bluzdoctor Posted June 11, 2007 Share #1 Â Posted June 11, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello: Â I just sold my last film camera, a Cosina Voigtlander Bessa R-2 with 40mm f2.8 Summicron C lens. I have a Canon 20D with lenses to shoot everyday assignments, but for my personal, social documentary black and white work, I want a small, quiet camera with about a 35mm focal length. I shoot for "moments", so the camera needs to have a fast shutter response, good low light performance, etc. I cannot rely on an electronic viewfinder...it just isn't my style of shooting (I used to have M-series film cameras). Â I absolutely cannot afford an M8; it seems my choices are an Epson RD-1, or a Leica/Pana Digilux 3. There are no dealers around here (an hour south of Pittsburgh) that I can pick up and feel a Leica, so I wanted to get some feedback from this forum. Â Is the Digilux 3 a photojournalist's camera? Â Thanks, Â Joel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 11, 2007 Posted June 11, 2007 Hi bluzdoctor, Take a look here Digilux 3 a photojournalist's camera?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
punktum Posted June 11, 2007 Share #2  Posted June 11, 2007 No, it´s a toy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Flatline Posted June 11, 2007 Share #3 Â Posted June 11, 2007 The Digilux is not a toy - punktum is either confusing it with the D-Lux 3 (which is a nice point-n-shoot, but not much more) or he is being a prat. Â I don't know what you consider a photojournalist's camera - there are various brands that make cameras for specific types of jobs. I wouldn't take a Digilux to Iraq - it's not dust-sealed. Â I gather a Digilux 3 was used to shoot a Sports Illustrated Swim Suit pictoral, there's a link to a thread here. Â I don't know all the available 4/3rd lenses - that's the name of the camera mount for this particular camera. There's a number of independent camera companies and lens builders that are supporting this mount, you can learn more about it here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluzdoctor Posted June 11, 2007 Author Share #4 Â Posted June 11, 2007 I don't know what you consider a photojournalist's camera - there are various brands that make cameras for specific types of jobs. I wouldn't take a Digilux to Iraq - it's not dust-sealed. Â I guess what I mean is mostly in the way it is used, e.g., to capture the "decisive moment" rather than posed or set up shots. My way of shooting is very much based on timing and framing moments of interaction or emotion, which are fleeting and not something you consider on the ground glass or LED screen. I do not need a selection of lenses, as 95% of my images are from a 35mm focal length (35mm film camera equivalent) lens. I will not shoot sports or studio work with the camera. Â When I worked on the America 24/7 book, they gave us Olympus cameras that had too long a shutter lag. My timing was all wrong. I just couldn't work with the camera, so I borrowed a Nikon D1H. Â Joel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Flatline Posted June 11, 2007 Share #5 Â Posted June 11, 2007 I don't have one, but am thinking of adding one, so please take all my comments with that particular-sized pinch of salt! I've been doing some research of my own, so I'm just passing that through to you. Hopefully actual owners will chime in... Â My understanding is that if you're shooting through the viewfinder, there will be no shutter lag - it works like any SLR. If you choose to compose through the screen on the back there will be a delay. I don't think the viewfinder is electronic. Â The current lenses can be seen on the 4/3rd site I linked above. There seems to be no 35mm-equivalent focal length prime lenses, only a 48mm Sigma and a 50mm Leica lens. However, there are several wide and standard zooms that cover that focal length. They're not particularly fast lenses, (f/4 or f/2.8-3.5 respectively) but the low-light capabilities of the camera's sensors are supposed to be quite good. Â In general, the 4/3rd mount is well supported, and there will be more lenses coming to market. Â I don't know how you're going to do it, but you're going to have to get your hands on one to really get a sense. I don't know what B&H's return policy is, but think about ordering one and returning it if you're unhappy. Or face the music, and drive to a town with a big Leica retailer. Â But keep asking here, I'm sure more people will be helpful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted June 11, 2007 Share #6 Â Posted June 11, 2007 ....... should have kept the film camera, get the RD-1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Flatline Posted June 11, 2007 Share #7 Â Posted June 11, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) By the way, in your case it may be money well-spent to check out Reid Reviews to learn about the various cameras (including the R-D1). It's a subscription review site. Â Reid Reviews Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imnotaniceboy Posted June 11, 2007 Share #8 Â Posted June 11, 2007 I was one of those peapoble terrify by the comments i heard about the digilux 2. When I bought it I fall in love instantly. The same thing happen to me with the digilux 3. No regrets. I just wish it has a better magnification and smaller body. No a big deal any way. I read about eyecup magnifications made my olympus a pentax and i hope a digilux 4 has this upgrade plus a smallerbody. Maybe smaller lenses in the future will be a plus. if zeiss ikon or cosina get in the 4/3 with prime manual focus lenses that will be the tultimate reflex for me. like the m8 reflex. but thas just a dream. Â Thinkin about it. you can buy the L1 in amazon (as i did) for $1080 (almos the price of the lens) and wait for a digilux 4 body with upgrades. Â I recomen sean reviews too. Â gustavo http://imsotiredofbeinggood.blogspot.com/ http://imnotaniceboy.blogspot.com/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted June 12, 2007 Share #9  Posted June 12, 2007 Hello: I just sold my last film camera, a Cosina Voigtlander Bessa R-2 with 40mm f2.8 Summicron C lens. I have a Canon 20D with lenses to shoot everyday assignments, but for my personal, social documentary black and white work, I want a small, quiet camera with about a 35mm focal length. I shoot for "moments", so the camera needs to have a fast shutter response, good low light performance, etc. I cannot rely on an electronic viewfinder...it just isn't my style of shooting (I used to have M-series film cameras).  I absolutely cannot afford an M8; it seems my choices are an Epson RD-1, or a Leica/Pana Digilux 3. There are no dealers around here (an hour south of Pittsburgh) that I can pick up and feel a Leica, so I wanted to get some feedback from this forum.  Is the Digilux 3 a photojournalist's camera?  Thanks,  Joel  Small and quiet does not describe the D3/L1! My initial reaction was "get yourself a D2" as it is small(er) and silent; but then I read your 2nd post and had some 2nd thoughts as the D2 is not the fastest working camera in the world. Having said that it can be made to work quickly using jpeg (at which it is pretty good) and manual focus, so maybe it's worth considering.  May I suggest Sean's review of the D3? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron110n Posted June 12, 2007 Share #10  Posted June 12, 2007 Olympus cameras that had too long a shutter lag  That's an Olympus and it "was" an L1 before V2.0 Now it don't exist anymore on an L1 v2.0 with a 150x SD shooting Raw. It fires while your previous Raw shot is still loading.  -Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjcha Posted June 12, 2007 Share #11 Â Posted June 12, 2007 I do not need a selection of lenses, as 95% of my images are from a 35mm focal length (35mm film camera equivalent) lens. I will not shoot sports or studio work with the camera. Â The R-D1, unlike your old R2, has a 1.0x magnification viewfinder. You will likely need an external viewfinder in order to shoot 35mm film camera equivalent length. Â Best regards, Â -Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpu Posted June 12, 2007 Share #12 Â Posted June 12, 2007 Joel, I have now my D3 sind April 1st. Ti me it is a marvellous camera.It is not that fast in RAW, as it writes JPG & RAW simultaneous. For me, an amateur, the lens of 28-100 mm (35mm eq.) is sufficient for landscape and people. Please read the Reid review on D3 as earlier suggested. Good luck with your decision. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgcd Posted June 12, 2007 Share #13 Â Posted June 12, 2007 Hello:Â Is the Digilux 3 a photojournalist's camera? Â Â No, it is not. It's a consumer camera with some nice features. Â Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivi1969 Posted June 12, 2007 Share #14 Â Posted June 12, 2007 Any camera can do virtually any job unless you take it to extreme weather conditions. The D3/L1 in not small, it has basically the same size than my D80. I agree with stnami, if you want a quiet/small camera other than a DSLR I don't see any other option than the R-D1. Â (I have read nothing but positive reviews of the Ricoh GX100 though) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluzdoctor Posted June 12, 2007 Author Share #15 Â Posted June 12, 2007 Thank you for all the information. I will read the reviews. As Epson has discontinued the RD-1 in the USA, does anyone have suggestions where to buy one? What sort of problems should I look for in an RD-1? Â Is the RD-1 shutter quieter than the Bessa R2 or the same, as they are both Cosina-made with the vertical metal shutter.... Â Joel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjcha Posted June 13, 2007 Share #16 Â Posted June 13, 2007 For R-D1 questions, you're probably best off checking out the forums at http://www.rangefinderforum.com. Â Best regards, Â -Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallcreep Posted June 13, 2007 Share #17  Posted June 13, 2007 An afterthought on fast primes: you can obtain a conversion ring and fit Olympus OM lenses. Though you lose the auto-focus, of course ...  There's a discussion here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/24429-om-lenses-l-1k-d3.html  Like many others posting to this thread, I have been reading with dismay the many hostile (and sometimes uninformed and uncritical) remarks about the D3. It shouldn't make a difference, but it does. A quick plug for Sean Reid: his relaxed, good-humoured review of the D3 did much to restore my spirits. As an amateur for whom this was a nerve-wracking investment, the more I use the D3 the more I like it for its handling and simple access to controls.  As to photo-journalism, I would not dare to make any recommendation: it really is a question of subjective preference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluzdoctor Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share #18  Posted June 13, 2007 I am intrigued by Sean's review of the D2. With a shoe-mounted finder and jpeg setting, it seems that the camera can be adapted to work more like a film M-series camera (small, quiet shutter, fast operation, low light, etc.). Maybe not optimal, but it may work for me until a better alternative arrives. The RD-1 seems closest, but the lens I would most likely use (a Zeiss Biogon 25mm f2.8) produces vignetting. I don't relish the idea of photoshopping out vignetting in all my pictures....  Why is the D2 quieter than the D3?  Joel    Small and quiet does not describe the D3/L1! My initial reaction was "get yourself a D2" as it is small(er) and silent; but then I read your 2nd post and had some 2nd thoughts as the D2 is not the fastest working camera in the world. Having said that it can be made to work quickly using jpeg (at which it is pretty good) and manual focus, so maybe it's worth considering. May I suggest Sean's review of the D3? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted June 13, 2007 Share #19 Â Posted June 13, 2007 Why quieter? No mirror to slap, and you can turn off all the beeps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted June 14, 2007 Share #20  Posted June 14, 2007 Thank you for all the information. I will read the reviews. As Epson has discontinued the RD-1 in the USA, does anyone have suggestions where to buy one? What sort of problems should I look for in an RD-1?  Is the RD-1 shutter quieter than the Bessa R2 or the same, as they are both Cosina-made with the vertical metal shutter....  Joel  Hi Joel,  In addition to the articles on my site, this may be of interest:  Epson R-D1 Review  Cheers,  Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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