Black Bessa R2M Drop Dead Gorgeous

[CameraQuest]

Today my first shipment of regular production black R2M's arrived.

If you are familiar with the earlier Bessa T 101st Anniversary Heliars, the 250th Anniversary kits are double boxed in the same way, with an outer brown card board box and inner white presentation box

the classic black paint bodies and lenses are drop dead gorgeous, looking to be the same finish as on the black paint ZM bodies.

The serial number is on the hot shoe "250 - xxxx" as is suitable for a limited production camera. The top plate is marked "Voigtlander 1756-2006" "250 Jahre." The lower portion of the lens barrel is marked "1756-2006 250 Jahre"

This is a drop dead gorgeous camera. Mr. K just keeps improving each generation of new Bessas. Voigtlander fans will be proud.

And now, the best for last. My prototype silver R2M sounded more or less the same as previous mechanical shuttered Bessas. The production R2M is noticeably quieter. OK, not as quiet as a Leica M, but still noticeably the most quiet Cosina Voigtlander Bessa to date. Yah! 🙂

Stephen

 

[Uncle Bill]

Pity they are only limited edition cameras.

Bill

 

[ghost]

is it the same as the zeiss ikon?

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

If Voigtlander have developed a technology to make the shutter quieter on this limited edition camera I'm sure that they'll introduce the same technology on the regular production cameras at some time.

 

[Fred]

They sure do look good from the web photo's. I'd love one but I already (if there is such a thing) have too many cameras. Would be good to get an M mount Bessa but my R is more than good enough for me for day to day on the bike. Saving up for the M8 or M9 by the time I have enough cash.

 

[GeneW]

Thanks for the update Stephen. If I had the cash for one of these, I'd be really tempted. I like what Mr. K has been doing and both Bessas I've owned have been fine cams. They're a refreshing antidote for our digital times...

Gene

 

[Dougg]

I like what Mr. K has been doing and both Bessas I've owned have been fine cams. They're a refreshing antidote for our digital times...

Indeed so! I admire what Cosina has been doing, including the cooperation with Epson on a digital RF. Innovative use of existing technology put into production at low volume economically. Quite a useful formula for us!

Even so, not all of it will appeal to all of us. The R2a is the most attractive model for me, but for a short-base RF I'm content with my CLE. I like having the AE option, though I have a Bessa-T and -L also. This new 50mm f/2 Heliar sounds very attractive and interesting... except for the collapsible feature, which for me is a deal-breaker. I know for some it's a deal-maker, so I wish it success and the users happy snapping! 🙂

 

[palabras]

They sure do look good from the web photo's. I'd love one but I already (if there is such a thing) have too many cameras. Would be good to get an M mount Bessa but my R is more than good enough for me for day to day on the bike. Saving up for the M8 or M9 by the time I have enough cash.

if you change your mind, Fred, I'll be happy to free you of that ugly Bessa R...🙂

I'm joking (but not too much😀 )


Anyway... Voigtlander improves his cameras every time: they will reach Leica, if they haven't already done...

 

[Stu :)]

I'm sorely tempted too.

Anybody know what the differance between the orginal R2 and the new R2m is?
If the R2a was an automatic/electronic version of the R2 and the R2m is manual version of the R2a... anybody else follow my train of logic here?
Or is the R2/3m's going be a non-production line, special one offs?

Stu 🙂
PS. I wouldn't mind seeing that 50/2 Heliar collapsible sold seperately....

 

[ZeissFan]

I'm not a fan of the R2A/R3A body style, although I don't find it to be quite as hideous as before. Maybe in another two years, it will just be ugly.

It looks like Cosina has adapted some of the Zeiss Ikon parts (lens hoods, lens caps) for the Voigtlander.

Nice camera, although at that price it seems like it's more for the fondlers than it is for daily use.

 

[kshapero]

Just got an R3a a few months ago. really find that I don't use the aperture priority that much. That R3m is really nice looking, but I think I'll "slum" it with my R3a for a decade or two. Please don't quote me on this.

 

[Captain]

It looks like Cosina has adapted some of the Zeiss Ikon parts (lens hoods, lens caps) for the Voigtlander.

Actually its the reverse. The caps and hoods were created by Cosina for their 35mm Pancake 2 and 40mm f1.4 before the Zeiss stuff was even anounced. Zeiss obviously liked the system and now uses it for their lenses.