buying a RF

[littleweddingday]

Hi guys,

i am thinking of getting a RF after switching to digital awhile back, which i believe film still retains that old charm.. Those memories of waiting in anticipation.. ah.. Well that aside.. I would really love to get a RF and hope that the pros here could give me some advice on mainly on which are the ones to buy.. I mean, i don't have a astronomical budget for a Leica. All i need i need is one with basic functions like metering. Thanks!

 

[Hacker]

Hi guys,

i am thinking of getting a RF after switching to digital awhile back, which i believe film still retains that old charm.. Those memories of waiting in anticipation.. ah.. Well that aside.. I would really love to get a RF and hope that the pros here could give me some advice on mainly on which are the ones to buy.. I mean, i don't have a astronomical budget for a Leica. All i need i need is one with basic functions like metering. Thanks!

Go look for chiif. Bessa + Voigtlander.

 

[enghong17]

Hi guys,

i am thinking of getting a RF after switching to digital awhile back, which i believe film still retains that old charm.. Those memories of waiting in anticipation.. ah.. Well that aside.. I would really love to get a RF and hope that the pros here could give me some advice on mainly on which are the ones to buy.. I mean, i don't have a astronomical budget for a Leica. All i need i need is one with basic functions like metering. Thanks!

Question of the day......budget? ;p

 

[chiif]

i am thinking of getting a RF after switching to digital awhile back, which i believe film still retains that old charm.. Those memories of waiting in anticipation.. ah.. Well that aside.. I would really love to get a RF and hope that the pros here could give me some advice on mainly on which are the ones to buy.. I mean, i don't have a astronomical budget for a Leica. All i need i need is one with basic functions like metering. Thanks!

Welcome, welcome....

In the year 2007, there are only 2 manufacturers on the planet earth still producing RF cameras. One company is called the Leica, while the other is called Cosina (which brand their RF products as Voigtlander & Zeiss Ikon).

Like what Mr Eng Hong mentioned, it all boils down to your budget to start off this RF journey...

To get into RF, it can be as cheap as $200. You can get a russian RF body and match with a OK screw mount lens and you can start shooting. Well, many people have complained about the russians RF not being durable and hang up on you after a while of using, for $80 for a camera body, I won't complain much. What most important to me is the camera can fire at the shutter speed 1/60, 1/125 & 1/250. That's the shutter speed I use most of the time.

If you have a slightly higher budget, say, about $600, then you can try to search for a used Bessa R camera in clubsnap here. Last transaction I saw was $400 for a pretty decent condition Bessa R , which is a screw mount body. In the used camera market, there are a large number of pretty decent screw mount lenses available. Try to get a used Voigtlander 35mm/f2.5 classic for about $250 and the whole setup will only put you back $650. If you have slightly higher budget, you can check out my new 35mm/f2.5 for only S$370.

If you are willing to sell off your DSLR gears, and have a budget of about $1.2K, then things are much rosier... The Bessa R3A or R3M + 40mm/f1.4 is a lethal combination! With this, you can shoot practically anything indoor with a 400 film without flash. The Bessa bodies are very well made, they are the only new RF bodies at sub-1K price you can get in the market today. Infact, it comes out from the same hands and factory that made the Zeiss Ikon and cost half the price.

If you are interested in the Bessas, just give me a PM or ring.

Well, the Leicas are not a bad option, but do bear in mind, as the M bodies or the older screw mounts ones, are pretty "matured", a good CLA is important to get everything back into working order. A whole CLA will probably cost about S$250. After all as what you have mentioned, a light meter is important, so your only option is M6 and above... There is a pretty good price M6 on sale in clubsnap here. If everything is per what described, it's a nice body to start off with! A CV 28mm/f1.9 will get you started as a sharp street shooter. Total price ~2K

 

[enghong17]

If you have slightly higher budget, you can check out my new 35mm/f1.7 for only S$370.

I think u mean color-skopar at 370. Ultron at 370 i take liao......:bsmilie:

 

[chiif]

I think u mean color-skopar at 370. Ultron at 370 i take liao......:bsmilie:

Oppppppppsssssssss...

Sorry... typo... it's supposed to be 35mm/f2.5.

Errors do happen once in a while... just hope it's not too costly... ;p

 

[Bangles]

hhmmm... didnt know that the only RF manufacturers left are leica and bessa. Interesting. :think:

 

[littleweddingday]

Welcome, welcome....

In the year 2007, there are only 2 manufacturers on the planet earth still producing RF cameras. One company is called the Leica, while the other is called Cosina (which brand their RF products as Voigtlander & Zeiss Ikon).

Like what Mr Eng Hong mentioned, it all boils down to your budget to start off this RF journey...

To get into RF, it can be as cheap as $200. You can get a russian RF body and match with a OK screw mount lens and you can start shooting. Well, many people have complained about the russians RF not being durable and hang up on you after a while of using, for $80 for a camera body, I won't complain much. What most important to me is the camera can fire at the shutter speed 1/60, 1/125 & 1/250. That's the shutter speed I use most of the time.

If you have a slightly higher budget, say, about $600, then you can try to search for a used Bessa R camera in clubsnap here. Last transaction I saw was $400 for a pretty decent condition Bessa R , which is a screw mount body. In the used camera market, there are a large number of pretty decent screw mount lenses available. Try to get a used Voigtlander 35mm/f2.5 classic for about $250 and the whole setup will only put you back $650. If you have slightly higher budget, you can check out my new 35mm/f2.5 for only S$370.

If you are willing to sell off your DSLR gears, and have a budget of about $1.2K, then things are much rosier... The Bessa R3A or R3M + 40mm/f1.4 is a lethal combination! With this, you can shoot practically anything indoor with a 400 film without flash. The Bessa bodies are very well made, they are the only new RF bodies at sub-1K price you can get in the market today. Infact, it comes out from the same hands and factory that made the Zeiss Ikon and cost half the price.

If you are interested in the Bessas, just give me a PM or ring.

Well, the Leicas are not a bad option, but do bear in mind, as the M bodies or the older screw mounts ones, are pretty "matured", a good CLA is important to get everything back into working order. A whole CLA will probably cost about S$250. After all as what you have mentioned, a light meter is important, so your only option is M6 and above... There is a pretty good price M6 on sale in clubsnap here. If everything is per what described, it's a nice body to start off with! A CV 28mm/f1.9 will get you started as a sharp street shooter. Total price ~2K

wow~ thanks for that very detailed piece of information.. Frankly i have no idea on my budget as this is gona be the first RF i am getting. But after reading your post, i think i have an rough idea..

 

[enghong17]

wow~ thanks for that very detailed piece of information.. Frankly i have no idea on my budget as this is gona be the first RF i am getting. But after reading your post, i think i have an rough idea..

Have u tried RF b4? Its kinda different from SLR film camera. The VF is really quite non indicative of the final image, so you got to really use your imagination.

If u are just trying out for the fun of it, u can try getting the fixed lens RF first like the yashica GSN or MG. They are relatively cheaper but are great for starters.

Chiif's R4M is damn tempting if u have the budget for it, with warrenty somemore.

 

[chiif]

The R4M & R4A, in my opinion is THE camera for wide angle shots. With the 21,25,28,35,50mm framelines and the super bright viewfinder, it's really a joy to bring out for street shooting and travel photography. Rarely, (for me) I would use anything longer than 50mm focal length, hence, if one were to get a body, the R4A/M is the one I would strongly recommend, right now.

According to Cosina, the winding mechanism on R4 is an improved version over the R3 & R2 series.

One nice advantage of 0.52x viewfinder on R4 is even if you wear glasses, you can still see the widest framelines pretty easily.

What if I want the 40mm/f1.4 & the R4 doesn't have the frameline?

No worries, if you use the 35mm frameline as an estimate, you should be able to get close to everything in the frame. You can also use the 50mm as a guide. Once you start shooting with the lens and compare to the eventual prints, your brain will be able to do the adjustment for you when you frame the next time. That's even faster and better than the AF in most DSLR cameras today. :bsmilie:

 

[chiif]

One great advantage of RF bodies compared to SLR is it's light weight and compact. Hand holding at 1/8, one still can get pretty sharp pictures with some practise.

So, with a ISO 400 film, f1.4 and 1/8, you can cover night scene at Orchard Road, fireworks & dimly lit markets or back street without even use of tripod.

 

[littleweddingday]

Have u tried RF b4? Its kinda different from SLR film camera. The VF is really quite non indicative of the final image, so you got to really use your imagination.

If u are just trying out for the fun of it, u can try getting the fixed lens RF first like the yashica GSN or MG. They are relatively cheaper but are great for starters.

Chiif's R4M is damn tempting if u have the budget for it, with warrenty somemore.

To be honest, i haven't try a RF before.. all i know about RF is that it operates differently from a SLR.. So i wanna get my hands on a cheap and affordable one.. I mean.. I know it sounds a little ridiculous to say that.. But after seeing all the pictures posted here and other forums, i am really interested to try it out..

 

[littleweddingday]

One great advantage of RF bodies compared to SLR is it's light weight and compact. Hand holding at 1/8, one still can get pretty sharp pictures with some practise.

So, with a ISO 400 film, f1.4 and 1/8, you can cover night scene at Orchard Road, fireworks & dimly lit markets or back street without even use of tripod.

Yeah, shooting low light is one thing which i considered of paramount importance to me..

 

[gohaj]

let say 40mm 1.4...with shaky hands and breathing technique issue, can handheld till 1/20? Using SLR, it will require 1/focal length with shaky hands!

 

[littleweddingday]

The R4M & R4A, in my opinion is THE camera for wide angle shots. With the 21,25,28,35,50mm framelines and the super bright viewfinder, it's really a joy to bring out for street shooting and travel photography. Rarely, (for me) I would use anything longer than 50mm focal length, hence, if one were to get a body, the R4A/M is the one I would strongly recommend, right now.

According to Cosina, the winding mechanism on R4 is an improved version over the R3 & R2 series.

One nice advantage of 0.52x viewfinder on R4 is even if you wear glasses, you can still see the widest framelines pretty easily.

What if I want the 40mm/f1.4 & the R4 doesn't have the frameline?

No worries, if you use the 35mm frameline as an estimate, you should be able to get close to everything in the frame. You can also use the 50mm as a guide. Once you start shooting with the lens and compare to the eventual prints, your brain will be able to do the adjustment for you when you frame the next time. That's even faster and better than the AF in most DSLR cameras today. :bsmilie:

Haha.. how much is the R4A? And what's the difference between the R3 and R4? I am really a newbie.. And i really appreciate all your guys giving me the much needed infos.

 

[enghong17]

Haha.. how much is the R4A? And what's the difference between the R3 and R4? I am really a newbie.. And i really appreciate all your guys giving me the much needed infos.

Rangefinders have viewfinders which are not like those pentaprisms in SLRs. Its basically a viewer with lines (called framelines) on it for the various focal length. R4 has 21/25/28/35/50 frame lines, meaning the VF can have these frameing lines. R3 however has only the 40/50/75/90 framelines.

If u want to use a 21mm lens on the R3, you will need an external VF for the 21mm framing lines. IIRC R4 is the only RF with 21mm build in framelines.

Also u probably realised by now that RF users seldom use anything above 90mm. There are leica 135mm lens but u need special "googles" to magnify your viewer for ease of focusing.

Take a look at Chiif's pricelist for the prices.
http://www.chiifcameras.com/content/view/51/68/

Just for comparision, a used leica M7 or MP would be about 4-5K? M6 about 2K.

 

[chiif]

For price, you can check out here .

Difference between R3 & R4 is in the viewfinder. The R3 has a 1x viewfinder and 40,50,75,90mm framelines.

While the R4 has 21,25,28,35,50mm framelines and the viewfinder is 0.52x.

To put it simply, the R4 is more for wide angle and the R3 is more for people who need the 40mm frameline and for shooting portrait (50mm, 75mm).

Mechanically, both are almost the same, except R4 has an improved winding mechanism.

 

[littleweddingday]

Rangefinders have viewfinders which are not like those pentaprisms in SLRs. Its basically a viewer with lines (called framelines) on it for the various focal length. R4 has 21/25/28/35/50 frame lines, meaning the VF can have these frameing lines. R3 however has only the 40/50/75/90 framelines.

If u want to use a 21mm lens on the R3, you will need an external VF for the 21mm framing lines. IIRC R4 is the only RF with 21mm build in framelines.

Also u probably realised by now that RF users seldom use anything above 90mm. There are leica 135mm lens but u need special "googles" to magnify your viewer for ease of focusing.

Take a look at Chiif's pricelist for the prices.
http://www.chiifcameras.com/content/view/51/68/

Just for comparision, a used leica M7 or MP would be about 4-5K? M6 about 2K.

Cool! Thanks for the link!!

 

[littleweddingday]

For price, you can check out here .

Difference between R3 & R4 is in the viewfinder. The R3 has a 1x viewfinder and 40,50,75,90mm framelines.

While the R4 has 21,25,28,35,50mm framelines and the viewfinder is 0.52x.

To put it simply, the R4 is more for wide angle and the R3 is more for people who need the 40mm frameline and for shooting portrait (50mm, 75mm).

Mechanically, both are almost the same, except R4 has an improved winding mechanism.

Alright thanks chiif! I will take a look!! Oh man you guys are fabulous with your infos!

 

[littleweddingday]

One more question, just trying my luck.. but is there anyone renting their precious RF out? Chiif... is it possible to meet up with you and learn from you more about RF? I would really really love to learn and shoot with a RF!