Would it be Crazy to ....

enasniearth said:
I have a Leica monochrom now and at some point it will go the same way - there are no sensors available currently for it .
I still have & use my Nikon s2 from 1956 - purchased in 1973 used - and it can still be repaired .
so I would spend the $1600 on an m2 body if I had the 35 biogon & 21 super angulon as you already have the lenses and the m2 lever rewind no self timer is my favorite Leica .
when the monochrom dies - if film is still available - ill go that way .
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Your M9M can still have a loooong Life ahead
Who knows about film and film prices

I can afford the M2 price tag but I no longer feel that urge to spend on Leica... strange
have to decide is Miss 21SA and Miss C Biogon are sooooo Important
Perhaps just shoot my black paint IIIA a tad more
Look at Nikkor RF's / possibly buy one and if in Love
then cut the leica cord

so few things bind Me to this World anymore, it is very liberating
 
Canyongazer said:
Helen, are you still in New Yawk City?
Test drive at B&H or Adorama's used departments?
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It's a different World since Covid...
Camera stores have NOTHING anymore cept the newest & brightest gear... B&H, Adorama are no longer what you think

Finding Vintage used is easier here, Ebay, Igors Camera, and occasionally one of the Leica stores (if you want Leica)

Have not liked KEH for years... they have changed
 
FloridaGhostPhoto said:
I have to chime in because this topic is so agonizing...the choice presented closely mirrors my own indecisive struggle whenever I load up to go take photos.

ion, the finest RF ever made if you're a dedicated 50mm shooter. I do like to go as wide as 35mm, so that's why I usually choose my S3 to take out. Great user cameras.

Glad I got that off my chest. I prefer the Nikon, but often agonize over not using the Bessa. This thread was like film photo therapy, thank you!
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Thanks for all that ~ ;)
I am leaning towards Nikon...
 
Judge Holden said:
Peep Dante Stella's article on the Hexar RF https://www.dantestella.com/technical/hexarrf.html
And his article The Myth of Mechanical Cameras https://www.dantestella.com/technical/mechanical.html

Leicaphilia article on the Millennium Nikon S3 "The Leica Experience Without the Leica" http://leicaphilia.com/the-leica-experience-without-the-leica-2/
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yes , Thanks for reminding me
read Dante's thoughts years ago
Such a great site !

alas. I Prefer a Tank , so those Nikkor RF'S are solid !
 
jsrockit said:
I could see you with a Rollei 35 S Helen!
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Yes , a cool camera and Zeno here on RFF rules Supreme with the Rollei...
the only thing is, not sure if I would like to always have to zone focus
or am I wrong, You can physically focus too
 
I think the lesson here is if you're down to your last M, for Pete's sake don't sell it. You'll have a heck of a time getting back in.
 
helenhill said:
hmmm, I suppose some level of insanity... giggles

Perhaps I am just tired of lots of things...
Rode the 'Leica' wave for quite sometime, reaped some rewards, learned alot

Perhaps it's time to invest i n something new, more challenging or fulfilling

i really have no idea

Thanks James !
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Fair enough. I recently found a Rolleiflex 6008 with a Schneider 60 for a modest sum. the format change is refreshing.
 
Judge Holden said:
I think the lesson here is if you're down to your last M, for Pete's sake don't sell it. You'll have a heck of a time getting back in.
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no M bodies... just a Barnack Leica IIIA

Last month
once on the street and once in the subway I was harassed...
Nothing to do with photography though in both situations I had a camera around my neck
Luckily I was calm, had a sense of humor and talked my way out of both situations, even the one where he lunged at me demanding I be daring and kiss him.

I no longer as a woman alone in this World feel safe which is odd for a Native New Yawker to say.

It's a radically different World... I no longer want to have expensive gear around my neck... Life situations are making me think 'differently'
 
helenhill said:
no M bodies... just a Barnack Leica IIIA

Last month
once on the street and once in the subway I was harassed...
Nothing to do with photography though in both situations I had a camera around my neck
Luckily I was calm, had a sense of humor and talked my way out of both situations, even the one where he lunged at me demanding I be daring and kiss him.

I no longer as a woman alone in this World feel safe which is odd for a Native New Yawker to say.

It's a radically different World... I no longer want to have expensive gear around my neck... Life situations are making me think 'differently'
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Oh no! That's awful! But sadly too common :-(
 
Helen, I'm not a film shooter but I got one of the Head Bartenders Bessa L offerings and have my 21LTM on it with the ext. view finder and find it is a fun camera to use. No vf makes shooting from the hip and zone focus an every day affair and with the built in meter it's pretty fool proof. AND, inexpensive.
 
Darthfeeble said:
Helen, I'm not a film shooter but I got one of the Head Bartenders Bessa L offerings and have my 21LTM on it with the ext. view finder and find it is a fun camera to use. No vf makes shooting from the hip and zone focus an every day affair and with the built in meter it's pretty fool proof. AND, inexpensive.
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Agreed
Yes I love my Leica IIIA with my 21 SA...no external vf, just shoot, magic !
 
The 2.8 cm f3.5 nikkor is a gem
the Leica thread type now - like all Leica compatible lenses has been swept up in the high tide of —it fits a digital m!!!
The Nikon s type you still see at $300 at times - however the screwmount lens is always over $500 if you are lucky to find one that cheap.
the lens is very sharp wide open with some vigneting
5.6 - 8 is the sweet spot
smaller aperatures it loses sharpness in my experience .
my most used lens - many years ago & still a favorite
if you have a biogon 35 & a 21 super angulon
I wouldn’t change trains simply because the tracks look crowded —-in the end although I love the old nikons
nothing compares to the m2 m4 35mm frame lines with rf spot .

as I said the Nikon s2 with the 5cm f1.4 & 2.8cm f3.5 with a leitz 28 bright line finder is my most used film outfit
I have the 3.5cm f1.8 in Nikon mount but rarely use it
the 35 mm summaron on a monochrom is a great combination & I do like the finder on it
 
I don't think old SA is recommended on any Bessa. RF might be the same or at least render exposure meter useless.
Nor I think it is really big price difference between no russian games M2 vs R4M(A) and RF. Which will work with both lenses.
 
Some things to think about regarding the Nikon S2:

* Be sure you can live with the infinity lock, or have it disabled

* Be sure to get one with a clear viewfinder and distinct rangefinder patch.

I came to the S2 as a longtime owner of M3’s and M6’s and I also got a Contax IIIa after the S2.

The infinity lock on my S2 was disabled when I bought it (KEH), but on my Contax it is functional. After a while learned how to quickly focus the lens without being thwarted by the lock. Once it becomes habit to roll your finger over the thumbwheel+lock mechanism, it won’t bother you. Or you can have it disabled. I don’t focus with the thumbwheel - I use the focusing ring on the lens.

I bought my S2 in a frenzy of S2-mania on another photo web site. I’m glad I did. However, one of the other S2 owners had a dim viewfinder and an extremely indistinct rangefinder patch. I got lucky; mine is good. One advantage of the S2 over the SP is that you’re not tempted by the possibility of selecting other framelines to buy lenses other than the 50.

The 50/1.4 Nikkor is amazing. Sharp, contrasty. I love it. The CZ 50/1.5 on the Contax has a slight edge, but both are amazing lenses. I say they are both better than the Summicrons on my Leicas - at least for the look I like.
 
The 1x viewfinder on the Nikon spoils you, compared with the Contax, the post-war Sonnar 50/1.5 has the edge on the Nikkor- smoother Bokeh.

The West German Sonnar 50/1.5 can be easily adjusted to use on the Nikon, it has a variable stand-off ring. Drop the barrel from the mount, unscrew about 1/3rd turn- put back into the mount.
 
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