Bessa T 101 or Bessa R2M?

[zionfarm]

As the title states I am looking at purchasing any one of these cameras for $800 a piece. Both of the cameras are used and located at different camera stores. The Bessa-T 101 is the navy blue version in pristine condition and comes with the silver F3.5 50m. While the R2M is in the same state and is the 250th Jahre version and comes with the F2 50m. I talked both vendors down to $800 for either but can't decide which one to go with. My budget is right at $800. I have looked up both cameras and did some extensive reading/video searching on the web.

I am very new to rangefinder camera's but not new to film cameras. I am coming from numerous M42 Pentax cameras and the one DSLR that I own (Pentax Kr).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated in helping this Army guy out

Thx.

 

[Spider67]

The main Argument for the R2M is the VF/RF Combination and the f2, 50mm lens. In my opinion switching from RF to VF can be a bit tiresome. It recreates the handling of a screwmount Leica except. You can also use scale Focus which would be better with a 35mm. I tried both ways (The RF/VF Combo and the external VF) and found the R2/Bessa R worked better for me.
Greetings from Vienna and welcome to teh Forum
Des

 

[dct]

If you are new to RF cameras I would also suggest the R model. Personally I would go for the T model only as a cheap body for longer focal lenses, having a much better effective RF base length for accurate focusing than the R models (EBL around 58mm).

I'm still looking for a T model to use with my Nokton 50/1.5 and focals 75,90,135.

 

[thegman]

If you're new to RF cameras, then I think R2M. My brother had a Bessa T with that lens too, and it's very pretty, and lovely to use, As a first RF though, you mind find it a bit odd using one viewfinder to focus and the other to frame.

 

[zionfarm]

Thx everybody I did eventually go with the R2M

 

[Pioneer]

A wonderful camera/lens combo. Enjoy it. Post a few shots when you think about it.

 

[dct]

For whom it was not known: I found these insights on the Bessa-T at our bartender's site.
https://www.cameraquest.com/VCBessaT.htm
Nice reading.

 

[robert blu]

My first Bessa was the T with the 15mm lens, I wanted to experience the extremely wide field.Good camera, no specific problems. But when I understood to need a more versatile camera I change it with a Bessa R, which for what I know is not very different from the R2M.

Never regret it, I still use it now, more than 10 years later beside my M7 🙂

robert

PS: just if you are curious a few pics here and here on my blog.