Re: Black and White, again...

Look at

http://www.rangefinderforum.com
http://www.apug.org/

There's a lot of people intersted in film still.
I have a digital here for 'snapping' but I get a lot
of enjoyment from film. I like developing and experimenting
with different films and such. No darkroom? Scan the film and
print that way. Commandeer the closet to load the developing
tank is all it takes.

I won't make any suggestions as to particular cameras
as that's a really personal thing you have to work out
for yourself.

The Bessa-R is one choice - I have one - but there's a
heap of others and the price is right on the second hand market
right now.

Why not try both? The only downside of that is the digitals
are like computers - out of date in 6-12 months. There is
something timeless about rangefinders so get a cheapy
and give it a 'go'.
Murray

William Black wrote:
> "flambe" <fac187@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
> news:o2jtj.57685$Pv2.35548@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
>>Excluding dSLRs from the discussion:
>>What are your ambitions?
>>The Canon G and the hi end Panasonic FZs are good snapshot cameras and
the 
>>better images, with considerable processing, will print to the 8x10
range. 
>>For what they are these are excellent cameras. I use my FZ18, rather
than 
>>a dSLR, for the occasional effectively 500mm focal length--something 
>>difficult to achieve with dSLR size gear.
>>If you have fine art aspirations, for personal or other uses, the 
>>Voigtlander with a good lens (e.g. Leica) and controlled development of 
>>the film will yield far better results than these teeny sensor cameras.
If 
>>you shoot color negative film and scan it you will have nearly infinite 
>>post camera B&W processing choices.
>>I presume you are familiar with using range finder film cameras. They
are 
>>a unique breed.
>>Printing in B&W with inkjet printers can actually be more difficult than

>>printing color-this is a complex topic you should research.
>>
> 
> 
> As I said in my previous post,  my old rangefinder is dying and I do
some 
> black and white 'art' photography and I was wondering about a digital 
> camera.
> 
> However,  as I also said,  the Leica M8 is too much money...
> 
> I did some research and came up with the two possibilities I mentioned.
> 
> However I my attention was drawn to eBay by an email and it was pointed
out 
> to me that I could pick up the current Voigtlander rangefinder body for
less 
> than half price if I chose to bid on one.
> 
> Which is what I'll probably do.
> 
> Nobody on the net seems to care about this sort of thing and I'm led to
the 
> inevitable conclusion that most people are either completely set in
their 
> ways (real photography uses chemicals,  burning holes in your clothes is

> good) which does rather seem to be the attitude of most of the semi
serious 
> art photographers I know,  or just like to take decent holiday snaps and

> have ****fted to digital...
> 
> I assume that in time the technology will change,  and, as the market 
> shrinks,  the art photography market will be considered worth
exploiting.
> 
> I wonder what serious journalistic photographers use when they want a
low 
> bulk camera?
> 
> Probably that Lieca M8 I couldn't afford...
>