Bessa T

[taffer]

😱 Thanks Todd 🙂

Glad to see more people joining the T-train and appreciating it. Sometimes it's certainly refreshing to carry a light camera that won't leave a mark on your shoulder ! ;-)

 

[captainslack]

And light is definitely the word!!! Even loaded with film, it barely weighs anything!

 

[ScottS]

😱 Thanks Todd 🙂

Glad to see more people joining the T-train and appreciating it. Sometimes it's certainly refreshing to carry a light camera that won't leave a mark on your shoulder ! ;-)

Yeah -- I got my T almost by accident. I had previously eliminated the R2/R2a/R3a from consideration due to the short RF baselength. I was about to buy the clip-on VC Meter II from cameraquest to use with my exisiting bodies, but I realized the Bessa T was only $16 more. I figured at that price it amounted to a meter with a free M-mount rangefinder camera attached. I also realized that the clip-on meter is of limited utility for my knob-wind bodies with non-50 lenses without the double-accessory shoe (with that, the meter would have been _more_ expensive than the T), and I already have working clip-on selenium meters for the Canon VI-T and the M2.

With the T I also have a working M-mount body once again (the M2 is awaiting a CLA and the shutter is currently stuck open).


Scott

 

[Theo-Prof]

I once considered buying the 'T' but was afraid the metal bezel around the rangefinder window would scratch the plastic lenses of my glasses. Any glasses wearers have this problem with the 'T'?

Kevin

 

[captainslack]

I once considered buying the 'T' but was afraid the metal bezel around the rangefinder window would scratch the plastic lenses of my glasses. Any glasses wearers have this problem with the 'T'?

Kevin

I'll let you know when I get a chance to put my T through its paces. It's got to be kinder to my glasses than my FED2 was!!! 🙄

 

[doubs43]

I'll let you know when I get a chance to put my T through its paces. It's got to be kinder to my glasses than my FED2 was!!! 🙄

A light application of "Plasti-Grip" (IIRC) should solve that problem. It's a plastic in liquid form that tool handles are dipped into and when dry, it forms a durable and comfortable grip. A small amount diluted with naptha and applied with a fine artist's brush would form a soft barrier that would protect your eye glasses. Just be careful not to get any on the finder glass.

Walker

 

[taffer]

I once considered buying the 'T' but was afraid the metal bezel around the rangefinder window would scratch the plastic lenses of my glasses. Any glasses wearers have this problem with the 'T'?

Kevin

Compared to the one on a Fed-2 (as captain says) or any other classic camera, the one on the T is a lot 'rounder'. Just tried with my left glass (the unscratched one...) and no problems that I can see...

So, it's not a glass-killer, I'd say.

 

[Theo-Prof]

Thanks for the responses about eyeglasses. I will have to reconsider the T again.

Kevin

 

[taffer]

I was about to buy the clip-on VC Meter II from cameraquest to use with my exisiting bodies, but I realized the Bessa T was only $16 more. I figured at that price it amounted to a meter with a free M-mount rangefinder camera attached.

Seen that way... it's still a more impressive bargain 😱

 

[l.mar]

The eyepiece on my Bessa-T is surrounded by the standard (great feature!) adjustable diopter, which is definitely plastic. I believe that the eyepiece itself is also plastic. On the other hand, the round eyepiece surround on my M3 is definitely metal, but my eyeglasses are so scratched up already that I'm not sure whether it's done any additional damage to them!

 

[pvdhaar]

There's a posh "Heliar 101" version of the T which has a metal top plate, and as far as I can judge from the pictures may also very well have a metal bezel around the finder.

The bog standard black T (the one which I have) definately has a plastic ring..

 

[Theo-Prof]

Thanks for the clarification. I thought the T also had metal bezels.

Kevin

 

[Marcus B]

Like Scott, I too bought the Bessa T as lightmeter with camera attached als as supplement to my M3. It takes all the lenses I have, and a lack of a viewfinder has not bothered me. I use it mainly with a Skopar 21, a summarit 50 (mostly using a Kontur finder) and a Summaron 35 with a russian universal finder (in that order). Meter and rangefinder are accurate, so I've got nothing to complain about...
Marcus

 

[hth]

I have a blue T101 I do not use much at the moment. The lens that came with the kit sees a lot of use though.

It is a light and rather nice camera, though I tend to favour using a combined viewfinder and rangefinder these days.

The M mount on mine have a click lock that can only be heard if it is very quiet, but it locked the lens. Now, it does not even seem to do that as the lens can be moved slightly while locked. Sigh... I am not too impressed by that. I wonder if it is worth having it repaired, or if I should live with it or dump it? At the moment I do nothing about it, I use an M2, a Hexar RF or medium format gear instead.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

BBT! Black Bessa T for my Color Skopar 25 F4.

Camera, Lens and VF made by Cosina Voigtlander.

 

[MaxElmar]

Only on RFF does a thread about the Bessa T get revived after a decade! I love my chrome T, esp. with the 40/1.4 + BL finder. Add the CV 21 and it's an amazing, light-wieght kit.

 

[traveler_101]

BBT! Black Bessa T for my Color Skopar 25 F4.

Camera, Lens and VF made by Cosina Voigtlander.

Nice looking kit - all black! Do you have the M mount rangefinder coupled 25/4 there?

Edit: I agree that it is nice to have a kit that matches brand and time period.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Thank you, traveler_101.
Color Skopar 25 F4 is M-mount RF lens.

But. This lens allows you to focus at 0.5 meters. The T ins't.

Recent picture, where I have to keep it in mind.


by Kostya Fedot, on Flickr

 

[kxl]

I used to have one a while back. It's a decent enough body with an accurate rangefinder, but in the end, I found that having to use a separate rangefinder and viewfinder just didn't work for me, so I ended up using it mostly as a hyperfocal body. It was fun using it as such for a while.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm in opposite. I use scale focus and VF just for framing very often (90% for street and landscapes). On T and M4-2.