New camera/rangefinder thoughts

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sidxms

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Hello,

So, I took my F3 for a repair quote to senddean who quoted me something stupid like 300 quid is daft as I can pick up 3 F3s from ffordes for that price.

Anyways, my F3 has an intermittent fault where the mirror overshoots a little. I can deal with it but its not ideal tbh. I have other nikon cameras (f5) so not fully concerned about lack of nikon bodies.

I am thinking of purchasing a film rangefinder as I'm hesitant to commit to digital bodies just yet.

One thing i realised from my F3 drama is that repair costs are high so I'm looking for something reliable.

Things I would like opinions on are Contax G series. People say repairs will be impossible :(

And voightlander bessa series.

Given that I don't have any lenses, this is likely to cost me £500 at a min so needs to last.

Leicas are too expensive tbh.
Anything else I should consider?
 
Repair costs are high - if you send them to a place notorious for high repair costs, such as Sendean.

Give Miles Whitehead a ring, or perhaps Newton Ellis. You'll have to send it off by post, but it'll almost certainly still work out cheaper than sending it to Sendean.
 
Before you write your F3 off it might be worth getting another quote. Miles Whitehead has a good reputation and Senddean are at the more expensive end of the repair market. Just a thought!
 
As you know film camera production has tapered to nothing, thus the cameras available to buy are all second hand.
Nobody can guarantee faultless continued function of a camera besides an initial warranty period.
The F3 is up there with the best of them for reliability, but you just can't tell what sort of life any 2nd hand camera has had, I mean most mech cameras are pretty reliable but.....**** happens, you can't remove that from the equation because you can't buy new.

An RF ?....fixed lens or interchangeable, metered or not, definitely 35mm ?
 
joxby said:
As you know film camera production has tapered to nothing, thus the cameras available to buy are all second hand.
Nobody can guarantee faultless continued function of a camera besides an initial warranty period.
The F3 is up there with the best of them for reliability, but you just can't tell what sort of life any 2nd hand camera has had, I mean most mech cameras are pretty reliable but.....**** happens, you can't remove that from the equation because you can't buy new.

An RF ?....fixed lens or interchangeable, metered or not, definitely 35mm ?
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Ok thanks for the thoughts, I will consider getting more quotes. Its not fully broken by any means but yeah I am hearing that senddean are stupidly expensive.

for RF , 35mm metered please, unsure of lenses for now.
 
Bessa R, Konica Hexar.......Xpan ??

Then there are loads of cheapie fixed lenses like the Electro, Olympus 35's, Minolta hi-matics.

TBH there are as many good quality 120 RF's as there are 35mm.
 
Voigtlander Bessa R's are readily available and relatively current so probably good on the reliability front; I got one from Aperture but similar prices seem to regularly prevail at Ffordes and Vintage Classic Camera if that helps.
 
The Bessa R series are all still reasonably new so reliability shouldn't be too much of a problem and the lenses are superb. I know whenever RF's get mentioned I bang on about my old R3a but I really miss it and wish I'd not sold it now.:'(

Andy
 
Not sure do you already have M lenses and need an M-mount body? If not, the basic Bessa R is thread mount and as far as I can see pretty much the same as the R2, R3 et al M-mount versions, well at least the body looks to be the same.
One of these teamed with one of the Color Skopars, say the 35mm 2.5, will be nowhere near the price you mention.
 
Have been looking at Bessa's for the gf as she wants in on the film action. Prob an R2A as I think she'll appreciate being able to stick it on AE and hand it to someone despite being keen on going 'full manual' herself. but they seem to hold their value as well as Leicas! A little bit surprised at the cost of them though, new they are not all that far off a less popular M5, M4-P/2, which are in a different league build wise (although certainly not shabby)
 
Andysnap said:
The Bessa R series are all still reasonably new so reliability shouldn't be too much of a problem and the lenses are superb. I know whenever RF's get mentioned I bang on about my old R3a but I really miss it and wish I'd not sold it now.:'(

Andy
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Do you what to buy it back, I have lots of extra,s added.:D
 
I honestly kinda do...but I'm pretty much comitted to medium format now so I couldn't justify the expense, particularly as you wouldn't sell it back to me for the bargain price you got it for. :D:bang:

Andy
 
Andysnap said:
I honestly kinda do...but I'm pretty much comitted to medium format now so I couldn't justify the expense, particularly as you wouldn't sell it back to me for the bargain price you got it for. :D:bang:

Andy
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Coward :D:D:D:D

I think I bought it on eBay?
 
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sidxms said:
Thanks,

Could people also reccomend reputable second hand dealers as well.
Voightlander stuff is notorious hard to find in working condition.

Cheers
sid
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Hi Sid, You could give "Mr Cad" a look, Alex Falk is the guy to speak to. I've always dealt with them when wanting second hand gear and found them to be very good with an amazing amount of stock.

Hope this helps.

George.
 
^ overpriced though, in my experience. No doubting the amount of stock they had (although I imagine that has reduced since their move out of Croydon), but things were overpriced - especially given their condition. A quick look on their website, and you'll see what I mean.

I'd be looking at Peter Walnes, Peter Loy, for this kind of stuff.
 
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