Bessa r2 advice please

[Paulo]

Hi , I am needing some advice from bessa users, I have the opportunity to purchase a used but very good condition beesa r2 with Voigtlander Color-Skopar 28mm f3.5 lens (black) in new condition. Has leica standard thread mount, (with the M mount adapter that fits it to the R2 body) for approx $480 U.S.dollars. I have been wanting a bessa for ages and would have liked the R2a but the cost without a lens is more and I've had no real luck finding one second hand , also it's very hard to find this in N.Z and a lot of e Bay sellers just wont ship here.
Okay so I can afford it but my question is will I regret it or is there someone else out there selling similiar kit for less? (sorry bit of a daft question)

I have a broonicarf645 and have gotten the rangefinder bug ,but would like a 35mm rangefinder as well.

any feed back greatly appreciated

Paul 😕

 

[Paulo]

Thanks. your advice was all I needed to push me over the edge and hit the "buy Now" button..... Now I have to sell my mamiya 7 as this is getting silly.

mamiya7, Bronica rf 645 , bessa r2, olympus RC 35, Lomo lc1i, Holga 120, rollieflex tlr,

😛

 

[pvdhaar]

I think it's good value for money, but did you also factor in that the R2 does not have 28mm framelines?

 

[Fritz K.]

Hello Paul

i bought my R2 last year after a lot of thought put into the decision. I really do not regret it, it´s a good camera. So, just have lots of fun with it !

regards,

 

[RayPA]

That is a really good price. I like the R2 a lot. It feels great in the hand, the grip surface is a very nice feature. The ONLY thing I don't like about the R2 is that the meter light, when activated, is visible from the front of the camera, in the frameline window, especially in lower light. I've considered adding a small strip of black tape to the bottom of the window to "block" it. Otherwise, it's a great camera. You'll love it! 🙂


🙂

 

[Paulo]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for all the replies. I'm still waiting for it to arrive, It does include the 28mm viewfinder which is a bonus and an adapter for screw mount lenses. Yep I'm pretty excited as I had been after one for ages and pretty much gave up. Also 28mm is one of my favourite focal lenghts , mind you the Nokton 40mm will probaly be the next thing to save for.

I'll let you know my impressions when it arrives 🙂

Paul

 

[Stephanie Brim]

With the R2, you may be happier with the 50 because the R2 has framelines for the 50, not the 40. But to each his/her own. 🙂

 

[Paulo]

Good point Stephan 🙂 I'll be doing my research before spending any more money, I also like 50mm, My first camera I got 15 years ago was a Nikormatt FTn with 50mm 1.4 and 28mm 1.28 ( I've never used zoom lenses) and have pretty much the equivalent on the Bronica with the 45 / 65 combo.

appreciate the advice


Paul

 

[pdx138]

I think you will be very happy. I bought a used R2 for a good price to hold me over until I could afford an R3A and Nokton 40/1.4, but I'm so happy with the R2 that I probably won't buy an R3A (although the AE and 40mm framelines are still appealing. actually, maybe I will still end up with an r3a...).

 

[Paulo]

It's here

It's here

Okay so this morning I recieved The r2 Body (boxed), 28mm f:3.5 color skopar lens (boxed)
28mm external viewfinder (boxed), M-bayonet adapter ring (boxed) and 2x LH1 Square lens hoods (again In original boxes) all with manuals etc

This camera is in mint condition and I am at first impression very very pleased. The overall size of the camera is smaller than I had thought (Having never seen one in person) This is a definate bonus.

It was very simple to attach lens and finder etc and being fully manual very easy to understand. The ragefinder patch is bright! and the focus lever is in just the right spot. The whole thing feels very confortable in my hands.
I am impressed with the build.

My only regret is I am at work and won't get a chance to put some film through it till tonight or properly this weekend.

Well those are my initial impressions

did I mention is beautiful to look at (and yes I brought it to use and not to stare at 😉

Cheers