[LRflex] Re: leicareflex Digest V6 #26

Brendan Sforcina wrote:

Hi,

Not sure if I this is the right way to post a message or not.
I am looking at getting a Leicaflex, currently I am using Rangefinders (Leica M6, CL & Mamiya 7ii, plus various Bessa I & II folders) and was wondering what members would recommend as a reasonable first purchase?
I am after reliability mainly, speed is not a real requirement and I am happy metering with my spot meter if I have to, the budget is not unlimited but I am happy to plan on putting a kit together over a few months with a target cost of about $2500. Is this realistic? And what would you suggest? 

Thanks

Brendan

Leica User Forum – Brendan1952


Brendan,
  I would suggest a Leicaflex SL as well.  I have a Leicaflex standard
also.  The fact that the meter wasn't an issue for me because I still
always use a Gossen Lunasix or a Weston Master, with film cameras.
But the finder is a weird one.  It is even brighter than the SL's,
but it's at the expense of being able to evaluate focus anywhere
except the central microprism.  On the other hand, it has a mirror
up lock.  No depth of field preview, because you wouldn't see it
anyway because of the finder design.
  I bought a Standard Leicaflex when I was in high school and traded
in a Visoflex I that I was using with my IIIf and a 200mm f/4 Telyt.
I thought of the Leicaflex as a Visoflex with a built in filmholder
and a notably faster shutter than that in the IIIf. (Faster top speed,
much faster transit time.)
  Even now, I still think of reflex cameras a little bit as something
you use for long lenses, notwithstanding that I've got an E330 and a zoom,
until the R10 exists. (?) :-)
  The Leica R lenses that I have are the 90mm f/2 Summicron, the
180mm f/3.4 Apo Telyt, and the 400mm f/6.8 Telyt.  These perform quite well.
Any shorter than that and I start to think M cameras, but that's just me.
This Flex list offers photos from people doing really first class work
with these and others.  Another place to look at photos taken with a
particular lens is Flickr, because they liberally use keys, and you can
search on these.  Flickr is growing exponentially just now.
  Most of the images are too small to judge sharpness, but they can give
an idea of things like contrast and flare. Primes are wonderful, as long as you already have them mounted when you 
need them.  There are great Leica zooms also, but costing a bit more, but
your budget will support some.
  But, like Doug said, everything depends on what you're after:
Portraits, street scenes, birds, moose, locomotives?

--
Charlie Falke                                         _____      /\
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"One test result is worth                        |    |/        `o
 one thousand expert opinions" - Wernher Von Braun   0  N4003M
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstein

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