Have a Bessa R thinking of a Leica CL

[stompyq]

Hopefully some one can help me out here as it's very difficult to figure out from the various online resources that i've gone through.

Here's the problem. I recently bought a bessa R with a old russian 50mm lens which i thought i'll replace later on with a newer CV lens. I have been carrying around a olympus XA and have been absolutly loving the pics i'am getting from it. However it has it's limitations and i wanted to get something with a little more control and quality. My prime consideration was size essentially pockatability and shutter noise. On these fronts i'am dissapointed with the Bessa R. It seems bigger and the shutter is much louder than i thought (my D200 seems better). In short i'am wondering if i made the wrong call with the bessa and should have gone with the CL instead. The only reason that pushed me was the extra cost and the fact that (correct me if i'am wrong) the CL was more difficult to focus.

So how much more smaller and quieter is the CL? I can't seem to find a pic online comparing the sizes. I realise that the CL is much older and I'am willing to have it CLA'd to get it to work. I'am also not concerned with the lenses as i would be getting the 40mm with the CL or the 35mm CV with the bessa and would be sticking with them for a while

 

[John Robertson]

I have both the Bessa R2 and the CL, yes the CL is smaller and a little quieter, but the R2 has a better V/f and R/f, and a better meter, also the CL takes a 625 battery, you can use a Wein cell or as I have, an MR9 adapter, but the film has to be unloaded to change the battery, not exactly convenient if it gives up the ghost in the middle of a film.

 

[ethics_gradient]

I played around with a CL next to my R3A, shutter was quieter but only by a very small margin. The finder was maybe a little more contrasty than the Bessa, but without the 1:1 I found it a bit squinty. Size was nice, would have kept it but the shutter jammed before I even got to put my test roll in, so back it went.

 

[John Robertson]

Another thing to remember is that these cameras are nearly 40 years old now and are just not as robust as other Leicas!!

 

[le vrai rdu]

Nobody never heared me in street photo with my bessa, noise isn't a real problem, as long as your are not listening to it, the camera near your ears in a quiet room 😉

 

[Steve M.]

I've owned them both and much preferred the Bessa R. The CL was just too small, and they are known for eventually getting buggy meters. The Bessa R is the most inexpensive way to shoot Leica or LTM lenses and have a good viewfinder and a meter. If you get a soft half-case the shutter sound is a lot quieter. Be careful when rewinding the film because that Rube Goldberg winder is a known weak link. And getting an add-on grip will make the camera a lot easier to handle (but you won't be able to use the soft case) and allows the camera to hang straight and not dig into your back when it's on a strap. I hated my first R but they grow on you once you understand the limitations given it's cost. Great meter on these too. For what it's worth, some of these have quieter shutters than others for some reason.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I use an alkaline battery in my CL, which was modified by my repair guy years ago. It's not a perfect solution but close enough with negative film. For the last few years I've had to finish the wind stroke fast and let the lever snap back, otherwise it doesn't want to come back. It's a convenient little camera with a great lens.

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

 

[chut]

I have a Bessa but I tend not to use it because for me it lacks the Teutonic heft and solidity that Leicas offer. The Leica CL, despite being a budget Leica still feels more solid. You just can't beat it's compact size, especially with the C-Summicron 40 on it. I love my Leica CL and use it primarily when I'm traveling and want to have an ultra light kit.

 

[John Robertson]

I use an alkaline battery in my CL, which was modified by my repair guy years ago. It's not a perfect solution but close enough with negative film. For the last few years I've had to finish the wind stroke fast and let the lever snap back, otherwise it doesn't want to come back. It's a convenient little camera with a great lens.

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

I have the same wind problem, temprarily cured by a service but its back again.

 

[raid]

I sold my CL, and years later, I bought a Bessa R instead. I saw Robin's R during some of our Starbuck's meetings, and I liked the VF and the fact that it accepts LTM lenses. My R was 1/3 the price of the CL. I sold the CL but I kept the Summicron-C. The CL never felt in my hands like my M3 or M6.

 

[mackigator]

Hmm, I take a CLE over all those choices. The shutter is quieter and less metallic sounding than the Bessas.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

I own the Leica CL and the Bessa R2. The RF patch of the Leica CL is more and more and more better than the RF patch of the Bessa R2.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[John Robertson]

I own the Leica CL and the Bessa R2. The RF patch of the Leica CL is more and more and more better than the RF patch of the Bessa R2.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

You are lucky as on most of them the silvering on one of the prisms is very prone to deterioration
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page21.html

 

[stompyq]

Thanks everyone. I finally gave up and sold my bessa. Couldn't take it anymore. The loaud metallic shutter was livable but the RF patch was awefull. I had a hard time quickly focussing a 50mm lens. In comparission my 3 fixed focus RF's (even the XA) was faster.

 

[ZeissFan]

That's interesting, because one of the strong points of the Bessa cameras is the excellent viewfinder and rangefinder.

I think you mean "fixed-lens" rather than "fixed focus."

I was going to suggest getting a case and using the bottom. That muffles the shutter noise.

Perhaps you should check out some of the LTM Leicas or perhaps a Canon, which have the advantage of having a unified rangefinder/viewfinder.

 

[mawz]

Thanks everyone. I finally gave up and sold my bessa. Couldn't take it anymore. The loaud metallic shutter was livable but the RF patch was awefull. I had a hard time quickly focussing a 50mm lens. In comparission my 3 fixed focus RF's (even the XA) was faster.

That's unusual. I've yet to see a fixed-lens RF with a patch even close to my Bessa R's patch for quality. I never found a fixed-lens RF with a patch good enough to wean me away from SLR's, the Bessa however is a joy to use.

 

[raid]

The M6 and M3 VF's are better than the VF in my Bessa R. There is no question about it.

 

[stompyq]

That's unusual. I've yet to see a fixed-lens RF with a patch even close to my Bessa R's patch for quality. I never found a fixed-lens RF with a patch good enough to wean me away from SLR's, the Bessa however is a joy to use.

I guess my problem was that the rangefinder patch was too small on the bessa as compared to my minolta 7sII and canonet (both of which have been CLA'd). I didn't like that very much. Made for much slower oppuration than the fixed lens cams. I also hated the fact that it sounds like a gunshot going off. Trust me nearly everyone around me knew i was taking pics. I suppose it blends in to ambient if your out on the street but it was waaaay unacceptable to me.

I landed a great deal on a used CL+40mm lens and decided to let the bessa go. Eagerly awaiting the CL (should be here on Christmas eve)

 

[stompyq]

Got my CL+40mm lens yesterday. I like it much better than the bessa already (especially the shutter noise). The meter is even working (which was a very pleasent suprise), although it appears to be a stop underexposing. Looking forward to taking it out for a spin tommorow.

 

[baycrest]

Got my CL+40mm lens yesterday. I like it much better than the bessa already (especially the shutter noise). The meter is even working (which was a very pleasent suprise), although it appears to be a stop underexposing. Looking forward to taking it out for a spin tommorow.

Perhaps the camera doesn't have the correct 1.35 volt battery inside or hasn't been adapted to take the newer 1.5 volt batteries? Maybe that's throwing off your meter readings.

Try the "Wein PX625 Battery 1.35 Volt" (eBay), which is an inexpensive option first before you send it in for repairs.