I think the obvious choice would be a Leica M8. Of course is not a MFDB, not even a DSLR, but there's no camera with this size that can offer its image quality.
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
The M8 has it's positives and in some ways works much like a medium format back in that it is not a camera that does everything, but what it does it does well.
It's won't produced 6000 ppi images of a model's eyelashes from 200 yards, but it will force you into seeing and working in a different manner. Sometimes slower, sometimes, fast, but it is an involving camera.
I pretty much keep the 28mm on the camera and actually use it for things that I would never think of using even a moderate wide angle for.
This session was shot mostly medium format and I would never think of shooting a "beauty" image with a wide angle, though with the m-8 it somehow worked.
[a href=\"http://www.russellrutherford.com/m/image/beauty2bg.jpg]http://www.russellrutherford.com/m/image/beauty2bg.jpg[/url]
the M-8 is not an all around camera. It won't go to 640 iso without noise, and underexposed a lot of noise, though it also will not look mushy or soft, if focused it's sharp, crisp and has a great contrast range.
When I start a session we have tables of cameras, medium format, 35mm, and it looks somewhat impressive, but nothing draws the type of response from a subject as pulling out that little camera.
It seems relaxed, easy and most of all intimate.
I think it's a great camera for shooting people and one that involves the subject without intimidating.
I must admit, never coming from a rangefinder, it took me a long time to get used to the focus and the actually functionality of the camera but now it is second nature and something that I always am glad to just throw over a shoulder before I leave my door.
The downside is the metering is just bloody awful unless all the conditions are right, but then again I've never used a meter for anything other than a get close type of look.
the upside is it's a Leica true and genuine and it has a all that lecia dna built in. This last statement probably won't make sense and in a technical side by side comparision won't mean a lot of pixel pushers, but if you just want to feel good about what your shooting give one a try.
I find it very special.
[attachment=6399:attachment]
undefined
JR