chippy
foo was here
I dug out an old Bessa RF i have (and the lever and film pressure plate on mine looks like yours) but i cant seem to get the mask from my Bessa I to activate the 6x4.5 lever on the B/RF. The lever appears to be in the same place as the bessa-I lever although the Bessa I's is different in design. i found this pic on the web somewhere of a mask for a RF model and the nibs look to be in a different place than the Bessa-I mask. however the pressure plate looks different in this picture to my bessa RF and unfortuately it doesnt show the lever in this picture so i dont know if there the same.
Attachments
Last edited:
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
I know you all hate EBay and this doesn't help solve the mask problem, but have a look at this - Item number: 360021496448
It's the most beautiful example of the post-war Bessa II RF I've seen.
It's the most beautiful example of the post-war Bessa II RF I've seen.
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Chippy,
There an RF Bessa currently for sale that looks like yours and the mask is shown in the photos. Maybe you could get some details from the seller. EBay Item number: 270210846313
There an RF Bessa currently for sale that looks like yours and the mask is shown in the photos. Maybe you could get some details from the seller. EBay Item number: 270210846313
chippy
foo was here
Leigh Youdale said:
i have mixed feelings about ebay. whilst i would rather by local where i can see the camera, that isnt usualy an option for me down here in Adelaide, more particularly because i like the vintage cameras and when they were released the population of Australia was very very small (still is compared to the rest of the worlds nations! -i think all you blokes must be the friendlyist people on earth all wanting to live next to each other
) so in comparison there are very few quality vintage cameras to be had. So eb*y is great in the repect that it gives me access to cameras i would not usualy have...
but absolute !@#$% in the respect that i often have to buy 3 cameras or more before i get one that works (in the case of weltini's double or triple that) or combine them to make one good camera (even from those reputable restorers and sellers we all know that get top dollar!). so many sellers outright lie and misrepresent the camera i still find it incredible they sleep at night. on my soap box a little here but there is guy in the netherlands (name sarts with Pet.) that appears to be very good, has beautiful pictures of his cameras but on a number of occassions i have asked questions about the cameras but he doesnt display the question for others to read, however he does display the ? of others when the answer is in the postive...
as most folk here would know once you are familiar with a model it is easier to identify potential faults even from a picture. for instance with a bessa RF there are a number of things to look for, but a couple are the front door catch which is weak on them... and look at the chrome hinges if there are any slight bows, gaps, bends whatever between the two, then ask if the door closes perfectly square (can indicate the front standard does not line up perfectly with the film plane. or wobbles), but from this guy the answer was unsatifactory....also he had a welta weltur recently that fetched TOP dollar and i asked what the problem was with the shutter button and associated linkages was,(and suggested what it was and if he could fix it) as it was clear to me being familiar with the model that something significant was wrong but got a ridiculus answer that may convince someone that doent know anything about them! .....I also mentioned that the back door was missing the 10mm knob that closes the ruby window and asked if he had one to go on it as without it light and dust would likely enter through the back door...he said it comes with a case so it if used in the case it should be good!!!give me a break!!
if someone makes it their business to restore and sell cameras then its not hard (at the prices they are fetching) to rob another camera of the part or in this case it could be made easily...instead some poor sole is going to use it unknowingly and intermitently have problems and waist time, experiances, film and devloping costs before he has to stick ugly duck tape over the back to fix the 20minute repair the seller could have done in the first place! I have heaps more experiances but its boring hey!
suffice to say some of my best minty and suprising cameras (i think i am into the hundreds of cameras by now! some people are more no doubt) have come from little private sellers that dont normally sell cameras (with !@#$^& display pictures too!), that are selling something they have owned since jesus was knee high to a grasshopper or something their father or grandfather owned (also had some shockers but ya get the drift). got a 6x9 weltur w/tessar 1-400 from a kid in germany (it was his grandads camera) and barring the leather handle (easily replaced) is 6 times better (near mint) than anything i have seen and listed as near mint from those big restorers and CLA folk, whats more he threw in without asking a bunch of acessories....
i got a S/ikonta C w/coated tessar from J.P Mose (i mention his name because i used to see it in the past around the forums) in the past,,, he said it was minty!!!...my god!!! that guy understates; the bloody thing was barring none!! the best Ikonta ever, if it wasnt for the minute (1.5mm) little rub mark from spending its life in the also superb case you could be excused for thinking it was new//the sad thing he never used it! maybe equaly sad is it may not stay 'mint' for long as i do use it! bummer!! i got that for mid $400 and that 'Pet' guy on eb*ay sold a much lesser example of this recently for over $1000---go figure!
comming to an end sorry folks...... yes Youdale that is a nice Bessa II and i think is probably around the mark if not a happy deal at $780 (i would be anyway) but you have to look closely, there are a few scatches and rub marks on the chrome and a couple paint chips but if thats not a concern then it is a fine looking example (understated). i was lucky enough to get one mint but unfortuatly cant brag about the price! it cost me heaps LOL! love it though..i simply forget the price after time and have this camera that looks like new...but god forbid i should ever damage it hey...so far so good and i have had it for years
chippy
foo was here
Leigh Youdale said:
that mask looks exacly the same as what came with my Bessa I and it doesnt seem to operate my Beassa RF lever...i dont know why!? thanks for taking the time & effort to show it tho Youdale...appreciated!
i did pick up another B/RF yesty with mask included pretty cheap that appears in resonable condition,,even very good hopfully! we shall see! only has a helomar lens but i can change it for a heliar i have here.