Film body advice please

jamesoliverstone

jamesoliverstone

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Hi all, I am off to Africa in November with all of my gear to stay with the tribes and one thing I really want to do is take the film body too, but my F4s is just so damn heavy...

I recently tried a voigtlander bessa and loved it, but the guy who was going to sell it to me has now dissapeared.

So my question is, what would be a great little lightweight film body that I could really "shoot from the hip" with?

I have found this on ebay, but once you add a leica mount lens, its going to get expensive. I really want to shoot wide with infinity focus so I dont have to worry too much about using the viewfinder (I tried this recently with the bessa and the 15mm heliar).

Any ideas on a low cost and lightweight alternative to chuck in my combats?
 
Are you thinking of fixed lens or interchangeable lens camera, James? Any budget?
 
Nikon F3 with no m-drive.

Then you can shoot with what you already have, lens-wise.
Take the lens off and it's small enough to put in a side-pocket...
 
Or a Nikon FM2n mechanical camera and slightly smaller then the F3.

But if you really want wide then the Bessa L or T with there 12mm or 15mm on board would do the trick. Maybe a little more then £250 but i don't know the prices,
 
I would go for a FM2 over the F3 anyday. I used to use both and never really got on the F3. Flash synch speed was also much better on the FM2
 
Edtog said:
I would go for a FM2 over the F3 anyday. I used to use both and never really got on the F3. Flash synch speed was also much better on the FM2
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True, but the OP's comment about shooting from the hip implies that flash isn't a concern as much as having a decent body.

FM2n is only marginally smaller than the F3 and the F3 is better-made and easier to use IMO - you say you didn't get on with the F3, but I hated having to open the rewind-lever to the stand-off position in order to switch on the light-meter - it was the main reason I bought an MD-12 for my FM2 body...
 
James, at 250 quids a SLR is your best bet, I guess. An olympus OM body and a wide prime lens is small enough, but not pocketable.

I have a CL which you are welcome to borrow for your trip - I dont have a wide lens though.
 
Yes - they're shi'ite...might not work, might not be light-proof, might be made from old T-34 tank engine spares...
 
Ok after a bit of searching on eBay and having a look at what I can sell off from my collection of unused stuff ;)... I can afford the following, which would be the best

The 15mm voigtlander heliar with either:

Voigtlander bessa L
Voigtlander bessa R
Leica iiia

Or another 35mm rangefinder with leica m mount for sub £280

Thoughts?
 
Arkady said:
Yes - they're shi'ite...might not work, might not be light-proof, might be made from old T-34 tank engine spares...
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Might have holes in the shutter curtain big enough to throw a dog through :lol:


Film Side by The Big Yin, on Flickr


In fairness though, they're a tough solid camera - at least the castings are - I know someone who accosted me while I was shooting for last months POTY - tried to take my camera from me - who could attest to how solid the FED-3 is - well - it was much more solid than the bridge of his nose at least :lol:
 
You could always try to get an MB20 for your Nikon F4s it will make it lighter and smaller and you'll still be equipped with a camera you know how to use.

F3 would be my choice if I was starting from scratch having had an FM2 used an F3 and also an F4/F4s

(unless I was going to take flash as i don't like the F3 sync set up and "slow" 1/60th )
 
If it's light, cheap and zone focus you need and fairly wide angle as well, what about an Olympus XA2 or XA3?
 
Leica CL might be able to pick a body up for your price and there's one on the classifieds for £250.

A Canonet QL17 or similar for a very reasonable price (40mm lens) is quite a good option.
 
I was just going to say to buy a Bessa R as you can use all sorts of lenses with it.

Good luck with your trip to Africa BTW, can't wait to see the results!

The silliest thing I did was sell my Voigtlander 15mm lens and viewfinder, I know I'll have to buy one back again one day!
 
viewfromthenorth said:
Why not try a Nikon F75 or F80? Cheap as chips (less than £50), small, light, and compatible with your D700 lenses?
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Because my lenses are also huge and heavy... So its still the same problem :(

Also, my 15mm arrived yesterday and I am typing is as I have just unwrapped the bessa T... I don't think I was this excited when i got the d700 :lol:
 
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