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Firstly, I just wanted to say a proper "Hello!". I've been lurking here for a bit, and recently even started appearing in a thread or two, but I just wanted to do a formal introduction. Seems like there's a great bunch of people here.
I also have a question. I'm an SLR user, and have been for some time. But recently I've been toying with the idea of getting a rangefinder, as I like the idea of a camera that's light, quiet, quick, and good quality. However, RFs seem so different to SLRs.
How will I know that I'll like the RF way of shooting? How have people here made the change? How does one find out without making an expensive mistake? A quick play in a shop doesn't really tell you much, I feel.
Thanks!
Mark
It doesn't have to be an expensive mistake - you can pick up some half descent second hand ones for the price of a few films. There are loads on ebay. Play around with it, if you like it, upgrade, if you don't pop it back on ebay.
And welcome to epz.
Hi Mark glad you've found us. One way to find out if you like the rangefinder approach is to buy a Russian copy of a Leica such as a Fed or Zorki on ebay or from a local dealer and give it a go. If you like it you can then invest in a Leica or similar high quality machine. You never know, apart from the crude build, the Russian models can be very good when you get a good one, so good you may not need to change.
I have an old leica rangefinder. It isn't really quiet compared to an Eos5. The CLICK is very metallic and scares animals terribly. An old metal SLR can also have a loud shutter KLANG, whereas the more complicated modern slr noise is a low vibration which they seldom notice. But in the street neither matters.
A manual RF is also more complicated to set up, so you probably need to pre adjust. They do have a slimmer profile though, especially with a pancake or collapsible lens. Hence possibly more discreet.
Now, I haven't ever tried a modern and truly expensive rangefinder, that could be a different kettle of fish.
My old one does have the advantage of being made (apparently) from tank armour.
Thanks folks!
I must admit I hadn't considered an old Russian one, mainly because I know very little about them. I was thinking more along the lines of a Bessa R2 or T.
Actually, I still use a Zenit B (Keith, that's certainly a camera you'd hear going off!), which I find is actually better for candids / street than my Canon EOS 30 - people seem to notice the fancy black whirry camera more than the ancient tank. So maybe a Fed might be the same.
In the meantime, I think the Zenit will be coming with me to work tomorrow to catch some people being crammed onto buses and trains during the tube strike. Fun!
Mark
I have a collection of Russian equipment including a Zenit and 2 Feds. I purchased my FED 5B new from Global cameras about 10 months ago and I love it !. If you are used to a Zenit b then you will have no trouble with the FED. I use mine with XP2 and I'm impressed with the results, the standard lens is very good. I would say that the camera is a bargain and it's a real don't care camera. I take this with me to places I wouldn't take anything expensive.
Or you could always buy a used one on ebay for around 15 +. Beware of the Kievs as they can cost a lot of money to put right.
Aside from the Leica, which is a very old and scruffy one, I have also a Zorki 4. The Zorki came from a charity shop for 5, just after I promised myself not to buy any more cameras. It doesn't like speeds below 125, otherwise seems to work. Has a much bigger viewfinder than the leica, but is also larger overall and doesn't feel anywhere as good - the leicanuts have some basis for their religion. Compared to my old praktica slr, the zorki is a shade lighter and slimmer. The big difference is not so much noise as shutter vibration on the SLR, which I never used to notice, as I didn't have anything to compare with. Slower handheld speeds ought to be easy on a rangefinder (one that works properly).
Some east european fake leicas are supposed to be pretty good as well as the ones labelled fed or zorki.
As for the Bessa stuff, pleeease don't talk about those, I've made a resolution not to buy any more cameras....
Hi Mark
6 months ago I was in your shoes and am now a convert. I purchased a Hasselblad Xpan II for a panoramic landscape work and love the results. RF are so effective for landscapes.
Having said that buying a RF for other types of photography may not be as suitable as an SLR.
There are a few limitations with RF but again it depends on what you are planning on doing with it that matters.
The Mamiya 7II is a great camera if you chose medium format. It has a quality range of lenses
Hope this helps
Adam
I remember way back having a Topcom RF ..single built in lens and it had a white-line parralax adjusting frame in the 1:1 viewfinder so I could keep my other eye open when using it [ great for taking copycat kids who used to close their eye like the photog did!]...I loved it coming from a Leica IIIF.
But after fifteen months with the 5700 what I would REALLY LOVE would be a rangefinder built into it. I like the EVF for it's framing accuraccy BUT ....
One of the advantages of a rangefinder camera is that you don't loose sight of the subject whilst the shutter is open. And you don't have clanking mirror either, so no mirror lock is required!
Also, it generally quieter then the SLR as a result.
Quite some years ago, when I had opportunity to work on the set of 'Saturday Morning Superstore' alongside the official photographer, he had two absolutely whisper-quiet Leicas
jas
Used to own a Zorki 4, get a good one, and they are excellent .. lenses after all, are based on early Zeiss ones, but quality control means you may get a momgrel or a pedegree. Now own a Bessa 4, and the lenses for these, are absolutely superb! Being able to see outside the taking area, though odd at first, is brilliant when tracking movement, and warning you of objects just about to hove into view whilst you are taking shots.
Well, just had fun on the way into work, trying out "street" photography for pretty much the first time, trying to capture scenes from the tube strike here in London. And it was good fun! Using the Zenit was fine - even though it doesn't have a meter, it's light overcast in the City at the moment, so I just needed to take one reading and just stick to those settings pretty much. The only downside to the Zenit is having to manually stop the lens down before taking the photo - it's relatively slow, and as I was using f11 (I had some Neopan 1600 I was finishing off) the viewfinder gets pretty dark, so it's tricky to see what's happening when taking the photo.
But I enjoyed it. People didn't notice or care, really, and in fact the only "problem" I had is a woman moving apologetically out of the way, when I wanted her in the picture!
So I'll have a research on FEDs and Zorkis. Unfortunately I don't have the money just yet for a Leica or XPan (any donations gratefully accepted!) And, Keith, if I get a Bessa, I promise not to let you know if it's good so as not to tempt you too much!
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