Buying my first Bessa and Skopar 21mm

[Juan Valdenebro]

Go for a T or an R4M: both great mechanical cameras you'll really enjoy with the 21, and in the future, with other lenses... The R4M would be my choice: with it you have a compact set, without external finder.
For a 21 and for an R4, autoexposure is a bad idea in general: an R4A has more options to fail in the long run, and because of the huge field of view of the 21 and other wide angle lenses, you'd end up using your camera in manual mode 99% of the time...
Cheers,
Juan

 

[f16sunshine]

For a 21 or wide lens....I like the small size if the L or T and use of external vf's for wide lenses.
The ability to view/use the meter without holding the camera to ones eye is very useful.
It allows discretion and creates a nice speedy workflow.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

For a 21 or wide lens....I like the small size if the L or T and use of external vf's for wide lenses.
The ability to view/use the meter without holding the camera to ones eye is very useful.
It allows discretion and creates a nice speedy workflow.

So true...
Apart from the external light reading, another advantage to enjoy in the T is its amazingly low weight being a camera that's a lot more capable than the L.
I use my T's (for low weight and external finders) more than my R3A and my R4M, but these two do things my T's don't, so they have their moments too... And I want to buy an L now (one of the new ones offered by camera quest at an incredible price IMO) to dedicate it to prefocused, stopped down shooting with my 28...
All bessas are great, and they'll serve you well, no matter which one you choose... And for their price it makes sense to have a few of them: they're the best, most complete rangefinder system ever, designed by photographers who used and loved Leicas for decades... That must mean something...
Cheers,
Juan

 

[FredtheLlama]

Thanks for the input folks.

I'm now on the lookout for a nice black T and CS 21mm 🙂

I've found a reasonably priced M mount 21mm but it didn't come with a finder. Does anyone have a source for cheap finders? The only ones I can find are almost as much as the lens :O

 

[WJJ3]

I recently got the 21mm color-skopar in LEICA screw mount brand new from Camera Quest. It's a great little lens that I have a blast shooting and I decided I wanted a dedicated body for it.
I got a lot of recommendations from many kind RFF peoples you can read about here. I ended up getting a LEICA If. So far it works great and I like it a lot!

I think the L would be fine. I realized for myself, if I was going to get a CV body it would be the T and not the L...

Anyway, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the options available.

 

[FredtheLlama]

So true...
I want to buy an L now (one of the new ones offered by camera quest at an incredible price IMO) to dedicate it to prefocused, stopped down shooting with my 28...
All bessas are great, and they'll serve you well, no matter which one you choose... And for their price it makes sense to have a few of them: they're the best, most complete rangefinder system ever, designed by photographers who used and loved Leicas for decades... That must mean something...
Cheers,
Juan

Hi Juan,

Yeah this was my thinking too. Just preset the lens to a certain focus and aperture and simply compose and adjust the shutter speed as needed.

And I agree camera quests prices are brilliant, but with the import tax into the UK, it doesn't make it so cheap.

Cheers

 

[thegman]

What are people's thoughts on the Bessa T?

It's M mount, which opens up my lens compatibility, and I can just use an adapter if I get a LTM version of the 21mm skopar.

It's also compatible with the trigger winder, and it's got a big fat 1.5x rangefinder. They seem a bit undesirable I think, with prices being only a little more then L's and still half the price of any A/M series.

Does anyone have experience with one?

My brother used to have a Bessa T, lovely camera. Superb value, and a really good range finder on it too.

 

[FredtheLlama]

My brother used to have a Bessa T, lovely camera. Superb value, and a really good range finder on it too.

Yeah that's what I've read online too. I'll put up a wanted ad this evening to help me get my hands on one

 

[FredtheLlama]

Just another quick question - if I'm getting a T, I have the option of buying a LTM or M mount 21mm.

Is there any significant difference between them?

 

[FredtheLlama]

Just a bump for the question above.

Still having trouble finding a viewfinder for under £150!

 

[Scrambler]

That's the significant difference between the LTM and M versions. The price of the LTM will almost certainly include the viewfinder.

 

[FredtheLlama]

That's the significant difference between the LTM and M versions. The price of the LTM will almost certainly include the viewfinder.

I've seen 2 of each mount for sale recently, all for around the same price. It seems that some people use the LTM lens with an adapter on 3/4 digital bodies, and sell the viewfinder separately.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

I can only speak about what I know - and I really like my M-Mount 21mm/f4 when it's on the front of my Bessa R4M which, as you probably know, has frame lines for the 21mm (so no separate and expensive viewfinder required), has a light meter built in - but the shutter speeds are all mechanical - so will work fine, whether or not the light meter is working.

 

[Scrambler]

I've seen 2 of each mount for sale recently, all for around the same price. It seems that some people use the LTM lens with an adapter on 3/4 digital bodies, and sell the viewfinder separately.

Well that's just not cricket! I bought my LTM version on RFF where viewfinders are expected, sir, and delivered!

(I do use it on a SONY EVIL as well, but don't tell anyone).

Maybe a wanted ad in the classifieds? Or just keep checking them. One is bound to come up - people try and don't like it. For some it's just too wide.

And no, before you ask, I need my VF for when I use the lens on a real camera.

 

[FredtheLlama]

Well that's just not cricket! I bought my LTM version on RFF where viewfinders are expected, sir, and delivered!

(I do use it on a SONY EVIL as well, but don't tell anyone).

Maybe a wanted ad in the classifieds? Or just keep checking them. One is bound to come up - people try and don't like it. For some it's just too wide.

And no, before you ask, I need my VF for when I use the lens on a real camera.

Tell me about it man, it's madness!

I'll stick up a wanted ad in a minute and try my luck.

I'm just being impatient!

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

If you get a T, you'll enjoy its low weight and there's no real reason to get your 21 in thread mount, unless you plan to use it on a Barnack all the time, but the T is kind of an improved Barnack... So you can get an M mount one, and a T if you want to buy external finders and have the biggest possible magnification for focusing other lenses in the future, with external light metering info, or an R4M if you prefer avoiding the price and/or bulk of external finders having several framelines for wide angle lenses...
Once I thought well about it, just like you: lost my time thinking, because finally I got both of them: totally lovely cameras, and both get used all the time... You can't go wrong with any of them... Good luck!
Cheers,
Juan