Bessa R2 for the newbie

[Alain]

I'm new to rangefinders though my interest has been there for a long time. I've made comments to friends that if I inherited a large sum of money the first thing I'd buy would be a Leica M6 or Konica Hexar RF.

Now that ain't gonna happen anytime soon because I don't have that kind of money to throw down on a camera.

I have been eyeing the Bessa R2, and have a few questions for those who have the cameras and other (more expensive cameras) to compare it to.


(1) How does the camera compare to Leica M or Konica Hexar ?

(2) It looks like there are 2 distributors. Where do I send this thing for repair. I live in Portland, Oregon are there people in Portland or Seattle who can work on these cameras?

(3) I normal shoot with a 35mm f2. What is the most afforable option for me to shot in the lens length and speed?


I appreciate any and all assistance.

Best,
Alain

 

[MP Guy]

Alain,

I live in Portland too 🙂 I think cameraworld sells the Bessa and would know who services them in the area. As far as comparing to the m6 cant really say sinceI have not used the bessa. However, from what I have read its a great camera and the optics are excellent.

 

[former member]

Of course the Canon used a hinged back in 1956 on their Leica thread mount RF while the F used the removable back and the Leica used bottom loading.

If you are on a limited budget, The Bessa R with a 35mm F2.5 goes for $425. Screw mount lenses are also plentiful and cheap. With the Bessa R2 you need just one adapter because the frame lines are selected manually. The Leica cameras are keyed by the adapter that is bought for a focal length. (50,90,135 on the M3, keys different on others). The adapter will run about $40. I do not have a Bessa, as I prefer things that are as old as I am and yet still work. A used M3 in user condition and CLA will run you $600~$800 ($180~$220); a Canon 7 used with a CLA ($130) will run about $300~$400. So the Bessa is a real deal; you will give up 1) a long-base RF for use with Fast Telephoto lenses (85F2 would probably be Okay) and 135F3.5 would probably be okay if stopped down a bit, 2) a very quiet shutter. It will be closer to an SLR with the mirror locked up; pretty quiet but nothing beats a Leica M3 for "did that shutter really fire" quiet.


Stephen Gandy's Voigtlander List

 

[back alley]

i love my little bessa r and the 35/2.5 seems to be a nice little lens.
my plan is to find a nice canon p that i can afford and use it with the 35 and also pick up a 75 for the bessa.

aren't rangefinders great?!!

joe

 

[rover]

Alain, the Bessa R2 actually doesn't compare to the Leicas or Hexar RF. It is a good camera in its own right. The Leica is, well, Leica. Excellent craftsmanship, last forever, and cost about what all the rest of the cameras you will buy in your life time will cost when you add them up (that is a little colorful, but you get my point). Tops in quality. The Hexar is a pretty advanced machine. Auto film advance, AE, DX film speed setting....also very well made. But any particular body may not focus properly with all Leica M mount lenses. It will work fine with its excellent Hexanon lenses, but full M mount lens compatability is an issue to investigate with any particular camera you consider. I am sure you have read this elsewhere. Like the Leicas, the Bessa R2 is a fully manual rangefinder camera. It is very well made, but not like the Leica. Basic meter, bright viewfinder, compact size...a simply good camera. If there is a shop near you like Jorge says that carries the Bessas, the best thing you can do is to go and handle one and figure out if you like it. Good luck, let us know what you decide.

 

[Doug]

Re: Bessa R2 for the newbie

I normal shoot with a 35mm f2. What is the most afforable option for me to shot in the lens length and speed?

Hi Alain, and welcome to RFForum! I live a couple hundred miles NE of you.

There are a lot of wonderful lenses in the 35mm range. You'll have to decide your own balance of affordable vs quality, but you'll get a lot of lens for your buck in a used Summicron.

Voigtlander doesn't offer a 35mm f/2, but both the f/2.5 Skopar and f/1.7 Ultron have developed admirable reputations. The f/1.2 Nokton is more a mystery, and rather expensive.

You might be tempted, at the low end, by the Ukrainian/Soviet Jupiter-12 35mm f/2.8. Don't be; the large rear element protrudes dangerously far into the Bessa body. Fine on a FED or Zorki, though...

If you can be diverted slightly to 40mm, you can find treasure. The 40mm f/2 Summicron-C that was fitted to the Leica/Minolta CL is a great lens often found at modest prices. When Minolta later went it alone with the CL's successor, the CLE came with a lovely Rokkor 40mm f/2 derived from the Summicron and multi-coated. A great lens, and very compact.

The Voigtlander Bessas are good little cameras, and remarkable bargains. The company owner, Mr. Kobayashi, is reputed to be a photo/camera enthusiast himself, with great respect for Leica. Supposedly, his favorite focal length is 40mm, so he offeres an external viewfinder for this field of view. But he only offers his 40mm Ultron in SLR mounts.

 

[That Guy]

I went with an R instead of the R2, deciding to "step-up" to something else at a later time if my rangefinder grew on me. Much like you, I'd been eyeing rangefinders since the Cosina's came out. But I didn't have the $96349834698 to spend on a Leica kit.

When I was dropping off film at the local shop one day, I asked to see the M6 in the display case and handled it for a while. It definitly feels more solid than both my R and my L. The shutter was more quiet as well, rubberized fabric and all. But I don't have to worry about sun damage of the shutter on the Bessas because their metal and I'm a bit mindless of that sort of thing. You'll definitly hear the dual-metal-shutter-action with a Bessa.

I've been very happy with my 35/2.5 Skopar. I find that it's rare that I need much faster than an f4 anyway.

 

[taffer]

Good advices here, I think if I wasn't so much tempted by classic cameras I'd have got a Bessa R myself. With that closeout price at CQ it's difficult to find a reason not to do it, even more with the complete set of the 35/2.5.

But the classic Canon cameras called to my door and I'm already waiting for mine to arrive from overseas. BTW Joe, if possible TRY the Canon P with the 35 framelines before buying it, it seems they are a tad difficult to see for us glass wearers...

 

[back alley]

everything seems a tad more difficult the older i get. lol

joe

 

[taffer]

😀