What Film RF to complement my M8

[hef]

Ok... I have a M8, with 28mm f2.8 Elmarit, 35mm Skopar II and on the waiting list for the new VC 15mm...
What Film RF would complement when walking around shooting... I have a lot of older Nikon's, but would really like to start using the M style lenses I have and will continue to acquire.
Is the Bessa R4a or m a good choice... I just can't affort a M6 or M7 right now but maybe later.
Or, should I just save, save, save for one?

Comments or suggestions welcome.
--

 

[hans voralberg]

If you dont mind the lack of a meter, an M2 or M4-P would be ideal. Since you shoot rather wide 😉

 

[kdemas]

The R4A would be a nice affordable first choice and it would give you AE capability like your M8. I wish the "A" version came in black paint like the "M" version, that's my only gripe.

Have fun with whatever you decide!

Kent

 

[payasam]

With a film body there will be no "crop factor". You must decide on a body depending on the focal lengths you are likely to use the most.

 

[hef]

probably my favorites would be 24, 28, 35 & 50 on Full Frame... I have those for my Nikon D3.... I have some old AIS nikkor glass primes too! And the F to M adapter... Of course that is requiring focus scaling of those lenses, but still fun.

 

[gfspencer]

The viewfinder display on an M6TTL is very similar to the viewfinder display on an M8 that is set in the manual exposure mode. Consequently, I find it very easy to move back and forth between the two cameras. (The viewfinder could be similar in other Leica M film cameras as well. I don't know. I just have experience with the M6TTL.)

 

[kipkeston]

if you operate the M8 manually a lot, then the M6TTL or M7 would be perfect! save save

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

M7 is my back up (after I have sold my R-D1s). Why, because it has the same metering in the viewfinder, and its feels almost the same.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Howie,

Save.

Cheers,

R. (M8.2, MP, M4-P, M2...)

 

[hef]

i will save, save.... that's what i did to get the M8... it took a long time, but i did it.. and no regrets.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

i will save, save.... that's what i did to get the M8... it took a long time, but i did it.. and no regrets.

Or sell things you didn't use for a year or longer, then you get some money to spend on a nice M7, like I did, I even had some money left to buy another M, the M2 from my birthyear. Made my M collection complete. Oh and because I liked the M6 very much but didn't need the feel to buy a full operating one because I had already the M7, I bought a nice top! So actually now I feel I have four M's to look at, and three to use......😉

 

[baycrest]

The M6 Classic (i.e. not the TTL) is about 10% less expensive than the TTL version. The shutter speeds increase/decrease in the opposite direction as the M8, which takes a bit of getting used to when going from M8 to M6 or vice versa.

Best Rob

 

[miklosphoto]

Save! You can get M7s on eBay for a very good price, and as they started to make them in 2001, you will easily find a copy which still looks like new. I got one few months ago for $1700, took it to a store to put side by side with a brand new one ($4395) and could not tell the difference which one is the used one. Ok, I did not get the box and the user manual with it, big deal.

 

[hef]

thanks to alll... i'll be in sell and save mode, all while enjoying my M8.

 

[AgentX]

I'll be the voice of dissent. Get a Bessa (used if possible) right now and use the hell out of it with your current glass, especially if film is a mere adjunct to your digital shooting. If film becomes a priority in the future, look into an M-series film body (M-4P or M6) at that time.