los
Established
i was considering retiring my VT. it was a gift, in mint condition, from a 97 year old relative who is no longer on the planet. i was used to keeping a k1000 in my bag, and felt this may not be the best way to keep the VT. so i went to a photo expo last weekend and auditioned a bessa r3m. i thought the camera was great, except for the plastic. i use a plastic 67 fuji rangefinder, and that doesn't bother me. are there any other metal camera users that have enjoyed a transition to a bessa? is the plastic feel something that you get used to over time or is it a sacrifice you make for an otherwise great camera system?
The Bessas are very well made cameras. No, they don't feel like any camera from the 1950s, a true golden age, but they are excellent. Keep in mind that the R3a's widest framelines are 40mm so if you shoot wider you should consider the R2a.
Funny, I have not handled many K1000 cameras, but my impression was that the Bessa is as well made as a Spotmatic F I had for a little while.
Funny, I have not handled many K1000 cameras, but my impression was that the Bessa is as well made as a Spotmatic F I had for a little while.
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dazedgonebye
Veteran
los said:
I've owned, and still do own, many metal cameras. I've never thought of myself as a "metal camera user."
The Bessas are great cameras. If the build doesn't provide the necessary tactile pleasures, you're just going to have to stick to an older camera or pay a bunch more for a new Zeiss or Leica.