Bessa Dilemma!

[theory]

I've been excited about getting a black Bessa and recently offered to buy a bessa R from a member of the forum. However, I've recently found out a store is offering black Bessa Ts in the near future at the same price I would be paying for that R.

I've heard good things about both but I doubt I can afford both. I was wondering if anybody can offer some pros and cons to owning either of the two.

What I'm weighing between so far is I know the Bessa R has an awesome viewfinder and I think a more quiet shutter, but at the same time, the T may be more upgradeable with the M mount and better rangefinder.

 

[back alley]

i'd go for the r, especially depending on what other cameras you have.

with the r you get a great vf and meter and access to tons of lenses that, with a simple adapter, you can also use on an m camera.

joe

 

[captainslack]

This is one of those problems you want to have. 😉 I know, because I went through this same deliemma a few months back. I eventually got a deal on a T, which I love.

However, if I had it to do over again I'd buy the R. Dealing with the external viewfinders on the T isn't that big of a deal, but sometimes it would be nice to have switchable framelines in a built-in VF.

Either way, you can't go wrong. They're both great cameras.

 

[FrankS]

I'd go for the R, myself. It's self-contained with an excellent viewfinder.

 

[rover]

I agree with all above, but the R.

In 2 weeks you will suffer from GAS and buy the T too, and since that is availble locally you should at least grab the R now while you can.

 

[captainslack]

What I'm weighing between so far is I know the Bessa R has an awesome viewfinder and I think a more quiet shutter, but at the same time, the T may be more upgradeable with the M mount and better rangefinder.

Actually, to me anyway, the T has the quieter shutter of the two. My main gripe with the R is that it's very loud. The T isn't what I'd call quiet, either, but there is a noticeable difference to my ears between the two.

 

[theory]

I appreciate everyone sharing their wisdom!

I doubt I can buy and keep both; after all, I still need to get some lenses to put on this thing! The plan is to buy a body now and purchase a lens closer to my birthday in October.

I've been fuming over it all day and I'm leaning more towards the R because as a previous poster said, it's more self-contained. I'm interested in a camera that's low-key in appearence and operation since I often shoot in gritty areas. All my other cameras are chrome, so I thought a black camera would be a different experience. I like the T's profile, but it might start weighing me down with accessories like viewfinders.

 

[GeneW]

I'm quite happy with my Bessa R. I have a 35mm lens on it most of the time, and because it's LTM I'm able to use a Zorki 3M as a companion camera, sharing lenses.

Gene

 

[rover]

As far as lenses go, a $40 Jupiter 8 will give you a very good 50mm and you can build from there.

 

[ray_g]

Both are very good. To me, the shutter noise is the same. It depends on the lenses you use. If you use longer and faster lenses, the focusing on the T is more accurate. For my type of shooting, if I were to have only one, I would get the R.

 

[RObert Budding]

I've never minded using external finders - I use a VC 35mm brightline on my Contax IIIa. It's very simple to focus and quickly shift my eye to frame. But I suppose it's really a matter of what you get used to.

I'd opt for the longest baseline length - you'll get much better focus accuracy with longer lenses.

Robert

 

[theory]

As far as lenses go, a $40 Jupiter 8 will give you a very good 50mm and you can build from there.

To change the subject and recycle this thread. I've noticed that a lot of people here swear by the LTM jupiter 8. Before coming to this forum, I had the impression from random articles that the Industar L/D was the uber-lens. I do enjoy the look and feel of the Jupiter 8 on my Kiev and I don't have any experience with the industars.

 

[pvdhaar]

When I chose between the T and the R a while ago, the decision fell on the T because that allowed me to continue using a M-Hexanon50/2. Had I not had that lens, I would have chosen the R.

As for the difference between external finders and built in ones; working with external finders is in itself no problem, it's just that they're an extra cost to factor into the equation, (just as well as LTM->M adapters).

 

[tom_f77]

Have fun choosing - you will have plenty using either...

For what it's worth, I think the Rs the way to go unless you know you want a T for something the R can't do (M-mount, long lenses), or unless you only want very wide lenses. The R was my first rangefinder (apart from a zorki 4k where the shutter jammed halfway through my first roll!) and it's great for 35s and 50s. I've since tried the T, L, R2 and R3a, and none of them pleased me more than the R. That took an M3.

The thing with the J8 is that it's a sonnar; the I61 may test sharper, but sonnars have a unique look that most people really like and many think is worth far more than the cost of a J8...

Tom

 

[former member]

Unless you are going to use Telephoto Lenses like an 85 F2 or 135 F3.5 with an external finder, go with the R. The "T" is for telephoto! If you are on a budget, the cost of the LTM to M adapter should be added to the price of the "T". The R can take the readily available and often cheaper LTM lenses without one.

The thing to watch out for with FSU lenses is sample-to-sample variation. Buy one from a "Trusted Source" that has tested the lens. It is too bad the Helios-103 is not available in LTM. At least in my experience of two Helios-103's vs 3 Jupiter-8's, the Helios was the clear winner.

 

[Richard Black]

I want to weigh in on this issue. The R takes care of most if not all the issues I have in using a rf camera. As noted bright vf and good range of lens options. I want to know if anyone has a decimeter. I would like to get to the bottom of the noise issue. Mine is no louder that the Minolta X370 or the auto focus Maxxums I own. To my ears it is not loud, and I doubt that it is a loud as a Nikon or Canon slr. It is not as quite as my Vivitar 35 SE or my Rolleiflex, both leaf shutters. It sounds different, a different pitch, if you will, than the Zorkiis and Leicas I own, louder, that should be tested with a meter at 1 meter and further to test this issue. I don't have access to that so the question to all you techies, where's the meter?

 

[MrRanger]

To change the subject and recycle this thread. I've noticed that a lot of people here swear by the LTM jupiter 8. Before coming to this forum, I had the impression from random articles that the Industar L/D was the uber-lens. I do enjoy the look and feel of the Jupiter 8 on my Kiev and I don't have any experience with the industars.

I would like to try a Jupiter 8 to see how it does. I have the 61 L/D on my Bessa R (2.8 53mm) and I love the pictures it takes!

Mike 😀

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Again... like in another thread, Brian beat me to the reply.

Consider this: you want to expand your system with a Bessa T, right. Every lens will leave you poor: an average of $350 for a 50 'cron, and let's not think of a wide angle!

With the Bessa R, not only can you shop for older Leicas, but also the CV glass, and FSU lenses, like the Jupiter and Industar and other kinds.

Hence... the R makes better sense in the long run.

Now, go and have some fun! 🙂

 

[captainslack]

BUT!

To play devils advocate here, with the purchase of $50 LTM to M-mount adapter, you can use all those LTM lens on your T along with those ultra expensive M lenses.

I know, I'm not making this any easier am I?