250 Years Voigtländer - Bessa R2M / R3M announced

thmk

thmk

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Can any of our German-speakers advise whether these are simply commemoratively-maked R2a and R3a models? Or are these the often-requested synthesis of R2a/3a body with the mechanically timed (non-battery-dependent) shutter of the previous R2?

It's interesting to note that the 50mm f/2 "Heliar Classic" lens gets by with only five elements in three groups. That's an unusual spec. Mind you, I'm not saying that it's impossible to make a good 50/2 with fewer than usual elements, or that a larger number of elements is an indicator of greater quality -- after all, the classic RF Canon 50/1.4 has only six elements, fewer than its competitors of the era, and is at least as good in performance. It would be interesting to see a diagram of the new lens, though, to see how it's constructed.
 
Excellent! I prefer mechanical cameras. I can see getting one of these in a while once the premium introductory price settles down a bit.
 
FrankS said:
Excellent! I prefer mechanical cameras. I can see getting one of these in a while once the premium introductory price settles down a bit.
Click to expand...
I think the page is saying that production is limited to 1300 of these 🙁 so I'd bet the secondary market price will be higher :bang:
Rob
 
Yes, the R2M in silver is limited to 1300 sets and the black R3M to 1500 sets worldwide. Prices are not listed yet and also no more specific information. I assume that prices will be about 999 or 1099 Euro per set.
 
Not a prominent mount. That's Okay, I understand.

Would go cool with my 200th anniversary Prominent.
 
I just took a closer look at the pictures and there is no "A" mode to be seen on the shutter speed dial. But the text says that there is an exposure lock button. Now I am confused. Why should I need such a button on a mechanical camera with no AE mode? I do not get the point. Maybe someone can explain this to me.
The most "funny" thing is that they declare the camera as "35mm SLR camera". Does the marketing department really know what they are announcing?
 
I think they messed up the specsheet. No "A" marking on the shutterspeed dial and no on/off switch at the shutterrelease does mean manual only to me and this may indicate a mechanical shutter.

If the lens is included, 1000 Euro is nice price.
 
FrankS said:
Didn't realize the limited edition nature of these cameras. No longer interested. (Also assumed the mount was M.)
Click to expand...

No worries on one score, Frank. The specs clearly state it's M-mount. Just because
these kits are limited doesn't preclude the future sale of body-only. I agree with you
that these are more appealing than their battery-dependent siblings, but let us not
give up hope just yet.

We need an official English translation. Wanna bet Steve Gandy is fuming that he
didn't have a head's-up on this move?

Fred

ps--that price guess of mine is just that--I have NO hard info--just pulled it outta,
well, the air...
 
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jlw said:
It's interesting to note that the 50mm f/2 "Heliar Classic" lens gets by with only five elements in three groups. That's an unusual spec. Mind you, I'm not saying that it's impossible to make a good 50/2 with fewer than usual elements, or that a larger number of elements is an indicator of greater quality -- after all, the classic RF Canon 50/1.4 has only six elements, fewer than its competitors of the era, and is at least as good in performance. It would be interesting to see a diagram of the new lens, though, to see how it's constructed.
Click to expand...

The design that Cosina used on the 50/3.5 Heliar was also a 5-element design, which was the number of elements in the classic Heliar. This one seems to be a Dynar, which was a variation of the original Heliar. You can see a diagram at www.cameraquest.com. We're used to seeing 6-element designs today because they are almost all symmetrical double Gauss designs, but there's no reason they have to be. You can find modern Sonnars with only 5 elements as well.

Huck
 
yossarian said:
We need an official English translation.
Click to expand...

Maybe someone of the English speaking fellows here can press the "Kontakt" link and ask politely for an English page. I could not find one. Voigtlaender.com also leads to the German page.
 
I was looking for the Dynar diagram but couldn't find it at the cameraquest site. Whereabouts is it?

Interesting -- I was reading the review of the R3a in Shutterbug by Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz, and it said that Mr. Kobayashi had not ruled out manual versions of the R3a and R2a. Apparently not!

These sets will sell out quickly, I bet.
 
thmk said:
Maybe someone of the English speaking fellows here can press the "Kontakt" link and ask politely for an English page. I could not find one. Voigtlaender.com also leads to the German page.
Click to expand...

Could the camera be "limited" to the German market - much like the Nikon SP-2005 was Japan-only? (At least as far as "official" sales).
 
Those are actually very pretty cameras, especially the lenses. I like the semi-glossy black paint, and even the silver looks nice. The rewind knob and the top-plate are actually different than the R2A/R3A.

So what exactly did Voigtlander make 250 years ago? Lenses?
 
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