Bessa R2A

Hi Francisco, I got my first Bessa just a month or so ago. You will find that they are not quite so "graceful" as a Leica, however in practical terms, you may find them to be better cameras.

The Bessa viewfinders are fantastic, film loads easier, and their light meters are very accurate. They don't have the old-world charm of Leica, but they do have modern features you may miss in a Leica.

I certainly recommend Bessa cameras, I think they're great, and as you can get it new, you get a nice long warranty with it too.

I have never used an "R", only an R4A, but I think it's worth spending the extra and getting a R2A, R3A or R4A, the aperture priority mode is great when you just want to relax and take photos, rather than always be thinking about it like I have to do with my M3.

Having said that, if you're OK with not having a built in meter, and can get a cheap, user M3, they are just gorgeous cameras. Be careful though, they are old, and it shows, my first one had a light leak and it had to go back to the shop, so buy from a good dealer or someone trustworthy on a site like this.
 
agphotography said:
They are ever so slightly different.

The R2 and R2M/A have the same framelines, but slightly different magnifications and close focus distances.

R2 = .68x finder and .9m close focus
R2M/A = .7x finder and .7m close focus

So they're very close, but just slightly different 😉

BTW - your R2 is still treating me very well 🙂 We're getting along great!
Click to expand...

Thanks Abram -- one can always learn something! But I point out that my original statement was specifically limited to the VF framelines only. I'm glad you're enjoying the R2 -- it's a terrific camera. I even like the plasticky Bessa R -- it was pure functionality and great bang for the buck used (but IIRC it was relatively expensive when new). But I have learned not to venture any less-than-solidly-based beliefs about its viewfinder, nor state any personal preferences about how nice M2s and M3s are. 🙂
 
Leigh Youdale said:
Apologies. On reading your post as carefully as I should have in the first place I can see that I have maligned you. However, my mistake might even end up being useful information for someone approaching their first Bessa body.
Click to expand...

No harm, no foul. A broader point I was attempting to make was that Francisco couldn't do badly with any of the R2x bodies, because they were all fine and not much different from each other, particularly to a newbie. Older Leicas are another matter, but I'll leave it at that. Let us resume playing nicely with others. 🙂
 
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thegman said:
Hi Francisco, I got my first Bessa just a month or so ago. You will find that they are not quite so "graceful" as a Leica, however in practical terms, you may find them to be better cameras.

The Bessa viewfinders are fantastic, film loads easier, and their light meters are very accurate. They don't have the old-world charm of Leica, but they do have modern features you may miss in a Leica.

I certainly recommend Bessa cameras, I think they're great, and as you can get it new, you get a nice long warranty with it too.

I have never used an "R", only an R4A, but I think it's worth spending the extra and getting a R2A, R3A or R4A, the aperture priority mode is great when you just want to relax and take photos, rather than always be thinking about it like I have to do with my M3.

Having said that, if you're OK with not having a built in meter, and can get a cheap, user M3, they are just gorgeous cameras. Be careful though, they are old, and it shows, my first one had a light leak and it had to go back to the shop, so buy from a good dealer or someone trustworthy on a site like this.
Click to expand...

These are the reasons I like my R2A. Also loading film is hassle enough, not having to remove the bottom plate is just a bonus to me.

It's no where near as solid as a Leica M though.
 
FranciscoPinheiro said:
Hello people!

I want to buy my first rangefinder, but I haven't got a lot of money. I haven't got money for buy a Leica's cameras. Then, I have looked the Bessa's cameras and I liked the Bessa R2A. Is that camera good? What is the difference between R and it?

Do you recommend it to me?
Sorry my ignorance,
Bye.
Click to expand...

I think the Bessa R2A is a good camera; it is my main shooter.
I also think the Bessa R is a good camera; it was my main shooter for several years.

There are two major differences between the R and the R2A:
The first difference is that the R is a screw mount camera and the R2A is an M mount ( a bayonet fitting) camera. This means that the R2A can use (with an adapter ) the lenses that fit on the R plus M mount lenses.

The second difference is that the R2A is battery dependent since it is an aperture priority auto exposure camera. Which means that you can set the aperture on the lens and the camera will decide the shutter speed. The R2A can be used in manual exposure by setting both the shutter speed and aperture according to the meter but the shutter is electronically controlled so if there is no power(battery), the camera will not function.
The R uses the battery only for the meter and will be usable regardless of the absence or presence of a battery.

But I would not avoid the R2A because of worry about the batteries; they last a long time and the camera will indicate when the battery is getting weak so you can replace it. And the specific battery is not difficult to find nor expensive.

YES I would recommend either camera. If your budget allows, I would suggest a new R2A over a used R because you will have a warranty. If your budget is less, then if you buy from a reputable dealer, either will be fine.

Good hunting!
Rob
 
Thank you all. You helped me a lot, although I have one question. Why is the Bessa R2M more expansive then the R2A? R2A's got a electronic shutter, and the R2M hasn't. I think that the R2A would be more expansive then R2M.
 
They're close, and I'm not sure if indeed manufacturing one of them is a more expensive labour... Maybe it's just a marketing decission, or perhaps the company can give a bit lower price for autoexposure models because they sell more... Who knows? You'd need direct info from CV to be sure...

Cheers,

Juan
 
The R2A was my first rangfinder. Its served me well for the last 5 years. Its not a M, like everyone says, but its really about how you treat it and what kind of glass you stick on it. I also like how the meter shows your shutter speed in the viewfinder instead of just arrows like my M6. But thats just personal preferance and something leftover from shooting slr's.

Good Luck
 
What I don't understand, if you are primarily interested in keeping costs down, is why not look into a Barrack camera, say a Leica IIIc? Or buy a Bessa-T matched with an M to LTM adapter and use it as a LTM camera--simply buy one adapter and keep it on the camera. The advantage, besides the inexpensive camera itself, is an excellent 1.5 magnification range finder. The disadvantage is that you need a separate viewfinder, a problem easily solved by buying a Russian turret viewfinder. Then you get an Industar 22 lens or a Jupiter, either one for very little money. I also recommend looking into the VC 25mm/4 Snapshot Skopar and the 35mm/2.5 Color Skopar classic lenses, when you can afford it. Both available used for around $250 each.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Voigtlander-Bes...ge_Cameras&hash=item56453f55f2#ht_1563wt_1189
 
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I've never had an R2*, but I did have an R3A for awhile, and based on my experience I would add that the metering system is superb and the electronic shutter worked flawlessly. I assume that the R2A and R3A are identical in those respects.
 
Thank you all...
I'll buy the R2M, but I need to decide the lens. R2M's got 35, 50 and 70 framelines so I think to buy a 35mm. I saw a "Color-Skopar Pan 35mm f/2.5-M" but this name I thought strange, is it good?
 
Take a look at the small 35 2.5 versions (maybe 3? With identical optics I guess...) by Voigtländer, and another look at the 40 1.4 Nokton, Voigtländer too... Both are superb lenses, and have a fair price.

Cheers,

Juan
 
FranciscoPinheiro said:
guys:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...nder_45BD209A_M_Bayonet_Adapter_Ring_for.html

Is that a LTM adapter? Can I use a Jupiter-8 with it?
Click to expand...

Yes it is. And yes you can.
With the Bessa M mount cameras you can get one LTM adapter, leave it on the camera and use it with almost any LTM lens. Because you select the frame lines by the switch on the camera, you don't have to have a specific adapter for each lens as you do for Leica cameras.
Rob

EDIT:
That adapter is only for 50mm and 75mm lens?
Click to expand...
With some M mount cameras--Leica, Zeiss, Hexar--the adapter is what brings the correct frame lines into view for specific lenses. On those cameras, this adapter will bring up the frame lines for 50 and 75 mm lenses (if the camera has those frame lines). Other lenses will fit and function but you wouldn't see the right frame lines.
With the Bessa Cameras, though, you set the frame lines manually (there's a switch on the top of the camera ) so you don't have to have a specific adapter.
Rob
 
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I have bessa R2M, it's very good with leica lens (M and LTM), very bright viewfinder, good light-meter, so beautiful camera to keep all days 🙂
 
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