Bessa R3a question?

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lawnpotter

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I just recieved a used Bessa R3a. I wear glasses but i still think I am really going to like it. I have a question though. When I am in A setting and my shutter reads 1/60 for example if I press my finger down and leave it down the shutter will do 1/60 no problem but if I press down and imediately release, the shutter does something like a second. Why does it do this? Thanks
 
That shouldn't happen... I just did it on mine and the speed is the same (did test several speeds) no matter how long (or short) I press the shutter...

I can't even imagine how that can physically happen...

Test other speeds to see what happens... Or change batteries, but it doesn't seem related... Very strange...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Further investigation

Further investigation

OK, in manual shutter speed mode no problem.But in A setting, when I half press the button there will be on the bottom left, one of four numbers either1,2,4 and 8, if I click now I will get one of those shutter speeds or I can half press again and activate a more normal shutter speed that is shown on the right. This is anoying. What are those four nubers on the left? Thanks
 
Simplified question

Simplified question

On Bessa r3a, do I have to half press button to get an accurate shutter speed? It seems that if I just press it fully once, I get a long inacurate shutter speed. I prefer to focus and just fully press button, but my camera wants me to half press first( to meter I guess),is this normal? Thanks
 
Your camera should use the right shutter speed no matter if you depress the shutter quickly (and completely) without checking metering...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Not too much especially considering camera's price... It will depend on what happens inside the camera, but maybe it's not a huge problem... Someone experienced should take a look... Send it to cameraquest.com: they're an official Voigtländer USA distributor with great expert technicians, access to all parts, and really fair prices. It's the best place IMO... They'll care about your camera as much as you do... These things happen, but once you get it back, you'll forget about it...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Thanks Juan

Thanks Juan

I just bought it used off a local guy for $400.00. I will meet guy tommorow, he is suprised by the problem. He used it seldomly and mostly in manual mode. I believe him. He will gladly take it back. The camera looks new and works fully in manual and it works in A but I have to prefocus first. A new one will cost me Aprox $800.00 Canadian with tax. I am reluctant to give it back but I may be better off buying a new one with a warranty in this situation. After paying for fedex and repair fees it may not be worth it. I am not sure what to do.
 
I use four Bessas, and have never had any problem with any of them, even though I use them every day, bump them, take them to the sea, etc... My R3A is the only one I bought used: from cameraquest.com, $100 below its price new... It works perfectly after thousands of shots I've done, and who knows how many by other previous owner(s)... Here they have one right now, in case your seller takes yours back:

http://cameraquest.com/inventor.htm

If he doesn't take it back, I guess the price for a repair wouldn't make any difference... A camera that's been repaired by their technicians is (to me, YMMV...) a better option than a new one that just came from factory and has not been especially checked... I mean it both for repairs and used ones...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Interesting Juan. would you just fix it even if it cost an extra $200.00 with shipping and everything rather than buying a new one with warranty?
 
lawnpotter said:
Interesting Juan. would you just fix it even if it cost an extra $200.00 with shipping and everything rather than buying a new one with warranty?
Click to expand...

No doubt.

If the camera comes from cameraquest.com, you'll be dealing with people you can trust, and they'll help you anytime. No better warranty anywhere. They're photographers too.

Cheers,

Juan
 
Well maybe i will get my money back and just buy a new one from camera quest. There is a local store that sells them here in Vancouver but they sell everything. Also there is a local camera repair shop but they dont speacilize in Bessas. I will call them tommorow to see what they say. Thanks for your input.
 
Juan Valdenebro said:
No doubt.

If the camera comes from cameraquest.com, you'll be dealing with people you can trust, and they'll help you anytime. No better warranty anywhere. They're photographers too.
Click to expand...

The problem is in those situations where you have to send the camera around half the globe every time there is a warranty issue. Shipping takes long, you have to pay shipping and insurance yourself even on warranty repairs, and if you have bad luck you have to battle with customs to convince them that it's a repair job and not a newly-imported camera.

It's one of the reasons why I never bought from CameraQuest (even when I was still in Germany).
 
Yes, this concerns me cause Canada Custums charged me tax on full purchase price on a boat I got replaced from the U.S. They charged me Tax twice. I had to go down town and write an essay and fill out forms. It took three months to get my money back. When you send stuff for repairs you have to put a value on it for insurance and you could get taxed on it.
 
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