Leica body + voight lens or other way around ?

[gommy]

That is why I said buy USED and not brand new. In actual fact, recently someone in the CS just brought a M2 (repainted and CLA) sold, brought a MP and sold again before getting a used M8. He claimed that he did not loose any value, he got a free play.

We know who this someone is! :bsmilie::bsmilie: This same someone bought used Lux35asph & then sold & now thinking of getting Lux35asph again!:lovegrin:

 

[cocoa]

Is the term "clown" still being used in the army these days ? :bsmilie:

 

[bene123]

Why everyone forget ZEISS IKON.... good compromise.

 

[enivre]

But that being said if you're just interested in making good photographs and don't really care about other nonsense, i say voigtlander body + voigtlander lens all the way!!!

Yah do yourself a favour, get a 2nd hand bessa with 2nd hand lenses. Save the money, go travel instead, bring your bessa and you won't feel afraid to get it dirty, scratched or stolen.

Check out photos I took with my R3A and Voigtlander lenses.

http://www.ervinelin.com/?p=710

http://www.ervinelin.com/?p=584

 

[bene123]

Vote for Leica body Voig lens if you need f1.2 or 1.1. If not just get a Sumicron or Zeiss Biogon which is comparable or better to some.

 

[nikchem]

Yah do yourself a favour, get a 2nd hand bessa with 2nd hand lenses. Save the money, go travel instead, bring your bessa and you won't feel afraid to get it dirty, scratched or stolen.

Check out photos I took with my R3A and Voigtlander lenses.

http://www.ervinelin.com/?p=710

http://www.ervinelin.com/?p=584

nice pics !!

update : i took the plunge and bot the R4A + 2 lens; 28mm ultron + 50 2.5 skopar. chose the R4a bcos like wides

decided to go with the head. this whole rig is less than M7 body used !! been playing with it for the past 2 weeks. quite pleased with it. though difficult to achieve the critical focus on eyes...not skilled enuf.

best thing - i can slot this rig into my small think tank pouch.

am now tempted by the 15mm heliar....hmmmm:think::think:

saw some nice pics taken with it @ link below

http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/15mm,heliar

 

[PrimePhotog]

A few things to consider that transcend brand...

How important is the "precision" feel?

Leicas will be smoother to operate than a Bessa or even the Zeiss Ikon. If you think of your camera as a tool that just has to work, the Bessa will be great.

Is shutter noise important?

The Bessa makes more noise than a Leica. The Bessa shutter is an inexpensive Copal metal blade shutter. It's robust and insensitive to the sun. Leica uses sideways moving rubber cloth shutter which is very quiet indeed. This usually comes with slower flash sync (who cares on a rangefinder?) and the sun could burn pinholes into the shutter, if the camera & lens are pointed into the sun for too long.

What focal length(s) do you like to use?

The Bessa is a short base length rangefinder. Focusing a 75mm lens with the R2X 0,7x viewfinder can be hairy. Leica's are definitely better here. The Zeiss Ikon has the longest base length.

Which camera provides the set of frame lines that you need?

Bessa R2X is 35/50/75/90 R3X is 40/50/75/90. The R4x is good for wide angle use. Leica's have 28 lines, as does the Zeiss Ikon. The Ikon has 85 lines, Voigtlaender & Leica have 75 & 90.

Is potential theft an issue?

In third world countries with higher theft rates, a Voigtlaender is less desirable to nick than a Leica. If it get's stolen, the Japenese camera will cause less pain.

***

I have no major complains with my Bessa R2M. It feels solid enough and the shutter sound doesn't bother me in the least (I also have a Kiev 60 - for the thunder clap & mirror slap).

The Voigtlaender lenses are a bit of a mixed bag. Some are quite good. I'd recommend the 2,5 50 Skopar for example. The 1,4 35 Nokton Classic is rather average - but so is it's price. The 2,5 75mm Heliar is reputed to be very good - mine isn't (QC?).

My SLR travel setup is a Nikon FM2 and AI 2,0 24, ULTRON 40 SLII, AIS 2,0 85. If I visit an area near the sea, I bring a 135 along. As I see it, I can't get the 24 / 40 / 85 (75..90) range together on a Bessa w/o external viewfinder and the required focusing accuary for the 75mm lens. Then there is the issue of finding a fast enough 24mm lens from Voigtlaender F04,0 24(25) doesn't cut it for me.

So what I'm trying to say is: Rangefinders aren't that straightforward to configure to what you need and it would be good to know, what you're expectations are in the first hand.

Bessa's aren't really cheap either. Consider that you're basically buying a Nikon FM10 or Olympus OM2000 (made by Cosina) with the mirror box removed and a rangefinder box added. It's quite a cheap camera for a not-so-cheap price. But again considering the limitations they're still reliable tools.

Just my thoughts. Sean.

Very true... Except that I rather use a DSLR as a main body and my R3a as second body. I just don't see any point in buying film SLRs these days.