Bessa-R4?

[oscroft]

Hi folks, I'm looking for thoughts on the Bessa-R4 (A and M), because I'm thinking of getting one. Here's my situation...

I've had a Bessa-R for a little while, and I really like it, and also a Bessa-L, and I have CV screw thread lenses 15, 21, 25, 28/3.5, 35/2.5, 50/2.5 and 75/2.5. I also recently bought a Leica M6 (and some adapters for my lenses). I've only shot 6 films with the M6 so far, but I love it.

I'm off to Bangkok in about a month for a 2 month stay, and I'd pretty much decided to take the M6 with 21, 28 and 50 CV lenses (and Sensia 100 and, probably, Delta 100). I'd also decided that a Bessa-R4 (which one I don't yet know) would probably be my next camera addition, sometime later in the year after I'm back in the UK. I might be missing some possibilities in Thailand this time, but I spend a lot of time there and can go for more w/a flexibility at a later date.

Now my wife (she's Thai and already out there) has just told me that we have been invited by some Vietnamese friends to go and spend a little time with them in Ho Chi Minh City while I'm there - and we're not passing up an invitation like that. So I have a rare photo opportunity. I don't really have the money for an R4 now - I'd have to buy it on plastic and pay it off later in the year (which I'll be able to do), so I'm torn - a combination of an M6 and an R4 with CV lenses would be just so flexible.

So, opinions greatly appreciated. How does the R4 (A or M) feel? I know it's subjective, but I could understand opinions that rate it relative to the R or to the M6. What about the finish? I much prefer silver chrome myself, but obviously I can't have that. How hardwearing does the R4M gloss black seem? And the R4A matt black? Is the top plate metal (as opposed to the R's plastic)?

My feeling is that an R4A would make a very nice companion to the M6 - AE can be very convenient, and I still have the M6 if an R4A should run out of battery. Any thoughts on the combination?

(Oh, and of course, the guv'nor is offering an R4A with free shipping right now, which is nice).

Grateful for thoughts,
Best regards,

 

[dostacos]

I like the feel of the R4M, the viewfinder eyepiece is big, I like the 1/2 step LED for the meter I cannot compare to the M series Leicas BUT I can compare

the 21/25/28/35/50 framelines are just too good and last....

do you REALLY want to go on a once in a lifetime [Ho Che Minh city] with ONLY one camera?????

get the second body for the trip, an understanding wife would agree, the pictures are worth the expense 😀

 

[mfogiel]

The R4A I have, is an ideal camera for the 25-35mm lens range for a non glass wearing person, 28-35 for a glass wearer like me. You can take an occasional shot with a 50mm, but the frames are smaller than the 90mm frames on the R3.

The most important limitation is that the lenses used have to be of utmost compactness, else they eat up a lot of the viewfinder space.

The finish of the R4A is ok, but after a few weeks of use I can see a missing spot on the paint - mind you below the paint there is something that looks like metal...

I feel Bessas are not for fondling but for taking pictures, and they are light - if you want a solid metal piece of machinery you probably have to stick to early Leica M models.

On the other hand, I've tried walking around the whole day with a R4A and a R3A hanging from my neck, and I hardly felt the weight.

 

[Pablito]

If this sounds like heresy, please understand that I have several Leicas and other rangefinder cameras which I use a lot.......BUT if I were you I'd put the same money towards a D40x with the very capable kit lens and let that be your second camera. You can shoot to your heart's content with no worry about film/processing cost and save the Leica and film for those special moments you know you want to record on film.

 

[oscroft]

do you REALLY want to go on a once in a lifetime [Ho Che Minh city] with ONLY one camera?????

get the second body for the trip, an understanding wife would agree, the pictures are worth the expense

No, I don't really want to go with one camera 😀 (I could take the R, though that really wouldn't be any help with the wide angles).

And yes, I do have an understanding wife 😀

The finish of the R4A is ok, but after a few weeks of use I can see a missing spot on the paint

After only a few weeks? Wow, that's not good! Thanks for that.

If this sounds like heresy, please understand that I have several Leicas and other rangefinder cameras which I use a lot.......BUT if I were you I'd put the same money towards a D40x with the very capable kit lens and let that be your second camera. You can shoot to your heart's content with no worry about film/processing cost and save the Leica and film for those special moments you know you want to record on film

Thanks for that opinion, but it's not what I'm asking. I have no interest whatsoever in any new digital cameras at this time - all I'm asking about is people's opinions of the Bessa-R4 cameras.

Best regards,

 

[rover]

I love my R4a, only high praises for it in form, function and finish. With such a wide finder it is unique and wonderful. I have found the AE to be very accurate, which was a concern of mine as such a wide field of view using a wide lens can pull in a very wide latitude of light intensity. The sky is in every shot as is the ground at your feet. It has been easy to predict the exposure and use the camera without issue.

 

[oscroft]

I love my R4a, only high praises for it in form, function and finish. With such a wide finder it is unique and wonderful. I have found the AE to be very accurate, which was a concern of mine as such a wide field of view using a wide lens can pull in a very wide latitude of light intensity. The sky is in every shot as is the ground at your feet. It has been easy to predict the exposure and use the camera without issue

That's interesting, thanks - I took my Bessa-L with 15 and 21 lenses last year and I had exactly that problem with exposure, so it's nice to know that the AE metering is good.

 

[oscroft]

OK, this might sound a bit silly, but can anyone tell me the weight of an R4A/M body? (I know you can't judge structural quality from weight alone, but by comparing with the M6 and the R it might help me get some idea of how it will feel).

 

[oscroft]

The batteries are a dime a dozen so there is no excuse to run out

That's true - I do always have several spares in my bag with me. (It's just me being weird, I guess - in the nearly 40 years I've been doing photography I've always had a thing about not wanting to rely on batteries, but in all that time I've never been caught out without a battery).

I find those lenses are a bit to contrasty for the conditions in SE Asia

That also is true - I had the 15 and 21 (with a Bessa-L) with me in Thailand last year, and contrast was a bit of a problem (which wasn't helped by my use of Velvia - I'll be taking Sensia this time for colour, but haven't decided how to approach b&w yet).

 

[rover]

OK, this might sound a bit silly, but can anyone tell me the weight of an R4A/M body? (I know you can't judge structural quality from weight alone, but by comparing with the M6 and the R it might help me get some idea of how it will feel).

Yup.

It feels very solid. Yes, that in reality is about as important as a hill of beans, but this camera is impressive.

 

[oscroft]

Sell the Leica!!!!!!!!!!

Nooooo!!!!!!!!!! 😀

 

[rover]

There was supposed to be a link up there

http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtchart2.htm

I was side tracked to delete some spam

 

[oscroft]

It feels very solid. Yes, that in reality is about as important as a hill of beans, but this camera is impressive

Thanks, I'm getting more and more convinced. And I think I've worked out how to finance it too. With an R4A I wouldn't need the R or the L any more, and I also have a couple of bits of OM equipment that I don't use and have been prevaricating over for a while - if I sell those I should get pretty close to the R4 price.

 

[oscroft]

There was supposed to be a link up there
http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtchart2.htm

Excellent, thanks

 

[oscroft]

Leica's are nice to carry around, like a tie usefull to impress the impressed

I take photos with mine, I'll have you know 😛

 

[peter_n]

And I with mine too. 🙂 Alan I'm also very pleased with my R4A; seems well made, very good fit & finish, excellent (and I do mean excellent) VF. A great complement to a 0.72 or 0.85 mag M body.

 

[oscroft]

And I with mine too. Alan I'm also very pleased with my R4A; seems well made, very good fit & finish, excellent (and I do mean excellent) VF. A great complement to a 0.72 or 0.85 mag M body

Thanks Peter, that's good to know - I've already listed on eBay the stuff I'm selling to try to fund an R4A 😀

 

[peter_n]

Good luck Alan! 🙂