RF or SLR?

[Markok765]

I'm debating between a full auto pro SLR camera, that focuses and shoots fast[F5], or a small simple RF that I would need to focus manually [Bessa R]

What do you guys think? With a lens, they are around the same price.

 

[narsuitus]

It really depends on your shooting style and your shooting needs.

 

[f/stopblues]

I'm also trying to make a decision. Should I go with the Hummer H2 or the Mini Cooper? Which is better?

narsuitus is right.. it totally depends. You have to ask which suits your style. What are your needs? Start with that.

 

[Markok765]

I'm doing a lot of people photography [street, doc.] Actually, almost all my photos include people.

I have been shooting people with a SLR, and I don't really like how loud it is, and the slow focusing. [using a manual SLR now]

 

[f/stopblues]

I'm sure you'll find a ton of threads that talk about the pros and cons of RF vs. SLR. Very generally speaking, RF is traditionally used for quick, candid type photography. 28mm - 85mm (or even up to 135mm) is the lens comfort zone. There are no zooms unless you count the Tri-Elmar. Everything is manual focus obviously. They are (generally) smaller and quieter. Framing is inexact. It's a simpler way of working. SLR is great for complex matrix metering, telephoto, AF and auto film advance, zooms. They're (generally) bigger and louder. They have "auto-everything."

Check out www.rangefinderforum.com for everything you ever wanted to know about RF's. SLR info is just about everywhere.

 

[Ole]

In my experience manual focus is faster and more accurate than AF.

This may of course be a result of my experience with MF; but I really do prefer making my own stupid mistakes instead of leaving them to the electronics.

For that reason my DSLR (yes; anathema; but I do own and use one) is permanently switched to "MF", and I mostly use old MF lenses on it.

 

[dpurdy]

I process film for one of my friends who uses a Leica m7 for street photography. His stuff comes out with exposures all over the place and focus off more often than on even with his 35mm lens. I talked him into trying my Nikon F100 with auto everything. He put the 35mm auto focus lens on it and used it for about a month and almost everything came out sharp and exposed correctly. I said Dude you gotta get one of those nikons. Yea he really liked it but nah he'll stick with the Leica. What you are comfortable with has to do with something other than technical correctness and logic. You love what you love and thats what you love.
Dennis

 

[tim elder]

My feeling is that a rangefinder camera is better suited for what you are trying to do - but that might be because I prefer them myself.

Tim

 

[Steve Bellayr]

If you are shooting on the street the Nikon F5 (I had an F4) will make you look like a professional thereby garnering undo attention. A small rangefinder does not stand out. I did not find auto focusing faster than manual. With manual you need to pre-focus. But, keep in mind shooting on the street is very difficult and the success rate is very low.

 

[Markok765]

I process film for one of my friends who uses a Leica m7 for street photography. His stuff comes out with exposures all over the place and focus off more often than on even with his 35mm lens. I talked him into trying my Nikon F100 with auto everything. He put the 35mm auto focus lens on it and used it for about a month and almost everything came out sharp and exposed correctly. I said Dude you gotta get one of those nikons. Yea he really liked it but nah he'll stick with the Leica. What you are comfortable with has to do with something other than technical correctness and logic. You love what you love and thats what you love.
Dennis

If I could afford a Leica, I wouldn't give it up for a Nikon either.

The problem with RF cameras is [example: Bessa R2A] most bayonet mount lenses for RF cameras are almost $400 [checked on B&H] Like this lens: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...er_45BA246B_Nokton_40mm_f_1_4_Aspherical.html

While SLR lenses are a lot cheaper.

Steve, what would that unwanted attention possibly bring?

 

[aparat]

I would suggest that you buy a cheap fixed-lens RF camera, such as a Canonet, Minolta Hi-Matic, etc., and try it out. Some of these fixed-lens rangefinders are superb, but even if you buy a cheap one (~$25), you will still be able to get the RF experience.

 

[Paul Howell]

When I was working I carried an F2 and a Cannon 7s or Lieca IIIG, an 85 or 105 on the Nikon and a 35 or 28 on the RF. The rangefinders were ripped off when I was living in Italy and I replaced the F2 with a F3 and the RF with an FA, but I really liked working with both an SLR and a RF, good at differnt tasks.

 

[Ole]

I would suggest that you buy a cheap fixed-lens RF camera, such as a Canonet, Minolta Hi-Matic, etc., and try it out. ...

Or a FED. They are surprisingly good, and surprisingly cheap. If you don't like it you can sell it for a lot less than it's worth, about twice what you paid.

 

[benjiboy]

I find personally that the best camera to use for street photography is something unobtrusive, and the less professional looking the better, that makes you look like a happy snapper, it needs to have a decent wide angle lens about 35 to 45 mm and a leaf shutter for quietness, something like an Olympus XA or XA2 would fit the bill.
Try and train yourself the tecniques of street shooting , like being able to look in one direction and point the camera in another to take the shot, but above all choose a camera that is as small as possible, in case one of your subjects who is bigger than you takes offense and inserts it "where the sun don't shine"

 

[Markok765]

I find personally that the best camera to use for street photography is something unobtrusive, and the less professional looking the better, that makes you look like a happy snapper, it needs to have a decent wide angle lens about 35 to 45 mm and a leaf shutter for quietness, something like an Olympus XA or XA2 would fit the bill.
Try and train yourself the tecniques of street shooting , like being able to look in one direction and point the camera in another to take the shot, but above all choose a camera that is as small as possible, in case one of your subjects who is bigger than you takes offense and inserts it "where the sun don't shine"

Would a olympus stylus epic be ok, or would that be too loud?

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

I wouldn't try to sneek a shot in the Ho Chi Min Mausoleum with it.

 

[keithwms]

Marko, try gear you haven't used before; it will help to learn to think beyond the gear.

P.S. Quietest camera I ever had was a konica hexar AF.

 

[Tim Gray]

I have both. A Canon 1V (auto everything) and an RF. I don't think I have a great amount of bad exposures or focus on one or the other. But then again, I usually run the Canon 1V in manual metering mode, or at the very most, in Av/Tv with spot metering - meter and recompose. I've learned a bit about metering and feel like I get decent exposures now.

Auto focus certainly is faster for me now, but I have no problems with the RF. I'm getting better at it too and most recently, I've had more pictures that I like from the RF than the 1V.

Yeah the RF lenses are more expensive. I don't really care though since I have a 50 and a 35, and will someday get a 15. Old LTM lenses aren't that expensive and are fun if you want to supplement.

The urge on the SLR is to get a full set of primes, and a full set of zooms. Which, in the big picture, is over kill for me. So I like the simplicity of the RF.

 

[jtrayers]

Marko
I use both rangefinder and SLR. As others have mentioned they each are better for certain types of photography, with the rangefinder generally better for street work. But, as with all photography, what feels most comfortable for you is the best camera for you. I second the suggestions that you try a compact rangefinder such as the Olympus XA or the Stylus, which both have sharp lenses. Use ASA 400, pre-focus the camera and you will be able to quickly capture some street shots without drawing attention. Have fun!

John Trayers

 

[Markok765]

I just wish the stylus epic was more quiet.

Anyone know how loud the F5 is for a single shot?

 

[rpsawin]

I would suggest you contact a pro camera store in your area and ask two questions:

1.) Do you have a rental department with slr's available to rent?
2.) Are you a Leica dealer and are you participating in their "On Loan" program (some dealers allow you to use a body & lenses for a weekend).

Spend one weekend shooting with the slr and the next shooting with the rf. The you have some rational basis for making a decesion.

Best regards,

Bob

 

[Markok765]

I would suggest you contact a pro camera store in your area and ask two questions:

1.) Do you have a rental department with slr's available to rent?
2.) Are you a Leica dealer and are you participating in their "On Loan" program (some dealers allow you to use a body & lenses for a weekend).

Spend one weekend shooting with the slr and the next shooting with the rf. The you have some rational basis for making a decesion.

Best regards,

Bob

Thanks Bob!

I'll look into that, thought I don't think my local Henrys would have rentals, but the one in toronto does.

 

[phenix]

Marko, you cannot chose between these two cameras. You’ll need both, a SLR and a RF, and some more: a MF and a P&S too (old model, with threaded lens for using filters). Each of these are related to your mood when you’ll chose what to shoot that day, or to the conveniences/constraints issuing from the order you just received from a client.

As for me:
- Sometimes I really want to keep simple, very, very simple. Than, I take with me just one of my old P&S.
- Sometimes I feel in a more artistic mood, but having also to be fast, I'll chose one of my RF (inexpensive, single lens).
- If I’m in the same artistic mood, but can take the time to compose and adjust exposure, I'll opt for either my TLR or my Rolley B35 (inexpensive Triotar lens, but sufficient for a camera where the focus is aperture based). And I'll chose exclusively by convenience: camera weight vs. enlarging needs.
- But when I want to control everything, especially the focus and the DOF at large apertures or long tele-lenses (200-300mm) or in portraits or in macros, than I have to rely only on a SLR. Usually I use an aperture priority SLR with a fast 50mm lens, and a manual SLR with tele-lenses. AF SLRs have really no sense for me, as the SLR is made for advanced control. If I need an AF camera, I take a P&S.

These being said, Marko, I am very happy not having to make your choice (what camera to buy), but my choice: what camera to take with me today? Believe me, your choice is not a real one: you’ll need both, a SLR and a RF, and even more.

 

[TheDreadPirateRobins]

I know this wasn't part of the original question, but for a lot of this street shooting I have been using a TLR recently. Because I am looking down into a ground glass viewer and because a lot of people under 40 don't even know what a TLR is, I find it doesn't attract much bad attention. Now and then someone will come up and want to talk about cameras and that doesn't bother me. They're the friendly types.

I have no experience with a range finder, so I can't speak much about them, though I would like to try one. I have used a fully manual SLR with a 50 mm lens for loads of stuff for the last 22 or so years, and I find that if I wind the film and set the aperture (often using a guess based on the lighting conditions), I can quickly whip it forward, focus it, and shoot before anyone really knows what I am doing. A rangefinder would probably be even less obtrusive, but I don't own one.

 

[2F/2F]

This is a loaded question. The only answer that will really help you decide is going to be arrived at by trial and error. Try to borrow or rent a rangefinder and shoot with it, or buy a cheap one, like a Yashica Electro 35, and see how you like it.

I would say that the SLR is more versatile, but more complex. The beauty of rangefinders is how spare they are.

In short, asking here won't help you much. You need to go shoot, and decide for yourself.