What RF next?

[marlinspike]

The Kiev is dead, long live the something else. I'm getting rid of my no longer working Kiev, what should I replace it with?
My requirements list

1 - old-timey, at least in look and feel
2 - optically excellent 50mm f/2.0 or faster must be available at a reasonable price
3 - 35mm available a plus, especially if the viewfinder has markings for it
4 - must have internal viewfinder and internal rangefinder
5 - must have accurate focusing (i.e. long baseline a plus)
6 - light meter a plus
7 - must need no batteries...will consider if it has batteries but only for the light meter (I rather that the light meter, if it has one, not need batteries though)
8 - good to very good camera and 50mm lens package must be available for under $400

I can't think of anything else. So...what do you all recommend?
Thanks,
Richard

 

[marlinspike]

Oh 1 more: must have consistent quality.

 

[marlinspike]

Oh and another one: it has to be able to take film straight from the roll. None of this loading my film off the roll onto something else, requiring me to be in a darkroom (or at least not outside in the middle of a busy sidewalk at noon) stuff.
Thanks,
Richard

 

[simonankor]

I kind of like the FED 2... the viewfinder is a bit squinty but the RF baselength is loooong. Normally comes with a 50/2.8 but you can pick up a Jupiter 3 (50/1.5) pretty cheaply for it. Shouldn't set you back more than $200 for both.

If you look on e*ay, alex-photo has a couple at the moment including a blue one. Alternatively Oleg Khalyavin at okvintagecamera.com has one and by all accounts he's a very good dealer.

 

[simonankor]

Oh sorry... consistent quality...

Well, Oleg services all the cameras before he sells them so you have a vast improvement of your chances of getting a good one! Alex-photo is very reliable also. I'd take those odds.

 

[marlinspike]

I rather not go with a russian cheapy mainly because of two reasons:

I had bought a cheapy Kiev to see if I like film and rangefinders...and I like both, so now I can get a nice one

It's been said that that which is obtained too cheaply is valued too lightly...which was certainly the case for me and my Kiev.

Richard

 

[marlinspike]

I'm thinking Canon 7...but am open to any other suggestions (how are Nikon rangefinders? Didn't all the big name companies, minolta, olympus, etc, at one time make rangefinders? How are they? Other than Contax, Kiev, and to a lesser extent Canon, I know nothing about RF models).
Richard

 

[back alley]

those others will cost more than what you have budgeted for.

canon 7 with 50/1.8 or maybe the collapsible 1.9.

 

[marlinspike]

How much more? I could budget a little more if it will get me big gains, it's just that my real hobby money goes into my dSLR gear and my car stuff, so I want to keep my cap around $400 just because I don't need yet another large drain on my bank account hehe.

Also, is there anywhere other than ebay where I can often find a good Canon 7? Wouldn't a good Contax IIIa fit in my budget?
Richard

 

[simonankor]

Come to think of it, Stephen Gandy still has Bessa R bodies, he sells them for $425 with a 35/2.5 on them. The 50/1.5 Nokton is $329 though... but then again you could always get a LTM Jupiter 3 cheaply for the fast glass.

I love my Bessa R 😀

 

[FrankS]

I agree, a Bessa R would be just the ticket! Buy just the body and get a J8 if the body/sens kit is too much.

 

[marlinspike]

I have a Jupiter 8M and a Helios 103 already...do those fit? I didn't think so since I thought the Bessa R is leica mount, but I can't imagine what else Frank means by J8. My thing with the Bessa R is that it doesn't have 50mm frame lines, takes a battery, and doesn't have that old timeyness I'm looking for.
Richard

 

[simonankor]

The 35/2.5 is a pretty gorgeous lens though. Definitely one of my favourites.

The body only is just $249, a steal! Maybe I should get another one myself.

NO! :bang: BAD Simon... Must save for Russian gear.

 

[back alley]

the r has 50mm framelines.

get a 7 and you will be happy.
get a p and you will be in heaven.

a contax is a great camera but usually more money than a canon, but your lenses would work on it.

joe

 

[FrankS]

J-8's come in Kiev/Contax and LTM mounts. Get a $250 Bessa R and a $30 J8 LTM lens and Bob's your uncle. The Bessa R only needs a battery to power the light meter, it's mechanical/old-time.

 

[simonankor]

and a lovely little camera to use! The viewfinder is gorgeous.

 

[back alley]

the bessa r is pretty much the best value in rf cams today.

not counting long term german investment cameras or the lovely canon p that takes a lickin' and keeps on shootin'.

joe

 

[simonankor]

I admit to being hugely biased towards Voigtlander... my girlfriend paid for half my Bessa as a birthday gift... I mentioned replacing it with a Canon P once and oooooooh boy did I get in trouble! 🙄

So a tip to you all; the word to use is "supplement", not "replace" in this situation!

Then you just have to work out how to justify cost.

 

[marlinspike]

I'll take a closer look at the Bessa's I suppose. I see a very nice color dial Contax IIIa with the 50 1.5 on ebay with a $399 buy it now. Granted by the time I'm ready to buy (I have a couple other things to buy first, so it will be about 2 weeks), it won't be up, but IIRC that price is pretty typical, no?
Richard