Bessa L + Skopar Lens?

[newspaperguy]

That's all I see on mine.

BTW - Never heard of light-leak problems with the Bessas. 😛

Been using mine, both an L and an R, for more than 10 years now.

 

[BillBingham2]

G,

I don't remember but I will look around on the question of light seals. I remember them around the film window, no where else. But today is a day where my head is way too full.

Congrats on the great purchase. The L and a wide lens just delivered such a pure feeling of photography for me. Clean, straight forward, fun.

Don't rush moving up to a Leica M or even a Bessa R, both are tons of fun, but in a different way.

More if I find anything.

B2 🙂->

Update, I found these sites, first a site with an instruction manual. Next housed pictures of the back of different Bessas. The last one seems the sharpest. I'd compare you camera with what you see there.

http://www.cameramanuals.org/voigtlander_pdf/voigtlander_bessa-r.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZmFzjVYexQ

http://usedphotopro.com/voigtlander-bessa-l-rangefinder-ltm-film-camera-body-31145

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39249&page=10
About two thirds down the page Tom A has a shot of a Bessa open from behind.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/MINT-Voigtla...-Heliar-15mm-f-4-5-black-010288-/131315196516
Gotta go through the shots of the camera but they initially appear the sharpest of the bunch.

Hope this helps.

B2 (;->

 

[gb hill]

I wouldn't concern myself with light seals. Just load it up & shoot. Look forward to seeing some photos.

 

[kxl]

Mine only has a light seal at the top of the back door and around the window in the back door. Is that it or are there any light seals missing? 😕

That's it. As long as they're not starting to shred, you're good. 🙂

 

[giganova]

OK, good to know about the seals, thanks!

 

[kxl]

Have never seen that...but those external VF's are not exactly precision instruments anyway, especially for what is essentially and wide angle point & shoot. So, probably nothing to worry about... unless it bugs you.

 

[FrankS]

Precise framing is not a RF camera's strength, let alone with an external viewfinder.
If you need precise framing, use an SLR with 100% viewfinder coverage.

Even with Hasselblad, if you need precise framing, you'd use a CM style body with 40mm lens, and not an SWC.

 

[WJJ3]

funny that the OP's photo of the finder frame lines is not there now...

 

[giganova]

funny that the OP's photo of the finder frame lines is not there now...

Thanks for noting. I took the photo of the viewfinder down because I thought it was a lemon and I didn't want to tarnish the manufacturer's reputation with a "sample of one". However, there's a new development in the story that I wanted to share:

When I got the Voigtlander 21mm viewfinder, I noticed that the frame lines were not level. Please see the picture below so you can judge for yourself. I contacted the seller who agreed that the viewfinder was defective and replaced it with a brand new one. To my big surprise, the new viewfinder's framlines are exactly as tilted as the other one. I know that these plastic viewfinder are not exactly precision instruments, but being off by so many degrees is really ridiculous!

 

[giganova]

On a more positive side, the 21/4 Skopar lens is amazingly sharp, right into the corners at full aperture, has great contrast, very little vignetting and a surprisingly small amount of distortion. What a great little lens! 😀

 

[FrankS]

RF/viewfinder framing is approximate.

 

[giganova]

RF/viewfinder framing is approximate.

Apparently, very apprimate!

 

[giganova]

Went on a walk through the city with my wife today, the Bessa dangling from my neck. I guy walks past and says "Nice Leica!" A few minutes later, we pass by another guy who says "Cool looking Leica!" My wife looks at me, visibly upset, and says "I thought you said you didn't buy a Leica to safe money!!" :bang:

 

[wjlapier]

This is a Leica.

This is a Leica.

IFNikkor2835 by wjlapier, on Flickr