Pieman64 Posted May 22, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 22, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Guys I'm looking to buy a second body for B&W film. I have an M6 Classic and like it a lot. I will be mainly using wide angle lenses so I was considering buying a second-hand M6 with a 0.58 viewfinder. There is also the option of buying a new Bessa R4M for a similar price and this has the frame lines I am looking for and on the face of it may be a better option. The problem, if I can call it one... which to go for? Has anyone had experience of using the R4M? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 22, 2009 Posted May 22, 2009 Hi Pieman64, Take a look here Second Body Choice - opinion please. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
kenneth Posted May 23, 2009 Share #2 Posted May 23, 2009 Hi Guys I'm looking to buy a second body for B&W film. I have an M6 Classic and like it a lot. I will be mainly using wide angle lenses so I was considering buying a second-hand M6 with a 0.58 viewfinder. There is also the option of buying a new Bessa R4M for a similar price and this has the frame lines I am looking for and on the face of it may be a better option. The problem, if I can call it one... which to go for? Has anyone had experience of using the R4M? I would buy another M6 with 0.72 viewfinder but I am biased because that is exactly what I did. I shoot Pan F or similar in one and Tri-X 400 in the other. I would them use one of these for Kodachrome as and when I desired to shoot colour slide. I have a Voigtlander Colour Heliar 75mm lens only because I could not justify the expense of a Leica lens for very infrequent use my main lenses are Summicrons. That would be my only reason for using any product in the Cosina range. A Zeiss Ikon might be another option if you fancy something a little quirky. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.M Posted May 23, 2009 Share #3 Posted May 23, 2009 I 'm with kenneth here, I'd buy a second M6 classic. Because if you buy a .58, that means you buy a M6ttl having the speed-dial turning in the oposite way. I use 2 ttl's with .72 finders for the reason of everything being the same. Etienne Michiels Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnkare Posted May 23, 2009 Share #4 Posted May 23, 2009 I wouldn't buy the Bessa. I don't have personal experience on the R4, but I had an R2, end it wasn't up to Leica standards. The built quality is weaker and especially the rangefinder is not made for "serious use" in the long term. Plus it doesn't have parallax correction, which bothered me. It's a bit easier to load, though, and the shutter dial is easier to turn. I'd say that if you have the dough, buy a second- or first-hand MP with the .58 finder. It gives approximately the view of a 24mm and it has proper framelines for the 28, even with the "beyond the limits" effect. I agree with these guys that an M6TTL would be a very ackward alternative with a "classic" Leica. Moreover, an MP is an MP. If you don't have the dough, I'd suggest you stick with the M6 classics. If you used the Bessa very rarely, it's limitations might be tolerable. But this doesn't seem to be the case, since you clearly are looking for a primary, not a secondary (or even less improtant) body. One option of course is to sell the M6 and buy a .58 M6TTL or two. But that's a lot more trouble and money probably. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted May 23, 2009 Share #5 Posted May 23, 2009 A 0.58x mag MP is tough to find. I have had various searches running for months and only one or two have turned up. I had a Bessa R4A but sold it last year and regret it. I think the magnification on the R4 is 0.52x. I was very impressed with my R4, the build quality has come on by leaps and bounds since the R2. It is a unique camera in the RF marketplace with it's parallax-corrected VF for 21/25mm. It also has a solitary 28mm frameline which if you like that focal length is absolutely awesome. My question is what do you mean by "wide angle lenses"? If you're talking 28-35 then the R4 is a maybe. If you're using 21/25 a lot then you should give it strong consideration. I bought mine originally to use with my 24mm Elmarit and it was great to not have to use a separate finder for one of my favorite lenses. I think the R4 is an excellent camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted May 24, 2009 Share #6 Posted May 24, 2009 M2, M3 or M4 would also be worth considering and slightly cheaper options than another M6. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomasis7 Posted May 24, 2009 Share #7 Posted May 24, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I use M3, 21mm and VF.. no problems I suggest M2 as cheapest(if not, M-4P), and add external vf then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thephotofather Posted May 25, 2009 Share #8 Posted May 25, 2009 I too have the M6 and would like a camera for a second to shoot a color film vs. b/w in my M6 or visa versa. I believe it's going to be the M3. I mean, I have the M6 already, the M2/M3 is a classic and a workhorse, it's a proven product. Well, they all are, but you get it I'm sure. Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieman64 Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted May 25, 2009 Hi Guys Many thanks for all your views on the subject. This really is going to be a 2nd/3rd string camera for me for B&W street photography. I now mainly use an M8 and an M6 Classic for colour neg/transparency work. I handled an R4M at the weekend and I must admit it felt very good in my hands and looked well made. Not as robust as the M6 but then again I'm not a professional so it won't be a workhorse! I will be doing a lot of 21/25 and 28 work and the frame lines are great for this. Clearly a Leica is a better camera but all things considered I think I will go for the R4M. As I say it did feel good in the flesh and price and the vagaries of ebay have convinced me to go for a new camera. Talking of wide angles I really like the prospect of the new CV zoom viewfinder! Cheers http://www.flickr.com/photos/20983504@N03/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted May 25, 2009 Share #10 Posted May 25, 2009 Good decision. However I think the CV zoom VF is the antithesis of the R4. Way too big... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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