Which one is better for a shortsighted like me?

[marrrto]

I"ve decided to buy a rangefinder because my slr is too big for steetfotography. My biggest problem is that I am very shortsighted! I have to choose between Bessa R3A and a Contax G1( i know it is an autofocus but i preffer the manual focus bessa). I have never used both of the cameras, so I would like to know which viewfinder is better! Thanks.

 

[ruby.monkey]

Specs or contact lenses? Do you prefer wide, normal, or long lenses?

 

[marrrto]

Specs( -12)

 

[ruby.monkey]

I can only talk about the R3A (I've never tried the Contax). Wearing specs I've found the 40mm framelines to be tight but manageable, with 50mm, 75mm, and 90mm, all being easy to see. Perhaps consider the R2A or R4A if you prefer wide lenses or your glasses have particularly thick frames.

Personally I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the R3A, only trading it on because I shoot more medium format now. I don't think you'd regret buying a current-generation Bessa.

 

[mfogiel]

I think that if you wear thick glasses, he best solution for you would be a Zeiss Ikon. This way you get a great vision of the 35mm frame, and a good 50mm and usable 85mm. The R3A is a pain to use with the 50mm frame for me (forget about the 40mm one), and I wear the thin carbon type of glasses, so your problems could be even more evident. If you want to stick only to 50mm FL and you want to buy something cheap first, you could try the Bessa R2A or the Hexar RF.

 

[Frankie]

Specs( -12)

A -12 prescription is serious glasses. Nikon V lenses could reduce the edge thickness [from standard polycarbonate C39] by almost half. [I was a -7.5 once.]

In using a camera, however, it has far more to do with how far the frame nose pads elevate the lenses from your nose/face...thus preventing you from looking close into the viewfinder.

I agree the Zeiss ZM is the best viewfinder in the business...~1 stop brighter than an M, wide FoV, high magnification @ 0.74, longest physical base length (75mm) and thus EBL [only the current M7/P @ 0.85, or the old M3 @ 0.91 are longer].

Also, the ZM eyepiece is rubber rimmed, and won't scratch your glasses...and interchangeable with Nikon FM/FM3a eyepieces.

 

[Ronald M]

Eyepieces are brutal on even glass eyeglass lenses.

There are seveal fixes if you get interested.

Basically glasses screw you up in seeing the whole frame. Therefore cameras set up for wide angle will be best. An M2 is my best camera for seeing the whole frame. An M3 I have to slide around to see edges. A 35 with eyes will work to bring up the 50mm frame but with a wider view compressed in 50 mm lines. If you get away from Leica, I have no idea.

I would not get a camera where the lens keeps shooting in and out. This is long term trouble. Zeiss will not be good about repair parts either. Besa either most likely.