Desmolicious
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Upload & Sell: Off
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My experience with the M mount cameras I listed:
1. I had two absolutely perfect condition CLEs. Super vf for a 28mm lens as it seemed perfectly designed for that. No AE lock. But to make that worse - no manual metering!!! So the worst of both worlds.
But the biggest issue is on both of them the electronics just... died. And so I cannot recommend them.
2. Bessa R3a. An ok camera, but felt clunky to use, with a VF that the exposure LEDs are hard to see in daylight. I honestly don't remember much about the experience because it was just not enjoyable so I quickly sold it on. I already had Leica Ms, and all I could think was why would I want to use this when I already had an M?
And now, the Bessa is MORE expensive than many Ms! Unless you like the idea about paying more for a 'knock off' (yeah I know I am exaggerating a bit..) that is lower quality than the real thing, not a great idea IMO
3. Zeiss Ikon ZM. I had to try one because so many people said this was the bestest M ever - better than the M7 because it had a huge VF. My experience? It does have a bigger VF but because of that unless your eye is perfectly placed, the RF patch flares out. Yes, you get used to it after a bit and can adjust but what it showed me is that just because the VF is a little bigger, than does not make it better. With an M - raise to your eye and everything is perfectly placed w no need to adjust.
Other issues with the ZM? The exposure LEDs are impossible to see in bright light/daylight. The RF patch is not linked to the frame lines. So when you focus, and the frame lines move to adjust for parallax, the RF stays stationary. I flippin hated that! It meant that often the RF was not centered in the frame, and when I shoot quickly I use the RF patch as a point of reference to the entire composition. With Leicas it is always centered as it moves in sync w the frame lines, so I always know where I am.
The reason it is like this in the ZM is because it is cheaper to make. And, unfortunately worse in use.
The ZM is also built to a much lighter standard, which normally wouldn't be a huge deal, problem is the film gear advance system is all made of plastic. And on mine, it failed so it required one wind, and an extra nudge to cock the shutter. The same thing happened to my $100 Bessa L, so they did not improve the build quality of the camera, even though it was placed at a much higher price point.
Because of all that, I sold the ZM. And again, today they fetch the same price as something like an M3 or M4. So - hard pass.
Which is why 'all' I have now are my Ms for 35mm interchangeable lens RF photography!
With your lens selection I'd recommend a camera w 35mm frame lines. So M2, M4, M4-2, M4-P etc. I use 40mm lenses it brings up the 50mm frame lines, and I just give it a little more space when I compose. Basically I look at what the 35mm lines look like, and the 50, and compose in between.
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