Rangefinder for Night Shots?

[CooperS]

Hi there,

While many seem to claim that RFs are great for low light situations.... do any of you shoot night photography (eg. fire works, city skylines) with RFs?

If so, would like to check with you on certain examples that you can post here and how you did them.

Still learning how to make good with it.

Thanks.

 

[Red Dawn]

Hi there,

While many seem to claim that RFs are great for low light situations.... do any of you shoot night photography (eg. fire works, city skylines) with RFs?

If so, would like to check with you on certain examples that you can post here and how you did them.

Still learning how to make good with it.

Thanks.

hi when we say great for low light situations, we (at least i ) meant it's easier to focus manually in low light compared to a AF SLR (which requires areas of contrast). Also, due to the lack of a moving mirror, there's no vibration from mirror slap and thus we are able to handhold the camera at a lower shutter speed (say 1/15, 1/8) and still obtain a sharp pic.

For fireworks and city skylines, there's no special focus or technique needed. Just get a solid tripod, a cable release, set focus to infinity, put the camera on tripod, and use long exposure or bulb mode (for fireworks), just like any SLR. You may however need a stop watch of some kind for REALLY long exposures (eg more than 4 secs) since most rangefinders I believe do not have shutter speeds longer than 4 secs (except for the AE ones, like the M7 or Zeiss Ikon, or the Bessa R2A / R3A)

 

[Voigtlander]

I use my Bessa R2 for night photography both landscape and still life. I have some examples in my Pulau Ubin gallery www.pbase.com/kepha/ubin that you could take a look. Like what Red Dawn said, you need a tripod (note that I did not use the word good), a cable release and some experimentations with exposure.

 

[sojourner]

Wonderful photos with the Bessa R2, Peter. Your pics make me tempted to pick up my first rangefinder!

I had a GR10 which took nice B&W photos, but alas the photos seem a bit tilted so sold it off.

 

[Voigtlander]

Wonderful photos with the Bessa R2, Peter. Your pics make me tempted to pick up my first rangefinder!

I had a GR10 which took nice B&W photos, but alas the photos seem a bit tilted so sold it off.

Hi Terence,

Nice shot! Love the tone and sharpness not to mentioned the interesting flare created by the streetlamps. It is good camera and it is a shame that you sold it or I am interested to buy it myself. Thanks for looking at my gallery and please do get a rangefinder, you will not regret it as it is the most liberating experience any photographer can have!

 

[timothychanzl]

Yes its a nice shot

 

[sojourner]

Thanks, but it was more of the lens and XP2 film that made it nice.

Hope you don't mind me hijacking this thread. Any plans for a mini rangefinder outing? Count me in if there is one!

Here's the reason why i sold it after about 4 rolls.

 

[Voigtlander]

The frame is tilted alright. But I must say the lens is mighty sharp! Do you have any RF in mind at the moment? We could do a project or something. More focused than just walking around the street taking pictures.

 

[timothychanzl]

Okay i guess the tilt errks you. But looking at these pictures, which I think are great, I don't understand why they are the reason you sold the camera Where did you buy it from and how much did it cost ?

 

[CooperS]

I use my Bessa R2 for night photography both landscape and still life. I have some examples in my Pulau Ubin gallery www.pbase.com/kepha/ubin that you could take a look. Like what Red Dawn said, you need a tripod (note that I did not use the word good), a cable release and some experimentations with exposure.

Thanks all. Will try to experiment.