Best match for 35/1.2

[bessasebastian]

I am interested in buying a Bessa body with a Voitgländer 35/1.2 lens. Which body would you recommend?

Considering build quality, do all the later Rs (R2, R3, R4) share the same level? The original R seems to be worse as far as I heard with more plastic and less metal.

Thanks for your help

 

[QUAsit]

Let`s start from basics: Bessa-R has LTM mount and Nokton35 is M-Nount lens. R2A, R2M are the best choice IMHO.

 

[Leicabug]

Bassa T for focusing accuracy.

 

[bessasebastian]

Bassa T for focusing accuracy.

Which R would you recommend? 2, 3 or 4?

 

[rogue_designer]

for a combination of the correct framelines, and medium viewfinder magnification to get decent focus accuracy. The 2 series (r2a, r2m). (The 3 would focus more accuratly, but does not have 35mm framelines, as far as I know, and the 4 would have the least accuracy due to the wider magnification).

 

[Huck Finn]

In theory, any of the Bessas with M-mount & 35 mm frame lines should have sufficient base length for the 35/1.2.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

If you think you may want another lens one day that has a bearing on R2/R3 choice: research the framelines.

The R3 is really out of the running as it doesn't have 35mm framelines.

I would have thought that R2, R3, and R4 all have the same build quality since they are made on the same chassis on the same production line.

 

[rogue_designer]

In theory, any of the Bessas with M-mount & 35 mm frame lines should have sufficient base length for the 35/1.2.

In theory. But effective baselength is modified by the viewfinder magnification. So the R4 will probably be fine, but the R2 will be more accurate. Granted, a 35 1.2 is less finiky than a 50 1.2

 

[sockeyed]

I believe that an R2M or R2A is the best choice for you. The decision therein is whether or not you want AE. Having used an "A" Bessa and an "M" Bessa, I was happier with manual metering of the M's. I found the metering pattern with the A's to take in too much sky, and I didn't like the AE lock function. I love how the M's give you a two-stop exposure range.

Good luck with your decision. Either way, you can't go wrong.

Oh, and the Bessa R is a fine camera. I never found the build quality to be bad, and I never hear of them breaking. The downsides are that it isn't M-mount and, for you, it might not balance well with the 35/1.2

 

[bessasebastian]

Thank you guys. Im quite surprised there´s is a community for film bessas at all. 😉

I guess the R2M will be right for me.

Still contemplating wether to keep my Canon 5D or not. I have an older 300D as well.

 

[bellyface]

keep your digitals. I have 4 digitall bodies, D1, D70, D200 & R-D1, and a whole slew of film bodies, MF & 35mm. I like the option of having a choice of camera/format for whatever I need to shoot, either for pay or fun.