) It's quite possible to use the R4's viewfinder with the CV 15mm. Although not 100% of the frame is visible inside the window, it's close to that, and an external finder can be avoided. 2) R3's 1:1 viewfinder is not such a decisive feature. At least not enough to go for that camera over the R4 for an exclusive 15mm use...


Mr. Abrahamsson, I'm very pleased with your surprising advice on the R4M... Surprising for the first minute, and convincing from the second one on... You're right! What's good with AE if 90% of the frames will be missing precise exposure? Why hurry up instead of enjoying light and taking the right decissions? Adding to all this the constant risk of underexposing because of the sky with such a wide lens, and having read previously from a real expert and reference name in RF world that the R4M is a milestone as few in his book, I decided to get an R4M as my first rangefinder, for years at least, I guess...



I can see from now the huge favor you just did to me. Thank you very much for sharing your clarity.
 
Wow, I'm a little appalled at adorama. Juan, you have nothing to worry about with Cameraquest, Stephen is a very trustworthy seller. I could be wrong but as far as I know, he's the only licensed Voigtlander dealer in the US and Adorama's products are grey market.

You may also want to consider looking into a Bessa L or T as with the 15mm, you don't need a built in VF and a RF isn't essential either. I have a T that I love.
 
I have been using the T with wide angles and external view finders. I love the classic look it has. The "T" does feel a bit chintzy, but I love using it. With the wides you just use hyperfocal distance to focus and never have to worry about the separate range finder window.

/T
 
I take offense at that comment made by Adorama about CameraQuest. I've bought quite a bit of stuff from Mr Gandy and not once had a bad experience. Being a professional photographer I've also bought quite a bit from Adorama. Not anymore, never again will I spend my hard earned dollars there.

To the original poster, CameraQuest is a wonderful place to buy gear and Stephan has it shipped out right away, you will never go wrong with his service. Sorry Adorama, you've lost me and I've spent quite a bit.

Michael Harris
 
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This is the first time I've heard anything negative about Mr.Gandy
I got my R2M and Nokton 35/1.2 from cameraquest.com without any issues.
Stephen Gandy is easy to deal with.
All items are well packed and quickly shipped.

It's kinda funny, Adorama is one of those places I have always avoided.
They seem to have everything, but nothing you need in stock.
 
I apologize if -perhaps as english is not my native language, when I said “too late I discovered cameraquest”- any preference from me was considered by any reader... I was not only talking about buying. I meant that in general I discovered too late cameraquest and their joyful info pages, and the effort those pages show as a wonderful result from Mr. K and CV to cameraquest itself.


It's clear that there's a common spirit, and there are common beliefs that have brought to life a whole new RF system for the world. It was years ago, and I discovered Bessas too late... By the way, their pages are so fine that I didn't even notice that cameraquest was a place for buying. Only after several days of checking lenses and cameras: I guess it happened because the web design and texts are very clear and well conceived; more those of a serious article by a collector than the very brief ones for mass custumers ofered by internet megastores.


Of course it will be my pleasure to buy my R4M from cameraquest this week, and every future CV product I might need from now on too, because CV trusts in cameraquest in the first place. I guess people at CV know why!


Apart from that, I have never had any problem ordering from Adorama. I buy more from KEH and B&H, but Adorama has sent me perfect lenses and even great used mechanical cameras for years. I thank all forum members for the input in gray market and warranty... I'll expect my lense to arrive OK. Thanks for the latest inputs in other previous models... Maybe in the future for a portrait lens... Now love is blindness, and the R4M is unforgettable, even after falling in love only yesterday!
 
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You might as well cancel your adorama order and get the 15 from cameraquest, too. You'll have it instantly, and those reviews are nonsense. Stephen is very reliable.
 
that's not cool.

that's not cool.

I don't think it's appropriate for one vendor to comment on another. And in this case if Adorama had actually looked at the rating information they would have seen that there are only 2 reviews spanning the last 4 years and one of them should not qualify since the individual admitted that he/she did not purchase from CQ.

HelenOster said:
You might be glad that you discovered us first..........

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/CameraQuest


Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com
Click to expand...
 
mich8261 said:
I don't think it's appropriate for one vendor to comment on another. And in this case if Adorama had actually looked at the rating information they would have seen that there are only 2 reviews spanning the last 4 years and one of them should not qualify since the individual admitted that he/she did not purchase from CQ.
Click to expand...

They are also the only reviews either person has ever posted.
 
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