[rollei_list] Summary (Re: OT: RF vs SLR for 35mm)
- From: Thor Legvold <tlegvold@xxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 22:32:53 +0100
Thanks again to all who responded.
Going over all the replies, as well as my gut feeling, I end up with
two main conclusions, as well as some subsidiary observations.
1. The FM2 is a great camera, I just need to pick up some better glass
to be in business (i.e. better results).
2. I'm strongly gravitating towards the simple, mechanical, "old skool"
tools. I understand (and appreciate, and in some cases agree) with the
arguments for auto this and auto that, however looking back over my own
experience leads me to believe that I actually take better pictures
(fewer, but consistently better) when I have to do everything manually
and actually think about more than just the composition. As much as the
Contax G2 looks like an incredible tool (in the right hands), I think
it's not what I'm looking for. Plus, many reviews loved it for
everything but hated the noise it makes (lots, apparently). I think a
Leica (if I win the lottery :-), Bessa or similar will be a much better
"fit" to my current sensibilities. Or maybe old Canon (Leica mount) or
similar.
In fact I've found that the pictures I'm taking with the Rollei are
consistently worse than what I managed with the Bronica - no contest as
to what system offers sharper, more contrasty images and easier
handling. That's easy to see. Still, I think the fact that I had to do
everything manually and actually take my time and consider each and
every exposure helped make my images better. It's waaay too easy now to
put everything on auto and machine-gun pepper the subject with the
6008. I really need to slow down, put everything on manual and get back
to basics. And remember that each and every frame costs money, so I
need to make it count.
This is a trend I don't want to continue, so any future acquisitions
should preclude that way of working. Thus the G2, "budget" AF SLR's etc
are out. I don't want autofocus (never did - I focus plenty fast enough
and *I* want to decide where to lead the viewer, not let the camera do
it for me!). Simple is good. My main objection to Leica is the price,
the only real (modern, well built and compatible) alternative appears
to be Voigtlander.
I've also been having so much fun with the Rolleiflex MX I borrowed
recently I might end up looking for a good user 'flex (C, D, E or F
most probably, at a good/low price). It's small, light, easy to handle
and has great glass. What more can one ask? :-)
Lastly, I need to accept that none of the tools I prefer are going to
help me take any better pictures of my (very active) son. Pretty much
everything I've taken is out of focus or with him on the way out of the
frame. So be it, until I can teach him to sit still long enough to
measure light, compose, focus and expose ;-).
Cheers,
Thor
On 18 Nov, 2005, at 22:26, Jan Decher wrote:
Thor:
I think your hunch with the Bessa R2 is a good one. Why not try it?
If
you catch the RF bug you can always add a new or used Leica later
using the
same lenses.
If you shoot mostly chromes I would avoid starting with an old Leica
LTM or
M - as much as I sympathize with Marc's suggestion the classic Leica
IIIc
because I also like the looks and feel of LTM Leicas. Same can be said
for
older Contax IIa, Retina or classic Voigtlaneder Prominent and
Vitessas.
A newer Leica M6 or M7 would give you the chrome metering accuracy but
at a
hefty price. The forthcoming Zeiss Ikon body may be a compromise
between
Leica poshness and Cosina-Voigtlander economics.
Then again the new Voigtaenders look quite attractive and intuitive
to use
(not really a big switch ergonomically from the Nikon FM2 since they
are
based on a similar mechanical SLR).
I am currently debating myself if I should have an early M3
reconditioned
for $300+ and find a better used or new standard lens for it ($350+) or
sell it and spend the $$ on a Bessa R3A with the attractive 1.4/40mm
(see:
http://www.photovillage.com/html/voigtlander.html)
The latter would certainly give more consistent results for chromes.
Let us know what you decide.
Jan
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