Serendipitous Bessa porn!

[Muggins]

Whilst carrying my 1930s Bessa, I found this book which of course I had to buy.

Because, despite it being reversed to fit the page format, with that position of the shutter release, the camera is clearly a Bessa!

 

[Coldkennels]

I do love photographic books of that era. I tend to find they actually expect the reader to know more (and be willing to learn more!) than things which came only a couple of decades later.

 

[Muggins]

I swear some of them need a degree in photography to understand! Luckily I think I can handle 4oz of my buckshee sodium thiosulphate to a pint of water - especially as its a 10lb jar!

 

[JeffS7444]

From my collection, front cover of pocket-sized "An experienced amateur advises you"

 

[Muggins]

From my collection, front cover of pocket-sized "An experienced amateur advises you"

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Very nice indeed!

That looks like a really awkward way to hold the camera but, having tried it, actually it's quite simple & comfortable.

I notice in both images the brilliant finder is not just not in use but is folded at 90 degrees to the position of use.

I can't help feeling that it was left for those used to using one to make their choice, but the ads clearly showed off the Voigtlander boffins bright idea - and the post-WW2 version dropped the brilliant finder completely.

Voigtlander certainly put some thought into the Bessa as the shutter release is soooo nice to use, I've a couple of other 1930s German quality folders where it's almost an afterthought.