Bessa R3A of Zeiss Ikon?

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Pfreddee

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OK, I need some help. I'll have to save for one of them, but I won't need as much money for a body and lens for the Bessa. And if I'm not mistaken, the innards of both camera are made by Cosina. And the R3A has a Leica M mount. And Zeiss makes M-mount lenses that the Bessa can use. So from a cost standpoint, which is imprtant, I am leaning toward the R3A and the 40mm Nokton. What has been your collective experience with either the R3A or the Zeiss Ikon? Both are wonderful cameras, I'm sure. ( My Bessa R is ever so much more portable than my Nikon F100. And I really do carry a camera with me where I go.)

Thanks to all who reply.

Pfreddee(Stephen)
 
Get a R3A and the 40mm Nokton, you won't go wrong. I used to live up the road with the hippies by the river. You know.
 
Well, the Zeiss feels better in the hand to me, but both will do the same job. Zeiss bodies do not seem to hold there value well. Perhaps a used Zeiss Ikon will be a good compromise. Then again, at Zeiss prices, Leica comes into play (but not an AE one).
 
I have an Ikon and love it (35 f/2.8, 50 f/2). I agree with others on the feel of the body, it is very solid, but not heavy.
I forget the term for the rangefinder 'width', but it is better/wider than the Bessa, though that may come into play more for the long lenses.
 
For entry level experience I'd go with the R3A, but instead of the 40 Nokton would look for The Summicron C 40/2 or Rokkor 40/2. If you want to get a camera you won't like to swap for something better soon though, save up for the Zeiss Ikon, the difference is very considerable in every respect.
 
I've owned an R3A, and now own 2 ZI's.

Purely from a cost standpoint, the less expensive R3A is the obvious choice But, to me, part of the joy of shooting a rangefinder is the feel (as others have stated), and what you see through that viewfinder... and on those two points, the R3A is not even in the same league.
 
If you can afford it get an Ikon, but the R3a is also a great camera. I wouldn't feel short changed if that's what fits the wallet.

I've not used the 40 NOkton, but it's one of those lenses I'd like to try one day.

Mike
 
R3A all the way

R3A all the way

i shoot with a R3a and SC 40mm Nokton almost exclusively hers my blog with links to my flickr.

Doldrum Eśque

i love the 1. finder , aperture lock placement is perfect, pushing and pulling +/- 2 stops in .5 increments in aperture priority.

the only thing i can say i do not like is the neck strap clip points. its top heavy but i love the camera in every way.
 
I find the 1x finder more difficult to use, I find myself hunting for the edges of the frame already with the 40.
 
I used to have R3A and Jupiter 50/1.4. The camera gets the job done without problem. The viewfinder is great for 50mm lens. When I tried the 40mm frame lines I found them hard to see at once - and I do not wear glasses.

What I did not like at the end whas the total feel and shutter sound (sharp, loud - not nice), but it was not bad or something. And anyhow I tend to use the 6x6 more often :)

If I were to get 35mm rangefinder again I would either go for used IKON or even M2/M3/M4 and keep using my Digisix. AE is nice to have though. But I actually never had a classical Leica in hand ...
 
I've got the R3A and love using it, I found getting the accessory grip for it much more comfortable in all around usage. Plus I was able to put the extra scratch towards glass so that helped($1000@current pricing).
 
I don't have a Zeiss Ikon, but the R3a is a very nice camera. It's perfect for 50mm lenses; for my Summicron-C 2/40 I prefer my R2m[1]: the 40mm frames of the R3a are too tight to the edges for my taste. An important point of using a rangefinder is to be able to see what's outside the picture, isn't it?

[1] That is, I would if it weren't broken. The exposure meter freaks out at and above 1/250s. I have to find out where to send it for repair...
 
Do you wear glasses? If so, the R2a will be perfect. If not, maybe an R3a. I've never shot one of the Ikons, but I will say this....the R2a is one of the better cameras I've used. Really nice camera. If you buy one of these cameras at a good price and find that you don't like it, sell it and get the other one. That's my methodology, anyway.
 
I've got the 3A and will echo Thomas' post. I don't enjoy using it with the 40mm for the same reasons. I usually put the 50mm on it and with the 1:1 viewfinder, its magic. Oddly enough, I don't mind using the 35mm with a finder and prefer it over using the 40mm. :0)

I don't own the Zeiss, but I do have the M6 Classic. Which do I prefer? Well, I do enjoy the 1:1 viewfinder on the 3A, but the M6 has more useable framelines for the 35 than the 3A for the 40mm and the M6 handles the 50mm fine. YMMV. So I get more utility from the M6.
 
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