Bessa R2C advice

[darkkavenger]

So... I've considering over and over... since getting a prewar Contax-II can wait a bit until I'm more rich, I've been pondering about the Bessa R2C... I want a brand new, modern camera that feels a bit like my Kiev and most of all that mounts my Carl Zeiss & Jupiter lenses. Guess-exposure is fun, but I end up with bad results with certain films... so maybe the help of TTL would be good.

I'm waiting for your opinions on this camera, if any of you has one.

so ... Bessa R2C.. what say you! 😀

 

[dexdog]

I have a Bessa R2C, and believe that it is a fine camera. It feels solid, handles well, and I have never had a problem with it functioning in any kind of weather, even several hours in below-freezing temperatures. The Copal shutter is a little loud, but has the reputation of great reliability. I really like the ergonomics of the camera, but that is because I am predominantly an SLR shooter, and the placement of the shutter speed dial, wind lever and shutter release are very much like a modern Japanese SLR. The accessory side-mounted grip is very useful too, because it is easier to hang onto one-handed. Also, the Bessa has two big advantages over a classic Contax- the lever wind and the switchable 35/50/85 framelines. I don't remember the respective weights offhand, but the Bessa is a bit lighter, if somewhat less compact, than a Contax IIa. The internal meter works quite well, although I must say that I don't use it much, preferring to use a hand-held meter with RFs. The onboard meter does allow a primitive form of auto exposure, but again, I don't use it much in that mode. I have used the R2C sucessfully with a wide variety of Contax lenses, except for the pre-war 35 Biogon and its Russian copy. I don't know if the Bessa will mount the pre-war Biogon (the distance to shutter issue), because I don't own such a lens (yet). The R2C has a shorter rangefinder base that either the pre-war or post-war Contax cameras, but I have found that it is only an issue with the Bessa when trying to focus a 135mm lens. The Bessa focuses the 85/2 Sonnar without any problem. If I want to use the 135mm lens, I find that the Contax II or IIa are much better. All in all, the R2C is a great camera.

That said, I usually end up using either a Contax II or IIa, mostly because I like the idea of getting great results from a camera that is older than I am.

 

[darkkavenger]

Thank you for the info, dexdog! I'm using a Kiev-2A that is very solid, sturdy and reliable, and that really *feels* like a pre-war Contax, especially when mounted with the 50/2 collapsible prewar Sonnar (that I had the luck to purchase coated, but without T marking).

I think one of these days I might want to invest in a modern camera with all the convenient stuff, however I'm a bit traditionalist too.. and it's true that those Sverdlovsk-4 lightmeters, even if they work only with GOST/DIN speeds, are damn cheap.

You said you hardly used autoexposure, but if you did, were the results correct? What might bother me a bit is that I ordered myself an early Jupiter-12... so maybe it wouldn't mount. Is the shutter noise louder than a Kiev-2 (or Contax-II) "thunk" ?

Thanks for all!
max

 

[dexdog]

Yes, I have had good results relying on the meter in this camera in aperture priority mode (sorry, I mis-spoke about auto exposure in my last email, I meant aperture priority. Fingers work faster than brain from time to time.)

The shutter noise is definately louder and harsher than any of my classic Contax cameras, but since I don't have a noise fetish, or shoot where silence is absolutely necessary, it is not an issue.

I recently purchased a 1940-vintage coated 35mm Biogon from another RFF member, and should get it in the mail soon. I'll let you know if it will mount on the R2C.

dexdog

You said you hardly used autoexposure, but if you did, were the results correct? What might bother me a bit is that I ordered myself an early Jupiter-12... so maybe it wouldn't mount. Is the shutter noise louder than a Kiev-2 (or Contax-II) "thunk" ?

Thanks for all!
max

 

[darkkavenger]

Thanks dexdog!

 

[pvdhaar]

so maybe the help of TTL would be good.

TTL metering is a double edged sword, as it can lead to constant adjustment of exposure each time you focus on something different.

Even though my camera has a TTL meter, I prefer to measure once for a given light situation, and then leave it at that. I find I can much better preserve the 'mood' of the situation in this way. Whenever I fall into the trap of metering per shot, everything turns a bland gray..

Granted, it's not difficult measuring only once where I live; we get 365 overcast days per year, or so it seems. The meter appears to be stuck at 1/125@f8 for 400 ISO. Still the nett result is that I like a separate meter more than a built in one..

If you're looking for a portable solution, a clip-on meter may do the trick..

 

[CameraQuest]

The R2C is a solid mechanical shutter camera with easy to see LED TTL metering in the viewfinder and with a MUCH MUCH better (brighter and easier to see) rangefinder patch and viewfinder, with parralax corrected framelines for 35, 50, and 85 lenses -- much more convenient than a separate accessory viewfinder. The R2C is also much faster to shoot or load. see http://cameraquest.com/voigt_r2s_r2c.htm

the metal Copal shutter is louder than the Contax/Kiev shutter, but is likely to be more reliable today and offers higher sync speed if you shoot with flash, as well as a hot shoe.

most pre-war Zeiss wides, or the Russian wides, will not mount on the R2C. the 35 variations that do block the metering cell.

the shorter than Contax rangefinder will not focus the 135/4 or 85/2 consistently accurately wide open and close up -- but stop down a few stops and/or increase distance, and you will be fine.

and don't collapse the 50's into the R2C body.

although the Voigtlander SC lenses are made in Nikon RF mount, the 35 and wider lenses are considered interchangeable. This gives you the option of modern sharp glass for the 21/4, 25/4, 28/3.5, and 35/2.5 focal lengths. Additionally the SL 125.6 and 15/4.5 in Nikon F mount can be used with a Voigtlander adapter. see http://cameraquest.com/nrfVClens.htm

even with those limitations, personally I find the R2C a much more satisfying shooter than any of the classic Contax bodies or variations. I like the precision of the Contax bodies, but not the rather limited fixed viewfinder.

Stephen