What's the ultimate user setup?

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KingL1

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I'm taking suggestions beyond these:

FED2
Canon Canonet17 QLIII
Zorki 2C
Russian Leica IC copy
Rollei 35T
Voigtlander Bessa L with FED/ industar 61
Yashica Electro 35
Fisheye LOMO

I'm a shooter not a collector.
I'm looking to assemble the best shooting collection, not a complete set of Canons etc...


Thanks for the input.
Brent
 
What are you going to shoot? Need interchangeable lenses? Budget? What do you shoot now? What focal lengths do you like/want?
 
Never go for "el ultimo" always for "el penultimo" so that when they bring out something better, as they will sooner than you hope, you can move on, or stay where you are in spendid decadence 🙂.
 
Overall, it's tough to beat the Canon Canonet17 QLIII for a compact, fast, fixed-lens shooter. Good lens and a small, but hefty, body size. Loads quickly.

For interchangeable lenses, the FSU cams are low-budget gems. Choose the one you like for styling or handling. I'm particularly fond of the Zorki 3M but enjoyed using a Fed 2 and Zorki 4K when I had them. Lots of folks here are fans of the Kiev models.

Gene
 
You guys are punks! (I mean that in a loving way)

When you're talking about ultimate shooting packages, then we're of course talking about the best of the best, the creme de la creme, the shizzle of the nizzle, the cat's fetid meow.

Leica M7 with 24, 35, 50, 75, 90 and the as yet to be announced, more expensive than a gold plated mosquito Zeiss 15;

Alpa 12SWA with a bevy of your choice of lenses, including the now out of production, but oh so oppulent and lovely Biogon;

Linhof Panorama Thingamajiger....the wide format one, whatever the damn name is;

Stir thoroughly, and repeat.

With this setup, men will envy you, children will want to be you, and women will worship you as their appolonian, glistening Sun-God of Love.
 
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Cheap but good shooting machines:
Zorki 4K, good VF, lever wind, will probably come with a J8.
Moskva 2 and/or 5. Can't beat the large negs, the 5 is a dual format 6x6 and 6x9 if you have the mask.
If there's any interest in longer lenses like the J9 or J11, then the Kiev's, the Fed2 also has the longer RF base, but it's easier to get a good J9 in Kiev/Contax mount.
J12 (35/2.8) in LTM, and excellent normal/wide.
 
bobofish said:
You guys are punks! (I mean that in a loving way)

When you're talking about ultimate shooting packages, then we're of course talking about the best of the best, the creme de la creme, the shizzle of the nizzle, the cat's fetid meow.

Leica M7 with .........
Click to expand...

Switch that for an M3 - the best 35mm camera ever made IMHO (or not so humble in this case!). That should bring the M2 crowd out of their dens, eh! 😀
 
No, it brings the M7 crowd out. bobofish was right! 🙂

Brent, the only cam in your list I have experience with is the Canonet QL-17 and I can highly recommend it as a cracking little camera with a terrific lens!

 
I'll interpret the question as "The Ultimate Setup for me", ie the poster.

I would go with the Canonet QL17 GIII in your place. It is a great little camera, soft release, automatic with manual over-ride, bright finder, and good lens. Other cameras have sharper lenses (Konica S2, Yashica GSN), interchangeable lenses (FSU cameras), smaller (Konica S3), etc. No such thing as an Ultimate setup.

But for a good start into RF photography the Canonet is hard to beat.

(Guys, once he is hooked, THEN reel him into the Canon/Leica/Contax/Nikon RF's...)
 
OK, thanks for all the replies.
I should clarify a few things,
The list that I posted was of the cameras that I already own.
I'm just looking for suggestions to add to this setup as good everyday shooters, depending on my mood.
To answer some questions, I shoot color and B&W, mostly 50mm and wider lenses (as I said, I have a Pentax system with all the bells and whistles for up close, bellows, and long distance), I love the point and POW of the finderless cameras.
And if you haven't picked up one of the Fisheye Lomos, do it now!

Brent
 
A great all-around shooter is the Rollei 35T. The ultimate user setup (for me, anyway) is an RF camera with interchangeable lenses.

Currently, for me, that's my Contax IIa and usually three lenses: 35, 50 and 135, and finder. There's an amazing amount of things you can do with just three lenses ... and really just one.

If cost is a factor, a Bessa-R with several lenses is a nice way to go. Good modern metering system, reliable shutter and high-quality lenses. Plus, if you buy new, a warranty.
 
Quick and dirty then I agree with the Bessa R suggestion. Get the kit with the 35mm Skopar and add a 21 or 25 and a Jupiter 8 for a small light walk around kit and who will be better than you?
 
My current kit is: Bessa R, Zorki 3m cameras with CV 21mm and 35mm( I do own a good J-12 but while the CV will work on my Zorki, the J-12 won't work on the Bessa), Jupiter 8 50mm, Leitz 90mm Elmar, and Jupiter 9 85mm lens.
The ultimate would be all that plus Isabella Rosselini modeling for me 🙄
Lately, I've been carrying the Bessa,21 and 90 lenses and not much else but film--it's getting on towards winter here so I have big pockets.
Rob
 
If you're looking for good suggestions for moving up, it's pretty hard to ignore a Bessa R (and get the 35/2.5 with it; Mr. Gandy has a nice package deal on these). Or, a Canon P can be had for not too much money either.
 
It depends on how much hassle you want in your life. With the older fixed lens rf's, you have Hg battery problems, poor light seals, and dim viewfinders. With the Russians, you own a camera that, if it does work properly, can break at any time. On the whole, I'd say start with a new Bessa. While I don't like the R body, the lenses are great and you can get a starter system new with warranty for a ridiculously low price.
My two cents.
 
KingL1 said:
I'm taking suggestions beyond these:

....

I'm a shooter not a collector.
I'm looking to assemble the best shooting collection, not a complete set of Canons etc...

Brent
Click to expand...

Olympus XA
Konica Auto S2 or S3
Konica Hexar AF (not strictly a rangefinder, I know) - I always have it with me.
 
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