Bessa R2 or R2a/R2m

[RF-OG]

I have owned both M6 and Bessa R2M. The better camera is no doubt the Bessa. I base that on the better viewfinder and bigger RF patch, the 1/2000 s shutter and the handling (weight). I eventually sold both, for various reasons, but I sold the M6 first.

The only thing I didn´t enjoy with the Bessa, was the flimsy feel of the rewind knob. It is plastic and feels like it is going to break. It didn´t though.

The Bessa is a newer camera, light seals should last longer and is a joy to use. Buy more lenses for the money saved 🙂 or film!

 

[jamin-b]

I have the R3a and the R4a and just love them. They are light, portable, discrete and with clear unmuddled viewfinders and I personally have not had any performance issues. If you're being "realistic" about your GAS then I would get one, leaving room for the later purchase of the other, but if you have more self restraint then me the R2 is probably the middle road choice. I find the automatic aperture + AE lock quite handy for travel, and use it 95% of the time that way. Build quality is sturdier than you might think, but I also feel good knowing I am not lugging around an expensive luxury item when travelling rough.

 

[ForestCap]

The only thing I didn´t enjoy with the Bessa, was the flimsy feel of the rewind knob. It is plastic and feels like it is going to break. It didn´t though.

I didn't know the RxM has plastic rewind knob. I have Bessa-R and the rewind crank is metal, I've heard people complaining it being flimsy (or even calling it made of plastic) but I've never had problem with it.

 

[traveler_101]

Hello,

I'm looking to purchase a Bessa and need some help in regards to which will be the better purchase in the long run. There are some good deals out there on the R2, but is it worth the extra $$ to go for the R2A or R2M? Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Best,

Jason

What lenses do you own / plan on acquiring? If they are LTM you might consider a Bessa R; if you own M mount lenses, do you tend toward 35mm or 50mm? If 35 get a R2; if 50 or 40 get the R3M with its 1:1 finder.

 

[parks5920]

What lenses do you own / plan on acquiring? If they are LTM you might consider a Bessa R; if you own M mount lenses, do you tend toward 35mm or 50mm? If 35 get a R2; if 50 or 40 get the R3M with its 1:1 finder.

I don't have any glass yet, but really would like to get R2x with the m mount, which I'd like to use on my micro 4/3 with the adapter.

 

[Scrambler]

I have far more Leica mount lenses than I care to think of, and all are screw mount - even the roughly Y2K models. You have to really want a Leica lens (i.e. spend a small fortune) to NEED to get M mount lenses.

You can get (cheaper) screw mount adapters for your micro 2/3, or mount an M-screw adapter into the M mount if you wish.

I have gone for M mount cameras - I have a Minolta CLE and an Epson R-D1 - for the convenience of changes and because I wanted the digital (which only comes with M mount) but I also use a Leica IIIc - as I want, with any of my lenses, and I have also had a FED 2 and a Konica Hexar RF in the past - screw mount and M mount. I previously had a Voigtlander Bessa R with screw mount - and it was perfectly fine as well, VF as good as any and the nice simple (centred) light sensor was very good. Only gave that camera up when I bought the Hexar RF.

So my camera advice is - if you have no lenses, ANY of the Bessa R, R2 and R2m are functionally identical other than the mount. Metering is more centered on the R, build is more substantial on the later cameras. If you don't change lenses much, the R is a fine camera at a better price point than the R2m.

The 1:1 finder (the R-D1 has one) is nice, but not necessary.