Bessa R3a - hard to see shutter speeds

chris00nj

chris00nj

Young Luddite
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While the chief complaint about the R3 is that the 40mm framelines were hard to see, I actually have trouble seeing the shutter speed readout in the sunlight. It gets a little better if I use my right eye (I'm used to using my left), but it is still difficult.

Any tricks or tips?
 
Same thing here, but coming from a Dslr I'm used to seeing just about everything in the VF, I have to remind myself to look for it all the time.
 
Yes, I often find myself looking around the viewfinder. Sometimes I'm unsure if I've half pressed the shutter and take an accidental shot while looking for the shutter speed.
 
Yup, they're hard to see. From the review Frances and I did for Shutterbug:

The shutter release is a little too free, and this isn’t just the camera we had for review. Every R3A user we know has shot at least one picture by accident while trying to take a reading, especially in bright sun when the numbers can be hard to see: you think the meter isn’t on, press a little harder, and take a picture by accident. Your eye also needs to be well centered in order to see the numbers.

http://www.shutterbug.com/equipmentreviews/35mm_cameras/0406voigtlander/

Cheers,

R.
 
chris00nj said:
While the chief complaint about the R3 is that the 40mm framelines were hard to see, I actually have trouble seeing the shutter speed readout in the sunlight. It gets a little better if I use my right eye (I'm used to using my left), but it is still difficult.

Any tricks or tips?
Click to expand...

What I usually do in that situation is covering the bottom part of the viewfinder with my thumb, so that the "background" of the lights is darkened by my thumb. Works for me.

Stefan.
 
chris00nj said:
While the chief complaint about the R3 is that the 40mm framelines were hard to see, I actually have trouble seeing the shutter speed readout in the sunlight. (...)
Click to expand...

I've found that (only) happens when one's eye is not 'correctly' centered relative to the eyepiece. Shift your eye/camera a little bit and you should see the meter readings.E

And THEN you'll have trouble to see all of the 40mm framelines.

So the real solution seems to be: use a 50mm lens. Then the R3 really shines! :)

PS: I'm using rubber eye-cups on my Bessas. (The ones for Nikon FM3a fit.) That may also help, especially in bright sunlight.
 
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