Bessa heritage?

[Sparrow]

Bessa heritage?

As I understand it the Bessa “R” range are the latest development of a chassis that can trace its lineage back thorough a number of SLR cameras and developed over many years.
Anybody know the full list? and has anyone attempted to fit a motor-drive from one of the earlier SLRs to a R2/3a.

 

[bmattock]

http://www.vermontel.com/~wsalati/CasualCollector/cosina.htm

 

[markinlondon]

I have a Cosina C1 SLR with Pentax K mount. I was struck by the family resemblance when I bought my Bessa R. The Nikon FM10 and Olympus OM2000 were also built on the same chassis IIRC.

Mark

 

[Sparrow]

Thanks Bill, I’ll make a trip to Camera Exchange tomorrow

 

[bmattock]

Thanks Bill, I’ll make a trip to Camera Exchange tomorrow

Sorry for the brevity of my response, I was being asked a question at work.

I have the Canon T60 (SLR), which is built on the same platform as the Bessa R, and later the Bessaflex TM (which I also have). I also have a recently-aquired $10 eBoy special, a Vivitar V2000 - same camera, but with Pentax K mount. I am trying to get my hands on a Nikon FM10 and an Olympus OM2000 (cheap - really cheap, which makes it challenging) and I have a Yashica FX-3 Super, but it is broken (another 'mint' eBoy camera, hooray) and the shutter releases as soon as you wind on. All the same basic camera.

Can you attach an autowinder? Dunno. I'd tend to doubt it, the changes are subtle but there. But an autowinder on a RF? I am thinking I'd not want that. Could be just me.

Why do I want copies of the same camera with different lens mounts? I dunno, just seemed like fun.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Sparrow]

Can you attach an autowinder? Dunno. I'd tend to doubt it, the changes are subtle but there. But an autowinder on a RF? I am thinking I'd not want that. Could be just me.

Why do I want copies of the same camera with different lens mounts? I dunno, just seemed like fun.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

I was snapping dancing girls last weekend and just felt the need!!

 

[KoNickon]

Cosina also made the Konica TC-X, a simple and plastic SLR from the latter days of Konica's SLR days in the mid-80s. It takes a single AA battery, which is convenient. I notice there's one of these with a three Hexanon lens package on eBay right now for $80.

 

[bmattock]

Cosina also made the Konica TC-X, a simple and plastic SLR from the latter days of Konica's SLR days in the mid-80s. It takes a single AA battery, which is convenient. I notice there's one of these with a three Hexanon lens package on eBay right now for $80.

Cheap for me is $5 to $15, maybe $20 including shipping. $80 is out of the question, I'm afraid.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[pshinkaw]

I'm not so sure about the Yashica FX-3 being a Cosina product. Is it marked on the bottom as Cosina? Otherwise it doesn't seem to have the familiar Cosina features or design. I agree with Bill on the others though.

Some people claim that Chinon SLR's were also made by Cosina, but having dismantled both, I see no family resemblance inside either.

I think Cosina's biggest family was the Vivitar SLR's. There are so many variations that I haven't even seen a complete list of them let alone the actual cameras.

-Paul

 

[bmattock]

The Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 is clearly a T60/OM2000/FM10/Vivitar V2000/Bessaflex TM clone, but I have the FX-3 Super and it is slightly different. Still seems to be made by Cosina to my eye, but I didn't open it up to look inside, and it is not marked Cosina. In fact, none of mine are so marked except the Voigtlander products.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

I think Cosina's biggest family was the Vivitar SLR's. There are so many variations that I haven't even seen a complete list of them let alone the actual cameras.

There was supposedly a Vivitar SLR from that family that had the Minolta MD mount instead of the Pentax K mount. I can't seem to find an example of one, though. Any ideas? I want to ultimately collect the whole set of crappy black plastic-bodied Cosina pre-Bessas. Just for fun.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[KoNickon]

Bill, I wasn't suggesting you buy that kit I saw, just wanted to apprise you that the Konica TC-X was another of the Cosina-made cameras. The general take is that it was not as reliable as the "true" Konicas. Here's some information: http://www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eTC-XHaupt.html

 

[pshinkaw]

Bill:

I didn't know you meant the "Super" series of Yashica's. I agree that they were different from the Yashica/Contax FX's.

The Vivitar Cosina's that I have are marked "Cosina" on the bottom plate.

I've heard the rumors about the Minollta MD mount Vivitar, but I've never seen one. The Minolta Mount was licensed to the Chinese company that makes the Phoenix cameras. Is it possible that there is a Vivitar out there with a minolta mount but it is made by someone other than Cosina.

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/774/bottom-feeder-slrs-do-you-dare.html

The large body Vivitar/Cosina's, 220/SL, 240/SL, 250/SL, 400 /SL, 420/SL, 440/SL and 440/SLD are very robust cameras. The 400 Series particulary have the heft of a Nikkormat and seem to operate as smoothly as a Spotmatic.

-Paul

 

[bmattock]

The Vivitar Cosina's that I have are marked "Cosina" on the bottom plate.

Mine is as well, but not my Canon T60, which is virtually the same camera sans lens mount.

I've heard the rumors about the Minollta MD mount Vivitar, but I've never seen one. The Minolta Mount was licensed to the Chinese company that makes the Phoenix cameras. Is it possible that there is a Vivitar out there with a minolta mount but it is made by someone other than Cosina.

I'm familiar with the X-370-making equipment that Phenix bought from Minolta along with the right to make it, but I was thinking of a pre-Phenix Vivitar with an MD mount. Love to find one if they're out there anywhere. Would be about circa 1985-1990, I'm guessing.

The large body Vivitar/Cosina's, 220/SL, 240/SL, 250/SL, 400 /SL, 420/SL, 440/SL and 440/SLD are very robust cameras. The 400 Series particulary have the heft of a Nikkormat and seem to operate as smoothly as a Spotmatic.

I have a 400/SL and it is very solid, that's for sure. It has auto-stop-down on half-shutter press which I don't actually care for, but it is a very nice camera and very well made. All steel. And made by Cosina as well.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

Bill, I wasn't suggesting you buy that kit I saw, just wanted to apprise you that the Konica TC-X was another of the Cosina-made cameras. The general take is that it was not as reliable as the "true" Konicas. Here's some information: http://www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eTC-XHaupt.html

Oh, gotcha. My bad, sorry! I did not realize that the TC-X was in that category as well. Is that a Konica-specific lens mount, or did they use the generic Pentax K?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[pvdhaar]

Bessa heritage?

As I understand it the Bessa “R” range are the latest development of a chassis that can trace its lineage back thorough a number of SLR cameras and developed over many years.
Anybody know the full list? and has anyone attempted to fit a motor-drive from one of the earlier SLRs to a R2/3a.

The chassis is apparently the same through a line of SLRs and the Bessas. But how's the shutter set up? I can imagine that for the SLRs a simpler configuration is chosen, or do they also have the double blinds?

 

[markinlondon]

The chassis is apparently the same through a line of SLRs and the Bessas. But how's the shutter set up? I can imagine that for the SLRs a simpler configuration is chosen, or do they also have the double blinds?

It's a single blind on my C1 with the mirror box providing the extra light seals. I think the second blind was added for the RF configuration of the body.

Mark

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Is the Nikon FM10 also a Cosina?

 

[leafy]

Both FM/FE10. They have really slappy mirrors.

 

[Solinar]

Is the Nikon FM10 also a Cosina?

Yes it is - Cosina has gotten a lot of mileage out of that chasis.