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from Ray's Photo - FT Mye Summary:I got my ETRS system in about 1988 in a trade for a fairly extensive 35mm a nd 1.2 frame camera collection wanted by the photo dealer. It was about 6 months old and owned by a son of the owner of a local newspaper. Much of the system was still in original boxes and appeared not used. Since buying it I disposed of almost all my 35mm gear except my Leica CL. With the 35mm back, it covers both film sizes and means no double investment in camera systems and only need to know and understand 1 system.
It feels rock solid and with the modular system, seems to be configurable to just about what anyone could feel comfortable with. MC lenses have been panned by some when compared to the late formulations and competitors lenses but in my experience, the lenses are excellent. Admittedly, I have the later E formulated lenses and none of the earlier MC formulations though my lenses are marked MC.
, Strengths:I have used the camera for all types of nonprofessional shooting and it has never failed me or skipped a beat. Th elenses are all late MC lenses and are the E series. Very sharp. I've got a 35mm back and using it as 35mm camera, I've gone up against the likes of Nikon, Leica, and Canon in slide competitions and never felt the lenses held me back.
With the speedgrip and AEII metered finder, it feels and handles just like a 35mm slr and is not heaver than a number of totl 35mm cameras and very close to my Olympus E520 DSLR. No a lightweight but, not as heavy as one might expect.
The leaf shutter in lens means if a shutter should freeze while out, all is not lost, just swap lenses. The AE finder is accurate and never failed to dial in quite close to my hand held meter.
Most of the lenses have the same filter size, a big plus as filters, especially polarizers can be quite expensive space takers adding weight in the field. Weaknesses:Only nitpickiing. To change lenses the shutter needs to be wound. I am old school and do not like to store shutters in that state. After all these years, it seems not to have degraded the shutter speed accuracy so not really concerned. The ETRSi that came out later addressed the lack of a mirror lockup in the ETR/ETRS bodies. I have not had any photos where the lack thereof has noticably affected the result but, I always preferred using the lockup feature of my 35mm slrs that had the feature.
The original motor drive is VERY heavy but, this was replaced by 2 later lighter models. Dictates tripod use or a very strong muscular physique. I've used it handheld but it adds oo much weight to want to walk around with it in the field.
The AEII finder has a continious AE measurement, no way to lock an exposure. This means it generally will yield acceptable results but limits its use when wanting to meter on a particular part of the subject matter. Hence, a handheld meter becomes a good friend. The later AEIII has a spot meter while the AEII dies not have this option. I am not sure if the AEIII can lok a reading.
Similar Products Used:Leica CL, Rolleiflex 3.5, Customer Service:Never needed.
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