What camera do I buy? / general gear talk

It's been a year since Razer released the Kiyo Pro Ultra webcam. Is there anything better out now, or on the horizon? I'm looking for a high quality plug-and-play webcam solution for use unattended in a studio, so it can't be a mirrorless ILC etc as much as I would love to splash out on BlackMagics.

I recently switched from logitech streamcam to Razer Kiyo Pro (not ultra) the difference is noticable, Razer is much better with sharper image

I've watched multiple reviews of the Kiyo Ultra and even tested it out myself in the Razer store in Charing Cross. It's definitely a very good webcam in terms of image quality. I'm just afraid of missing out on something new. For instance, Logitech released a $1000 Micro Four-Thirds box camera out of nowhere, and Elgato just updated their Facecam (non-Pro).

Watching with interest as I’m looking for a high quality cam for online coaching work…

Is there any reason why you couldn’t get a decent (old) dslr and appropriate lens and hook this up with a dummy battery (powered by usb usually) and using the camera connector for your laptop input? Similar to how they might have in photo studios so you can see the photos on a big screen immediately

Not sure if it’ll be plug and play or additional software needed but seems to be an oft-used alternative to webcams amongst online streamers.

Edit: may need a capture card (as per Verge) for video rather than just passing through images to a bigger screen

Any ideas if LCE are open to haggling on thier second hand online prices?

When I parted exchanged my leica M3 for an M2 I was able to haggle prices via email.

Ha, they just told me no but the item is listed cheaper than elsewhere so not unreasonable

Did they do an actual exchange with you? Wonder if they buy their used stock or do it as commission sales.

I’m looking at changing my Leica m240 to something analogue. Torn between an m5, a Bessa r2,3 or 4a or a Zeiss Ikon ZM.

Swaying me towards the Bessas and Zeiss are metal shutters (I like to walk about with no lens cap on) and aperture priority mode.

There’s a used dealer in Inverness (ffordes) that has an Ikon for about what I think I’d end up with if they sold my Leica so would be good if I could just get a swap going.

It was a part X - I had to put the rest.

Ffordes used to do commission, but I believe they also do part X. Doubt it would be a like for like unless the values match, but body will value at retail...

Have you tried mpb?

If I have to put a couple hundred into it that’s cool, just could do with not dropping £1500+ and waiting around for mine to sell to get it back.

Looking at how practical it’d be to go visit ffordes in person and should probably just ping them an email as well.

I don’t think mpb have anything I’m interested in. Will check.

Edit: yeah no Voigtlander or Zeiss bodies, some Leicas but not m5.

A little while ago I’d been very tempted to try and pick up a cheap early M to sit alongside my digital one in which case I’d have been happy with a meterless one but if I’m trading my digital M for it I think I want at least a meter and I’m not sure I want to spend m6 or 7 money on a camera with a cloth shutter. Maybe that’s silly though.

Does it have to be the M5? having had an M3 and then M2 I'm now using a Leica CL, and I find it the best of the 3, for me personally! The meter also works, which is a plus. I have it paired with a Voigtlander 35mm 2.5. I'm debating if I sell it to fund a new-old digital camera or to fix the Ricoh GR2.

The CL and CLE are on my radar. Cloth shutter again though.

Should maybe just get over this cloth shutter thing, just my dad has just had to return a iiif to ffordes as the shutter was perforated and I have a iiia in about a million pieces on my desk right now as it had shutter curtain issues but was cheap enough to have a go at fixing. The cloth shutter in it just seems like a complicated way to do things and a weak point.

If I did get over the shutter thing then the CLE having aperture priority would nudge it ahead of the CL for me. As I understand it they are a bit smaller than an M and lighter, getting something a bit less dense (?) than my 240 would be nice.

I bought my 240 with some money I got as a bit of inheritance so it’s definitely a luxury that I didn’t need and I got it because that money opened the opportunity of owning a Leica to me. If I’m going to get rid of it I’d like something that sort of has that ‘something’ about it. I’m a bit worried that a CL(E) might feel like I’d gone for the cheap option.

Realised while out cycling yesterday there was an M mount camera that had totally skated under my radar, the Konica Hexar RF.

Had a look at them online last night and they tick all the boxes, lighter than Leica (due to titanium construction) though not as light as a Bessa, metal shutter, aperture priority mode. I have anFS1 slr and I owned a Hexar AF for many years before stupidly selling it so I have a fondness for the brand.

The only slight negative to it is that it’s motor wind but given the positives and the price I can live with that.

I found one at a decent price on eBay and then found the same camera on the sellers own website for £100 less so I’ve stuck it on the credit card and will now need to try and shift my Leica but I should at least have a fair bit left over from selling it to invest in film!

1 Attachment

I want to upgrade my camera body - my T3i (600D), as much as I have loved it over the years, is just getting old. An excuse to buy a new toy? Perhaps. But 13 years of progress gives me a lot of options in the Canon ecosystem at reasonable price points.

Aside from the usual sources (this forum, CL, eBay... not such a fan of FB or Gumtree so far), where should I begin looking for reasonably priced used / refurbished products? Are there brick and mortar stores in London or the UK that are well trusted? Similarly trusted sources that ship from Europe?

I have had almost all of the cameras you listed here.

A sweet spot is a Bessa of your liking and budget. My fave is the Bessa T.

I have the CLE atm, feels fragile. Never actually owned a Hexar but both those are very electronic and un-repairable if anything goes wrong.

Keen to hear feedback on the Hexar RF when it turns up, I have an M4&M5 and always wanted the Konica. Ive heard they can be funny with the electronics/wind on but saying that I had a Hexar AF for years with no issues.

If second hand and London then London Camera Exchange off tbe strand (have shops nationwide and good online store) or Park Cameras down from Tottenham court road (also online) would be my suggestions to start.

Online only then Wex photographic and MPB I’ve had good dealings with, alongside ffordes (bricks and mortar but not London) for second hand gear too

Amazing, thank you for the intel!

Picked it up from the dhl depot this evening.

First thoughts,

Feel in the hand is of quality and solidity. It’s lighter than a Leica but not as much as a Bessa, Ikon or CL(E) would be. Switches and dials are really nice.

Very clean inside. The back opens via a catch very similar to the Hexar AF. It’s definitely a nicer way to open a film back than the usual ‘pulling the rewind knob up’. As nice as the latch for the base plate on my Leica? Maybe not quite but it’s close.

Noise is a lot less intrusive than I worried it might be. Waaay quieter than the motor wind in the Konica FS-1 slr I have.

I did read people’s worries about the electronics, I’m not too concerned. The FS-1 I have was given to my dad as a wedding present so it’s at least 42 years old and still runs fine*, the only issue I ever encountered with my Hexar AF was the shutter button didn’t always fire but it was very easily opened up to the point where I could clean the contacts and that brought it back for a good while.

*it doesn’t always do frame spacing brilliantly, not sure if it’s a battery thing and it’s never bad enough to make them overlap or anything. Faultless otherwise. The Hexar supposedly has an optical sensor to control the winding on.

Spam alert - https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/397092/#comment17420248

I’m thinking of swapping from Fuji (xt4) to Sony (a7r 3) has anyone got any advice on if I should bother?

It depends why...

Ive heard they can be funny with the electronics/wind on but saying that I had a Hexar AF for years with no issues.

Hmmmm....

Stuck a film in the camera and shot 14 frames on the way to work today. Looked at the camera a little while later and frame counter saying '0'.

Was sure it'd said '14' but doubt set in and thought maybe I didn't engage the film into the take up spool properly so popped the back and ruined 14 frames of film. Bollocks.

Google says it's a common fault caused by the switch that detects the open/shut state of the film door which is luckily quite accessible so the fix is to drip some contact cleaner into it. Squeezing and tapping on the door recreated the fault but not having any contact cleaner to hand I worked the switch back and forth a bit and it seems to be behaving more reliably now.

Have sent the seller an email to see what their take on it is. I don't necessarily want to send it back for a refund because as faults go, this is one that can be dealt with relatively easily but we will see.

Rats sorry to jinx it! Does it still wind on with no issues just the counter displays zero?
Sometimes my M5 counter doesn’t reset after taking the bottom off, but most the time I just ignore it until the film is done