Bessaflex Discontinued

[MadMan2k]

Having money in my bank account is hazardous. I placed a bid on a Spotmatic SP just because of this thread 😛

(I do have two m42 mount lenses and I sold my only m42 to EOS adapter with my fisheye lens so I can't use them, though, and my Canon has something wrong with it so I wanted a backup body)

 

[ed1k]

what a pity. sh*t! all real things are now discontinued. seems i'm stuck with old spotmatic and zenit, not ready to pay $350 right now.

 

[ed1k]

You can always buy inexpensive M42 adapters for most SLRs.

The key word is 'most'. The only other SLR system I have and interested in is Nikon F mount. Unfortunately, adapter for this SLR is either expensive or you loss focusing scale and infinity (kind of micro ring); or you get really cheap compensating lens compromising quality of m42 lens - which doesn't make sense at all.

Cheers,
Eduard.

 

[Mazurka]

The key word is 'most'. The only other SLR system I have and interested in is Nikon F mount.

If you're only interested in Nikon, then it makes no difference to you whether the Bessaflex is discontinued.

If your "other SLR" is a Bessaflex or any other M42 body, you're already covered.

If you must buy an M42 camera, Stephen still has a few Bessaflex available. Otherwise, there are always tons of Spotmatics, Fujicas, Prakticas, etc out there.

So everything does make sense after all. 😀

 

[tedwhite]

In retrospect, it seems now that the only real difference between the Bessaflex and my Spotmatics was the brighter viewfinder, LED metering, and the little window in the door.

I believe the build quality of the Pentax bodies is superior. Mine were made in the late sixties/early seventies and they remain rock-solid.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

what a pity. sh*t! all real things are now discontinued. seems i'm stuck with old spotmatic and zenit, not ready to pay $350 right now.

Yep. Welcome to the age of the 3-year-old cycle. Consume, consume!! Things that last are bad for bidness. But that's only for a 6-month fiscal plan. 😡

Hold on to your Spotmatic, dearly. 🙁

 

[Mazurka]

In retrospect, it seems now that the only real difference between the Bessaflex and my Spotmatics was the brighter viewfinder, LED metering, and the little window in the door.

If you use flash with any lens longer than 50mm or in daylight as fill, you'd be grateful for the 1/125 maximum X-sync speed like that on the Bessaflex (compared with 1/60 on the Spotmatics).

 

[tedwhite]

Mazurka. You are right. I had forgotten about that for the simple reason that I never use flash (except in studio). I no doubt skipped the flash section in the manual when I got the camera.