Fred
Feline Great
A while back I got the RF bug, I joined this very forum to help me decide what kit to purchase. I found the help and advice really helpful as well as light hearted. I wanted a small outfit that was unobtrusive that I could take anywhere and get good results with an accurate focussing method for 28 to 90 lenses.
Follwing a spot (lot) of indecision and help and advice from a good buddy who had an M7 kit, I bought a Leica M and a 50 Cron for what was to me a huge amount of money. I also later bought some other lenses, not of German origin, price and aguable quality but from Voigtlander made by Cosina (28 and 90 f3.5s followed later by a 15 and 35.... more CV followed)
I took many photos over the folowing weeks and felt that the RF experience was what I preferred, my images were much sharper and had better contrast. Also from viewing the results I could 'almost' detect a signature that the different lenses had. In a nut shell I was very pleased. I also felt that my composition improved along with an increased ability to see what lens I needed without even raising the camera to the eye. All good stuff I thought.
Following the untimely death of my buddy I purchased his Leica outfit from his son and this kit is still in use. (anyone with book 2 can see the dedication part) This purchase permitted me the chance to use other Leica glass which certainly has a 'look' to it that I really do like. I also really like the results from my CV stuff though.
Up untill recently I used the Leica glass almost exclusively. Did my photgraphy improve with this new found glass? no of course not, not one jot. Did the images look better or sharper, prabably better edge resolving power. I still don't know which I prefer from the results though. What had changed was the ability to shoot wider apertures without the same loss of quality however given that I tend to shoot HP5 the chance to use these wide apertures is seldom.
Following my re aquaintance to motorcycling (weight is a big issue here) and an iminant travel with the company I thought a light weight RF 'user' kit would be useful. As I already had my CV glass that I had not got around to selling and I'd recently got a used CV 75 I got an old Bessa R, I thought the 35, 75 combination would be ideal. I am very happy with the results I get as well. OK the RF does not 'snap' into focus quite like the M nor can I load it as quickly as I can with the M (odd I know but I can't)
The results I get from my Bessa are easily as good as what I get from my Leica, OK it's not quite as accurate focussing (till I get a magnifier) and I can't hand hold it at the same low speeds plus its a little louder that some of the folk club would moan.
So the questions I ask myself are with the honest answers are:
1) Do I take better photos with Leica equipment, easy this one. No I do not.
2) Can I take better photos in lower lighting with a Leica body. Yes I can but this is rare.
3) What result do I prefer? CV or Leica glass. Leica for speed and character but maybe not by that much.
4) What is my day to day kit and why? Bessa R and 35, 75 lenses. I wanted a small outfit that was unobtrusive that I could take anywhere and get good results.
So from my rather limited experience for every day use it looks like the CV kit hits the score. It does not tick all the boxes but it sure ticks all the every day ones.
So the point of this post is:
For most of the time it really does not matter what kit you shoot with. It's you that makes the difference. I really love RF photography and taking photos with RF cameras. The name on the body/lens really does not matter that much at all.
So, whats in a name?
Follwing a spot (lot) of indecision and help and advice from a good buddy who had an M7 kit, I bought a Leica M and a 50 Cron for what was to me a huge amount of money. I also later bought some other lenses, not of German origin, price and aguable quality but from Voigtlander made by Cosina (28 and 90 f3.5s followed later by a 15 and 35.... more CV followed)
I took many photos over the folowing weeks and felt that the RF experience was what I preferred, my images were much sharper and had better contrast. Also from viewing the results I could 'almost' detect a signature that the different lenses had. In a nut shell I was very pleased. I also felt that my composition improved along with an increased ability to see what lens I needed without even raising the camera to the eye. All good stuff I thought.
Following the untimely death of my buddy I purchased his Leica outfit from his son and this kit is still in use. (anyone with book 2 can see the dedication part) This purchase permitted me the chance to use other Leica glass which certainly has a 'look' to it that I really do like. I also really like the results from my CV stuff though.
Up untill recently I used the Leica glass almost exclusively. Did my photgraphy improve with this new found glass? no of course not, not one jot. Did the images look better or sharper, prabably better edge resolving power. I still don't know which I prefer from the results though. What had changed was the ability to shoot wider apertures without the same loss of quality however given that I tend to shoot HP5 the chance to use these wide apertures is seldom.
Following my re aquaintance to motorcycling (weight is a big issue here) and an iminant travel with the company I thought a light weight RF 'user' kit would be useful. As I already had my CV glass that I had not got around to selling and I'd recently got a used CV 75 I got an old Bessa R, I thought the 35, 75 combination would be ideal. I am very happy with the results I get as well. OK the RF does not 'snap' into focus quite like the M nor can I load it as quickly as I can with the M (odd I know but I can't)
The results I get from my Bessa are easily as good as what I get from my Leica, OK it's not quite as accurate focussing (till I get a magnifier) and I can't hand hold it at the same low speeds plus its a little louder that some of the folk club would moan.
So the questions I ask myself are with the honest answers are:
1) Do I take better photos with Leica equipment, easy this one. No I do not.
2) Can I take better photos in lower lighting with a Leica body. Yes I can but this is rare.
3) What result do I prefer? CV or Leica glass. Leica for speed and character but maybe not by that much.
4) What is my day to day kit and why? Bessa R and 35, 75 lenses. I wanted a small outfit that was unobtrusive that I could take anywhere and get good results.
So from my rather limited experience for every day use it looks like the CV kit hits the score. It does not tick all the boxes but it sure ticks all the every day ones.
So the point of this post is:
For most of the time it really does not matter what kit you shoot with. It's you that makes the difference. I really love RF photography and taking photos with RF cameras. The name on the body/lens really does not matter that much at all.
So, whats in a name?
