Bessa R. Shutter sound. Using in low-light

kestas

kestas

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i'm thinking about buying Bessa R. i have few nice LTM lensess and want more
convenient body then my beloved Zorki-4, which will become a perfect second LTM body.
i can't just go to photo store to test one Bessa. it's not available here (among hundreds of digital p&s and slr cameras!!:bang: )
so i have couple of questions:
1. how loud is shutter sound compare to other (not fix-lens) RF and modern SLR cameras?
2. is the LED lights in VF really TOO bright at low-light conditions?
3. any problems with TTL metering in low-light?

sorry if these questions was discussed before, but i know, many people here
really love to talk about their cameras and i hope my newbie questions will be not a problem :)

BTW, maybe anyone want to sell one for reasonable price? i want one in good working order with clean VF. black or chrome is no matter.

thanks in advance

Kestas
 
I have not found the shutter to be too load, the leds too bright.

As for metering under low light, the meter is rated as low as EV 1, good for moderately dark interiors and street scenes. I have used my R for outdoor carnivals at night and some dark interiors and gotten good exposures.
 
Quick answers - I've had my Bessa R about 2 years now.

1) Except for my Canon Elan & 300D, it's quieter than all my SLRs (I have about 20 different models).
2) The LED is not too bright in low light conditions.
3) I've shot with my Bessa in ISO 2000, 1/30 f2 conditions and TTL metering.
 
These are good answers that I like hearing. I'm going to place an order in to the head bartender for a silver & black R. My J-3 50/1.5 will sit nicely on it me thinks.:)
 
gb hill said:
These are good answers that I like hearing. I'm going to place an order in to the head bartender for a silver & black R. My J-3 50/1.5 will sit nicely on it me thinks.:)
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i agree. nice lens. it will sit nicely. hmm.. but how about quite short rf base lenght? i hope it will be ok, but i quess not for close focus wide open. what do u think?
 
kestas said:
i agree. nice lens. it will sit nicely. hmm.. but how about quite short rf base lenght? i hope it will be ok, but i quess not for close focus wide open. what do u think?
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It is precise enuff for every CV lens ever sold, tho for the 1,2/35 I'd prefer a T model, also because of the finder intruding size of the barrel.

Bertram
 
kestas said:
i agree. nice lens. it will sit nicely. hmm.. but how about quite short rf base lenght? i hope it will be ok, but i quess not for close focus wide open. what do u think?
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I don't know about the short base length, haven't been into range finders all that long, but you may be right. But exactially how close are you talking about? It has been my thinking that all RF cameras in general lack in being able to focus really close, compared to SLR's. I have seen other results with this lens and looked ok to me, but I have other lenses if the J-3 don't work out. But i'll find out in around a week or so. I just ordered one from Stephen at CQ.
 
I've read somewhere (yes... Internet) a lot of discussions about the Jupiter and russian LTM lenses not perfect focus, on cameras different by Zorkj or Kiev, make a search on the net, before to buy !

Franco
 
gb hill said:
I don't know about the short base length, haven't been into range finders all that long, but you may be right. But exactially how close are you talking about? It has been my thinking that all RF cameras in general lack in being able to focus really close, compared to SLR's. I have seen other results with this lens and looked ok to me, but I have other lenses if the J-3 don't work out. But i'll find out in around a week or so. I just ordered one from Stephen at CQ.
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It's about half the effective length of Leica M's for the most part... I thought it would bother me a bit, but it doesnt at all. the part that bothers me the most, is the fact that you have to be looking dead through the veiwfinder in order to see the RF patch, my old leica was much better at seeing it, even through a rough angle. (not to mention that the R's patch is smaller, too...) Overall, for the price, I cant complain though. Enjoy!
 
I went from a Zorki-4 to Bessa R - it's a huge step up. Great viewfinder with framelines allows better framing of your shot. A used M6 is 6X the price of a used R. I bought the R new for my J8 - then picked up a Nokton-50 s/h, and haven't used my zorki/jupiter since! I would not worry about the baselength unless you have some long lenses.
 
meeker said:
I went from a Zorki-4 to Bessa R - it's a huge step up. Great viewfinder with framelines allows better framing of your shot. A used M6 is 6X the price of a used R. I bought the R new for my J8 - then picked up a Nokton-50 s/h, and haven't used my zorki/jupiter since! I would not worry about the baselength unless you have some long lenses.
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If you want to let go of that j8, do let me know... Im one lens short on my LTM bodys now that I just bought an R for my j8
 
I've got a Bessa-R, and I'd also say the shutter is quieter than my SLRs (Olympus OM). I've just compared it with my Zorki-4K, and there's not much difference - my Bessa-R is slightly quieter.

I haven't taken many shots in low light, but the few times I have I haven't had a problem with the LEDs being too bright - they are bright, but not enough to really get in the way.
 
NL2377 said:
If you want to let go of that j8, do let me know... Im one lens short on my LTM bodys now that I just bought an R for my j8
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I think I will hang on to it even though it's a bit worn and the body is coroded. I expect there's better examples out there for your R for sub-$50. I re-greased the focussing threads over the weekend, with the idea I'd stick some film in it, and leaving it in my bag just in case.
 
It is important to say that shutter sound is loud enough... it's false to delude yourself on it... the difference in sound is maybe perceivable... but nevertheless it's still quite loud (this is subjective remark)... it's loud!

...so when the subject hears the deadly shoot... i just act crazy and look another way :D
 
nikola said:
It is important to say that shutter sound is loud enough... it's false to delude yourself on it... the difference in sound is maybe perceivable... but nevertheless it's still quite loud (this is subjective remark)... it's loud!

...so when the subject hears the deadly shoot... i just act crazy and look another way :D
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haha, that's just about what I've started doing! I'll pretend that I'm fidgeting with the camera and then "accidentally" trip the shutter. then make a comment like "crap, I just wasted a picture!" or "Oops!"

definitely not Leica quiet.
 
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