Bessa RF Questions

[Way]

Got my Bessa RF in the mail today had some questions:

The two red windows: the left one opens up for the 6x4.5 mask and the right one is for 6x9? I couldn't find instructions anywhere but one I found one for the Bessa I, so I assume they are similar. According to the instructions when using 6x9 the right window opens to read the frame number. When the 6x4.5 mask is inserted, turning the dial also opens up the left window? I can't get the right window to open when shooting 6x9. Any suggestions?

Also the rangefinder is really tilted/slanted. I don't think this is normal, right?

 

[Way]

I just noticed that the Bessa I advances the film right to left while the Bessa RF winds left to right. So that means when using 6x9 the Bessa RF's left red window opens first. But i still can't get the right window to open with the 6x4.5 mask installed. There seems to be another sliding (.rotating) piece that is blocking the window. I can slide it partially away. Is this normal?

 

[chippy]

i cant give or remember the details exactly..someone will no doubt... but there should be a small clip (tiny), handle on the inside of the back, within a small cutout of the film pressure plate, down the bottom...right or left i cant remember but toward the end of the open door..... it opens the second sprung red window cover??? i think!!! let me know!

 

[RML]

Maybe you can post a few photos of the camera. No doubt someone will be able to help you, especially when we can see which camera you're talking about.

 

[Silva Lining]

Hi,

Have a look at the attached pic. There is a lever in the bottom left, below the pressure plate, that is activated by a raised 'nodule' on the mask when it is fitted in the camera. I have 3 Bessa RF's -2 have this mechanism, one doesn't, which leads me to believe that not all Bessa had this functionality, or maybe one of mine is broken!

 

[Way]

That's it! Thanks for the photo, Phil.

My second question is about the rangefinder. It appears to be sort of like a split screen but is not quite horizontal. It's stants to the left. The images do line up when focusing (sort of). I'm awaiting prints from the first roll to see if focusing is accurate. I think the rangefinder needs adjusting or replacing.

I haven't seen other 6x9 folders but the Bessa RF seems like a very sleek and compact design. The body is just a tad wider and a little shorter than my Agfa Super Isolette. The Isolette is a very solid body while the Bessa is a bit flimsy, creaky (like a tin can!), and it's a bit lighter than the Isolette. I'm not sure how accurate focusing by the rails is. Still it's cool camera and I hope the pictures it takes come out nice.

 

[Silva Lining]

That's it! Thanks for the photo, Phil.

My second question is about the rangefinder. It appears to be sort of like a split screen but is not quite horizontal. It's stants to the left. The images do line up when focusing (sort of). I'm awaiting prints from the first roll to see if focusing is accurate. I think the rangefinder needs adjusting or replacing.

I haven't seen other 6x9 folders but the Bessa RF seems like a very sleek and compact design. The body is just a tad wider and a little shorter than my Agfa Super Isolette. The Isolette is a very solid body while the Bessa is a bit flimsy, creaky (like a tin can!), and it's a bit lighter than the Isolette. I'm not sure how accurate focusing by the rails is. Still it's cool camera and I hope the pictures it takes come out nice.

In my experience, the rangefinders in these cameras do not seem to stand the test of time very well. I have one that works well, one that is wonky ( as you describe) and one that is just broken - I've yet to take the camera apart to investigate how easy (or not) it is to fix. Were the rangefinder works I have found the focusing to be accurate - where it doesn't -zone focusing has worked well too, meaning that the rail focusing system is accurate even if the rangefinder is not!

The Bessa RF cameras are my favorite folder - the Colour Skopar lens is a gem and the Helomar is pretty good too - I'm just on the look-out for a Heliar one now.

 

[kuzano]

If I recall correctly....

If I recall correctly....

The Heliar is five element, the Skopar is 4 element (Tessar formula?), and the helomar is three element. There is currently a Heliar Bessa RF on eBay, closing today I believe. There have been 2 or 3 Heliar Bessa RF's on eBay in the last month or so.

One on classifieds here that is priced at about what the eBay Bessa RF are closing at. It also looks very nice. If I were looking, I'd seriously consider the one in the classifieds.

 

[Abbazz]

The two red windows: the left one opens up for the 6x4.5 mask and the right one is for 6x9? I couldn't find instructions anywhere but one I found one for the Bessa I, so I assume they are similar. According to the instructions when using 6x9 the right window opens to read the frame number. When the 6x4.5 mask is inserted, turning the dial also opens up the left window? I can't get the right window to open when shooting 6x9. Any suggestions?

When you look at the camera from behind, there are two red windows.

When the 4.5x6 mask is not inserted, the left window is used for 6x9 shooting and the right one should normally be closed. The small black dial on the back is used to open (for film winding) or close the left window. On the oldest of my Bessa RF, there is not black dial on the back and no red window cover, so I have to cover both red windows with a piece of gaffer tape.

When the 4.5x6 mask is inserted, both windows should be open, thanks to the small lever beneath the pressure plate that is automatically activated by the mask (as stated by Phill). The small black dial will now serve to open or close both windows simultaneously.

When the camera is equipped with the 4.5x6 mask, you need to use alternatively the left and right window. For the first frame, you wind the film until the number 1 on the paper backing shows in the left window. Then you take your picture and wind the film until the number 1 appears in the right window. For the third exposure, you align the number 2 on the paper backing in the left window, and so on.

Enjoy your Bessa RF, it's a great camera. In my eyes it's even better than the much more expensive Bessa II. Unfortunately, this fact is becoming widely known, so the prices are going up.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[Leigh Youdale]

What Abbazz says about wind-on is correct. For the smaller format plate my instruction book says to "push the top and bottom tongue of the mask behind the film aperture. (That means the bow in the plate will be towards the lens) Take care that the small guide pin at the top right of the film aperture catches correctly in the hole at the edge of the small picture mask. Closing the camera back will now automatically open the second film window which otherwise remains closed." It does that by a protrusion on the small mask moving a little lever at the top right hand corner of the film pressure plate. You can move it with your finger to test it.
One small point - the markings and numbers on the backing paper of Ilford 120 film are very, very difficult to see through the red windows. Others have suggested that Fuji Neopan is much better in this respect. I haven't tried that - still using my stock of FP4+.

 

[Way]

Thanks for the help about using the mask, windows and rangefinder, folks. I'll be picking up my first roll from the camera this morning. The developer called yesterday to let me know they were ready and since I couldn't get them yesterday I asked if the prints looked in focus. He said they looked OK. They're just test pics of gates and oddball things but I'll post one today and compare it with my Super Isolette (Solinar lens).

 

[Silva Lining]

Thanks for the help about using the mask, windows and rangefinder, folks. I'll be picking up my first roll from the camera this morning. The developer called yesterday to let me know they were ready and since I couldn't get them yesterday I asked if the prints looked in focus. He said they looked OK. They're just test pics of gates and oddball things but I'll post one today and compare it with my Super Isolette (Solinar lens).

It would be great to see some shots from your Bessa RF, I have a few online HERE

 

[chippy]

Phill they are some fantastic pictures there! great subjects and well displayed. my favourties the london wheel, blossoms and the avenue. the bessa w/scopar does a fine job... with you handling it no doubt.

i was impressed with the web page layout as well and thought. ..my god i have to find out how this is done (i am not up to par with web, net and computer things it seems) but i am guessing it is some sort of web hosting people (i am not sure how that works exactly). do you pay for that and do they more or less have a template for it? i have not looked yet but apparently you have over 2000 images uploaded...hehe you must of spent months to years scanning!. it would take me years to scan my images that is!

some great pictures worthy to place upon anyones wall

 

[Way]

Got the roll back and it appears there is also a light leak. Focusing seems to be ok but I'd rather have the rangefinder level. I already contacted Jurgen Kreckel to remedy the problems. Here's a couple of pics. Nothing special, just test shots and quick scans..

 

[Silva Lining]

Phill they are some fantastic pictures there! great subjects and well displayed. my favourties the london wheel, blossoms and the avenue. the bessa w/scopar does a fine job... with you handling it no doubt.

i was impressed with the web page layout as well and thought. ..my god i have to find out how this is done (i am not up to par with web, net and computer things it seems) but i am guessing it is some sort of web hosting people (i am not sure how that works exactly). do you pay for that and do they more or less have a template for it? i have not looked yet but apparently you have over 2000 images uploaded...hehe you must of spent months to years scanning!. it would take me years to scan my images that is!

some great pictures worthy to place upon anyones wall

Thanks Chippy! Web hosting for your photos is actually quite easy these days, there are a number of sites that allow you to host your shots, some are free and some charge a fee depending upon how much space you use.

I use www.pbase.com - it lets me upload the photos from my desktop folder and the design and layout can be selected from a template (More adventurous users design their own templates) I pay about £25 per year to host over 2000 photos, which I think is quite a good deal. Most of my photos, about 1700, are digital SLR shots of my two young sons and I put them online in private galleries for family and friends to view... the remainder are mainly RF shots, and yes, many late nights have been had scanning

 

[Silva Lining]

Got the roll back and it appears there is also a light leak. Focusing seems to be ok but I'd rather have the rangefinder level. I already contacted Jurgen Kreckel to remedy the problems. Here's a couple of pics. Nothing special, just test shots and quick scans..

Looks like you've got a good lens on that one, love the Bokeh? Where is the light leak. I had an intermittent light leak on mine and fixed it by painting black acrylic paint on the inside of the bellows. Another was so bad I actually ended up replacing the bellows. (I only did this about a month ago and I need to get out an test it)

 

[Way]

Looks like you've got a good lens on that one, love the Bokeh? Where is the light leak. I had an intermittent light leak on mine and fixed it by painting black acrylic paint on the inside of the bellows. Another was so bad I actually ended up replacing the bellows. (I only did this about a month ago and I need to get out an test it)

Hi Phil,

The light leak can be seen on the photo of the gate, on the right where the next frame starts. Yes, this lens does have some nice bokeh!

 

[chippy]

Way can you post a pic of the mask for your Bessa RF. i am wonding if there is a differance between it and the mask for Bessa I ?


Phil, i am curious did your Bessa come with the clear filter or did you have it made or retro fit from something else? they would normaly come with the yellow of course. oh another question...did you do the bellows yourself or send it away?

cheers

 

[cosmonot]

Way can you post a pic of the mask for your Bessa RF. i am wonding if there is a differance between it and the mask for Bessa I ?

I'd really like to see a good pic of a Bessa RF mask as well - it's missing from mine I do have access to some rather brilliant machinists though, and one owes me a favor...

 

[Silva Lining]

Way can you post a pic of the mask for your Bessa RF. i am wonding if there is a differance between it and the mask for Bessa I ?


Phil, i am curious did your Bessa come with the clear filter or did you have it made or retro fit from something else? they would normaly come with the yellow of course. oh another question...did you do the bellows yourself or send it away?

cheers

Re the mask. None of the Bessa RFs I have ever came with their masks, I got mine with a Bessa Zweiformat (An earlier, non rangefinder model) It works well in the Bessa RF but does not fit the Bessa I. It would do, but the Bessa I has a small 'pin' protruding to the top left of the frame surround which prevents the back closing. (This could be over come pretty easily though) I imagine a Bessa I mask would work in a Bessa RF.

From the photo the filter does look clear, but it is the original Y2 Yellow filter.

I did the bellows myself. I ordered a some 'new old stock' bellows from an eb*y seller called frendakfurnari. Pulled the old bellows carefully out of the camera and glued the new ones in place using impact adhesive.

A bit fiddly, but straightforward to do.