Yep, bit the bullet. $795AUD from my local store, PhotoCo Camera House in the central markets. They had a grey body sitting on the shelf at a discount, cheaper than a black body. $200 and an EOS 1 and a Lens got it for me. Logically I could have gotten it cheaper from CameraQuest, but buying locally means I have a 2 year warranty, as well as a finding a pretty well informed contact in the store owner. They’re selling a lot of the new 35mm f/1.4′s too apparently, around $600 if I remember.
I already had a lens to go with this, 50mm f/1.8 Canon LTM with an M mount adapter. Bit of research places this lens as from around the mid 50′s. The lens always means more than the camera body, but I’m incredibly pleased with this camera.
The R2A
So, some first impressions! You’ll notice how much I compare it to my FM2N. This is the camera I measure all other against, and has been a dear friend. It works, it takes a beating and it takes wonderful photos and feels right in my hands.
-It’s a bit silly how german they try to seem. You could call it honoring the heritage of the Voigtlander name, but everythig on the box is written in english with german underneath. In the manual, the german entry comes first. On the back it lists “Voigtlander Germany, Since 1756″. This date is correct for the original Voigtlander company, but if you check it’s base it’s stamped “Made in Japan”. It’s made by Cosina of Japan, not a widely known name, but they’re good enough to make Nikon’s FM10 and the Zeiss Ikon. Cosina has made a name for themselves in these last few years, and I hope in the future they wont feel they need to be more German-y to compete. Their work speaks for itself. It’s not forged in the firey depths of Mt. Doom by strong german dwarves, but they do good work.
-The shutter is fine. It’s quieter than an SLR by a long way, and while it isnt as quiet as a Leica, you’re not gonna get an M6 for less than double the cost of a Bessa. It’s an entry level system, and the shutter feels just right to me.
-The body construction is wonderful. I’ve heard some gripes that they dont feel heavy enough. The body is made from a magnesium alloy and it’s solid and feels firm in your hands. The weight is about the same as my FM2n.
-I would be gentler with it than my FM2n. I’d be worried about throwing the rangefinder alignment if I banged it against any walls, where as if my FM2n hits anything I just brush it off without a second though. You have to be a bit nicer to Rangefinders.
-The “leather” finish feels rather plastic-y, but I assume some wear will do it good. It’s fresh out of the box right now.
-The viewfinder is fantastic, and the rangefinder patch is bright and clear
-It has a quiet, unobtrusive profile. It looks funny to some people and I got some questions about it from classmates, but none of them took it as a high-end camera. I doubt I have to worry about anyone stealing it.
-Film loading is easy and pretty much exactly the same as my FM2n. One thing it does better is the little film reminder window, so you can see what you have loaded in the camera. Always wanted this on my FM2n.
-Metering is pretty much spot on from what I’ve seen so far, and the A-priority auto-exposure comes in handy.
-Film advance feels smooth, and the on/off switch is in the perfect spot.
So far I think it’ll be easy for me to use this camera next to my FM2n, when a smaller and quieter camera is needed. I’m very happy with my purchase, and the new range of lenses I can start to play around with.
PhotoCo Camera House is the only Authorised Voigtlander Dealer in the state of South Australia.
5 Western Road
Adelaide Central Market
Adelaide, South Australia
Phone: (08) 8231 5632
Fax: (08) 8410 1003
Email: photoco@ozemail.com.au
Web: www.photococamerahouse.com
MainlinePhoto is the Australian Voigtlander distributor, and you can [find their website here]. Their prices are higher than CameraQuest, but you have a full 2 year warranty and they do the job of servicing and replacing your camera if you need it.
Expect photos of it, and taken by it, later this week.
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