R?A - to buy or not to buy

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Florian1234

it's just hide and seek
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Hello,

I'm quite new to RF cameras and own and use a Fed-2 with 50mm lens. My first results were quite good and I'm impressed by the quite light and small features of this type of camera. But that's not new to you, I guess.

However, I wonder how much I would have to spent for a Bessa R?A (either R2A or R3A - btw, do they cost the same and only have the VF different?) if it is a used one in very good condition.
Since I am a university student in my last year I don't have that much money and have to consider every pro and con to decide to buy or not to buy.
I know and also think that the Bessa R?A certainy is the best value for cash considering to be a M-lens RF-camera.

Please give me some input where to find one (just the body, no lens) for best value for relatively low price. Please note - I'm in Germany and already checked out German *bay.


Thanks in advance.:angel:
 
Hi

Hi

The r3a and r2a are the same price here in Vancouver. I went to the camera store and looked through a r2a today,they didnt have a r3a in stock. I may go for the r2a as I want a jacket pocket camera and the smallest 35mm voigtlander lens is shorter than the 40mm lens. I wish the Bessas were still a bit smaller but I think it is still doable. Good luck
 
You could always try cameraquest and pray you don't get charged import duty. I don't know how strict it is in Germany?
 
Florian,
Bessa R*As are quite rare on German ebay, as you may have noticed.
Yes, they are bargain M-cameras and well worth getting, if you can live with their limitations:
Being left-eyed, I am a bit suspicious about the exposure lock button on the back of the Bessas. I don't want to poke my right thumb into my right eye pressing the button. I prefer exposure lock by half pressing the shutter as on most SLRs and on the Hexar RF.
Also, remember that the widest frameline on the Bessa R2A is "only" 35 mm. For everything wider you would need an external viewfinder.

Did you check www.fotopartner.de and/or www.foto-mundus.de ?
Please note that Robert White's prices do not include 17.5% VAT.

Best regards,
Uwe
 
Since you have a camera for now, I would recommend waiting until an R2A or R3A comes up in the classifieds. You'll save money by getting it used and there are a lot of European users on RFF.

Uwe_Nds:
I would also prefer an RxA with a 28/35/50/75/90 viewfinder (and a longer baselength), but they had to cut costs somewhere. As a left-eyed R3A shooter, I can assure you that the placement of the exposure lock button is not a problem at all.
 
ClaremontPhoto said:
Yes, the R2A is the same as the R3A except for the viewfinder.

It all depends whether you will be using a 35mm or 40mm lens.

It's a fine camera, and readily available new at Robert White. Next day delivery in Europe.

Robert White is at: http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/
Click to expand...
Does´nt the R2a have a 0,7 viewfinder and the R3a 1:1 viewfinder?
 
Hates_ said:
You could always try cameraquest and pray you don't get charged import duty. I don't know how strict it is in Germany?
Click to expand...

Thanks for this suggestion, but as the others already stated - the German customs are strict and you're allowed to import only up to a limit of 175 €, I guess.

For the others: Thanks for all the hints. I will see how the results of my current roll with the FSU RF turn out and then decide if my treasury secretary will allow it or not😀.
 
Surely you could find someone who would declare the value to be say 150 euros or so no? After all, on the used market there are swings in price and value all the time!

B2 (;->
 
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