[rollei_list] Re: OT: RF vs SLR for 35mm
- From: Martin Jangowski <martin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 14:48:54 +0100 (CET)
On Thu, 17 Nov 2005, Thor Legvold wrote:
I've never actually used a RF system, but having done research recently for
some friends (I ended up recommending the Bessa R2 to them) I'm more and more
curious. Maybe a Bessa would be nice for me too, with a lens or three. Small,
light, compact, quiet. No offense to the Leica crowd, but I really don't see
what all the fuss is about, either they cost a fortune (M6) or they're so old
and quirky that the handling suffers (i.e. film loading, shutter leaking
light, etc).
But then again, I don't know. Never used a Leica. I can't afford one anyway,
and my main question was what are the main strengths and weaknesses of SLR vs
RF? What will I gain/miss for casual snaps, taking pictures on walks or when
travelling light?
I own some legacy 35mm-SLRs (mostly manual focus Minoltas), medium format
RF, SLRs and TLR and Leica. I really can't remember using a 35mm SLR...
must have been at least 10 years ago.
Mostly I use Leicas (M3 and M2) and Rollei TLR for "everyday photography".
SL66 and RB is for studio work, and the Mamiyas are used when I need the
better quality. There _really_ is a difference between a Leica (especially
a vintage M from the '50s or '60s) and a modern "plastic" Bessa. It is
correct that you have to learn how to load a pre-M4 Leica (i.e. M3 and M2,
I wouldn't use a LTM Leica for everyday work), but it is entirely possible
and not much more difficult than loading a Rolleiflex... you had to learn
how to thread the film leader between the feelers of a Rolleiflex, didn't
you? It isn't much more difficult to remove the takeup-spool in a M3/M2,
fasten the film in it and put the whole thing back into the camera. I
never encountered a Leica with light leaks in the shutter curtains, but
of course it can happen if you leave your Leica in the sun without a lens
cap.
I don't want to go into the subtle differences between modern M optics (or
new Voigtländer LTM lenses) and chrome Leitz lenses. Personally, I'm
adding lenses from the first M years to my inventory, because I appreciate
the bokeh and overall "fingerprint" of these old lenses.
The going prices are much lower than a few years ago. It is possible to
buy a fine "user" M2 for less than 400 Euro. The old lenses I like (1960s
Elmarit 90, 2nd gen. 50mm Summicron, 35mm Summaron etc.) are not too
expensive, too. Ok, you will get "consumer" 35mm SLRs and their lenses
much cheaper, but I like the "look and feel" of old Leicas. My "everyday
gear" consists of two bodies (M3 and M2) with Delta 400 and APX100, a 35mm
Summicron (4th gen.), a 50mm Summicron (2nd. gen), a Elmarit 90 and a
Elmar 135. This fits in a rather small bag (the lenses are really small,
they all have 39mm filter threads). I'm not much into WA lenses, so the
35mm on the M2 is wide enough, and the M2/35mm and M3/90mm was a killer
combination for reporters long gone. If you like to shoot in "available
darkness", a Leica is the only way to go...
I shoot Kodachrome 64 pretty much exclusively when in 35mm.
Maybe some B&W now and then.
This could be the most serious problem. I only use B&W and use an old
Lunasix 3 as incident meter every hour or so. If you have lots of shadow
and open sunlight, you will make two measurements (with and without sun)
anyway and switch exposure depending on object. With slide film this will
be more of a problem... OTOH slides were successfully exposed years before
TTL meters were invented. It is just a different kind of work...
Grüße aus Hohenlohe,
Martin Jangowski
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