Bessa T

[darkkavenger]

Allright hello folks, you know I'm a huge fan of soviet rangefinders, but it's been some time now that I want a brand new workhorse. I've been pondering Leica MP and Zeiss-Ikon, but honestly there are still months and months ahead of saving, for a camera that I can after all buy when I'll be doing better with finances....

sooo... yep. I'd like some advice on the Bessa T. I've read that it's a fully manual camera, what do you guys think about it ? Any pros or cons ? I'm looking forward to hear about it!

Cheers!
Max

 

[thmk]

Pro: You can use LTM and M-Mount lenses. Exposure LEDs outside of the finder (good for metering before shooting from the hip). Battery dead = sunny 16 and there you go. Long baselength for focussing lenses like the Noctilux. Bang for the buck.

Con: You need external finders. You need adapters for LTM lenses. It slows you down a bit because of the separate view and rangefinder. Hard to get a black one nowadays.

That is what came to my mind at the moment.

Cheers
Thomas-Michael

 

[lubitel]

can you try it in a store? I looked at one, and I dont think I could get used to the separate view and range finder.

 

[taffer]

The T is my daily throw in the backsack camera. Try having to live with a separate VF/RF, first focus then compose.

After using mine with a 35 a lot, many times I no longer use the finder, with wide angles it's not too difficult to figure the field of view, and the black finderless T is as discreet and cool as they come 😉

 

[hth]

It is slower to use thanks to the separate rangefinder and viewfinder. I tend to prefer having them combined, so my T does not see much use these days.

Build quality is decent, feels better than the R but slightly less than an R2. It is OK enough for me, but an old Leica is nicer, so that is what I tend to use instead.

/Håkan

 

[pvdhaar]

I've only got a single RF nowadays, and it's a ... black T.

Yes, the separate VF/RF do take a couple of days getting used to, and at first they seem to slow you down. But that's only until you learn where the real strength of the T is. That is its 1.5x magnification RF window. It's so comfortable to focus; no squinting required. Even after sitting a full day behind a computer screen, it's ever so easy on the eyes..

IMO easy focus plus separate VF beats small magnification combined VF/RF all the time (had a 0.6x RF before the T). Besides, the combined VF/RF window argument is only valid for the selection of framelines supplied in body.

One other point to consider: what's the only RF nobody ever seems to ask RF-alignment questions about? You only get one guess.. 😉

Minor distraction: paint brasses on the bottom plate very easily..

 

[darkkavenger]

Allright, thank you for your advices!
I don't mind the separate VF/RF as I've got a similar config on my Zorki-3S and it doesn't disturbs me at all. I'm used to rugged things!

I think I'd be interested in a black version of course, possibly with grip and the leicavit-style advance thing (how does this works??!) 😉

I'm looking forward to shoot not only from aiming, but also guessing and shooting from the hip, like I do with my Zorki-3S (if i want precise visual focus I generally use my Kiev-2A) by presetting distance and dof manually.

I want something solid, I want to know I've bought a heavy piece of metal 😉
Maybe I'll try to spot one around here.

any other suggestions? 😀
max

 

[taffer]

Yes, remember it's just made of (rugged) plastic 😉

You can always add the side grip or the trigger winder, they are metal, and add a nice heavy thouch.

From all what you said above, I think you can love the T.

 

[darkkavenger]

I'll try spotting one here in Prague.. 🙂 Hopefully I won't end out with a new lens for my pentacon six or a bunch of russian RFs 😉

 

[varjag]

Save for R2C to use with your Kiev glass 🙂

 

[darkkavenger]

😀 nice idea!