yardcoyote
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Me: Mid 50s, extensive but quite narrow experience with film (shot for 25+ years with a Pentax K1000 SE and 50 and 85mm primes, strictly street, walkaround, informal portraits in available light, primarily in black and white (Tri-X) with some drugstore color print film), took a long hiatus from photography at the end of the film era, then returned three years ago and took up digital. Am amazed by what modern cameras can do, but am disappointed with the shooting experience they provide. I have no rangefinder experience.
Looking for: a small (though not pocket sized), sturdy "daily driver" camera with a good viewfinder--OVF much preferred-- a good prime lens, preferably in the 40-55mm range, and the best, most involving shooting experience possible. I want a camera to have fun with, that offers the same level of full but simple control that I had with the old Pentax. No control wheels, and as few menus as humanly possible. I just want to do what I was doing on film (see above) with a digital camera.
Considering: Most of my major options seem to be from Fuji, since they offer the best controls I have been able to try. I'm considering the X100T, obviously-- if it offered a longer lens without the complications of a screw on accessory, I would probably already have one. I'm also weighing the merits of several of the interchangeable lens bodies and various lenses in the X system, while awaiting with interest the new 35mm f/2 which is supposed to arrive later this year. This lens combined with an XPro body might be a strong contender if it's as good optically as the other lenses in the series.
Oddly enough, I am also considering an Olympus EM-10 with the Oly 25mm f/1.8-- despite its modern controls and EVF, this is a solid and appealing little package at a relatively modest price that would be a very decent placeholder as I wait for something new.
Leica?: I ran through my list of criteria in my mind recently on a long car trip and realized that I probably am a prime candidate for a Leica if there was some way to get around the price issue. I honestly had never considered a Leica before except to promise myself a Monochrom if I ever had a financial windfall.
But now I'm wondering
1) is it possible to assemble a good, reliable secondhand Leica body and a high quality secondhand 50mm lens at a price that is even remotely competitive with other options?
2) how difficult would it be for someone with only SLR experience to learn to use a proper rangefinder? I am particularly concerned about focus-- I was deadly fast focusing the manual primes on the old Pentax, but that was with a split image focusing screen.
3) would the quality of the secondhand Leica kit, both in IQ and shooting experience, be so much better than the alternatives to justify the cost?
I understand that the answers to all these questions are subjective, but you know a lot more about the subject than I do. Thank you ahead of time for any opinions you have to offer.
Looking for: a small (though not pocket sized), sturdy "daily driver" camera with a good viewfinder--OVF much preferred-- a good prime lens, preferably in the 40-55mm range, and the best, most involving shooting experience possible. I want a camera to have fun with, that offers the same level of full but simple control that I had with the old Pentax. No control wheels, and as few menus as humanly possible. I just want to do what I was doing on film (see above) with a digital camera.
Considering: Most of my major options seem to be from Fuji, since they offer the best controls I have been able to try. I'm considering the X100T, obviously-- if it offered a longer lens without the complications of a screw on accessory, I would probably already have one. I'm also weighing the merits of several of the interchangeable lens bodies and various lenses in the X system, while awaiting with interest the new 35mm f/2 which is supposed to arrive later this year. This lens combined with an XPro body might be a strong contender if it's as good optically as the other lenses in the series.
Oddly enough, I am also considering an Olympus EM-10 with the Oly 25mm f/1.8-- despite its modern controls and EVF, this is a solid and appealing little package at a relatively modest price that would be a very decent placeholder as I wait for something new.
Leica?: I ran through my list of criteria in my mind recently on a long car trip and realized that I probably am a prime candidate for a Leica if there was some way to get around the price issue. I honestly had never considered a Leica before except to promise myself a Monochrom if I ever had a financial windfall.
But now I'm wondering
1) is it possible to assemble a good, reliable secondhand Leica body and a high quality secondhand 50mm lens at a price that is even remotely competitive with other options?
2) how difficult would it be for someone with only SLR experience to learn to use a proper rangefinder? I am particularly concerned about focus-- I was deadly fast focusing the manual primes on the old Pentax, but that was with a split image focusing screen.
3) would the quality of the secondhand Leica kit, both in IQ and shooting experience, be so much better than the alternatives to justify the cost?
I understand that the answers to all these questions are subjective, but you know a lot more about the subject than I do. Thank you ahead of time for any opinions you have to offer.
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