neelin
Established
Does a magnifier exist for the R4 viewfinder?
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
That would be interesting for low light / low contrast focusing...
Bessa R4 takes the same eyepiece diopters as the Nikon FM3A, probably the same eyepiece magnifier as well.
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
Could someone owning it and the R4 confirm it?
Which magnifier is it exactly?
Thanks,
Juan
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
This is correct, Juan. I've used a Nikon diopter in the Bessa bodies. And Cosina actually makes Nikon's FM10 body.
Don't know the name of the magnifier off hand, but I used to have a nice little one that was hinged so that the magnifier could swing out of the way when you didn't need it. I'm pretty sure that was a Nikon product. Do a search on the web for Nikon eyepiece magnifier and you should find a lot of info about it.
Don't know the name of the magnifier off hand, but I used to have a nice little one that was hinged so that the magnifier could swing out of the way when you didn't need it. I'm pretty sure that was a Nikon product. Do a search on the web for Nikon eyepiece magnifier and you should find a lot of info about it.
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
It's the DG-2. For DSLR's an adaptor is required to fit it but on the older Nikon f series I believe it screwed straight into the eyepiece.
It has some drawbacks - it sticks out a bit and might rip the eyepiece off your camera back if you were unlucky. It also does not allow full frame viewing - just the centre for pinpoint focus.
Don't confuse it with the diopter adjustment lenses that just screw straight into the finder window - they're for vision correction and the Nikon pattern fits the Bessa R - as does the CV version.
It has some drawbacks - it sticks out a bit and might rip the eyepiece off your camera back if you were unlucky. It also does not allow full frame viewing - just the centre for pinpoint focus.
Don't confuse it with the diopter adjustment lenses that just screw straight into the finder window - they're for vision correction and the Nikon pattern fits the Bessa R - as does the CV version.
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
Thank you!
swatch
Established
tried R4M in shop, nice for 28mm ( cannot see 21mm frame lines as I wear glasses which put my eye at a distrance from viewfinder ) .... a nice little camera and looking for a small CV 28 / 3.5 as the lens will not block too much of vf.
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
wgerrard
Veteran
My R4M keeps me pretty happy. Ergonomics is a big part of it. I typically carry a camera in my right hand; the Bessa is very comfortable to use that way.
Focusing a 35/1.2 wide open in low light isn't an issue. I've sometimes had trouble focusing the 50/1.5 wide open in very low light, e.g., city street well after dark illuminated by street lights. But, of course, this will vary depending on eyesight, the presence of eyeglasses and even the shape and thickness of the eyeglass lenses.
On questions of build quality and price: A new Leica certainly better have better build quality than a new Bessa. Whether that ratio is the same as the price ratio of the two brands is an open question. However, if someone is looking to spend $600-$800, then comparing a new R4 with the used Leicas available in that price range is much more interesting. You won't find posts here anguishing about prism separation in Bessas.
Focusing a 35/1.2 wide open in low light isn't an issue. I've sometimes had trouble focusing the 50/1.5 wide open in very low light, e.g., city street well after dark illuminated by street lights. But, of course, this will vary depending on eyesight, the presence of eyeglasses and even the shape and thickness of the eyeglass lenses.
On questions of build quality and price: A new Leica certainly better have better build quality than a new Bessa. Whether that ratio is the same as the price ratio of the two brands is an open question. However, if someone is looking to spend $600-$800, then comparing a new R4 with the used Leicas available in that price range is much more interesting. You won't find posts here anguishing about prism separation in Bessas.
lawrence
Veteran
I was out with my R4A today with 28mm Color-Skopar -- it's a wonderful combination. As has been pointed out, you can hold the R4 very easily in your hand -- there's a bit that juts out at the back that's perfect for your thumb to press against and with a small lens it's very light too. You can't compare this camera to a Leica M in any way -- it's a completely different beast as far as I'm concerned -- but in it's own way it's just as good. In fact I prefer the automation on my R4A to that on my M7 as it's much easier to dial in exposure compensation (Ooops! Now I have compared it to a Leica!).
