Help! Just bought a Bessa L and I know nothing about Bessas!

[iamzip]

I just won a Bessa-L body on eB@y for about $78 - the seller described it as an 8+. This would be my first interchangable lens RF (ok, I know it's a scale focus) and I know nothing about Bessas. Assuming this camera is in good condition, is this as good a deal as I think it is? or merely average? Any sage words before I begin plunking down loads of cash on lenses? Thanks!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=250253299845

 

[iamzip]

This was something of an impulse buy, hence the lack of research. Seemed like an inexpensive way to get into an interchangeable lens camera. A quick search of RFF reveals that these cameras were going for around that price new a couple of years ago, don't know if prices have gone up slightly but I didn't see any going for any cheaper on the 'Bay.

 

[feenej]

Advice is to just to buy a Cosina Superwide, or a 35mm, and a finder, immerse yourself in the Summer festival crowds and take pics.

 

[iamzip]

Thanks for your help so far. The next least expensive L on the 'bay sold for about $125, the seller listed it as new, which I always wonder about.

I've been practicing my scale focusing on a Rollei B35, which, if memory serves me correctly, has a 40mm lens. I've also got a scale focus Zeiss Ikon folder, but I've only used that maybes once so far.

 

[tripod]

The CV 28/35 minifinder is nice to use with the Bessa L and either a 28 or 35mm lens.

 

[Colman]

That's not a terrible price, so don't worry about that. The LTM version of the 25/4 Snapshot-Skopar 25/4 is a great lens on it: stop clicks at 1/1.5/3M and a nice little focusing lever - and it should come with a suitable viewfinder.

Just be careful to not jam the lever when advancing the film - make sure the shutter is closed first.

 

[iamzip]

Hey, well if you're used to the Rollei with a 40, you know a little about zone focus, you should have NO trouble!🙂

Just because I'm used to the Rollei doesn't mean I'm good with it!😛 Your assertion that I know little about zone focus is correct!

 

[bennyng]

I'm sure these too reputated retailers will address your concerns about you set being good value.

http://www.cameraquest.com/inventor.htm

http://www.photovillage.com/html/voigtlander.html

Now that you've got this body, you'll definitely need some lenses. Do check the above list and see that there are some very good value lenses that comes with finders (e.g. 12mm, 15mm, 21mm, 25mm). You'll need them as the Bessa L does not have a view finder at all. Take note that only the 21 mm is rangefinder coupled. This will have an implication for your future acquisition.

Cheers,

 

[iamzip]

The CV 28/35 minifinder is nice to use with the Bessa L and either a 28 or 35mm lens.

OK, what's a CV 28/35 minifinder?

 

[oscroft]

The Bessa-L is great (I've had a couple) and the price is fine - it's less than I sold mine for (I had to sell them to raise the money for an R4A). I'd second the suggestion of a 25/4 - it and the L are made for each other, and it's a great lens.

OK, what's a CV 28/35 minifinder?

It's an accessory viewfinder with frames for 28mm and 35mm lenses (the Bessa-L has no viewfinder and you need to get one to match your lens), and the "mini" bit comes from its small size. But if you get a 25/4 (be careful to get the screw mount one) it should come with a viewfinder included.

 

[iamzip]

I think I'm starting to get it - CV stands for Cosina Voigtlander, right? Perhaps the title of the thread was a bit misleading, it probably should have read "I know nothing about screw mount cameras!" This is my very first, and I'm beginning to see that, at least in this case, it is mostly an accessory to hang some very expensive glass from.

I may start another thread with this question, to get some more direct views, but does anyone have any experience with the adapter to mount Canon FD lenses on a screw mount body? This would be nearly ideal for me since I already have a small collection of FD lenses for my A-1. From what I've read it seems to work rather well. I would simply have to find the adapter, plus the appropriate viewfinders, and that should serve me until I am able to afford a proper lens. Any thoughts?

 

[iamzip]

This is the place to look, but I don't think there's one for FD lenses.
http://cameraquest.com/adaptnew.htm

He doesn't have any for sale, but does have some info on them here:
http://www.cameraquest.com/nikonaf.htm

I've found a couple used ones for sale, I will probably buy one soon.

 

[NIKON KIU]

He doesn't have any for sale, but does have some info on them here:
http://www.cameraquest.com/nikonaf.htm

I've found a couple used ones for sale, I will probably buy one soon.

Be carefull.
some of these adapters may be for Canon FD to Pentax 42mm screw-mount(SLR).
Make sure the adapter is 39mm(RF).

Good luck,

Kiu

 

[iamzip]

Be carefull.
some of these adapters may be for Canon FD to Pentax 42mm screw-mount(SLR).
Make sure the adapter is 39mm(RF).

Good luck,

Kiu

thanks for the heads up - the ones I've found are specifically the Canon B adapters, made by Canon so the Canon man could mount his FD lenses to his Canon RF.

 

[Anupam]

You'd be far better off with a 25 or wider LTM lens on that body than the adapter option.

 

[iamzip]

My main concern at this point is economy. I bought the body because it was a good deal, I hadn't even looked at lenses at that point. I figure if I buy the adapter for $50, plus hopefully find a universal viewfinder for not too much, right away I'll have at least a 28 and a 35, maybe I could even slap a 50 on there if I want to get crazy. I can't afford CV or Leica glass right now, so if I were to buy an LTM lens it would be an less expensive one anyway. And it's not like the FD lenses are bad.

 

[Anupam]

My main concern at this point is economy. I bought the body because it was a good deal, I hadn't even looked at lenses at that point. I figure if I buy the adapter for $50, plus hopefully find a universal viewfinder for not too much, right away I'll have at least a 28 and a 35, maybe I could even slap a 50 on there if I want to get crazy. I can't afford CV or Leica glass right now, so if I were to buy an LTM lens it would be an less expensive one anyway. And it's not like the FD lenses are bad.

What adapter are you talking about?

Also, you won't really be able to focus 35 and longer lenses unless you stop them way down. The best bet for shooting those lengths on a budget is to get a Bessa T which has an awesome rangefinder. The L's scale focus will quickly become stifling with long lenses.

-A

 

[iamzip]

I am referring to the Canon B adapter, made specifically for mounting FD lenses on the M39 Leica screw mount body. You can read about it here:

http://www.cameraquest.com/nikonaf.htm

I don't mind being limited to wide angle lenses. I've already got the body and am probably not buying another one anytime soon. If I want to use a telephoto lens I'll use my SLR.

 

[laptoprob]

Have a look at old Canon rf lenses. There are great 35's, the 25mm is fantastic and extremely small. There are also mutifocal finders. Not as bright as fixed focal finders, but hey, they show multiple frames. There are ones that show like 25mm or wider (full image view without frames).

 

[dan denmark]

i keep a 15 on my L and occasionally go to the 21 if the 15 is on the RD. i have a few Bessas and i really LOVE the L and 15/21 combo. i don't usually use a VF, especially with the 15, just frame the camera in the right direction and i pretty much know what i'll get. but that's practice. the 21 is a bit more field specific and i do have a VF for that on occasion.

i hope you love the L as much as i do. seems to be a bit of a cult camera in some circles.

-dd