Well, I now have a Bessa R.

Stephanie ... very different camera and different situation I know but my Ikon did disappoint me at first and it took ten rolls of film through it before I started to adapt to the differences between it and my M's which I had considered my ideal camera. It really seemed lacking in build quality initially!

If you're certain about the way you feel about the camera go ahead and get the Canon instead but the Bessa definitely deserves a chance. :)
 
If it's any consolation I just recently sold my R to Mr. Murphy as I decided I'd rather go back to a Kiev or a Contax II for my RF needs. Also I'm shooting much more SLR work lately so the R was turning into a shelf queen and I don't like that in my cameras.

Get the P. Put the Serenar on it. Be happy. :D

William
 
Hmmmm I am waiting for a Bessa R. I have a M2 and some FSU bodies, dont tell me I will hate it :|
I thought that having a metered ltm body would be nice, besides I want to know if the viewfinder is really that good ehe

Hope I like it...

(and hope you like your test drive on the R)
 
In this RFF community, it seems to be pretty easy and safe to buy and sell cameras. Might as well take advantage of this and get the camera that fits your expectations the best. There's no need to be stuck with something that doesn't do it for you.
 
People will like what they like, I guess. I love my R. The viewfinder is very, very close to being as good as the one on my wife's XpanII. It's not heavy like a Leica, but it is well made. I took mine everywhere in the aftermath of Katrina and it's still going strong.
 
Give the Bessa R some time. I bought one, used it for a while, decided I didn't like it, sold it. I then ended up buying another Bessa R and have found I really do like it. It has one of the best finders around and the meter is great.
 
Stephanie,

The P is built like a Leica M4 with M39 screwmount. Hard to go wrong with that. :D Nothing against the Bessa R, they are apples and oranges. :rolleyes:
 
Stephanie,
I have owned both the P and the R and while my choice was opposite to what you are considering, I will simply suggest that life's too short to use a camera that doesn't suit you.
If the Bessa isn't your cup of tea and the Canon is then the Canon is the better choice for you, I think.
But, how are the photos? Are they what you wanted when you took them?
Rob
 
I agree that one needs time to get used to the R. I've found in practice that it's a very reliable camera and I've been using the same one for years without a problem. It's the camera I take with me if I'm going into difficult and unpredictable lighting situations like night street work (that's an environment where TTL metering is a real help). It's very easy to rapidly load, focus, expose, use a strobe, meter, etc. and it's light weight. The finders are also excellent. I also own and use Leica's, Canon's, etc., but my R is the most practical 35mm camera to use in situations that demand speed of handling and flexibility. I'm sure as Stephen has pointed out that the newer Bessa's build on the R and have improved construction quality (and I hope to acquire one soon), but I'll remain an R user for much of my work for now.
 
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I bought my Bessa R2s as a back up to my Nikon S3 2000 so as not to use it in ugly conditions. I found that the I liked the Bessa so much I not using the Nikon much. I came from years of SLR's so the shutter noise doesn't bother me. It all depends on your tasts...thank god we have these choices.

Ray
 
Yeah, David, I agree. I keep looking at M6's, and any worth buying are $1000 and up. I say M6 rather than other lower numbered M's because the M6 has a meter and a camera with a meter is so very very practical. A higher numbered M is numbingly expensive.

Then I look at the R4A/R4M cameras on Gandy's site and they surely have every bell and whistle anyone could ask for, and can be had for what? $669? I'm inclined to these cameras as they are specifically designed for wide angle lenses. On my R I have never used any focal length longer than my Canon 50/1.8.

When I use long lenses (or a macro for that matter) I go to either an SLR or a DSLR as there really isn't any way to do long with an RF.

My R has been absolutely reliable and its meter is among the best in the business, as is its viewfinder. I take it everywhere. I can always get the shot with this camera, and I will no doubt have the same experience with an R4.
 
The best thing about a Bessa R compared to a Leica M is its light weight. Leicas feel and are more solid, but sometimes they are a drag to carry around. Sometimes if you are going to cary something so heavy, it may as well be a MF camera.
 
I have an R and took to it right away. The meter is useful in tricky situations. Over the time I've used it, either the shutter has gotten quieter or I'm getting more deaf.

It was only after using the R for several months that I got a GAS Canon P attack. Definitely a solid, reliable, quiet camera with framelines at 50 and 35 that I find very useful. I can shoot with both eyes open. I love it! I just bought a second. It was in worse shape, needs a CLA, but I'll pay for the CLA because I absolutely love the camera.

Would I trade the 2nd Canon P for another Bessa? No Neither would I give away/sell my Bessa. I take great photos with it and I learned to love it too. But not to give the Bessa R a decent chance to show what it can do seems... unfair. YMMV.
 
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