Apples or Oranges -- G1 or Bessa R?

[kmack]

After a hiatus of over 20 years I am trying to find my voice in photography again. I have been having lots of fun with a few fsu cameras and now I am in the hunt for a modern rangefinder.

I have been very tempted by the Bessa R primarily because of price and perceived quality of the body and lenses. I also have been seeing the prices of used G1's and G2's plunge, I can get a user G1 and 45 Planar from KEH for about the same price as a new Bessa and 35/2.5.

Other than new vs. used and auto-focus vs manual focus, apples or oranges... I have been leaning toward the G1.

Someone want to give me a push one way or another?

 

[Scarpia]

I bought a G-1 kit from B&H last year. A demo with the 45mm planar and the flash attachment for $549.95. The autofocus on the G-1 is a little tricky IMO. Also you have to keep a supply of bandages handy because the 45mm Planar f2 is that sharp. It is the sharpest lens I have ever used on a 35mm camera.
Kurt M.
P.S. I own a Bessa R as well and a slew of lenses including 50mm f 1.5 Nokton. I prefer the camera to any other because of the simplicity of use. I am a senior citizen and can use a manual camera much more quickly than an automatic, Now if I could only use that Planar on the Bessa.........
Kurt M.

 

[foon]

I had a chance to play with the g1 for a day. It is a pretty solid camera, the only thing I hate about it is the viewfinder. It is too small, I think. Though it doesn't affect focusing ability, I'd much prefer a big and bright vf, I don't about bessa R's vf, but it should be better.

 

[kmack]

I am a senior citizen and can use a manual camera much more quickly than an automatic, Now if I could only use that Planar on the Bessa.........
Kurt M.

I am getting up there in age myself and my eyes where pretty bad when I was younger and getting worse. I was hoping the auto focus would help.

 

[LazyHammock]

I have owned both cameras. I bought the G1 with the 28, 45 and 90mm lenses. The camera was a little too automated for my tastes but the lenses were the best I've used. They are very sharp and the images really stand out. The Bessa feels quite light and I noticed camera shake when the shutter was tripped - I could never tell if it affected the images - more than likely the shutter was already closed when I felt the movement. Of course this is subjective and I would advise handling both to see which feels better to you. Both cameras have great meters and are very well built as others will attest. I'm using an M6 now and it feels much more solid and I can now use M-mount Zeiss lenses!

 

[Scarpia]

I am getting up there in age myself and my eyes where pretty bad when I was younger and getting worse. I was hoping the auto focus would help.

My eyes are not the problem. I won't go any further.
Kurt M.

 

[richard_l]

It would be good first to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of auto vs. manual focus. Autofocus is not exactly a substitute for manual focus; it is a feature which may be very convenient or inconvenient, depending on your style of photography.

 

[msakamoto]

Just went through the same decision...

Just went through the same decision...

I just bought a user G1 w/45mm from KEH for $312. Aside from the fact that I am exchanging both items because of slight malfunctioning and dust, I love the machine. That's the big difference, of course, that it's a machine that feels like one. The AF and the fact that you can't actually see the focusing in the viewfinder (VERY weird coming from Nikon FE SLR use, but not very weird coming from my Rollei B35) give this camera a real distancing feeling at first, but once you get into the mental space of knowing how to anticipate your pics from what you are actually seeing, it's not that big a deal. The lenses are the BIG plus of this system and the only genuine reason to buy it. No way can you get this superior quality at this price unless you jump a novice Leica owner in a dark alley on their first trip to Thailand, and I don't think that'll let you sleep too well at night... 😀