say if...

[back alley]

say if...you were me...

and you had one bessa r body
and a cv 35/75 combo
and this really good deal came along where you could get a second body or the cv 90, either one for the same very good price.

which would you choose??

joe

[taffer]

Hehe, the second body dilemma eh ? ;)

If these two were my only options, then I'd get a second body, and when I felt the need of a 90 I'd use the 75 taking one step ahead :) (the framelines for 85/100 are in fact combined in my Canon 7 and they are really very close to each other)...

But that only in the case you really need to get something :rolleyes: Anyway sure better advices will come, but now it's time to look for my bed !

[GeneW]

Tough one, Joe. I guess the question to ask yourself is 'do you see yourself as a two-body shooter?' Maybe one body loaded with B&W and one with colour (Richard must be chuckling by now...)

Or a second body for redundancy in case the first fails?

Me, I'd go with the lens. I own that lens and it's a honey. But I'm probably a more natural SLR shooter than RF shooter and I tend to favour longer focal lengths. Your natural tendency may be the opposite.

You'll get something good either way!

Gene

[ZeissFan]

I would say that if you're just out and about, I'd get another lens. If you shoot professionally, I would always carry two bodies.

But I'll admit that it's nice being able to switch to another body rather than have to switch lenses -- especially when it's a screw-mount lens.

[rover]

Which is the better deal? I would tend towards the lens, but if the price you are talking about for the lens is good, but not great, something that you will be able to find easily in the future I would go for the body.

You know what I am saying, which is the best deal right now? Where are you going to get the better bang for your buck?

[SolaresLarrave]

You already have two lenses, Joe, go for the body and fit the second lens on it. You'll have two cameras that way, not just one body and two lenses.

How's about it? ;)

[back alley]

it's a tough call.
the price up here is close for both items if bought new at the local camera shop. this would be a private deal and the seller is asking the same amount for body or lens, so no deal is better than the other.
it may, however, be out of my hands - as it turns out i'm second in line --- so the choice looks -at this moment- more like i would be in line for the 90.

i could live with that.
i've always liked the 85 to 100 lengths so i know i will like the 90. i bought the 75 cause i never had one before and wanted 'new' to help shake me up a bit.

i'm just waitin' on the email...

joe

[Todd.Hanz]

Me......I'd get the CV 21/4, but then I like 'em wide!
You could sell the 75mm and buy the 90mm and the body for a few more bucks.

Todd

[back alley]

todd, i like wide angle work from others but rarely do i see that wide myself.
years ago i had a 24 for some slr outfit i was using at the time. but i hardly ever used it and never really took a very good shot with it.
however, your idea is a good one.
if it works out that i get the 90 i just might sell the 75 and buy another used body.
or i could use the 90 when there is more light and keep the 75 as my 'fast' lil' tele.

of course, there are some who say that a 75 has a whole 'nother look from a 90...

joe

[Rich Silfver]

Easy.
Buy the 90.
Then sell the 75.
Then buy a 50.

You then have a great 35/50/90 combination.

When Christmas comes around you will have had the lenses enough to know if it's so 'annoying' to change the lenses on the body so that you need to write St Nick asking for one more body.

[back alley]

damn you richard!

that's yet another really good idea and one that i had not thought of.
i'm still in 2 lens thought mode with the idea that a 35/75 combo is ideal.
damn!

now i don't want to buy anything - it's too confusing...:)

[SolaresLarrave]

I second Richard's motion. His proposal leaves you with the best focal length combo (I have it myself! :D )

All in favor say "Aye!" ;)

[Doug]

Between just those two options, I'd go for the second body, as the 75 and 90 are very close. A 35/75/90 combo just doesn't seem worthy. Opening the options beyond the two you specified, I like Richard's idea, and Todd's. With your gear as it is, I'd pass on both the body and 90mm and look for a 21 or 25, but that's just me.

[pvdhaar]

First I'll answer your question, and then I'll give a second thought..

I've got the CV90 myself, and although it's a very nice lens that makes very nice pictures, I'd still recommend a second body over this tele.

The 90mm isn't really that different from a 75. Besides, you may find the 90mm a bit iffy to focus and frame. I can't say I really like peeping at the 90mm framelines (on a 0.6x viewfinder that is).

But more important, you need to think about whether you really need to buy a 90mm or a second body at all. Over the years I've found that the things I bought merely because of a discount haven't been the wisest purchase decisions. I rather spend the full sum on something I do really need and use than half money on stuff that ends up in a closet. In your case, I'd keep the money and save up for something that really does something for you (wow, that's almost Zen, isn't it ;-)

[Rich Silfver]

If the Bessa R's viewfinder magnification is 0.6x I would definetively try out how easy it is to focus that thing before even thinking about buying one.

May be that 35/75 will be your zen-ultimate-combo :)

I'd second Pete's 'alternative suggestion' about maybe passing on both the body and lens and instead buy something completely different to both challenge and entertain you.

[rover]

I have to say that I have not even considered the 90 for my R because of those tiny framelines. I like Richards idea about the 35, 50, 75 (in my case), but you have a stable of Russian 50s to fill that slot.

I will be definative now, get the body, or save up some more for an R2 or R3. That is more or less what I am doing right now. It itches though, my ebay account hasn't been abused in so long.

[back alley]

all very wise words and much to think about for my very tired little brain.
but i seems the gods are conspiring against my using free will in this matter.
the seller just emiled me and said he may sell to a dealer, i assume trade in, and i may just be totally out of the picture anyway.
more to come in what was once a simple little deal...

joe

[taffer]

Don't worry Joe, things end like that 90% of the times...

In these cases, I just take a deep breath and go for something completely different, you can invest some of those bucks in a good dinner somewhere, you know you deserve it :)

And then, keep the rest and save for that film scanner ;)

[JohnL]

When I last had more than one body, it was to carry them all, with different lenses mounted. I try to avoid changing lenses in the field, whenever I can. I still think that is the way to go, at least for me. Now I have two cameras, but only one with interchangeable lenses. Rather than change lenses, I'll try to configure things so I can just use the other camera.
Maybe I'm just not very agile at changing lenses ;)
John

[back alley]

i'm pretty much the same. i like 2 bodies w/ a different lens on each so i don't have to switch out lenses.
sometimes i like to shoot a scene with a 35mm then with a longer lens for a different perspective. later on, in editing, i can then decide if i prefer one over the other.
to each his/her own.

oscar, i may just order a pizza for dinner tonite, always a favourite.
joe

[Huck Finn]

I'd choose the body because of the time it takes to change a screw mount lens. I have the 75 & prefer it to the 90 because it is faster & easier to focus, so I would not give it up in favor of the 90.

[SolaresLarrave]

<Chanting in a whisper á la Homer Simpson>

Hmmmmm, Joe... Body, body, body...

Ooops! Seller backpedaled? Hmph! No fair...

In cases like this one, pizza heals all wounds!

[back alley]

yeah!!!

i'm thinking that if this deal falls through that i'm gonna head out to the store, buy a whole swack of film and just shoot my lil a** off!
and maybe pick up a new camera bag...

joe

[back alley]

so the deal is still alive!
i'm waiting on a call or email, not likely tonite but maybe tomorrow.

i decided on the body.

joe

[Wayne R. Scott]

Joe,

I like the number 3 apparently, I have 3 4x5's, 3 Bronica ETRs, 3 Nikon SLR's (4 actually), and 3 Contax mount rangefinders.

So bear this in mind when I say that I would get the second body.

Wayne

[back alley]

"So bear this in mind when I say that I would get the second body."

i'm not sure why but when i read that line i just started to laugh out loud!

thanks wayne,
joe

[That Guy]

Myself, I have both an R and an L. Maybe it's just me, but most of the time I only go out with one body or only carry one. If I'm in such a rush to change lenses out quickly, I take my SLR. It's bayonette mount and I have more glass for it anyway. Perhaps an R2 with a few LTM to M-mount adapters would be more what you're looking for. It would be the most complicated, though and probably cost the most. Sell the R, skip the 90, save all the money, and buy an R2.

My $0.02