Bessa R2 Reliability

[Peter]

I have been invited by a Professor of Macau University to accompany his team for a field trip to Yunnan, China. The place will be far from any urban areas and I would be bringing my R2s. The question is how reliable and tough would the R2 be in field conditions? Could the RFF in-house technical gurus shed some light?

 

[FrankS]

I don't know about the R2, but you should take a backup camera no matter what camera you are using even if it is a Canon or Nikon or Leica.

 

[Pherdinand]

wow, that region is wonderful, Peter. The nature and the people too. I bet you will make lots of great shots. I guess taking two of them, they will do fine (although i'd be tempted to take a fully mechanical one too). Or, is the R2 with the double-shutter?

 

[rover]

Um, as far as in-house technical gurus go, wouldn't the person who has shot the most images with an R2 be most qualified? Someone who has multiple bodies for back-up?

So I ask you Peter, how reliable has your well used R2s been? No battery needed right, so take back-ups only if you want too. And most of all, enjoy the great opportunity.

Actually, I saw a National Geographic piece highlighting the career of one of their photographers. I fogot her name, but she was shooting in India during the piece, with a Bessa!!! There was just a couple real quick shots of her using it, but it definately was a Bessa. I assume an R2, but could not confirm it. If it is good enough for her...

 

[Designer]

Yes, I think one body backup is a minimum.

 

[RML]

Frank gave you good advice: never leave home without a backup.

I don't know what your field trip will be like (how long, how rough, how dusty, how often will you use the camera, etc.) but my Bessa R just survived 5-6 weeks in Mongolia. Together with my Leitz CL I took it everywhere. It got handled a lot (also by children), got bumped around in my daypack, and got freezing cold. The only thing that gave me a bit of a problem in the end was the battery; batteries don't like freezing cold temperatures.

The R2 should be able to withstand a field trip as it is (supposedly) better built and of more durable materials than the R.

 

[Peter]

According to the plan, we should be living rough with the hill tribes as the expedition would be busy collecting information on traditional herbal remedies and taking herbal samples. The climate could be very cold and wet as the period that we are going will be the rainy session. Although I have used the R2 rather extensively, I have never used them in rough field conditions before and definitely never so far from civilisation. I guess that it should not be a case of overkill if I bring all 3 R2s? I guess Rover is right, if Bessa R is good enough for National Geographic it should do with R2. RML, is Mongolia very dusty when you were there? Maybe I should get a waterproof hardbox? Any brand that you guys recommend?

 

[RML]

Peter, Mongolia is dusty most of the time. And windy as well. 🙂

I, of course, had a proper house to live in and my living circumstances were not field condition. Living in a log cabin isn't so bad.

For a hardbox you could get a Tupperware box or one of them boxes used by rafters.

Sounds like an adventure to me, Peter! Have a wonderful time! And good shooting as well!

 

[digitalox]

I would leave one of the R2s at home just in case something happens to them - you don't want to lose them all at once. Sounds like an interesting trip!

 

[Peter]

It is an interesting trip alright! I could finally fulfill my National Geographic fantasy! The expedition actually have their own videographer but this academic friend of mine knows my passion for documentary photography so he asked me to come along so that they have some B&W shots.

 

[taffer]

Peter that sounds like a GREAT trip ! I'm already impatient to see your shots !

You deserved something like that, congrats my friend ! 😀

As for reliability issues, one option is to take your two more 'user' R2s and leave the nicest one at home.

You've worked with the R2s for a long time with excellent results, getting something different as a backup would involve another learning curve and thus time and concentration that could be used in the picture taking process and not in the 'how does this thing work' 🙂

My 0.02...

 

[rich815]

Peter, have an awesome trip. I lived in Kunming for a year and a half in the late 90's, Loved Yunnan. Really made an effort to trek into more remote and out of the way areas. Wonderful and beautiful people (I believe something like 20+ of China's 55 "minorities" are in Yunnan). Looking forward to seeing your images. I'm envious---just writing this is bringing back many wonderful memories of my time in Yunnan.

Richard

 

[wlewisiii]

Welcome to RFF Richard. I will say that I hope you can share some (preferably RF shot) images of your excursions. But even if not RF, I'd still love to see them and I expect others here would as well.

Thanks for poping in!

William

 

[Peter]

Welcome to RFF Richard. I am looking forward to this trip too! I have always wanted to experience the life of the hill tribes of Yunnan.

 

[hoppinghippos]

wow!!!! congrats Peter!!! I'm sure you're going to have a wonderful memorable trip!

I don't have experience with RF in such conditions but I went on a expedition to Sabah last year to an isolated island (your typical kampong life, well water, generator for electricity, etc) and the environment was seaside. my SLR worked fine all the way but a fren's SLR conked out just after a day. I figured its caused I was very careful not to change lens when there was sand around (beach, reef flats, etc) and he wasn't. I guess RF should be a lot tougher but maybe similarly you may like to be careful changing lens.

 

[Peter]

Thanks Darrel! You too have your share of adventure. I think that will not be a problem as I only use one lens for one body, so no need to change lens! Thus no problem with sand or water getting into the camera! 🙂 I heard that you are getting your new R3A on Monday. Do inform me of your impression of it so that I could consider it on my next acquisition month next June. 😛

 

[AndColor]

Congratulations Peter. This will be great for you and for your fans! Re: batteries. They do tend to go quickly in cold weather; so pack as many as possible...more than you expect to need.
good shooting,
Linda

 

[fraley]

Hello Peter, I'd like to add my congratulations to the others. You do great work, I think they picked the right person 🙂 Good luck, good light to you. I like the idea of leaving one Bessa behind also, insurance you know. Maybe get some waterproof containers for film? Maybe an x-ray proof bag if you're going through security scans? I saw something like that at a mail order house here.

 

[sfaust]

Good deal Peter! You are going to have a wonderful trip. I can't offer any advice other that was had already been offered. so instead I'll bid you good luck and enjoy!!

 

[Peter]

Thank you Linda, Michael and Stephen for your well wishes! I am sure this will be one great trip that I will not forget! 🙂