Bessa R2 vs R2M

[Dez]

Please forgive what may be an obvious question, but beyond my old Bessa R, I am not very knowledgeable about this series of cameras.

My question: what real difference is there between the Bessa R2 and R2M? They both seem to have the same features and similar construction, but the R2M seems a lot more expensive on the used camera market.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[haempe]

I don't have a R2, only R and R3a, but the R2 has the old style (a lá R) film rewind, which I prefer.

 

[Takkun]

The Bessa R2 is essentially an M-mount, combined RF/VF version of the original Bessa lineup. Plastic-clad mechanical body, 3-LED meter, and Canon P-style rewind crank. I started out with the R also, and the R2 is the exact same body but with a bayonet instead of LTM mount.
Confusingly, the R2M/R2A are more like the R3/R4 (I have the R3a, 1:1 finder and electronic shutter) series than the older R/R2/R2s/R2c with a 5-stop meter scale, full-metal body, and improved rewind crank with a locking lever to open the back. Operation is mostly the same; the most obvious difference is a -2 to +2 EV scale superimposed on the viewfinder image instead of the > o < LED indicator. The only downside is that it gets hard to see during bright sunlight.
CameraQuest has a great page on it, and Michael Butkus of course has all the instruction manuals you'd ever need. All in all, the newer Bessas are much more solidly built, commanding the price difference. To contradict haempe's opinion, I like the newer pseudo-M3 style rewind cranks, if only because I've yet to break it.

 

[Dez]

Thanks for your note, but I am confused. The Cameraquest site on the CV cameras indicates that the R2 replaced the plastic body of the R with a magnesium one, presumably the same as is used in later models.

http://cameraquest.com/voigtBR2.htm

Cheers,
Dez

 

[gerbilthemistake]

I have the R2M use to have a R, I think maybe the R2 only focuses down to .9 while the R2M/R2A focuses down to .7?

 

[kshapero]

Isn't it all spelled out in CameraQuest?

 

[Dez]

Cameraquest has good descriptions of the different models, but not comparisons between models. All I can see in the descriptions would suggest that the only differences between the R2 and R2M are the paint finish, the rewind crank, and the LED +/- display format. In any case, the cameras seem a good deal solider than my Bessa R.

Cheers,
Dez