Bessa R2A

[FranciscoPinheiro]

Hello people!

I want to buy my first rangefinder, but I haven't got a lot of money. I haven't got money for buy a Leica's cameras. Then, I have looked the Bessa's cameras and I liked the Bessa R2A. Is that camera good? What is the difference between R and it?

Do you recommend it to me?

Sorry my ignorance,

Bye.

 

[yossarian123]

The R2A retails for $620 on cameraquest. Are you going to buy new or used? Because I think with luck and persistence you could score a user M2/3 for not much more than the Bessa.

 

[LW79]

I was in the same boat and after some research picked up the Bessa R2M and 50mm lens from Camera quest. So far I love it it takes great pictures and has a very bright viewfinder.

 

[agoglanian]

Or you could consider the R2. No automation, but works like a charm and doesn't require batteries 🙂

 

[sparrow6224]

I bought my R2 from KEH for $275 I think. Recently sold it after serveral years for pretty much the same price. I have no doubt you can find one for $300 or less.

The difference I believe with the Bessa R series, from the R2 series, is that the earlier was screw mount and the later is M-mount. Screwmount lenses can be used with a simple adapter on M-mount cameras, but not vice versa.
If you're willing to screw mount, I highly recommend the Canon P whichwith patience you can find for $200 and which is like a "best of" album for the post war screw mount rangefinders.

 

[FranciscoPinheiro]

I will buy new. I live in Brazil, here is difficult find good a Leica M2/3... and they are very expansive. The Leica M2 hasn't got telemeter and the Bessa R2A has, hasn't got?

Thank you for the help.

 

[sparrow6224]

By the way, the camera will say R2 and then later ones say R2A and R2M (I believe, you can check this) but the R2M is the only one that has no automation and needs no batteries. My camera said R2 w/o any A but had auto exposure full metering and electronic shutters.

 

[FranciscoPinheiro]

Mechanical cameras have huge durability. R2A is electronic, isn't it? It's got a good durability like mechanical cameras? I'd like a camera with a good durability(years and years).

 

[agoglanian]

The R2 (which I have) is the predecessor to the R2a/m. It was only offered as a fully mechanical model but does have a built-in light meter.

See the following pages for more info:

http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtBR2.htm

http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtr2ar3a.htm

 

[FranciscoPinheiro]

I think the R3M has a good durability. I'm wrong? Because it's got mechanical shutter. The important differences between RM3 and R2A is only the shutter(mechanical and electronic), isn't it?

I'm interesting in a camera with light meter so I wouldn't like the R2.

 

[Roger Hicks]

The Bessa R2 has a light meter. Did you mean Leica M2? Even then, you can add a shoe-mount meter.

Cheers,

R.

 

[FranciscoPinheiro]

I don't think so. Here is difficult found good Leicas and import is very complicate because of the taxes. I have how to buy news Bessas here, so I'm searching about them. So I'd like to know If I buy a Bessa R2A or R2M it'll a good deal.

 

[PMCC]

OK, taking it from the top:

R2: mechanical shutter, internal light meter. No longer available new.
R2M: small cosmetic upgrade over R2, but same mechanical shutter, internal light meter
R2A: electronic shutter, both auto and manual exposure options built in

Not much difference among the above, and any of them would be a good starter M-mount rangefinder. Mainly a matter of personal preference. I think they all have identical viewfinder framelines.

M2: best build quality of them all. No meter -- use a hand meter. If long term durability is most important to you, this is the best choice, not that there's anything lacking in the the Bessas. The M2 has an uncluttered VF. It also keeps its resale value better than a new Bessa R2x. I don't know about Brazil, but a good user M2 usually doesn't cost much more than a new Bessa R2x camera, and if you find one locally, you won't have to deal with the hassles of importing a new Bessa.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

OK, taking it from the top:

R2: mechanical shutter, internal light meter. No longer available new.
R2M: small cosmetic upgrade over R2, but same mechanical shutter, internal light meter
R2A: electronic shutter, both auto and manual exposure options built in

Not much difference among the above, and any of them would be a good starter M-mount rangefinder. Mainly a matter of personal preference. I think they all have identical viewfinder framelines.

I have, or have had the R3A and R4A and a Leica M6. I have to say that in many respects, being a more modern camera, they are to be preferred over the old (M2/3) Leicas. There will be howls of derision at that statement but the only areas in which the Leicas stand out are their strong construction (= weight) and the "aura" that attaches to owning one. The "aura" doesn't make for any better photographs! The Bessa range is as well constructed as any modern camera and, treated sensibly, will last for many years.
I have had no problems with the electronic shutters and I think the oft-stated issue about "it has batteries" is a furphy. I change the batteries once a year on my birthday and have never had a problem, even though I always carry a pair of spare ones. You can choose to use or not use the Aperture Priority mode for shutter speed. You can select manual if you wish.
However, there is one thing in the post from PMCC that is incorrect and you need to look into this. The framelines and viewfinder magnification in each of the R2/R3/R4 models is different. I think someone else pointed you here <http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtchart2.htm> but it clearly shows that the R3* (40-90), the R4* (21-50) and the R2* (35-90) each have a different range of framelines and different viewfinder magnification. The R2* is the model that is closest to the "classic" Leica viewfinder with a range of framelines from 35mm to 90mm and is probably the best general purpose viewfinder unless you have a strong preference for wide angle (R4*) or you never want to use wide angle (R3*). Even making that choice isn't exclusive of other options and external viewfinders are available to match most focal lengths but the ones you plan to use most often are the ones you want to select the viewfinder for.

 

[Avotius]

Highly recommend the R2a. I have one, its absolutely wonderful. People who are afraid of batteries.....well I shouldn't say anything, it would not be nice, however batteries with this camera is not a problem.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi,

Bessas are wonderful cameras. I own four of them. Never had any problem with any of them... I've bought them new and used, and some of them have mechanical shutter, and others have electronic shutter. I use Nikon, Leica and Hasselblad cameras too. My Bessas are absolutely beautiful and equally well made: I've traveled with them a lot, and I don't care too much about any camera, so they're really great...

First you have to decide if you want or not a meter in your camera, and if you want or not autoexposure on your camera.

Second you should consider which lens or main two lenses you'll be using on that camera, as rangefinders are designed to be optimal with certain lenses, not with all lenses as SLRs...

If you want to use wide lenses, the R4M or R4A are the best ones on earth.
If you prefer 35 and 50, R2A or R2M are great.
If you want 40 or 50 and 75, shooting with both eyes opened, the R3A and R3M are the best for you.

I recommend you to get the R2A, R3A or R4M...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[paulfish4570]

i have the R2m. i recommend it highly.

 

[PMCC]

However, there is one thing in the post from PMCC that is incorrect and you need to look into this. The framelines and viewfinder magnification in each of the R2/R3/R4 models is different. I think someone else pointed you here <http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtchart2.htm> but it clearly shows that the R3* (40-90), the R4* (21-50) and the R2* (35-90) each have a different range of framelines and different viewfinder magnification.

I wrote that I believed the viewfinder frames in the various R2x models -- i.e., R2, R2M, R2A -- were identical. Is this wrong? If mistaken, I am willing to be corrected, even though I made claim only to belief, not to certainty. Note, however, that I never mentioned the R3x or R4x. I agree those do have different viewfinder framelines, both from the R2x and from each other.

 

[agoglanian]

They are ever so slightly different.

The R2 and R2M/A have the same framelines, but slightly different magnifications and close focus distances.

R2 = .68x finder and .9m close focus
R2M/A = .7x finder and .7m close focus

So they're very close, but just slightly different 😉

BTW - your R2 is still treating me very well 🙂 We're getting along great!

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I wrote that I believed the viewfinder frames in the various R2x models -- i.e., R2, R2M, R2A -- were identical. Is this wrong? If mistaken, I am willing to be corrected, even though I made claim only to belief, not to certainty. Note, however, that I never mentioned the R3x or R4x. I agree those do have different viewfinder framelines, both from the R2x and from each other.

Apologies. On reading your post as carefully as I should have in the first place I can see that I have maligned you. However, my mistake might even end up being useful information for someone approaching their first Bessa body.