How do you feel about your Bessa?

How do you feel about your Bessa?

  • Bessa (any model) is my primary camera

    Votes: 34 23.8%

  • Bessa is my secondary or backup camera

    Votes: 52 36.4%

  • I do not use my Bessa much any longer

    Votes: 29 20.3%

  • I also own a Leica Screw Mount camera

    Votes: 41 28.7%

  • I also own a Leica M camera

    Votes: 68 47.6%

  • I also own a RF from another manufacturer

    Votes: 61 42.7%

  • If my Bessa breaks I intend to have it repaired

    Votes: 47 32.9%

  • If my Bessa breaks I will not repair it

    Votes: 18 12.6%

  • I can see myself buying another Bessa.

    Votes: 44 30.8%

  • The decision by Cosina to stop production makes me less positive about my camera.

    Votes: 13 9.1%
  • Total voters
    143
R2s

R2s

Currently own the R2S with trigger winder and enjoy being able to use my S-mount Nikkors on a metered body.
No complaints here, other than, that all of the Voigtlander cameras have been discontinued.
 
I have two R's and sold off my other cameras. I consider myself a minimalist. Carry a small camera bag with my two R's, one with a 50mm lens and the other with a 35. Most of what I do is with the 50. I does everything I want in a camera.
 
traveler_101 said:
What is a "dual range Summicron"?
Click to expand...

The DR Summicron is a special version of the version 2 rigid Summicron 50mm f2 lens. It has a selectable second focusing range down to approximately 20", and comes with a set of "goggles" to adapt the VF/RF to that close range. It is quite heavy due to the extended helix, and is almost certainly the most mechanically precise component in the Leica camera line, beautifully made. It will fit all film Leicas, although with the M5 and the M6TTL a little steadying tab has to be removed to clear the higher top. I'm not sure about its fit on the digital bodies. It really doesn't work on the Bessas and ZI cameras.



Cheers,
Dez
 
mynikonf2 said:
Currently own the R2S with trigger winder and enjoy being able to use my S-mount Nikkors on a metered body.
No complaints here, other than, that all of the Voigtlander cameras have been discontinued.
Click to expand...

One of the reasons I posted this poll was to see if the decision to stop production troubled other people. It knocked my confidence in the future of film to cease the production of Bessas. But it does not seem to have bothered many of us.

What is S-mount?
 
danwilly said:
I have two R's and sold off my other cameras. I consider myself a minimalist. Carry a small camera bag with my two R's, one with a 50mm lens and the other with a 35. Most of what I do is with the 50. I does everything I want in a camera.
Click to expand...

The minimalist - I really like it, and I agree that the Rs fit the bill!

Only thing: What in the heck did you do about the crappy coating on the backdoor of your Rs?
 
Dez said:
The DR Summicron is a special version of the version 2 rigid Summicron 50mm f2 lens. It has a selectable second focusing range down to approximately 20", and comes with a set of "goggles" to adapt the VF/RF to that close range. It is quite heavy due to the extended helix, and is almost certainly the most mechanically precise component in the Leica camera line, beautifully made. It will fit all film Leicas, although with the M5 and the M6TTL a little steadying tab has to be removed to clear the higher top. I'm not sure about its fit on the digital bodies. It really doesn't work on the Bessas and ZI cameras.



Cheers,
Dez
Click to expand...

Ok, classic technology making possible modern performance (20 inches in close in)!
 
traveler_101 said:
One of the reasons I posted this poll was to see if the decision to stop production troubled other people. It knocked my confidence in the future of film to cease the production of Bessas. But it does not seem to have bothered many of us.

What is S-mount?
Click to expand...

It is the mount used on Nikon rangefinder cameras & lens.

With the advent of digital photography, the end of the Bessa camera production was inevitable, IMO. In fact, I felt more surprised at the beginning of Bessa camera production than I did by the end of their production. I had questioned the wisdom of a start up film rangefinder camera as digital photography became dominant and at the same time admired the risk it took to introduce these "Limited Production" cameras.

My dedication to film photography has never been dependent on the continued production of film cameras (I have more than enough film cameras). Film photography is part of my DNA having used film from the very beginning of my photographic adventure and I will continue the use of film, for as long as I am able to find it. I consider myself blessed to have grown up during the film era and to also experience the beginning of the digital age...
 
I don't fully trust my Bessa R2a, the shutter has locked a couple of times and winding on has slipped. This has only been a couple of times in 4 years however. The viewfinder is better than my M6 in my opinion (no glare).
 
Hi,

I own a bessa r3a and i´m delighted with it.

It is reliable, lightweight, it has AE and Ae block.

It is inexpensive.

I´d love to get me a r4a.
 
I use four Bessas all the time, 5 or 6 years ago... Never had any problem. I prefer them to my Nikon SLRs and my Leica IIIf RD. No issue at all with my 15, 28, 35 and 40 either.
I thank Mr. K., Tom A. and the whole team for making my life a lot happier.
Cheers,
Juan
 
I have held onto a couple Bessa Rs for the screwmount with meter capability. I also own the Bessa R2C for the same reason except of course for use with Contax lenses.

I was disappointed to see Cosina drop the Bessa line. I have never needed any repairs on the Bessa but I hope that there are sufficient parts stock around should repair become necessary.
 
f16sunshine said:
I've tried all the models over the years.
The R2 in Olive color is the one I've gone back to.
Have one now and like it quite a bit. The CLE f2/40mm is mounted.
Never had any issues although the Rewind crank looks a bit suspect in the R/R2 models.
The R2 feels like a bit more solid build than the screw mount R.

The R#/a/m models felt a bit chunky by comparison although I really did love the R3a 1:1 VF :)
Click to expand...

I bought an R2 from a fellow RFF member for a good price knowing the rewind crank was already broken. I managed to fashion a temporary fix, which still holds up several years later! The knurled knob was off a penknife.

Voigtlander Bessa R2 by Philip McAllister, on Flickr
 
Absolutely loved my R2. It was my first rangefinder and ot totally hooked. Sold it now to switch to something smaller, a CLE. Eventhough I loved the Bessa, I wouldnt change back to it from the CLE.
 
I have owned Bessa R and R2 cameras.
I sold the olive R2, to an RFF member IIRC.

Many M lenses cost more than I paid for my car.
I'm happy with just my humble black R now, with 35/2.5 Skopar.

I have added a Canon P with Canon 50/1.8 but still prefer the Bessa.

Chris
 
I owned but sold a Bessa R and a Bessa R3A.

I still own and use a Bessa T and an R2A. My decision to buy the R2A was prompted by the announcement that production was discontinuing. I jumped and got a new one. It's been a great camera, really a poor man's M7. I've used it extensively over the last 18 months I've had it. Very pleased, although I did let the batteries run down and was caught flat footed at an event I wanted to shoot (my fault, though, not the camera's). The R2A has not had the RF alignment problem I experienced with the R3A I owned. The Bessa T is a great knock-about camera for vacation travel, as a second body.

I also own an M2, a IIIc, and a Canon IVSB2 among interchangeable lens RFs. I don't enjoy shooting the R2A any less than these other RFs. All of the black and white photos I've been posting on flickr from my summer Italy trip were taken with the R2A, combined with Leica, CV, and Canon glass. The camera performed like a champ.
 
Main camera is a Bessa R. Only downfall thus far is the rubber coating on back door became stickty but now it's almost warn off & is begining to feel nice. Love the VF over those I've seen from M Leica's.

Also have a Bessa L with the 25/4. It's an awesome camera. Very fun to shoot. Like the lightweight feel & not a problem to wear around all day. Good to see so many still shooting Bessa's

Tom A has a Leica month & a Nikon RF month. Be nice to dedicate a month shooting our Bessa camera's.
 
I still have my R2A but haven't used it much the last year but no fault of the camera.. It is a smooth user and it does have a meter and a very accurate one at that. I really have to load it up and take it for a spin.
 
gb hill said:
Main camera is a Bessa R. Only downfall thus far is the rubber coating on back door became sticky but now it's almost worn off & is beginning to feel nice.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a job for Flex Seal. Might be good for the Nikon F100, too. Ya-hoo!

Chris
 
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