Bessa R thoughts

[PeterRedford]

I'm looking at a bessa R tomorrow.
I have had leicas in the past and sold to get different things mostly been shooting medium format the last couple years.

and now I'm going on a holiday and I'm thinking about getting a RF to take with me.

I'm looking at a bessa R with a russian 50mm lens on it.
the guy is wanting 300$ I was wondering if anyone thinks this is to steep.

I feel like I would probably just use it for this trip and sell it afterwards and get something else, more modern.

I'm just taking off in a couple weeks so I'm trying to figure things out last min.

so does everyone think 300-350 is a okay price for a bessa R in good shape with a russian 50 2.8?

 

[gavinlg]

I would strongly recommend getting a used r2a instead - you could probably get the body for around 400 used and it's a significantly better camera. Pair it with a canon 50mm f1.8 which can be had for peanuts and you have a really nice cheap setup.

I had a bessa R many years ago but sold it quickly... Always felt cheap to me. The newer models are much nicer.

 

[David Murphy]

The R's a very fine camera that will serve you well if it is in good condition. The Russian lens you are mentioning is OK to start with, but is probably worth only about $10. At $300 the Bessa R should be close to new with the original box - that's the high end of its price range. The R2A is a battery dependent camera, a disadvantage in my view. The R2, R2M, R3M etc. are all pretty nice, but much more expensive and you will need to get several LTM->M adapters, sort of a pain in the neck unless you plan to use mainly M lenses, which are dramatically more expensive than LTM lenses. That's my view in any event!

 

[Ray Settanta]

"......you will need to get several LTM->M adapters...."

I am curious about this. Does it cause a problem if an adapter is left mounted on the camera and the lenses just screwed on and off?

 

[zauhar]

"......you will need to get several LTM->M adapters...."

I am curious about this. Does it cause a problem if an adapter is left mounted on the camera and the lenses just screwed on and off?

Isn't the adaptor specific to the focal length of the lens?

Maybe if you just use one focal length you can do that.

Randy

 

[thegman]

It's only specific to focal length on cameras which automatically bring up the right framelines like Leica M or Zeiss Ikon cameras. On Bessas you select the frame lines yourself, so the adaptor does not matter.

 

[Bingley]

I agree w/ David Murphy's post above. That said, the Bessa R is a sweet travel camera, and if the one you're looking at is really good shape it might be worth it, particularly if the lens is also in decent shape. So, potentially, you could have a modern camera body w/ a great viewfinder, modern metering, but fully manual operation, and a serviceable lens, for $300. That doesn't sound like a bad deal to me. Sure, a Canon 50/1.8 would probably be a much better 50, but that would bump the price of the kit up even if you could find a Bessa R for less.

 

[ampguy]

I think the Bessa R, if the VF is aligned, and everything works, is as good as any Leica, and better in many ways such as the 1/2000 top shutter speed, and accurate meter.

The R is limited to LTM lens, so make sure you are OK with this.

The R does appear to have a clanky shutter compared to a Leica, but in practice, the clank/clunk is after the exposure. For example, by sneaking up on my cat once, I took a candid at about 1/8th. The clack/clunk had the cat halfway across the room in no time, but the exposure caught the cat at the decisive moment.

Film loading is way faster than an M, and most film M's don't have meters, and none have 1/2000 shutter speeds.

 

[Rhodes]

I like very much mine. Got it because I have a few LTM lenses, so a R2,3,etc was not a option to me, besides the price of the latter models being a lot more.

 

[rbiemer]

An R and an FSU lens was my main set up for a long time. And it served me well. $300 doesn't sound too terrible if both the camera and lens are in good shape.
Are you going to have time to check the lens with some film before you travel?
If the lens will focus correctly on the Bessa then I'd probably go for it. Not at $350, though.
I did get an R2A and that one is now my main camera--I wanted AE--but I'm still using mostly FSU lenses.
I have three LTM to M adapters but mostly I just leave one on the camera and treat the R2A as an LTM body.
Rob

 

[David Murphy]

It's only specific to focal length on cameras which automatically bring up the right framelines like Leica M or Zeiss Ikon cameras. On Bessas you select the frame lines yourself, so the adaptor does not matter.

Yes you are right - I was thinking in the mind set of the Leica M series. One can get by with one adapter. I still think the R gets something of a bad rap - it is a very fine camera for the money, with a viewfinder that is superb. It holds it's value well too.

 

[David Murphy]

I think the Bessa R, if the VF is aligned, and everything works, is as good as any Leica, and better in many ways such as the 1/2000 top shutter speed, and accurate meter.

The R is limited to LTM lens, so make sure you are OK with this.

The R does appear to have a clanky shutter compared to a Leica, but in practice, the clank/clunk is after the exposure. For example, by sneaking up on my cat once, I took a candid at about 1/8th. The clack/clunk had the cat halfway across the room in no time, but the exposure caught the cat at the decisive moment.

Film loading is way faster than an M, and most film M's don't have meters, and none have 1/2000 shutter speeds.

Yes it's shutter is louder than an M2 or M3, which define shutter quietness, but it's quieter than any SLR I've used.

 

[dbarnes]

Had three Rs for a while (21/35/90). Light weight, bright viewfinder, built in meter, plenty rugged. Futzy lens changing due to the screw mount, but you're talking about a one-body-one-lens scenario like mine and that works great. Loved traveling with the CV 35/2.5.

Haven't watched prices lately, but not too long ago it wasn't hard to find good user R bodies for $200.

 

[Pfreddee]

I like my R with the 35mm f2.5 Color Skopar, and I'm having a NOS Jupiter 8 (50mm, f/2) collimated by Yuri at Fedka so it'll focus correctly. I suppose that inflation would account for part of the price, but the Russian lens, as noted, has some caveats to go along with it. If you have return privileges, go for it. BTW, how old is the lens, and what condition is it in?

Just askin!😀

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[tktk]

Quick tip...if you get a R with a melted rubber back, you can replace it with a Nikon FM10 back. I did it, and the FM10 back fits perfectly.

I believe the OM2000 back works also.

 

[MaxElmar]

Another vote for the 35/2.5 Color Skopar. Great, great lens, amazing value. The Canon 35/2.8 also looks/handles great on the R and performs almost as well as the Skopar. (Mine did anyway. I deeply regret selling it!) The Canon 50/1.8 also looks/handles great and is a really good performer - equaling the vintage Leica lenses that I've tried. A great value. The 50/1.5 Nokton is an amazing performer, but it's a bit large. But unlike most vintage fast lenses it's pretty sharp wide open. I tried a few Russian lenses but the only one I really liked was the Orion 15 28mm.... another one I wish I kept.

Loved my Bessa R but eventually went back to my Barnack Leicas - turns out I NEED a magnified rangefinder and a minimized viewfinder to be happy. Still have a Bessa T....

 

[gho]

I have a Bessa R too and I am keeping it! Mostly I am using Leica Ms but the Bessa R is a very nice camera for LTM screw mount lenses. Mine had a little problem, a screw on the base of the "film forward post" (how is that thing called?) tended to get loose and blocked the camera. But nail polish is a good remedy. 😉

However, compared to the Leicas, I find that it is a prefectly usable camera. Ok, it is not metal, cult, status and all that, but well, the viewfinder is very bright and cool. My Summitar just loves the Bessa R. In fact, the technical quality of the picture is more about the lens and your skills than about the camera you used for taking it, in my humble opinion. And yes, the shutter is loud - and proud. 😉 And don't be afraid, it won't fall apart if you shake it or something like that and you even get a light-meter, how good is that? So if you do not want to spend gazillions for a rangefinder camera and you are comfortable with "just" LTM mount lenses, a Bessa R is a good choice, given that you get one without major quirks - that can be solved, by the way.

If you want to use M mount and LTM mount lenses, maybe an M2 or M4-P is for you? But remember, no internal light-meter.

 

[Spider67]

Isn't the adaptor specific to the focal length of the lens?

Maybe if you just use one focal length you can do that.

Randy

Stephen Gandy himself answered when asked (The Bessa R was out of production) if there was a modern LTM Camera: "Just put an adapter on an R2/R2m/etc body and use it with your screwmounts.
So you just need one adapter regardless of the focal length you use if you use screwmount lenses. And of course you can not use the Jupiter 12 on it.

My recommendation for a lens get a Canon 50 1.8 they are comparatively cheap anbd you don't have to stop them down as you have to do with the russian lenses to get the focus correct

 

[Roger Hicks]

I think the Bessa R, if the VF is aligned, and everything works, is as good as any Leica, and better in many ways such as the 1/2000 top shutter speed, and accurate meter.

The R is limited to LTM lens, so make sure you are OK with this.

The R does appear to have a clanky shutter compared to a Leica, but in practice, the clank/clunk is after the exposure. For example, by sneaking up on my cat once, I took a candid at about 1/8th. The clack/clunk had the cat halfway across the room in no time, but the exposure caught the cat at the decisive moment.

Film loading is way faster than an M, and most film M's don't have meters, and none have 1/2000 shutter speeds.

Apart from the short rangefinder base... and the non-auto-selecting viewfinders... and the rather flimsy back... and the way the lettering rubs off... and (as you say) the noisy shutter... and the inability to accept M-mount lenses... and...

It's a very nice little camera, and tremendous value for money, as are all the Voigtländers, but anyone who thinks it is as good as ANY Leica must surely have limited experience of Leicas. As for loading, I really don't find a Bessa easier to load than an M, especially a late M or one with the rapid loading kit. I have no doubt that those who have genuine difficulty in loading Ms, but I can't help wondering how many of them have merely talked themselves into thinking it's difficult.

I'd certainly go for an R2 over an R, and indeed, I use one alongside my Leicas. But the R isn't as good a camera as an R2, and most people who've tried an MP would back that against an R2. Are you suggesting that the Bessas have more accurate meters than Leicas? Because that certainly isn't my experience.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Steve M.]

Depending on condition, $300 w/ a Russian lens is about right. An R2a by it's lonesome would cost you a lot more than that. I've owned them both, and the R2a is certainly the better camera, BUT if you just need a reliable metered camera to shoot LTM lenses, this is your best bang for the buck. If you need AE and M mount lens capability, go for an R2a.

I had a 61LD lens on an R, and that thing was about 85% to 90% of an M3 w/ a DR I also had at the time, and the Bessa R was much lighter. In some situations, you couldn't tell which camera took which photo, in others you could. Seeing as how I had about $275 in the Bessa R w/ lens, and $1300 in the M3 w/ 50 DR, it was a no brainer.