Hi Unfocuzed, you have gotten a lot of good advise, so I will not contradict any of that. I do have a Bessa R and an R2 though.
Both cameras are very nice. I keep my R in the bottom half of its ever-ready case when shooting and to be quite honest with you, I have not felt a difference in the feel of either camera. I have used them side by side all this week. Both cameras seem to feel very similar in use, and wieght. The R2 does have a nice textured finish to it, and a much more solid feeling rear door, but when in its case that is a non-issue for the R. You mention a paint issue. I have had my R for 18 months or so and the finish is like new still. And as for the lens changing, yes it can be a PITA, but to be honest with you, I have gotten pretty good at it. I also find that when I am walking around and shooting I tend to stick with one lens, so no big deal for me in general. That is a matter of shooting style though, if you need lots of focal lengths, then this would be a bigger issue, but not something that can't be overcome.
Both cameras are very nice. I keep my R in the bottom half of its ever-ready case when shooting and to be quite honest with you, I have not felt a difference in the feel of either camera. I have used them side by side all this week. Both cameras seem to feel very similar in use, and wieght. The R2 does have a nice textured finish to it, and a much more solid feeling rear door, but when in its case that is a non-issue for the R. You mention a paint issue. I have had my R for 18 months or so and the finish is like new still. And as for the lens changing, yes it can be a PITA, but to be honest with you, I have gotten pretty good at it. I also find that when I am walking around and shooting I tend to stick with one lens, so no big deal for me in general. That is a matter of shooting style though, if you need lots of focal lengths, then this would be a bigger issue, but not something that can't be overcome.
