Bessa III Price released!

P

Philipp

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Just visited the german voigtlaender-website. They announced the price for the Bessa III:

1999€ (about 2596 Dollar)
 
Can't say that I'll be running out to get one just yet...At least not till I see some photos from one.
 
How many are they planning to produce? Obviously it's not a "mass market" camera, but if they produce 2-3K I don't think they'll have trouble selling out.
 
I hope that street price will be hovering near €1500 before summer.

For now, bring on the photos, and reviews!
 
Too much for me at this time. Too bad, I really would like one. I wonder what price Steve Gandy will be selling them at?
 
Price is 230,000 Yen in Japan for the Fuji version. Ordered and waiting....

5,000 cameras will be produced.
 
Didn't I read in another thread that the release was being delayed because the factory was selling them so fast directly (the Fuji labeled version, anyway) that they couldn't get parts fast enough to make them for dealers?
 
Yep.. I got an e-mail saying that advance orders were significantly higher than expected and that as a significant number of parts were hand made Fuji could not immediately supply the demand and have decided to put the launch date back to the end of April.
 
And people complain that Leicas are expensive... That's about $2700 at today's exchange rates, now that the US government has started printing money to buy toxic debt. For another $1700 or so you could have a new MP body from several US dealers (yes, I know about sales tax/VAT/TVA/MWST usw.)

I'm not saying that either is the better buy: too much depends on what you want. But it well illustrates that making relatively small numbers of labour-intensive cameras with skilled labour is always going to cost a lot.

Cheers,

R.
 
... or very close to the price of a MP a couple of years ago, since when they hav gone up dramatically in the US (lets not get into why!). You can get a used mint one for that now(or new grey market) but you need to add a lens. A new USA MP with a 35ZM biogon would come in about $5.2k, nearly double the new folder. With a new USA 35 asph, it would be more like $7k!

You can get a new Mamiya 7 (grey market) with 80mm for $1800. Not the same thing, but kinda sobering compared to the RRP for this new Bessa III. The camera appeals, but for the money I am not sure I coudld justify it. if they did one with a 65mm lens that would be coooool.
 
Roger Hicks said:
And people complain that Leicas are expensive... That's about $2700 at today's exchange rates, now that the US government has started printing money to buy toxic debt. For another $1700 or so you could have a new MP body from several US dealers (yes, I know about sales tax/VAT/TVA/MWST usw.)

I'm not saying that either is the better buy: too much depends on what you want. But it well illustrates that making relatively small numbers of labour-intensive cameras with skilled labour is always going to cost a lot.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...


I made that same comparison in another thread Roger but also pointed out that the Leica effectively, is a fifty year old design with a meter stuffed into it and if you're talking quality it's an inferior format! Someone else mentioned that you get a lens with the Bessa and the MP is merely a body.

I hate to admit it but I'm beginning to think that the Bessa is pretty good value when you stack it up against a few other cameras ... it's also unique in the market. I wouldn't buy one personally at the moment because I'm concerned about the costs of MF shooting ... film isn't particularly cheap and this camera would be such a sweet way to burn a lot of 120 ... and that's something I can't really afford at the moment! :p
 
Keith said:
I made that same comparison in another thread Roger but also pointed out that the Leica effectively, is a fifty year old design with a meter stuffed into it and if you're talking quality it's an inferior format! Someone else mentioned that you get a lens with the Bessa and the MP is merely a body...
Click to expand...

Dear Keith,

As I say, I'm not arguing that either is a better buy, nor will I deny that the Bessa III is unique on the market. It's just that limited-production cameras with hand assembly will always be expensive. Whether they are worth the money to you is another matter.

But saying that an MP is a 50 year old design with a meter stuffed in is much the same as complaining that bicycles have only two wheels. What 'improvements' can you make? Faster shutter? (Noisier, less reliable.) Back loading? (Bulkier, and highly disputable that it's an improvement) Um...

I'd also dispute 'inferior format' and 'quality', because 'quality' embraces a lot more things than grain and sharpness. For a start, there's the ability to get the shot at all (low light, fast action, interchangeable lenses).

Over the decades, I've been happier with more pics from 35mm in general and Leica in particular that with all the other formats I've ever owned or used, from 8x11mm to 12x15 inch. Sure, that's just me. But I define 'quality' as 'pics that I (and preferably others, especially paying editors) like'.

Cheers,

R.
 
chippy said:
just a question, because i havnt heard where all the parts are being manufatured, but is it 'skilled' labour, per say. there arnt many companies nowadays that dont get product made 'off shore' , so i can imagine a bunch of kids in sweat shops working flat out to make the hand made parts :p
Click to expand...

Dear Andrew,

No, the parts have to fit together. It's not like sweatshop sewing. The gears, etc., will be machine made, but they have to be put into assemblies that run sweetly together, and they have to LAST. Cameras are not a disposable fashion item (not yet, not entirely, at least not high-end film cameras).

Tashi delek,

Roger
 
I recall someone else started a thread saying these things would never sell at such a high price. Funny they can't meet the demand right now. I figured the first batch would sell out for sure.
 
It will be interesting to see how many are out there in a year or so. When the M8 was announced there were people putting their names down with deposits months before the camera's release because they believed it was the only way they would get one. Now they're easily picked up used and in perfect condition for $2500.00 ...

... I can wait! :p
 
Nobody has one... the launch has been delayed because of the demand.

To be honest, I think it’s a steal at that price. I've already bought one in Japan and I'm on a waiting list for the Voigtlander version.

I mainly shoot 120 with 1950's folders, I also have an M6 but 35mm doesn't really float my boat though I was tempted to buy a new MP.

Its all a question of horses for courses, for me and a lot of other people who have put there money down on this camera it can't come soon enough.
 
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