Which? Camera : A question from a novice

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ujjwaldey8165

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This is my first post after introduction. So please go easy; and any answer would be great a vote of confidence.

So I was thinking. I know nothing about cameras; especially quality. But here would be a camera I would like

1. 35 mm
2. Not a collectors peice. If its available by the dozen; and no one wants it; all the better. In other words; not a penny for being a show piece
3. Rangefinder is essential; coupled RF preferred.
4. Light meter is good to have, but not essential
5. Full manual; the less electronics, the better
6. High quality lens.
7. Age no issue; sign of age, no issue
8. Interchangeable lens; but not necessarily an SLR.


9. The key thing is high quality lens; and
10. The point of having the camera is to take very high quality photos.
11. Cheapest possible price and easy availability



What camera would you suggest? The big names I know are Voigtlander, Leica, Zeiss, Exakta, Mamiya, Rollei etc. Which model? year? spec?

Please help me choose the camera. Or your suggestions of what I am thinking wrong?

Ujjwal
 
ujjwaldey8165 said:
This is my first post after introduction. So please go easy; and any answer would be great a vote of confidence.

So I was thinking. I know nothing about cameras; especially quality. But here would be a camera I would like

1. 35 mm
2. Not a collectors peice. If its available by the dozen; and no one wants it; all the better. In other words; not a penny for being a show piece
3. Rangefinder is essential; coupled RF preferred.
4. Light meter is good to have, but not essential
5. Full manual; the less electronics, the better
6. High quality lens.
7. Age no issue; sign of age, no issue
8. Interchangeable lens; but not necessarily an SLR.


9. The key thing is high quality lens; and
10. The point of having the camera is to take very high quality photos.
11. Cheapest possible price and easy availability



What camera would you suggest? The big names I know are Voigtlander, Leica, Zeiss, Exakta, Mamiya, Rollei etc. Which model? year? spec?

Please help me choose the camera. Or your suggestions of what I am thinking wrong?

Ujjwal
Click to expand...


Hi Ujjwal - welcome to TP!!:D

Your wish list looks like the spec sheet for a Leica M, but one with a meter, from M5 onwards, is going to cost you around £1K just for the body. The M bayonet mount lenses can be very expensive, but you can buy an adaptor which allows you to use the cheaper LTM screw mount lenses. Whilst being cheaper, the screw lenses are still of extremely high quality.

Another alternative, 35mm, coupled rangefinder, coupled meter, with a good selection of interchangeable lenses, would be the Voigtlander Bessa:

http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=925&PT_ID=290

This is a camera very much in the style of the Leica M series, but much less expensive. It has a very faithfull following, most of whom would say it's as good as the Leica!!

The third alternative, would be to buy a Leica II, or III. These do not have an integral meter, but you can buy one which mounts on the hotshoe, and couples with the speed dial, effectively giving you a coupled meter. These cameras are plentiful, and much cheaper than they were, you could buy a decent one for around £300 with meter, and all the LTM 39mm screw lenses would be available. These are very reliable cameras, and a good one will outlast you.

The last option I would recommend, is a real cheapie. A Yashica Electro 35. This is a camera from the seventies, and again offers Leica performance, with a coupled meter, and a coupled rangefinder. It looks a bit like the Leica M5, and is from the same era. It doesn't have interchangeable lenses, but it is cheap. There are accessory lenses available. You could probably find one for around £75. It's predecessor, the Yashica Minister D is even cheaper, but slightly more basic. These are high quality, especially the lens, and also have a great following.

http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/chrono.html

Incidentally, you could buy a 35mm adaptor (Rolleikin) for your Rolleiflex:)
 
Your post sounds initially like you're looking for a 35mm rangefinder camera, in which case Doug has given you some great advice. On the other hand you say 'not necessarily an SLR' :thinking:

The advantage of the Leica type rangefinder camera is it's low profile and quietness compared to an SLR. There is a very limited range of lenses available for these cameras, so forget wildlife and macro work, but some of the finest lenses ever made will fit - at a price!. Because the rear element of the lens can extend further into the camera body with this type of camera, extreme wide angle lenses can produce distortion free images impossible with an SLR.

If an SLR is your choice, then you'll have a far greater range of lenses at your disposal and it will be a more versatile all rounder. There are plenty of manual only bodies which fit the bill for you - have a look on ebay. :)
 
LOL. Just read your 1st post! I have to resist the urge to buy these old cameras, I could fill the flat with 'em.

I've recently satisfied my 35mm rangefinder urge with a Contax G2, and my MF urge by a Mamiya RB67ProS, but I have to stick sharp things in myself every time I see a nice Bullseye Contarex on sale.

I am btw the way selling a mint A1 with motordrive, flashgun, 4 lenses and the gadget bag that holds it all.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies.

Doug; you do read minds, dont you. Here is why:

Day before yesterday, having nothing much to do in the office ( I swear, my boss need to give me more work, for my own financial health), I nipped out to a vintage camera shop. I liked much of what I saw; and being a bit conservative got 2 cheap cameras : a Voigtlander Vitamatic +Skpoar 50 mm and a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex + Tessar 50 mm. I also got a Rollei 35, which once I put the battery in, found the mete to be defective.

So I went back yesterday again; and the guy said : I'll take the camera back; should I refund you the money. I know I should have said Yes, taken my money and ran. But, that would be sanity

Instead, I kept looking and handling his cameras. And I really liked one : he said , its pretty expensive but a really good kit, and it's called Leica M3. I asked him if there was a cheap alternative; and he showed me one which had a screwed on lens. He explained it is called Leica IIIc screw mount; and he was offering me that and a lens at a reasonable price. I had never heard of these cameras, but, now, I can never refuse a good deal, can I?

Back home last night, I began thinking what I was doing ( a liitle vodka and a lovingly nagging wife helped). So I thought I would write out what I would like to see in a camera and check if anything I got kind of matched up; or I was getting absolutely wrong stuffs.

And Doug came back with his replies, which was amazing.

Doug : I have handled a Electro 35 long long back ( a buddy of mine had it). It is an amazing Camera. I would be on the lookout for it. Also, would the leica lens fit the Voigtlander body; and vice-versa? Or would I need to buy the Voigtlander Bessa kit separately?
 
Hi Ujjwal,

As far as lens mount is concerned, you could treat the Bessa the same as the Leica M3. It will take Leica M mount lenses, and Leica LTM lenses with a bayonet adaptor.

Dont dismiss Voigtlander lenses either, they are cheaper than Leica lenses of a similar specification, and are very, very high quality. The lenses, for the price, are very sharp, and fast. You could do a lot worse.

You seriously can't go wrong with the M3, or the Leica IIIc. Both are very desireable cameras, both were built regardless of cost from high quality materials, by what is probably the worlds premier camera company. They will outlast you, and can easily be repaired if something did go wrong.

The M3 has the bonus of being able to utilise both M (bayonet) mount, and screw thread (with adaptor) lenses. A LTM to Bayonet adaptor is fairly cheap - you can usually find a third party adaptor on ebay for around £20. You'll need a separate one for each lens though, because they are matched to the focal length of the lens, and they set the focal length brightlines on the camera body.

You can mount the accessory coupled exposure meter on both screw and bayonet mount bodies.

Good hunting.
 
Doug, Thanks for the post.

I would, by no means, dismiss Voigtlander. In fact, this started by me trying to get a Voigtlander in the first place. Price wise, the guy was offering me a M3 body for 250 ish; and the Bessa seemed to be in the same price range. So may be I could get the M3, and get a mix of Leica and Voigtlander lenses, depending on the price and my budget. I hope that'll work.


Ujjwal
 
ujjwaldey8165 said:
Doug, Thanks for the post.

I would, by no means, dismiss Voigtlander. In fact, this started by me trying to get a Voigtlander in the first place. Price wise, the guy was offering me a M3 body for 250 ish; and the Bessa seemed to be in the same price range. So may be I could get the M3, and get a mix of Leica and Voigtlander lenses, depending on the price and my budget. I hope that'll work.


Ujjwal
Click to expand...

Hi,

£250 for a Leica M3 is a very, very good price, especially if in good condition.

My advice would be to buy a 50mm Summicron as your main lens, and then look at Voigtlanders to extend your range. The Summicron has the reputation of being a reference quality lens, and very sharp. The later the lens, the better the coatings, though all were coated to a greater or lesser extent.
 
Can I ask another question. What are the good shops which sell used camera equipments at a good price
 
Another vote for Ffordes. They do give 3 months warranty on most of their used items too.
 
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