One of my long-time goals has been to own a Cosina Voigtlander 35mm Rangefinder camera.
I used to own a quaint little Canonet RF, until it’s untimely demise. I pulled it out of my camera bag after a few months of non-use and found it’s top badly dented, and it’s focusing mechanism jammed. It arrived to me with a stuck shutter, which I fixed my dismantling the lens and tinkering around – it even worked fine after that. I was rather fond of it, but it’s been relegated to the great parts box in the sky.
Voigtlander Bessa R4A and M models
Since then I’ve quietly wanted a new Rangefinder camera, preferable with TTL metering, trigger winding, full manual operations and interchangeable lenses. The two most popular lens mounts for rangefinders are the Leica Thread Mount (also known as LTM, screw mount, S mount or M39), and it’s successor, the Leica M mount. LTM lenses can be adapted to M mount cameras perfectly, and thus an M mount camera has the largest number of available lenses of any rangefinder.
But why a rangefinder? What advantage does it offer over a regular old SLR? This is really the first question you should ask if you already have an SLR, like I do. They do look very pretty, but that isn’t much of a reason.
There’s a wider selection of unique (and decidedly odd) lenses, spanning the greater part of the 20th century. They offer a slimmer camera, without the need for a mirror box as in an SLR it’s more compact. And this is one of their greatest advantages – they look like crappy old tourist cameras at first glance. They’re fantastic for candid, quiet work – people will notice an SLR more, and an SLR with a big lens is just intimidating. It could even get you some nasty glances, these days.
A Rangefinder with a slightly wide lens, like a 35mm, is fantastic for candid photojournalism-type work. It’s barely noticeable, and the shutters are quiet (without the mirror “slap” you get in an SLR, as the mirror flips up).
My old Canonet had a 40mm lens and this is exactly what I used it for, and it was great. The Rangefinder focus spot takes some getting used to, and it was horribly dim on my Canonet, but it’s an efficient focusing system.
Due to what’s being heralded as a “Rangefinder Renaissance” in recent years, you can get a decent new Rangefinder at a reasonable price. That means the functionality of a Leica, without the prestige price point. The Voigtlander brand has been revived by Cosina of Japan (who also manufacture Nikon’s FM10), to give some competition to Leica as a Rangefinder Manufacturer. They’re also making a line of great quality (as well as affordable), lenses.
This is where my fawning comes into it. There are three Voigtlander Bessas available in the standard Leica M mount, and each model with two variations.
The Bessa R2, R3, and R4.
These each come in Manual and Automatic models. The M cameras have a fully mechanical shutter (if the battery dies, the shutter still fires), and the A cameras have an electronic shutter and Aperture Priority shooting. Set the aperture and the camera will automatically select the shutter speed. Battery dies, the camera’s dead.
I’m incredibly fond of manual operations, I don’t like the idea of cameras being entirely battery dependent. This is part of my I love my Nikon FM2n so much.
But, I have to admit Aperture priority comes in handy when you’re shooting quick.
Taken on an EOS 300x using Aperture priority.
So I’m currently leaning towards an A model, with an M to supplement it. TWO bodies? Well, one can dream.
But I’ll get the A first, for the “just in case” of having Aperture priority as an option. And I expect I’ll be using it in cities (candid), where batteries are available, so I’m not too worried about the power thing.
But then which model? They’re all very similar, with some key differences; Finder Magnification and Framelines.
Framelines:
R2 – 35/50/75/90
R3 – 40/50/75/90
R4 – 21/25/28/35/50
Finder Magnifications:
R2 – .7
R3 – 1.0
R4 – .52
Framelines take care of showing where the edge of the frame is in the viewfinder. If you’re using a 50mm lens, use 50mm framelines, so you can compose the photograph. If you’re using 35mm, use 35mm framelines. Or, if you’re using an R3, use an auxiliary viewfinder in the flash shoe, with 35mm framelines. It’s worth pointing out that the R4 has the widest frame lines of any rangefinder on the market, or produced ever. Neat huh.
The Finder Magnifications indicate the magnification of the viewfinder – think of it as how wide the viewfinder is. 1.0, on the R3, means you can shoot with both eyes open, with one looking through the viewfinder. Useful, apparently.
These are the major differences. Apart from this, they all have the same metal construction and shutters (between the M and A models), throughout this generation.
So, out of the current R generation of Cosina Voigtlander (CV) Cameras, I’d rather like an R4A. Aperture Priority with wide angle lenses – sounds fun to me.
I’d take an R3M to supplement it too, happily.
Currently, the R4A is available from CameraQuest For $669USD. Factoring in postage and currency conversion, this is about $800AUD.
Mainline Photo in Sydney is also the Australian importer and distributor for these cameras. An R4A comes to $995AUD ($895AUD for the R3M), but it’s likely to get to you quicker and you have an Australian warranty. If I could afford it, I’d prefer to buy from Mainline Photo.
Currently though, it looks like I have a lot of saving to do no matter how I swing it. I’ve purchased a Canon 50mm f/1.8 Lens and an M adapter, so at least I have a lens when I do get it.
For more information on Voigtlander RF’s and lenses
Check out CameraQuest. They really have everything you’d ever like to know about Rangefinders, and this brand in particular.
http://www.cameraquest.com/