Bessa R3a vs Leica M3

[GeneW]

I sold my M2 and as I joke with friends "moved up" to a Bessa R3A with a Nokton 40/1.4. I've never looked back. The Leica was a beauty, but I prefer built-in metering, swing-back loading, and a film window so I can remember what it's loaded with. I really didn't like bottom loading.

Gene

 

[gnarayan]

My Bessa R2A occasionally overlapped film frames when I first got it, but has since not been doing it for a while (but I also have not been using it much lately.)

It's a no brainer.. Prices are falling on Leicas and they're staying the same on the Bessas. The value gap is narrowing quickly.

Oddly enough my first roll did that, but I put two more through it that week before developing the lot so I didn't notice. I still don't know what the problem was with that roll and I've put quite a few more through with no issues - I'm guessing the film rewind button was pressed. If you compare prices between used Leica's and used Bessa's then the gap remains, particularly if you like things like AE and a meter in camera.

Cheers,
-Gautham

 

[funkaoshi]

I have an M2 and an R2A. The M2 is certainly the nicer of the two cameras, despite the extra features you get with the Bessa. I haven't had any real problems with my R2A, but it certainly does feel like it could fall apart at any time compared to the Leica. Its a solid camera, but I agree that the internal mechanisms seem a bit fragile. I find winding film through the camera sometimes doesn't 'feel' right, whatever that means. I like my Bessa, and having a meter in the camera is a big plus. That said, if I had to do it all over again, i'd probably have skipped buying the Bessa and just bought the Leica.

That said, used M3s and M2s go on sale all the time. I'd wait for one that doesn't have any view finder issues.

 

[luketrash]

In my case, it was not the rewind button. I investigated the issue thoroughly and it happened totally at random. Once the speed winder caused it to happen, so I quit using the speed winder. Then it just sort of happened about once very 10 rolls of film. And finally, the shutter started acting up.

Too much bother for such a pricey rig. I'd put up with crap like that if I paid 20 dollars for the camera, but the fact is that these things aren't all that cheap.

I'm just throwing out a warning 😉 Other people have these cameras and love them. Somehow I managed to purchase two that do the same thing.

 

[KoNickon]

Lucas, can you try out either camera? I'm guessing not, at least with regard to the M3. Bottom loading (M3) really isn't a hassle, but it certainly is harder to do than the swing open back, no spool to lose R3A. Knob rewind (M3) is a pain in the neck, no two ways around it. And if you really want to shoot the 35mm focal length without an external viewfinder, then I think the M3 is out of contention. (I try to avoid external viewfinders if at all possible -- they slow down the process and are never going to give as precise framing as the in-camera viewfinder. And they add to the size of the camera and can get lost.)

I wear glasses and the 40mm framelines on the R3A were very hard to see. The meter readout is likewise not the most convenient placement for a glasses wearer. Also, the shutter release on the R3A is easily tripped too quickly, especially if you're pressing on it lightly to turn on the meter display.

 

[shOo]

I was in the same boat, and i decided to go with bessa. i don't regret it. the built-in meter was the main thing why i chose it though

and that strap lug position, it was annoying at first, but when i got the case for my bessa, i put the leather 120cm long strap, so now i don't care how it hangs, it's comfortable for me.

i haven't ever held leica in my hands, but the built quality of my bessa looks fine, i doubt it would break if it fell out of my hands

 

[Donovan]

i haven't ever held leica in my hands, but the built quality of my bessa looks fine, i doubt it would break if it fell out of my hands

Ditto. I am a new Bessa R2A owner and the quality seems excellent. In regards to the guts being like a $100 camera - the last camera I bought for $100 was an Olympus Stylus Epic 12 years ago. It has never given me the least problem and has produced thousands of great pictures. Given how well it has held up, I'd bet it's gonna last another 12 years. If I get that kind of $100 performace from my Bessa I will feel like $539 was a bargain. Granted I'm talking about a P&S but you get my point.

 

[FrankS]

I was in the same boat, and i decided to go with bessa. i don't regret it. the built-in meter was the main thing why i chose it though

and that strap lug position, it was annoying at first, but when i got the case for my bessa, i put the leather 120cm long strap, so now i don't care how it hangs, it's comfortable for me.

i haven't ever held leica in my hands, but the built quality of my bessa looks fine, i doubt it would break if it fell out of my hands

If you wish to continue to be happy with your Bessa, you can increase this possibility by never holding and shooting with a Leica. Some people claim that they can "feel" a significant quality difference.

 

[Keith]

If you wish to continue to be happy with your Bessa, you can increase this possibility by never holding and shooting with a Leica. Some people claim that they can "feel" a significant quality difference.

True to a point ... the emotional feedback from the M3 is enormous but that's all it is. The R3a in reality offers far more in real world terms than the Leica has to give. I'm personally quite happy to leave my M3 in the cabinet while I use my Bessa ... the manual frame line selection, the extra shutter speed and the option of AE combined with the light weight are real pluses that can't be overlooked. 🙂