Bessa R2 Among Best 25 Cameras

Having sold my M4-P "back-up camera" mostly because of no meter, I was poised with finger over the "send" key to buy an R2A 'till I remembered that both my Bessa-L cameras broke. One purchased new; one used - they both had terminal problems with film transport/shutter wind. (Of course, the new one flamed out only two weeks after the 1-year warranty expired.)

So I'm saving my coins for a serious look at the Panasonic DMC-L1 whenever it becomes available in 2007.
 
Grober, why are you not considering the Epson RD1s if you are thinking of switching over to digital - isn't the DMC-L1 a dSLR? - just curious....

BTW, I love using my Bessa R3a and hope that it does not experience any of the unfortunate problems you had with the Bessa L's!
 
Don't have an R2, but I have an R3A, R3M and R4A, and really like all of them. The R3A gets the most use -- that and my Epson R-D1S and a handful of lenses are making me consider selling off all my DSLR gear.
 
Gee, this is like the Night of the Living Dead Messages! Started 2 years ago...

Anyway, I have a plain ol' Bessa R and like it plenty, just wish it was a bit more quiet.
 
Peter, link me to the issue, please
Click to expand...

This thread started in 2003 I think you may be a bit late.

(Why are alot of really old threads coming back to life lately, some where no body has even added to them in years?)
 
I asked Google for "Bessa R2", Captain, and here I am. Received, yesterday, the R2 I bought from another member. Serial number 3061, so probably fairly old, though it looks virtually unused.

I come from a Leica (M and screw) background, but I find the R2 well built for the most part. Loading a film camera without a removable take-up spool is something I shall have to re-learn. The R/F patch is also different in size and contrast and is something to get accustomed to. More than anything else, though, it is the sound of the shutter that I find alarming. That and the considerable travel of the shutter release button make me worry about longish exposures. I am accustomed to doing hand-held shots down to 1/8 sec. and even 1/4 sec. sometimes.
 
Thank you, Juan. I might post pictures if any are good. If I get only poor ones it won't be the fault of the camera.
 
Love the Cosina Voigtlander cameras. Perhaps, the Bessa-R might crack my Top 50 list of Most Important Cameras in that it revived interest in rangefinders and created a niche in a market that had just one product at that time.

But I wouldn't name it among the Top 25 cameras of all time. Nope. Wouldn't do it.
 
I have three bessas, tough and beautiful, great metering and loading, fun, and unique design in a world level: no other brand makes anything like them: Bessa T and Bessa R4M.

They surely are in a honest 50 or 25 list.

Cheers,

Juan
 
I miss Peter. And Jon, and Oscar, ... This is one of the first RFF threads, started in 2003.

I like my R2, got it used here at RFF in a trade. Works very well, so does my Cosina STL1000. The latter camera is closer to 40 years old. We'll have to revive this thread in another 20 years to see how the Bessa's hold up.
 
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