Well I bought a R4M today

[j6ppc]

I've been wanting a film RF body for a while since I have been jonesing for a film camera.

It will arrive tomorrow along with a Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.4 lens.

I'm looking forward to both. Don't get me wrong- I enjoy digital for what it is and shoot same daily.

The thing is - I shoot digital the same way I shot film e.g. sparingly making each shot count.

So why not shoot film again too?

-Don't get me started on the mothballed darkroom equipment I still have.


Best
Jon

[Terry Christian]

Congrats, Jon!

I just bought an R2. I'd been using a FED-2 most of this year and it just whetted my appetite for something a bit more modern. My budget doesn't allow buying any great lenses right now, so in the meantime I'm making do with several FSU 50mm lenses, the fastest being the Jupiter-8 50/2, and an LTM to M adapter.

I shoot some digital as well, but nothing gives me the same satisfaction as shooting, developing, and printing my own film.

[Griffin]

Not sure how well that 40 will pair up with the wide angle viewfinder.

[gb hill]

Originally Posted by Griffin

Not sure how well that 40 will pair up with the wide angle viewfinder.

I would think he can use the 35mm frame lines with no problem. Nice buy! Now go after that new 21/1.8 when it comes out.

[j6ppc]

I was thinking that the 35mm famelines would work out fine as well with the 40mm lens. I'll probably be getting the 21mm as well when it becomes available.

The camera should be arriving in a couple of hours & I'll probably go explore the hinterlands of the port of LA with it later this afternoon.

[baycrest]

Congrats on your 4M and your 40mm. I've got the 40mm also, its very sharp wide open. You'll find with certain backgrounds, when shotting wide open, the bokeh may appear very "jarring". Its kind of a personal taste thing.

With respect to comments on the 40mm choice over the 35mm 1.4, I guess you'll need to guesstimate that the 40 is tighter than the 35mm framelines indicate.

[wafflecakee]

Congrats. I shoot film like a shoot digital.

[BillBingham2]

I used the 35 frame lines on my M for years and they worked fine.

Congrats on your R4M, a great camera and you will love it. I loved the 40/1.4, fast small and solid. It's a great combination you will love it. I never had good luck with the FSU cameras though I loved the fell of them.

Again, congrats and please keep us in the loop as to how you make out and ask questions, this is a great place to learn.

B2

[Texsport]

Congratulations!

I'm sure you will enjoy the film rangefinder experience.

Texsport

[j6ppc]

I thoroughly enjoyed the camera and its initial spin in the backwaters of the port of Long Beach yesterday afternoon. It had been 15 years since I'd used a manual film camera but it clicked back into place quite quickly.

The ergonomics of the camera are nice. I look forward to seeing the negatives. The sheer amount of dust in the house (it is almost 100 years old) makes me a little reluctant to soup them here so off to search for proper lab space nearby.

I also came across my medium format cameras last night, a nice surprise, since I thought I had sold them years ago.

[jkrumsick]

Congrats as well! I love the R4M camera! But I am really interested in why you made that choice as opposed to the R3 which has 40mm framelines.

I purchased an R4M mainly because it has a 21mm viewfinder. So I stuck my 21mm Zeiss lens on it. So are you planning on shooting wide lenses in the future or did you prefer this viewfinder over the R3's or R2's?

I also posted a review of this camera is anyone is interested (see it here)

[j6ppc]

I'll be going wider in the future; the choice of this body over the R3 was made based on that premise. $ was also a factor; this body was very slightly used and was almost $200 less than a new body would have been.

I shot medium format using a camera that had no frame lines at all for the better part of a decade so using the 35mm frame lines seems outright luxurious to me.

For the moment I'll stick with what I have but keep my eyes peeled for any interesting used lenses that become available.

[j6ppc]

Got some low res scans from the lab today, High res + negatives are in the mail.

I'm pleased with the result (unedited). Look forward to seeing what I can do with the higher resolution scans.

[Gan|Path]

Great results. CV 40 is such a great versatile lens Go with 25 or 28 as a set. Covers 90% of my film shooting

[kshapero]

Nice shots.
What film did you use and how was the focusing experience using the 40?

[jsrockit]

A truly unique camera... Congrats.

[j6ppc]

Originally Posted by Gan|Path

Great results. CV 40 is such a great versatile lens Go with 25 or 28 as a set. Covers 90% of my film shooting

I'm thinking of a 28mm. I'm pleased with the results too - that was my first roll of film in over a decade. The lens really does perform well- If I could not induce flare in the first shot it is not likely to be a problem with this lens.

Originally Posted by kshapero

Nice shots.
What film did you use and how was the focusing experience using the 40?

Thanks! I was using Ilford FP4+. Ilford used to be my favorite emulsion and it still seems good. I've exposed a second roll of it since then and am still pleased with the way the images are coming out. At the moment I'm using HP5+, looking forward to seeing how those come out. After that I'll see how Tri-X 400 goes.

Focusing was fine using the 35mm frame lines, those scans are uncropped and pretty much exactly what I wanted to capture when I took them.

Both were taken in the Port of Los Angeles the former @berth 55 the latter at Reclamation Dock where all boats/barges/detritus eventually come (or are brought) to die.

Reclamation dock is a favorite place of mine. It is not open to the public but my wife is an Oceanographer and has instruments in the water there and I get to tag along with her when she goes to maintain said instrument package.

I'm delighted with the camera and will be on the lookout for more lenses.

Jon