Bessa R vs. R2

[Trius]

I haven't used the Hi-Matic 9, but my Hi-Matic 7s had a somewhat stiff release. I never tried long exposures with it, so I can't say for sure what it was like. I can do 1/8 sec (click) and 1/4 sec (click) with the Oly 35SP but in both cases a pint of Guiness is truly a good focusing, er tripping, fluid. Do they still make Hamms in Minnesota? 😀

 

[climbing_vine]

I haven't used the Hi-Matic 9, but my Hi-Matic 7s had a somewhat stiff release. I never tried long exposures with it, so I can't say for sure what it was like. I can do 1/8 sec (click) and 1/4 sec (click) with the Oly 35SP but in both cases a pint of Guiness is truly a good focusing, er tripping, fluid. Do they still make Hamms in Minnesota? 😀

My 7s is slightly smoother than the 9, but yeah, still pretty stiff. Sadly Hamms is no longer alive in the land of the sky blue waters but the brewery is still standing:

http://www.actionsquad.org/hammsoverview.htm

(No, that's not my site!)

If Guinness doesn't do the trick a bit of Powers surely will. 😀

 

[Trius]

I loved that bear!

 

[BillBingham2]

Take a look at Stephen's page http://www.cameraquest.com/inventor.htm and you might see a deal on a used 35/2.5. Go with new glass, while the old stuff has a feel all it's own, which can be cool, new CV glass ROCKS.

If money is a real issue, go with a use R now and move up next year. The R2 is a great camera, but the R is no slouch. It's a great starter camera that can become a second camera. The big issue with the digital cameras is that we all want to keep our glass when we move to digital.

Start the a used R and 35 from Stephen and put the extra money to either another lens (say the 75) or some film and processing.

B2 (;->

B2 (;->

 

[mike_j]

I've just bought a R2 and am using it with a Jupiter 8 at present, a black finish copy taken off my defunct Zorki. The results from this lens are far better than I expected, and much better than they were on the Zorki, I suspect this is due to a misalignment in the zorki lens mount. these lenses are very cheap, especially if you can buy one attached to a faulty zorki wich will sell for peanuts.

Next lens will be the 35mm f2.8 Skopar.

I reecommend the R2 over the R if you can manage it, sturdier build and the M mount offers greater chioce of lenses.

 

[ZeissFan]

The general feeling is that Cosina has improved the build quality, using more metal and less plastic, with each Bessa model. The R is a very nice camera, but if the price is the same, get the R2, because it does provide more flexibility when it comes to lenses: either LTM or M mount.

 

[climbing_vine]

I've just bought a R2 and am using it with a Jupiter 8 at present, a black finish copy taken off my defunct Zorki. The results from this lens are far better than I expected, and much better than they were on the Zorki, I suspect this is due to a misalignment in the zorki lens mount. these lenses are very cheap, especially if you can buy one attached to a faulty zorki wich will sell for peanuts.

Very nice to hear. 🙂 I was too slow on an R and a CV 35/2.5 on Cameraquest, so I put up a 'want to buy' ad here. If there's no response from that, I'll pick up the R somewhere else (they seem to be fairly easy to find) and go with the J8 or J3 (which are a lot easier to find than a used CV 35/2.5, it seems).

 

[brachal]

Are they out of R's at Cameraquest? I still see them listed on the price list. I've been meaning to pick up another as a back up -- I love that camera!

Very nice to hear. 🙂 I was too slow on an R and a CV 35/2.5 on Cameraquest, so I put up a 'want to buy' ad here. If there's no response from that, I'll pick up the R somewhere else (they seem to be fairly easy to find) and go with the J8 or J3 (which are a lot easier to find than a used CV 35/2.5, it seems).

 

[cme4brain]

Bessa R

Bessa R

I have owned a Bessa R2, a R3a, and now a bessa R. You cannot go wrong with any choice, based on your needs (sticking your toe in the interchangable lens rangefinder lake). The R2 is sturdier, but I find the R is fine for anything but professional constant use. The camera is basically a lens mount for great lenses! I have been very happy with all my Bessa cameras.

 

[climbing_vine]

Are they out of R's at Cameraquest? I still see them listed on the price list. I've been meaning to pick up another as a back up -- I love that camera!

Sorry, that was poorly phrased. They still have them. There was a particularly reasonably-priced used one, which is now gone.