Bessa-L metering questions

[Eugen Mezei]

Recently I saw you can get, with some patience, the Bessa-L for around 50 EUR used.

I use my M42 CZJ Flektogon 20mm/2.8 adapted to LTM on different ukrainians. (FED2, Zorki 4, etc.) Ofcourse not coupled with the rangefinder, just scale focusing. The idea behind it is to get a silent camera. (No mirror flap.)

Changing to a Bessa-L would give me exposure metering. At least that is what I imagine.
On the other hand I heard the shutter of the Bessa-L is not at all quiet.

I would like clarity on:

1. How quiet/loud is the shutter.
2. How does the exponometer of it work.
Can I put the Flektogon in manual mode and use the camera in apperture priority? Can I use the construction also as completly manual metering (adjusting shutterspeed and apperture)?

Thank you,
Eugen

 

[rbiemer]

Eugen,
Functionally, it should be much like the cameras you are already using; the L is a metered manual camera. Instead of using a handheld meter or sunny-16, you use the meter in the L.
How loud the shutter is? Not as loud as some of my cameras but possibly louder than a FED or Zorki. I have used a Kiev 60 as my main camera, so I'm not usually too bothered by shutter noise!
Here is a page with the manual for the L--and a lot of other Voigtlander cameras!
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/voigtlander_pdf/voigtlander_bessa/voigtlander_bessa.htm

Should get you sorted on how to use them.
Rob

 

[Snapper_uk]

I've just compared a Fed4 with my Bessa L and the shutter volume is pretty much the same - don't know how that compares with the Fed2.

The Bessa is fully manual, there's no aperture priority.

One thing I can say, it's a lot lighter than the Fed.

 

[biomed]

The L meters light reflected off of the front shutter. The L is manual only, there is no aperture priority. The shutter makes a klack sound, but I have not found it to be excessively loud.

 

[gb hill]

Bessa L is a cool camera. With the 25/4 I think I'll take mine out for a walk.🙂