We are really getting famous!!

[dmr]

I thought it was a good, sensible, even-handed and non-hysterical writeup that might well inspire some newcomers to investigate what this rangefinder-camera stuff is all about.

(OMG! Jeesh, that was a surprise, somebody recognized me!) 🙂

One thing that seems to be obviously missing from the article is the ongoing popularity of the FSU cameras (and of course the older fixed lens RFs) as a lower-cost alternative to the new ones. Yeah, I know, they don't exactly promote used DSLRs either.

Point to ponder ... if Ebay took out display ads in Popular Photography ... ... would they ... 🙂

 

[tedwhite]

Any article that spotlights rangefinder cameras (and doesn't trash them in favor of DSLR's) is a distinct plus. Apparently I'm using an archaic Bessa R, which only has framelines for 35,50,75, and 90.

Considering the array of LTM lenses available for the R, and that my viewfinder is as bright as the other R series, I think I'll stick with what I've got.

Fraley: If you want to start cheaply, see if you can find a used Bessa R.

Gandy still has new ones, but no more black bodies.

Ted

 

[jlw]

(OMG! Jeesh, that was a surprise, somebody recognized me!) 🙂

Maybe it's some sort of subconscious tribal-recognition thing, since we apparently live in the same town...

One thing that seems to be obviously missing from the article is the ongoing popularity of the FSU cameras (and of course the older fixed lens RFs) as a lower-cost alternative to the new ones.

That would have been great info for readers who were a bit stunned by the list prices he quoted! Still, it would have made the topic too big for a small column, don't you think? After all, buying a used camera is different from buying a new camera: not only do you have to pick the model of camera that's right for you, you also have to find a good example of that camera model.

And while the FSU cameras are very (pauses to choose phrase carefully) "characterful," I suspect they might be a bit too hard-core for the average hobbyist stepping up from a point-and-shoot or maybe fleshing out a DSLR outfit. I mean, even Keppler had a hard time loading the M7 -- imagine a first-timer's first confrontation with a FED!

(Even with quite a bit of weird-camera experience, I had a heck of a hard time figuring out how to rewind the film on my erstwhile Fed 5C, absent any English-language instructions. Of course, that was back before there was an RFF to turn to for help!)

I think the main value of Uncle Bert's column will be to remind mainstream photographers that there's still such a thing as a rangefinder camera, and that it's "different" but not weird or scary. With luck they'll eventually find their way to RFF... and then we can introduce them to the weird, scary stuff!

 

[wotalegend]

I got a "Server not found" on both links 🙁

Cheers, Peter.

 

[dostacos]

And the trouble with loading an M7...c'mon... (did anybody see Annie Leibowitz do it on that PBS special, by the way? Shockingly fast.) BFD to that (Big Fake Duodenum)!

walk into any firestation in Brea California all the helmuts have BFD across the front😱 😱 😀

 

[Athena]

Herb's a great guy - been around for a million years.

He's the last film camera proponent left at PopPhoto (which is otherwise pretty much an digiMag now).

This article was on the newstands last November (typical mag lead time) and is now hitting the PP website.

In that same month, Shutterbug had the Hicks's comparative articles on the R3M and ZI.

Maybe, just maybe and perhaps, these mags "follow the advertisers"? 😉

 

[jlw]

Maybe, just maybe and perhaps, these mags "follow the advertisers"?

Advertisers want to advertise in the publications that their target audiences read. So, magazines try to write content that will attract the target audiences the advertisers want to reach. Not a very exciting conspiracy theory, but that's how it works...

 

[dmr]

Maybe it's some sort of subconscious tribal-recognition thing, since we apparently live in the same town...

I think we WORK in the same town, but I do have quite a commute from the exurbs. 🙂

And to answer your question, yes, I do have a few slides from last week's snow that I have to scan. 🙂 The snow this year just doesn't seem to be very scenic -- yet -- I guess there is more on the way. 🙂 🙁

That would have been great info for readers who were a bit stunned by the list prices he quoted! Still, it would have made the topic too big for a small column, don't you think?

One sentence about lower-priced alternatives wouldn't have burned up a column-inch.

I thought about commenting on the blog, but I figured it was great that he was giving real cameras such an exposure, so I didn't.

I think the main value of Uncle Bert's column will be to remind mainstream photographers that there's still such a thing as a rangefinder camera, and that it's "different" but not weird or scary.

Uncle Bert! 🙂 LOL! 🙂

Seriously, I've enjoyed his columns ever since I was in high school and discovered the photography magazines in the libe. LOL, I thought he was old back then! 🙂 🙂 🙂

With luck they'll eventually find their way to RFF... and then we can introduce them to the weird, scary stuff!

As I think about it more, the FSUs and the fixer-upper older models are probably not what a commercial magazine wants to promote, and really not what today's digital fan wants to try when he or she tries a film camera.

 

[ywenz]

One thing that seems to be obviously missing from the article is the ongoing popularity of the FSU cameras (and of course the older fixed lens RFs) as a lower-cost alternative to the new ones. Yeah, I know, they don't exactly promote used DSLRs either.

I don't think those fsus and RFs are popular at all compared to everything else that is popular

 

[kshapero]

Herb's a great guy - been around for a million years.



In that same month, Shutterbug had the Hicks's comparative articles on the R3M and ZI.

😉

i believe that was an R3A not an R3M.

 

[Max Power]

Thanks for posting the link, a great article. What surprises me is that the article actually exists. I was under the impression (obviously wrong) that PopPhoto had totally abandoned anything that wasn't either digital or SLR.

Kent

 

[Huck Finn]

Linked from this article was another entitled "Five Reasons to Shoot Film." I emjoyed reading this at least as much as the rangefinder article itself.