Want to help me buy my first RF kit?

[rya]

This is my first post here. I currently use an N65 and D80. I am getting ready to graduate college and have decided to spend a lot of money on myself (that is allowed, right?). I need a rangefinder body, at least one lens to start and a film scanner. I have been reading this forum and searching about this daily, looking at sample images and obsessing, but have not been able to decide. I figured someone here would enjoy pretending that they were buying this setup.

The plan started this way: I wanted a rangefinder, thought Leicas were too expensive and so decided to get a Bessa and one or two lenses. I also needed to buy a film scanner and planned on getting a Coolscan V ED (~$550). So for a while I had been planning to get either an R3M or R4M (since I rarely use my nikon 55-200 and typically shoot wide).

But then I started looking at the M6 and think the extra cost might be worth it. I am willing to spend, although cost is still very much a factor in my considerations.

Here are the current options:

Body: M6 (~$1100) or R3M (~$500)
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Lens: Nokton 40/1.4 (~350) or Summicron 50/2 (~600) or CV Heliar 50/2 (~400). I will add a CV 21/4 (~400) or 25/4 either simultaneously or later. In the future I may also add a 75, but that would be after the WA.
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Scanner.

I favor the Nokton 40/1.4 because I only shoot available light (the first thing I tell new camera users is to disable the flash) and because I would really prefer to have a compact lens as my normal, yet I am concerned that not having a 50 as a normal lens will limit me. Too bad there isn't a small 50/1.4 Nokton. The 50/3.5 Elmar is too limited for shooting.

What do you think? Sorry for the long post, but any feedback is greatly appreciated. By the way, I am wanting dive back into film because I am just completing an independent study (here at Tulane U) that was almost entirely in photoshop and feel a little "impure."

 

[Al Patterson]

I went with the Leica CL and Summicron-C 40 for my first "real" rangefinder. I had a Canon QL17 first. The Nokton 1.4 would match frame lines better on the R3M than the M6, so you might want to consider a 35 for the M6.

(Does the Nokton 40 bring up the 35 or 50 lines on an M6?)

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I'd go with the Leica M6 classic (black is slightly more common) & can be had for that price, possibly, but definitely for $1200. The best IMHO combination is with a 35mm f2.0. Earlier not v4 can be had ford around 800+ There are also Zeiss Biogons again 800+. The CV lenses are good. As for 1.4 v. 2.0 which is one stop a smaller lens again IMHO is better. You need to try holding some of these models.

 

[rya]

Thank you all for your input.

To Al: The Nokton brings up the 50 lines although can be altered to bring up the 35 instead, which I have read are not far off of what the 40 would be in actual use.

Steve - I considered the 40 over the 35 because I am concerned that I will get a normal lens that is too wide for me. I put my 17-35 onto my D80 (equivalent to a 25-52.5 on digital) and have been paying attention to what I use...I have leaned closer to 50 so far--yet my zoom lens doesn't get bigger and slower as a 50 than a 35 or 40.

Leicasniper - Why do you prefer to shoot your bessa rather than you leicas? The leica looks better and better, hearing testimonial and feeling its build, but I worry that I will buy something out of "lust."

 

[pevelg]

Here are some reasons to buy Leica:
1. Value does not fluctuate very much.
2. Lot of people can repair them.
3. Excellent build quality.
4. And on and on and on......

My first Rangefinder was a FED5. I loved it. I then owned a Zorki 4K. Loved it as well, though somethings irritated me. My next was a Bessa R3M. Loved it even more and again, was irritated by several things. Now I own a M6TTL. I love it and yet I have several complaints about it as well.

The point I am trying to make is to not buy by the name (Leica, Zeiss, CV), but how you will use it and what you really need. On a large budget you might as well go for the best, but it is not always necessary.

Anyways.... If you've never shot rangefinders before, I'd recommend going with a cheaper body like a Bessa R2 which works very well. Buy a 50/2 or 35mm CV lens and just go shooting.

 

[bob338]

i bought a bessa r a couple of years back. it was a nice camera, but i found my m3 felt a little more comfortable in my hands.

last year, i bought a bessa r3a. it's a great camera too, very easy to use, but again i went back to the leica. i hardly ever use the r3a anymore.

the leica doesn't take better pictures necessarily, but it is somehow more comfortable and natural in use. i find the internal light meter of the voigtlanders and the m6 distracting.

as far as lenses go, i have not regretted 'upgrading' voigtlander lenses with leica equivalents whenever i could afford it. if i were you, i would buy used lenses as you go so you can get back the majority of your money when you find the next lens you have to have.

why not consider an m3 or an m2, add a small meter and a 35 summicron? i rarely find myself wanting for much more...

bob

 

[rya]

Bob - The external meter idea I wanted to avoid just out of convenience of use. I like the Leica for the durability and size, so the external parts attached to the shoe bother me somewhat.

Thank you all for you help, the consensus has been fairly even. It appears that it comes down to how much I am willing to bet that I will eventually get a Leica, as most people say either buy Leica or buy another, and then upgrade. Of course this is a Leica thread, though.

 

[shimo-kitasnap]

Hi, my 1st was an M3 and too many cv lenses (21/4, two 35s, nokton and skopar PII, 40 nokton, two 50s, nokton and heliar, 90.) plus mini finder and vc meter II (external).......It was fun for the 1st month or so but I got annoyed with having too many fiddly things. M3 was great but limited to 50 and longer was a pain and the external meter was awkward. Finally I sold it.

I bought and M6, sold off all the lenses except for the 21/4 (am still in the process of selling the PII and 40 Nokton, check classifieds if you're interested) picked up a Rokkor 40 M from a minolta CL for $150 and that's it .

Now I'm more into it than I was before, one body with on-board metering when I need it (mostly for low light) and two distinctly different focal lengths. 21, 40 (I've found the 40 allowed me to loose the 35 and 50 and can simulate either one by taking additional steps forwards or backwards) I'm selling the 40 nokton because I figure if I need an extra stop, i'll either hand hold a slower speed or just shoot faster film and HP5+ which I mostly shoot pushes fine to 1600 when souped in D-76.

At some point I might consider an 85mm jupiter 9 but don't like the ebay prices at the moment.

The M6 was $1300 but it was a silver one and the 21/4 I bought new from photo village. Had I gone this way in the beginning, it would have saved me lots of money, time and effort.

good luck on your quest!

 

[aizan]

i'm thinking...

r3a + 40/1.4 nokton classic
m6 + 50/2 summicron
zi + 35/2 biogon

 

[anoldsock]

You're just kidding yourself...no matter what you buy, you'll still want that Leica. It's inevitable that you will buy it, so save yourself the trouble and get the M6. You won't regret it, it's a great piece of equipment.

I was looking for something to replace my DSLR for times when I wanted to travel light. My first rangefinder was the canon QL17, great value for the price, but I wanted something more compact. After going through several rangefinders I went with the M6 and an Elmar 50/2.8. Although not as fast as a Summicron or Norkton, I sacrificed the speed for a compact package.

It was a good fit for me cause the Leica slips into my jean pockets and it's with me everywhere I go.

Anyway, if you think about it, you're actually saving money and time by going ahead and getting the M6. Otherwise you'll have an R3M, but still want and will eventually get the Leica. Don't worry about the money, as you just graduated from college you still have the next 40-50 years to work and make up for it 🙂 🙂

Besides the cost of the Leica is nothing compared to your tuition bill.