Finding my feet with framelines; the hunt for a 35mm companion.
Up until this point in time I’ve shot with my fair share of 35mm cameras, from point and shoots to SLRs but never a rangefinder. My recently acquired Mamiya Six folder is the first time I’ve used a ‘proper’ coupled rangefinder focusing system and I really enjoyed it. Somehow, despite the dim, yellowing viewfinder on the Mamiya, I still found it easier to align the overlapping patch as opposed to the split prism of a traditional SLR. Which got me thinking, maybe it would be fun to try a rangefinder camera in 35mm format. But which one? There’s a whole host of cameras in this category to choose from but I had a few things in mind to narrow down my choices.
First and foremost, I knew I wanted 35mm frame lines. After using my Fujifilm X100F for a few years, the 35mm equivalent focal length has become the perfect balance between not too wide and not too tight. It suits my style of images and I feel comfortable composing with it, ‘zooming’ in and out with my feet as needed. Next I wanted it to be fully manual, no batteries required. I mean, yes its nice to have an automatic or aperture priority mode but I knew from experience that older electronic-based cameras come with the risk of becoming unrepairable, expensive paperweights. Finally, and following on from the last point, I wanted a camera which could be repaired/ serviced as required. Parts for older cameras are only becoming increasingly scarce so I figured a safe bet would be to choose a well known make and model, hopefully improving my chances of successful remedial work.
At this point I think I had already made up my mind on what I wanted, but upon carrying out the usual auction site price checks, I figured it was pointless pursuing the thought further. However, one fateful evening (RIP wallet) , I came across a great deal from a London based dealer which had been recently serviced and came with a 6 month warranty - mega! It was considerably cheaper than anything I’d seen previously and knowing it was coming from an actual store was a huge bonus.
But what could it be I hear you ask...
A Leica M2! Made in 1960 and a nice bit’a patina to match, this thing is a testament to how well these cameras were built. I’m genuinely amazed how good this camera looks and how smoothly it operates considering it’s 60 years old. The Voigtlander Skopar f2.5 was a bit of a bargain too and really compliments the body in my opinion. It’s also extremely compact even with the hood attached; yet despite its size is easy to handle, the focusing tab and short focus throw makes it nice and quick to focus - those bins move fast! The viewfinder is excellent, the patch and frame lines are bright, I can only dream of my Mamiya Six having one like it.
Anyway, less chat and more photos! HP5 loaded and pushed a stop to help on yet another grey day/ for dat grain. No particular theme in mind, just a wander around our neighbourhood and enjoying the freedom to shoot so many frames per roll. The film was processed by Take It Easy Lab in Leeds, I’ve been using them a lot recently and I find their services to be excellent.
Lor enjoying one of Kofra coffee shops delicious offerings..
Would I be a Leica owner if I didn’t take a photo of myself in the mirror?
I’ll do a proper review type thing once I've had a bit more time with the camera but first impressions are really great. For a camera built in 1960 it’s difficult to find fault with it, the build quality really is lovely and so far I’ve enjoyed the rangefinder experience. I’m not entirely sure where this camera fits in to my workflow but if nothing else it makes me want to take it out and take photos which is arguably the best result I could have hoped for - we’ll see if that continues after the honeymoon period wears off!
As a final note, I want to try to post more on here than I have done in the last year or so. While I like posting on Instagram and how useful it is for connecting with other people who share my passion for making images, each time I write on here it reminds me how much I enjoy writing alongside photography. While my Instagram feed represents a cherry picked selection of images, here I would like to share images that maybe didn’t work or my thought process behind them. I’m also going to start sharing books and zines that I've picked up rather than simply posting them on my Instagram story where they’ll just disappear after 24 hours. If there are any subjects you would like to see a post from me on here, please get in touch!
Thanks for reading,
Larry