a RangeFinder Virgin

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MoHawkTshirt

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So I wanted a wide angle RangeFinder and some of the guys here pointed me toward a Bessa.

I want a rangefinder for bw street shots. What do you guys recommend?

Will determind my price range after gaining some information.
 
You could go even simpler and try an Olympus XA4, with a 28mm f3.5 lens, or even a p&s such as a Nikon AF600, again with a 28mm f3.5 lens. Both easily fit in a jacket pocket and should be good street machines.
 
Depends how wide you want to go. If you want go real wide, grab a Bessa L for about $100 and the CV 15mm with finder for $350. Zone focus, sharp, great contrast - all in a small package.

If you want to start cheap, there are a handful of very good fixed lens rangefinders for under a hundred. Most are about 40mm (give or take). Perhaps not wide enough?

My first rangefinder was a R2 and 40mm Nokton. Great combo that I should have never sold.
 
Ahh ... now you are talking. Having a budget makes it much easier.

Best combo for this budget is a used Bessa R with 35/2.5 Color Skopar. Should run you around US 400 if you shop carefully.

If you want wider, you could get an LTM 21/4 or 25/4 with Bessa L for about the same or less money.

If you want faster, a Bessa R with 35/1.7 Ultron will run around US 500 total.

If you don't care about the meter, a Canon P is a great alternative to the Bessa R and costs about the same.

If you want a more classic lens, the Canon 35/1.8 is affordable and good. About the price of the Ultron above.

All great combos.

An R2 or newer usually runs above US 300 and doesn't leave you much money to spend on the lens. Bessa L and T require external finders, that come with 21 and 25mm lenses, but not with others. Bessa T requires an LTM/M adapter. Finders and good adapters are not cheap.

Best,

Roland.
 
Last edited:
As Roland said, this would be an excellent place to start. A very nice Bessa R just sold on eBay for about $170 if I remember correctly. Add the 35 Skopar for around $250 used or about $325 new.

ferider said:
Best combo for this budget is a used Bessa R with 35/2.5 Color Skopar. Should run you around US 400 if you shop carefully.
Click to expand...
 
MoHawkTshirt said:
Is there a big differences between all the Bessa(L R R2 etc)?

Im willing to spent >500
Click to expand...
  1. Bessa L has no rangefinder and no viewfinder. It is a Leica screw mount.
  2. Bessa T has a rangefinder, but no viewfinder. It is a Leica M mount.
  3. Bessa R has both a rangefinder and viewfinder. It is a Leica screw mount.
  4. You also could try an older camera. My favorite is the Canon P, which sells for about $250 used.
Screw mount lenses can be used on M mount cameras with an adapter ($55). The reverse isn't true. Screw mount lenses are generally less expensive.

The Bessa R and a CV 35/2.5 color skopar is a great combination. I started with that. You'll soon want more. The Bessa R is only slightly more expensive that a Bessa L, but it will allow for you to get other lenses.

Also consider the CV 25/4. The lens isn't rangefinder coupled but with the wide depth of field , focusing is very easy.

I also have the CV 21/4 but it is a bit too wide.

Classic lenses are good too. The Leica Summaron 35/3.5 is a tiny easy to use lens. Canon made a bunch of screwmount lenses back in the day and there is enough that goes for under $200. Another RF member keeps up this site which is very helpful.
 
The classifieds here at RFF, Photonet or over on APUG. You should just be patient and wait. Failing that, try Cameraquest. I think Stephen at CQ may have some used Bessas for sale.
 
I still think the Bessa's are too "clacky" for good street-shooting. The noise will get you noticed too often. I'd start with a reliable Canonet GIII QL17, a quiet, automatic, fixed lens (40mm) rangefinder. You will NEVER have to sell it to buy an upgrade. You will keep it as your take-everywhere camera. Then I'd pick a Canon P or a Leica M2 as your first system camera. Cheap enough to get, reliable enough to ensure a quality camera. YMMV.
 
Noise on a Bessa hasn't been a problem for me yet. Only time I get noticed is when I'm literally sticking it in the face of my subject! Personally, it's always been more of an annoyance for me. I used to have the R and didn't like the shutter noise, particularly because it didn't feel 'solid' to me.

Though I do recall a recent incident in Boston's Chinatown when I pulled out a D3 and a large man wearing a coat that looked like a skinned deer ran after me, yelling in Chinese. Should have been expected.

Anyway, is your budget GREATER or LESS THAN $500? I thought you typed greater than, but responses appear contrary.

Second of all, what sort of 'wide angle' are you looking for? I'm personally a wideangle junkie with a 17mm for my Nikon SLRs and a 40mm for my Bronica, but when it comes to people shooting outdoors, I don't go wider than 35mm on a rangefinder.
 
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