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waterden

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Posts posted by waterden

    Leica R 35-70 F4 ROM

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    I have a number of Leica R lenses which I use on the 5D II. Some with a fixed Leitax adapter, including the 35-70/4 ROM, and some with

    a removeable Novoflex adapter. The 35-70/4 is I think the best in its range,certainly as good if not better than the 50/2 Summicron when

    used at F4. It has excellent contrast and exceptional sharpness. One of my favourite lenses, possibly the tops.

    Is the build quality of a Rolleiflex 2.8GX as good as a 3.5F/2.8F?

    in Medium Format

    Posted

    Not owning a GX I cannot speak authoritatively on this although have observed that the build quality appears to be excellent and the metering clearly more reliable than the earlier models with silicon cells, particularly as the new electronic metering is TTL. Another plus point for the GX is the ability to use TTL flash with an SCA adapter. I dont know whether the HFT coating makes an appreciable difference.

    That said, the shutter button is a lot stiffer than the F models, something I even noted with a Compur Synchro shutter on a GX which I tried out. Not a big issue, though, and probably one would get accustomed quite quickly.

     

    The main question is whether it is worth paying a 25% premium over a mint 2.8F white face just for metering. This may be a good idea if you shoot chromes alone although I have found the metering on my 3.5F to be surprisingly accurate although this may not always be the case.

     

    The real beauty of the older cameras is that they operate very nicely and have a very light shutter release. I enjoy using my 3.5F more than any other camera I own (including my 6008i) and it has also produced the best shots, including on chromes. I can thoroughly recommend these cameras from my own experience although would point out that a Maxwell screen (which I have) makes a massive difference (Beattie is supposed to be excellent too) and a CLA will probably be necessary and is certainly sensible to ensure the camera mechanics do not wear. These will add around GBP250 to your purchase price.

    Mamiya 7II or Bronica RF 645?

    in Medium Format

    Posted

    Without having tried either I have noted from similar posts that the general view favours the Mamiya 7. The Bronica build quality is said to be better but the frame size is 645 rather than 6x7. Also the Bronica frame is vertical rather than horizontal as on the M7 which may not be best for landscape work. The dark slide arrangement is apparently better on the Bronica. One big downside to the Bronica is the narrow range of lenses, 45mm, 65mm and 100mm (the 135mm was discontinued) compared with the M7.

    OT (Totally) Rolleiflex? Someone stop me doing this again!

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    I use and have used lots of cameras varying from Leica M to Contax G2 in 35mm. For MF I use a Rolleiflex and Rollei 6008i but the latter is heavy and better for studio than outdoors. Of all these, my favourite for considered shots is my Rolleiflex 3.5F Planar. It is light, easy to use (particularly with the Maxwell screen I installed and a prism finder, which I prefer to WLF) and, after an excellent CLA by Brian Mickelboro here in the UK, so smooth to operate. The photos I have taken are technically up with the best of all the cameras I have used - quite remarkable for a 40 year old camera. There are quite a few around on eBay and provided the seller is reliable and the lens is clean you should be fine, but do invest in a CLA costing around GBP 100. I mainly use Velvia and scan on an Epson 4870 and the results are stunning. If I had to own one camera only this would be the one.

    Bessa R3A and what lens?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Trevor, hang on to the CM - you will regret selling it. Not only will you drop a lot on it (I see that Jonathan Harris is offering mint at around GBP450 cf GBP700 new) but also it's a great camera. I bought mine after, inter alia, reading your comments on its virtues. I have been delighted with it. The picture quality is good enough for A3+ magnification, which is good enough for me. The 2.4 lens is pretty fast. I have used it travelling along with my MP + CV21/4 and Elmarit M 90/2.8 and found this to be a great combo.

     

    It seems to me that there is a tendency amongst enthusiast photographers (and Im not including you here) to decry cameras like the CM because they are auto focus p/s. Sure, there are limitations. Differential focusing is imprecise albeit roughly possible. No DOF scale but Im sure most of us have a rough idea of DOF at various apertures - good enough for the most part unless precision is required. Clearly to do it properly you need something better. But as an immediately available camera it is fantastic. Did HCB really bother with DOF markings when taking his photos? It seems to me that composition often takes second place in people's considerations (not you, Im sure, Trevor) to other factors and I dont think that is what its all about. Obviously the v/f is a bit rough and ready and is not 100% field of view as are most r/f cameras using frame lines of 35 upwards, but in today's digital world we can always scan and crop. Cropping may be out for the purist but even HCB was not past doing it on (admmittedly rare) occasion.

     

    To me the CM is glorious. I'm all for focusing and exposure aids, particularly if they can be over-ridden, although I accept that R/F focusing is unbeatable for normal and wider angled lenses. I also accept that the CM may not be ideal in this context because of fiddly rear wheel / screen operation for the exposure compensation. Nevertheless it is a robust camera and is a pleasure to use. (It would be even better if it was a cm thinner and more pocketable). If you want a R3A why not buy one and hang on to the CM - it is not exactly extravagantly priced (unlike new Leicas)

    MP in the flesh ....

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Leica in UK will do an upgrade v/f for the M6 for about GBP135 + VAT so I feel that Classic Camera may have been a little disingenuous. They are also not renowned for keen pricing. If you are looking for a fairly priced MP check out www.jonathanharris.co.uk from time to time.

    Zeiss Ikon pricing. $127 for a lens shade?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    The reason German pricing is higher than Japanese is not quality - it is simply that Germans pay themselves too much. That is why they have around 10% unemployment and why their economy is in deep trouble. Mercedes tried to cut corners to retain market share and its reliability ranking has gone from no 1 to no 28 in four years. Thats why the Mercedes arm of Daimler Benz has seen profits collapse by almost 70% this year and the company is now relying on Chrysler for profit stability - now there's a joke for you. This is very serious and you can thank restrictive German labour practices for this. Sadly, it probably means that you can wave good bye to a lot of famous German marques, starting with Leica and Rollei. Well done Zeiss for manufacturing outside Germany.
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