Digital Options for the Rangefinder Guy

Crop factor - High crop factors make existing lenses less useable (a 50mm lens may become a 80mm portrait lens and the wide angle 25mm becomes a normal 40mm) and widens the depth of field (difficult to seperate background and subject in portraits). I'm not sure if I could tolerate a 1.5x crop factor.
Ease of focus - Attaching a manual focus M mount lens may be easy with an adapter, but focusing it may be difficult with some digital cameras
Reasonable Cost - Let's just say $7,000 is out of my price range

Camera	Cost	Crop Factor	Advantages	Disadvantages
Olmypus E-P3	$900	2.0x	Lower cost	Focus may be difficult Highest crop factor
Fuji X100	$1,200 ($900 used)	1.5x	Cool looking Great viewfinder	Non-interchangable lenses
Fuji X-Pro 1	$1,500 estimated	1.5x	Great viewfinder Great high ISO performance	Manual focus uncertain Would need a least one new lens
Ricoh GXR A12	$1,100 new	1.5x	??	Focus peaking is better than nothing
Epson R-D1	$1,200 used	1.6x	Fully compatible Easy Focus	Existing models are at least 5 years old now Only 6 MP High crop factor
Leica M8	$2,200 used	1.3x	Fully compatible Easy focus	Existing models are 4 years old Moderate crop factor Poor high ISO performance Need to use IR filters
Leica M9	$7,000 ($5,700 used)	1.0x	Fully compatible Easy focus	Pricey!

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Voigtlander Heliar 50/2

The Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f/2 is a new relatively new production lens from Cosina (they acquired the rights tot he defuct Voigtlander) and is based the original design by Carl August Hans Harting. 

It has quickly become my go-to lens, largely replacing the 50/1.5 Nokton, also by Voigtlander. While it is a stop slower, it is significantly smaller and better build quality. While the build quality of the Nokton is reasonable, the Heliar is chrome on brass and is top quality.

I primarly use it for portraits.

The Technical Details:

• Mount: Leica M
• Minimum Focus: 1 meter
• Filter Size: 39mm
• Aperture: f/2 - f/16 with 11 diaphragm blades
• Weight: 10.4 oz
• Field of view: 46 degrees

  

The Lens (mine is black with a hood):

The design has five elements in three groups. While lens makers often use lens brands on radically different designs (there is also a 12mm Heliar), the 50/2 Heliar emulates the original 1903 design apart from the larger diameter elements required for the faster maximum aperture.

 

The History:

"The Harting design was essentially a modification of the Cooke Triplet, with two additional elements and a symmetrical layout. These changes helped address the Triplet's short comings of longitudinal aberrations while still allowing for a wide (fast) aperture."

The Results:

At f/2-  f/2.8:

At about f/3.4:

  

Sources:
Antique Cameras.net
British Journal of Photography 
Camera Quest

Kodak's (Film's) Future Uncertain

A few days ago there were rumors that Kodak was preparing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Today, they announcing it is reorganizing to eliminate a unique film division. In the last few years they've downsized their film offerings, eliminating: Plus-X, Kodachrome 64 & 200, Ektachrome 200, Ultra color 100 & 400. The did introduce Ektar 100. I imagine within a few years.

I'm not terribly worried about the future of film. I'm fairly certian B&W film will be around when I'm 80, so I'm confident always be able to use my film cameras. Color film is getting harder and harder to develop, but I can do B&W at home.

I don't dislike color digital, but I can't afford what I really what at this point. I don't like crop factors, so I'm going to have to wait until a full frame M mount camera is affordable.

The Leica M9 would be great, but it is $7000 new and about $5,500 used. Epson (via Cosina Voigtlander) came out with the R-d1 digital rangefinder in 2004, but it was a APS-C sensor (1.6 crop factor) and they have yet to improve on it. Used R-d1 still command prices over $1000.

Merry Christmas

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Zeiss Ikonta 524/2 Reviewed

Back in May, I reviewed the Zeiss Ikonta 523/2. The Zeiss Ikonta 524/2 is a similar except it has a built in un-coupled rangefinder. (I realized I am horrible guessing distances.)

Why Buy: Pocket Medium Format! A 6x9 negative is the equivalent of somewhere between 75MP and 100MP! Take that 24.5MP Nikon D3x. Not only can you further enlarge a medium format negative, but the quality at smaller sizes looks awesome.

Performance: This particular camera has the premium Zeiss Tessar and Synchro Compur shutter. Other models were sold with a slightly lower grade Novar lens.

Cost:  As my price list shows, prices vary widely. Models with the Tessar and Synchro Compur shutter normally they sell for $250, but some BIN sales of CLA'd cameras go for over $400.

Focusing: An uncoupled rangefinder means that you must find the distance with the rangefinder and then focus to that distance on the lens. It's obviously slower than a coupled rangefinder, but since the rangefinder and the lens have the same scale, it's not hard. Clip on rangefinders that you can get for the 523/2 suffer from the problem that the rangefinder could be in feet and the lens in meters, or the rangefinder has marking for 5, 8, and 13 feet, while the lens has 4, 7, and 11 feet, etc.

Filter size: There are no filter threads but I use a Kenko 15/11 push in series 6 adapter.

The Camera:

Photo: with Provia 100:

Where to buy Used Leicas and Other Classic Cameras

Dealers of used Leica gear don't come up easily with Google searches, so I've compiled a list. Andrew Nemeth has a list, but some links are defunct and it leaves off some great sites.

So here is my list for places to buy a used Leica or other classic cameras (US Sellers):

Rangefinderforum Classifieds - Where most Leica users go to sell their gear. It is well laid out and easy to navigate. Users tend to sell at the most competitive prices
Collectible Cameras - A wide variety of Leicas and probably the 2nd largest overall used site behind keh. It also offers some of the better dealer prices.
Igor's Camera Exchange - Igor has a wide variety of Leicas. I think he has the best prices of any dealer.
Classic Connection - A third major dealer has a wide variety at very good prices.
Keh - The largest used camera store has a good selection of Leicas, but they are noticeably higher priced than the above three dealers
George Ury - Has a moderate selection at good prices (better than keh)
Tamarkin - Has a modest selection. (comparable to keh)
Koh's Camera - Has a smaller selection that tend towards collectible rather than user cameras.
Manfred Schmidt - Wide variety of camera choices, but prices are high (higher than keh)
Adorama - The camera superstore also has a substantial used section at competitive prices (slightly better than keh).
B&H Photo -Adorama's main competitor, it usually has a smaller used section than Adorama, but prices are competitive.
Sherry Krauter - The repair guru (who I heartily recommend), has modest selection at varying prices (some seem to be close to market, others much higher)

The following are small stores with small inventories, but worth checking if needed
Bergen County Camera - Smaller selection, but reasonably priced
Pacific Rim Cameras - Better site for camera info. Some cameras for sale, but at a high premium
Kenmore Camera - Small selection, good prices

Jack's Camera - Small selection, if any
Wing's Camera - Tiny selection
Brooklyn Camera - Tiny selection

In Kodachrome: Baby Animals at the Texas State Fair

Well how about I actually post some photos for a change. These are baby animals at the Texas State Fair. All photos taken with my Voigtlander Bessa R3a, Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.5, on Kodachrome 64.  I have 2 months to shoot my remaining 3 rolls of Kodachrome 64.

Baby Zebra

Shetland Pony:


Baby Goat:


Baby Kangaroo


A 1200 lb pig:


The little farm kids showing their animals:


Baby Camels:


Baby Goats:


Fuzzy Llama: