An Apology

[Fred]

Oh dear, 😱

In the words of the great Yoda, "Leica M I own, Bessa L I like, humble pie I eat", I guess I know how he feels. 😕

Yesterday went to the Focus on Imaging show in Birmingham (NEC) in the UK, and our kind sponsors Robert White where there helpful as always. The staff even recognised me from a couple of visits a while back.......... and I got GAS. 🙄

I was looking for a CV 21 to fill the gap between my 15 and 28 skopar, that I use on my Leica (sorry I know this is the CV bit). And that was all, initially anyway 😱

Well given that I was about to sell a 35 Ultron thats been used very little following the purchase of a cron last year (a buddy passed away) I would free up an M adapter to put on the new 21. I was effectivly left with a screw lens for sale. Only I didn't sell it, I bought a shiny new Bessa L in silver (a show deal price if you buy a wide angle lense up to 25).

Well, I have to admit (gulp) that I really like the L, yes I've said it now I've just admitted that I like a camera without an RF or a viewfinder but with a meter. The fact is the L is far more than it's spec states. It's for use with wider angle screw lenses where focussing is less of an issue and composition and definition are using external finders that most RFs would need. I intend to take it out in the lake disctrict in a week or two with my 15, 21, and my 35 Ultron (with Helios finder) and just shoot stuff. After all, in my youth I always guestimated distance for lenses up to 45mm. It's the ideal item for shooting from the hip and it should be a real hoot.

So its much better built than you'd assume (not R2A, ZI, or Leica) and guess is easily fit for the purpose it was disigned for. I'm looking forward to using it. No RF to go out of alignment either.

I'll post some photo's when I process it's first roll.

I guess I'll have to update my signature to show Bessa L and Leica M7. Oh and I'm not selling the M7.

So thats it, I have a Leica (and love it and use it) but really like the Bessa L. I start the medication tomorrow :angel:

 

[ch1]

So, instead of selling a lens, you bought a camera to fit it.

What's so odd about that? 😀

You'll find no cure for GAS here!

 

[Fred]

George, it's worse than that, I bought a new lens and a new camera 🙂

I really should take stock and sell some stuff though, I'm just not very good at getting rid of old 'freinds' though.

 

[ch1]

Tony,

That why it's called Gear ACQUISITION Syndrome! 😱

 

[Fred]

Nice one George, I 'm still in recovery, the thing is I'm looking for a 28mm external VF now and thats even more stuff. I don't even know if the new Bessa is classified as an RF and If I should post gallery images from it. I don't mind though I still like it anyway.

Cheers 🙂

 

[wrenhunter]

Live it up! I fell in love with the simplicity of the L and got one recently. I know a few other members have too.

I also got a CV 21 myself the other week, so we're on the same road, Fred!

 

[Doug]

The Bessa-L is fun and unique; I expect you'll enjoy it. 🙂

 

[RML]

The L is a wonderful little creature, indeed. I've used one extensively for nearly a year without even longing for anything else. Though I'm mostly using my R-D1 nowadays, I'm seriously thinking of putting the CV 25/4 back on the L and use it exclusively for wide angle. That would negate any need for a 15mm on the R-D1 but would return me partially to film (which is not something I really want). But the L + 25/4 is such a fine combo, it's hard to beat.

 

[peptonio]

Well, I have to admit (gulp) that I really like the L, yes I've said it now I've just admitted that I like a camera without an RF or a viewfinder but with a meter. The fact is the L is far more than it's spec states.:

Fred,
Actually the L is the most intelligent rear cap concept ever made.for super wides .
I've never ever met somebody who would not have loved this combo, from various reasons. It's so small and light , so much fun to use it, and so great results for such a little money .

Unfortunately it was talked down very often as a crappy piece of plastic by those, whose knowledge is based on hearsay only. But who ever worked with it for a while notices how well thought it is .

Don't forget to focus when you go back to the M7 one day , maybe in 2007 or 2008, hard to say. ! 😀

Peppo.

 

[markinlondon]

Oh dear, 😱

In the words of the great Yoda, "Leica M I own, Bessa L I like, humble pie I eat", I guess I know how he feels. 😕

Was that Yoda or John Prescott, Tony?
😀

Enjoy your L, I've been fighting off the GAS pangs on that deal since I saw it on their website.

Mark

 

[KoNickon]

One thing that Cosina did with the L that I wish they'd carried forward to subsequent cameras is a simple mechanical shutter lock that is engaged when the advance crank is folded flat against the body. I really don't know why it wasn't brought forward to the other cameras, since it can prevent battery drain.

My L (actually the 107 SW) has my 25/4 as its more or less permanent guest.

 

[allthumbs]

Surely a camera so instrumental in the RF revival and so steeped in RF history would be welcome in the RFF gallery?

 

[Fred]

"Was that Yoda or John Prescott, Tony?"

Well I can have a pretty good guess who ate ALL the pies 🙂

Seriously I'm looking at a 28 finder though but see that a new 25mm is not that much more, given that you get the lens as well. Oh dear, I know what I'm like though, I'll still end up with a 28 finder, oh such GAS.

Nope, I'll look for a used 28 finder and be happy..... for now..... 🙂

 

[ch1]

"Was that Yoda or John Prescott, Tony?"

Well I can have a pretty good guess who ate ALL the pies 🙂

Seriously I'm looking at a 28 finder though but see that a new 25mm is not that much more, given that you get the lens as well. Oh dear, I know what I'm like though, I'll still end up with a 28 finder, oh such GAS.

Nope, I'll look for a used 28 finder and be happy..... for now..... 🙂

Tony,

You need to look Fred directly into his eyes and admit to him and you that you are hooked! You are a camera addict. There is a giant monkey on your back, man, and it's there to stay.

And what's more - we here at RFF are your "enablers", as much as you are ours! 😀

 

[That Guy]

I've said it before, but once again...

Favorite camera, ever.

 

[Doug]

One thing that Cosina did with the L that I wish they'd carried forward to subsequent cameras is a simple mechanical shutter lock that is engaged when the advance crank is folded flat against the body. I really don't know why it wasn't brought forward to the other cameras, since it can prevent battery drain.

That's the only thing about the Bessa-L that I really dislike; Being left-eyed, the lever easily gets folded-in when I want to take a picture, and I've lost too many shots that way. Fortunately, it's not hard to disable this "feature" with a little filing on the advance lever! 🙂

Surely a camera so instrumental in the RF revival and so steeped in RF history would be welcome in the RFF gallery?

Surely so! Along with all those other past and current viewfinder-only cameras, folding or not, and in whatever film format! In my humble opinion of course.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I have a flip story: I love my Leica gear. I also love my Canon gear. Yet, I was lured by the look of the Sonnar. So I acquired (or reacquired, that's another story) a Contax Zeiss-Opton 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar from another member here.

No body to use it with. The question was...to get a Contax-to-Leica adapter or a body to match? I really wanted an adapter. But another camera, come on, it's an opportunity! It was a "casual" stop to my local shop that I happened to see, as rare as they come there, a very beautiful Contax IIIa, with a Carl-Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/2; all spic-n-span. The price was about the same as what the Contax-to-Leica adapters go for. So I splurged (my last treat in a while)

Still considering getting a Kiev IV, but...I like the Contax IIIa. It is no substitute for my Leica M6; it's a matter of taste. The strength of my Contax gear is the 50mm f/1.5 lens.

I don't think I ever "dissed" the Contax, but I thought I'd never go near it; I'm not overwhelmed by it, but it's a good camera (did I say it's a very good lens? 😉 ) Like Jean Connerie said: Never say Never (again). 🙂

Oh, and... Welcome to The Dahk Zide he he he he 😀

 

[biomed]

I recently purchased a CV15 and an L body. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the L. It's not a Leica, but it only cost $69! I am having a lot of FUN with the L and the 15, 21 and 35 lenses. I have been using a FSU turret finder with the 35.

Mike

 

[Doug]

Congratulations on your "new" Contax gear, Gabriel! I am going the same direction... there should be a Contax IIIa enroute to me now from another RFF member, and I would like a Contax Zeiss-Opton 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar to put on it. I have J-8s to use on it, one *marked* Sonnar, but I'd like the real thing.