Bessa R2A or R3A - what is your preference?

[maxxum]

1:1 view finder of R3A is very appealing...
Is it really better that viewfinder of R2A?

Just trying to decide which would be my first RF.
Regards.

 

[kvanderlaag]

Bespectacled? The R2a is your camera of choice. Otherwise, I'd go for the 1:1 finder on the R3a. Otherwise, they're pratically the same camera.

 

[matti]

It all comes down to if you want to use the 35 mm framelines of the R2A.

I am sure they are both very good cameras. And I can vouch for the ruggedness of the body. When my R2 got a 200 kg tree on top of it, the interior of the camera was of course smashed as the lens got pushed into it. But the house itself could handle the weight without being distorted 🙂

But I wonder if Cosina made the right business choise in splitting the RxA into two models? Everyone seem to agonize over which version to buy. I did that too, until I found a used M6 to replace my broken R2. But maybe we should be grateful. The boring, and businesswise choise, might have been to only have the R2A. And releasing both is a brave thing to do.

/matti

 

[George S.]

Having first bought the R3A, I didn't like the VF, it was difficult to see the frame edges, and I don't even wear glasses when shooting. I settled on the R2A and have been VERY happy with it. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Frank Granovski]

1:1 view finder of R3A is very appealing...Is it really better that viewfinder of R2A?

I don't know but I went with the black R3A. It is a very nice camera though the 40mm frame-lines are somewhat difficult to see. The rest of the frame-lines are fine. 😎

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Forget the framelines 40mm thing.

At 40 mm on an R3a the framelines are more or less less full viewfinder.

 

[George S.]

Forget the framelines 40mm thing.

At 40 mm on an R3a the framelines are more or less less full viewfinder.

Yes, kind of. But if its not possible for someone to see the 40mm framelines, it's certainly not any easier to use the entire VF.