Congratulations!!
It's about a year that I've been persuaded to get into rangefinders
myself... Leice is above budget anyhow, so I started off with a Canonet
QL17 GIII and very recently added a Zorki 4 to the collection. Now I'm
waiting for an Industar 22 (3.5/50 collapsible) and a Jupiter-3 (1.5/50)
to arrive, because the Jupiter 8 (2/50) that came with the Zorki is not
in optimal condition.
And indeed, you don't see many people carrying these camera's around, so
I'm not surprised they addressed you for this.
Actually, one of the 'hidden' advantages of most rangefinders is that
the viewfinder is located to the left of the camera, so you can use the
right eye for the viewfinder, and the left for the scene. Where as for
SLR's, the viewfinder is right in the middle of the camera, which forces
me to hide completely behind the camera.
I think rangefinders are more 'natural' photography equipment.
Groeten,
Vic
Cesar wrote:
There are not many who would understand, but photographically I wanted
to let someone know how I have tried to extend myself photographically.
I asked some list members for inputs since I was thinking about
rangefinders. Though, to be frank, I was interested in a Leica. I had
heard so much about them.
I ended up going to Adorama and spending quite a bit of time looking at
cameras - thanks go to my sister for being patient and letting me have
as much time as I needed to decide.
The M cameras were too expensive to consider, not knowing how I would
react to a rangefinder. So I looked at a screwmount Leica.
You can see
http://groups.msn.com/MyRugbyPictures/misc.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=42
for a look at what I ended up with.
This is a 1950 Leica IIIf with a 1950 Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Summitar f=5cm
1:2.
I dropped off three rolls this afternoon and am anxiously looking to
getting them back after Thursday.
Funny thing - I ended up flying from NYC to Panama City through
Orlando. I was coming out of the restroom when I had an asian man
approach me. I had my Leica IIIf hanging around my neck. I don't
recall if I had my *istD over my shoulder.
He asked if I was a photographer and then asked if the camera around my
neck was a Leica. He also asked if I was there for PMA. He smiled
wished me a good day and then went away smiling. Would this have
happened with only a Pentax around my neck? How about a Nikon or Canon?
Looking forward to a street festival this Friday when I will have the
IIIf and an LX around my neck. I guess I will also have an *ist D with
me too.
Hoping to keep up with the list,
César
Panama City, Florida
