Bessa R2A + 35/2.5 Color Skopar PII

[Juergen F.]

My first post!!!

I'm a manual focus SLR shooter but I was given the chance to shoot with a Leica MP for a couple of days last month. Now I'm kind of 'sold' I really enjoyed the easy way of composing and the fact that these type of cameras are so small compared to most SLR's.

I am seriously thinking of buying myself a nice rangefinder. Ofcourse the MP comes to mind but it is simply too expensive for me. I have about 1200 USD for a body and a lens so I'm considering the Voigtlander Bessa R2A + 35 f/2.5 Color Skopar PII.

I have got two questions that I hope someone on these forums can answer.

1. The Bessa R2A is has metal body but this this also include the shutter speed wheel, film winder etc. In other words, is it 'all metal' (and what about the internal parts?)

2. How is the overall performance of the 35 f/2.5 Color Skopar PII (sharpness, contrast etc.) and to which lens would you compare it to?

thanks!

 

[Kyle]

The 35/2.5 C is highly regarded as being sharp, and high in contrast (fans of older, lower contrast lenses have said it has too much contrast). I believe that the 35/2.5 PII M is very close. From the few things I've read, its a great lens. I've got one coming in the mail (and of course I just bought a Canon 35/2 yesterday, so I'm waiting on two 35s ).

As for the R2a/R3a, the build quality is supposed to be very good. My brother is waiting on an R2a to arrive from an RFF member, so I'll finally get a chance to handle one. I do have a Bessa R and L, and those are both solid cameras (and neither come close to being R2a quality).

My point is, if you go with that setup, you will be very happy. Another thing to keep in mind... you can get a Bessa R, 35/2.5 C, and a couple other lenses for about the same price that you'll get the R2a and 35/2.5 PII M.

 

[Trevor]

Excellent user review of the 35/2.5 Color Skopar

Excellent user review of the 35/2.5 Color Skopar

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008ESj

I am still considering buying one if a pre-Asph Summicron 35mm doesn't get me first.

I did have a Bessa R3A for a few months but did not get on with it. It always felt like bits were going to break (they didn't) especially the rewind crank. The shutter was ok but in comparison to the shutter on my new M6 TTL it sounds 'tinny'.

The automatic parallax compensation in the Leica M viewfinder is very nice and helps with composition. The R3A was always off in this respect.

Focussing (with a very smooth 20+ year old Summicron) on the R3A felt like I needed a wrench whereas on a Leica it is just right with a very nice feel.

So I would recommend getting the Color Skopar and a used Leica M6 that has had a recent CLA.

 

[alternatve]

I have a Bessa R2a that I find is excellent.

Nothing feels cheaply made, everything was business like in spattered black paint. The shutter speed dial turns with a nice click and the rewind lever, though slightly disconcerning due to a hole in the middle of the lever, is excellent. Just don't apply force to it.

My Jupiter 3 and 9 lenses focus smoothly on my Bessa, even better then my old Leica IIIc in my opinion.

Stop comparing the Bessa to a M6. It is twice the price USED and isn't twice the price in quality, in my opinion.

Samuel

 

[Marc-A.]

The automatic parallax compensation in the Leica M viewfinder is very nice and helps with composition. The R3A was always off in this respect.

I don't get it. There's no automatic parallax compensation in the R3A?
Marc

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Stop comparing the Bessa to a M6. It is twice the price USED and isn't twice the price in quality, in my opinion.

Could not agree more with this statement. I have a Bessa R2 with which I have had a troubled relationship. But I do very much enjoy using my Bessa and highly recommend the Bessa to the starting RF shooter. But you cannot compare the Bessa to a Leica, because the Bessa will lose on build quality everytime. You can buy a bag full of Bessa's and VC lens for the price of a new MP, have a blast taking photos in a new and exciting way, and that is the great value of the Bessa.

The Bessa's do feel tinny and cheap after a life-time of using Nikon F's, but then I picked a friend's Canon DSLR and thought, wow, my R2 feels like a high-quality camera in comparison.

So I reckon, buy a Bessa and a few lens and have fun. Just be gentle and considerate and the Bessa will give you your money's worth.

My 2¢,

 

[ferider]

Welcome Juergen !

Some contrarian statements now, that are my honest opinion, though:

I think that except for half a stop speed difference, one can safely
compare the 35/2.5 PII to the pre-asph Summicron . Even
the ergonomics are similar, except the PII is smaller.

WRT Bessa vs. Leica it is unfair to compare the R2 to the MP,
the MP is way overpriced when compared to the classic
used M market.

You can compare a good used R2 to a good used older
Leica body. Today a good M2 sold on ebay for US 450 - and
this is not the first time.

I would take a good used M2 over an R2A at any time, even
though it lacks the meter. The prices between user M[23]
and R[23]* are not too different.

Roland.

 

[alternatve]

Welcome Juergen !

Some contrarian statements now, that are my honest opinion, though:

I think that except for half a stop speed difference, one can safely
compare the 35/2.5 PII to the pre-asph Summicron . Even
the ergonomics are similar, except the PII is smaller.

WRT Bessa vs. Leica it is unfair to compare the R2 to the MP,
the MP is way overpriced when compared to the classic
used M market.

You can compare a good used R2 to a good used older
Leica body. Today a good M2 sold on ebay for US 450 - and
this is not the first time.

I would take a good used M2 over an R2A at any time, even
though it lacks the meter. The prices between user M[23]
and R[23]* are not too different.

Roland.

I love to have a Leica M like the next person, but love taking pictures more. So, I'm pretty happy with the Bessa I have. What's not to like about it? AE, Metering, 1/125 flash sync, back door loading and many others. Just one last piece of advise. Do your Bessa a favour and stop trying to imagine the red dot on it. Take pictures instead, and let it show it's true colours in the field.

Samuel

 

[ferider]

What's not to like about it? AE, Metering, 1/125 flash sync, back door loading and many others ....

Samuel

Short EBL.

With a good hand-held meter, I personally don't care about
any of the above. On the other hand, focusing your J9 close
up and wide open is possible on an M2 and NOT on an R2*.
On a Canon P, too, BTW. Been there, done that.

Nothing replaces longer EBL. Enough said.

Roland.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Short EBL.

This will probably be the reason I eventually get a M2 or M3.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Do your Bessa a favour and stop trying to imagine the red dot on it.

The first thing will happen to my Leica when I get one will be the removal(masking) of that 'Red Dot'. Even my Bessa has been made anonymous.

 

[alternatve]

Short EBL.

With a good hand-held meter, I personally don't care about
any of the above. On the other hand, focusing your J9 close
up and wide open is possible on an M2 and NOT on an R2*.
On a Canon P, too, BTW. Been there, done that.

Nothing replaces longer EBL. Enough said.

Roland.

I use a J3 and J9 wide open and close distance on both a Leica IIIc and Bessa R2a and have never found any problems with it. I'm especially happy with the J3 and would only consider a real Sonner or a Nikon or Canon copy to replace it.

But what the heck eh? I don't want to force my issue, since I DO want a Leica M when I can maintain one. I can buy a M2 or M3 easy, but I would get into serious debt and won't have the cash on hand to give it a CLA, which I feel is my duty to do so to a ageless classic. And I find that my style of writing was a bit too harsh in my previous post. For that, I apologise.

Samuel

 

[cmogi10]

Ahh there we go...

 

[Marc-A.]

Hi Juergen,
I agree with Roland and Samuel
Roland is right about the built quality of the M2 and the EBL (rangefinder Effective BaseLength). Plus, the camera is now somewhat "cheap", at least it fits your budget.
However, as Samuel pointed out, it doesn't have a built-in lightmeter and AE. It might be important to you; in this case, I would strongly recommend you the Bessa R2*. (Personally, I have the M2 and a hand-held meter ... that's fine).
Roland is right about the EBL - see http://www.cameraquest.com/leica.htm
But, since you're a 35mm shooter (maybe 50), you'll have no focussing issue with the R2* EBL.
BTW, I concur with my fellows: the Skopar PII (or Classic) is just excellent. Don't worry about that. Now pick the body to fit the lens. If you need the built-in meter & AE, pick the Bessa; if you can use a hand-held meter, pick an M2 (but you'll have to buy the meter, about €100/150 new on eBay).
Good luck and let us know what you chose.
Best,
Marc

The automatic parallax compensation in the Leica M viewfinder is very nice and helps with composition. The R3A was always off in this respect.

As I don't understand this, I ask again 'till I have an answer: Is there no automatic parallax compensation in the R3A?

 

[Avotius]

I use the bessa r2a and 35 pII often, although lately the 35mm lens has taken a back seat to my zeiss 50 planar. The r2a+35 pII is a great compact set that fits most bills with ease. Build quality is overall just fine, I can imagine most people dont put their cameras through the conditions that I do here traveling around china and mine has held up fine.

 

[yoyo22]

Imho the viewfinder of the R2, while not as easy to focus in low light as the M2, is definetly more easy to use for someone wearing glasses.
On the M2 I tend to use an external viewfinder, for I cannot see all corners of the 35er frame (I'm quite nearsighted - you can say I'm lost without my glasses). At the same time, on the R2M I can even see beyond all four corners at once.

Pascal

 

[segedi]

I had an R3A and R4A and only sold them because I couldn't justify keeping them since I have an M7 as well. I found the metering very good and used at AE almost exclusively. Exposure adjustments are a breeze and I found that aspect better than the M7. The super short EBL of the R4A wasn't so nice. I found focusing even at f/2.8 with a 21mm lens to not be the easiest.

I did have the Leica 35mm Summilux FLE and it is an awesome lens. But I have no regret selling it and getting a Voigtlander 35mm PII. Most of my 35mm work is done at f/8 anyway, so the cost, size, etc. of the Voigtlander are very nice.

No matter any of our opinions, the R2 and CV 35/2.5 will allow you to take very nice photos and are capable photographic tools. Whether you like the body, build, etc is up to you.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

OP, have you hold R2A with film loaded and use it? If not, it isn't going to be as M.
It might be not so important, but feel is diffrent and RF is different as well.
The lens you are asking about is as any modern SLR lens. Sharp and contrasty, but much nicer in the build. My copy has some wierd flare sometimes if sun is on side to the frame, but easy to "fix" with hand blocking the sun

 

[Bille]

OP, have you hold R2A with film loaded and use it? If not, it isn't going to be as M.

OPs post is 9 years old btw.