you who live in both worlds...

[maddoc]

RF for 135 film and SLR (TLR) for 120. I don't use my Nikon SLR (F3HP / FM) anymore because the M Leica are simply more quite, have superior lenses (WA, 50mm) and are easier to focus (for me). My 500 C/M and Rolleiflex 3.5E both have magnifier built-in, which makes focusing on the ground glass (matte screen) easier for me.

 

[Bob Helmond]

In viewing the responses to this thread I can't see where anyone has mentioned the suitability of the RF to focus accurately in low light conditions and the lack of mirror black out.

These features are very important to me and, when combined with the unobtrusiveness of the machine, the speed of focusing and light weight characteristics of both bodies and lenses make the rangefinder my first choice.

If a long lens or very precise framing is required, only then is an SLR employed.

 

[Photon42]

I'm doing most of my photography with the rangefinders. Love the form factor, the way of seeing the subject and the availability of all kinds of lenses.

Now the G1 fills in where the rangefinders are limited - for me that's telephoto and macro applications.

And then, there are exceptions to the rule 😀

Rgds
Ivo

 

[johannielscom]

My only SLR is a Chinon Memotron CE-II from the 1970s. I use it for shooting slides since it has AP and stepless shutter up to 1/2000. Always perfectly exposed shots with that. All other stuff is RF. I love them for street work, no shutter blackout!

 

[Pickett Wilson]

"In viewing the responses to this thread I can't see where anyone has mentioned the suitability of the RF to focus accurately in low light conditions..."

Well, perhaps in the old days, buy my Canon DSLR's can focus accurately in total darkness (focus assist is nice), which my Leica's cannot do. Before autofocus and IR focus assist, my RF's got much more lowlight use than the SLR's, at least with slower glass.

 

[MCTuomey]

the dSLRs come out for action, flashwork, macro, landscape, most portraiture

i use RFs when i'm out and about and need to be unobtrusive, or can't/won't carry the heavier, bigger gear.

i feel fortunate to have both types of gear. i could probably do most of what i shoot with just a 5D, except maybe the action work, especially so with the new zeiss ZE lenses (i like zeiss glass). i like having a film RF around to shoot B&W though.

 

[peter_n]

Very simple. I use a rangefinder for just about everything except family snaps and the odd pic in color. For those I use a dSLR.

 

[Bob Helmond]

"In viewing the responses to this thread I can't see where anyone has mentioned the suitability of the RF to focus accurately in low light conditions..."

Well, perhaps in the old days, buy my Canon DSLR's can focus accurately in total darkness (focus assist is nice), which my Leica's cannot do.

Hmm. Total darkness? I'd thought photography meant "drawing with light."
🙂

 

[kxl]

I prefer a DSLR for: FLASH, AF, color, digital, longer than 50mm


RF for B&W film, 50mm or wider, manual focus

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

I use my Nikon for party/DJing/Club photos, because of the automation, which includes the flash, and also for paid work, because it has the 28mm and 50mm.

I use my leica and 15mm as a everyday camera. I'll add a flash to it for club photos soon.

 

[smiling gecko]

ooh, the black paint.

ooh, the black paint.

i'm with FrankS and his take on this.

...all seriousness aside - ooh, the black paint. (seriously) 😀

breathe, relax and enjoy.

happy trails,
kenneth

 

[firscrigu]

Interesting... I'm inclined to believe a wolf would probably go through the fence also - unless of course

 

[BillBingham2]

Janek,

I've always tried to fill the frame with the picture, so SLRs seems more natural for 85 and above. I moved back from a pure SLR system to pure RF to cut down on size but realized that I liked long telephotos just about as often as I did 15mm lenses (5-7% of the time). So I built a system around a rangefinder and SLR that were as close in handling as possible at a price I could afford (Nikon).

Like Keith I have been bitten by a P&S camera with a kick a55 prime lens. In my case it's a GRD III that I got from Tony at Popflash. While I was never really in love with a 28mm on my SLRs or in RFs, I find this lens gives me the qualities I got from my 25mm and my 35mm lenses. P&S with zooms do not provide the same quality (sharpness, lack of distortion, speed) as the Ricoh GRs or GRDs do. Once you learn how to control the camera these little buggers work really well.

I kind of look at it as a pencil or a pen question. Both work very well but there are times (drawing pictures) were you want a pencil and times (writing a check) where you want a pen. For me, the key is when you move between an RF and an SLR you want to make the transition as effortless as it is moving between a pencil and a pen. They both should blend into your hands so you do not have to think about which you have.

B2 (;->