How tough is a Bessa R?

[esc_ctrl]

I am thinking about getting a Bessa R.
A major concern is the build quality. I mostly use a Nikon FM2 and it has taken quite a lot of beatings, but except for some dents and a lost rewind crank it held up quite well.
I know the Bessa is no comparison to a Leica, but my budget is limited.
How are your experiences with the Bessa?

 

[Q-dog]

Well, I dropped mine on some rocks. Cracked the top. It is made of plastic. But after aligning the rangefinder, easy to do yourself, it is still useable. I mainly use a M2 nowadays and it is of course in another league. Still, the R is a great little camera, just don't drop it.

Ola

 

[OlliL]

Well, it's certainly far from "rugged", but I never had problems with mine, even my R2a, which I received pretty banged up already.

 

[awbphotog]

I've dropped my Bessa on a mountain climb once and aside from a crack in the silver paint, the camera was fine. The plastic does a decent job of absorbing shock and the optics were left in tact. It's a great camera...you won't be disappointed.

 

[snapper78]

I've had mine for about three years now and it was pretty shabby when I bought it. It still works well, although the vertical rangefinder spot is not properly aligned, It's a very convenient and pleasant camera to use. I understand it's relatively simple to adjust the rangefinder but I don't want to risk it in case I do damage.

 

[esc_ctrl]

So the top and bottom plate are also made of plastic?

 

[snapper78]

According to Cameraquest the top and bottom plates are made of a composite material. They look and feel like metal, though.

 

[FrankS]

Cracks like composite material/plastic. 😉

 

[Pioneer]

I have two and they work great. They definitely don't feel like Leicas, but they don't cost as much either. But they have fine viewfinders and great meters.

My two just continue to keep plugging away with no apparent problems. My oldest (from the early 2000s) is considerably scratched and worn around the edges but works just as smoothly as it did when it was new.

I carry mine around in my coat pocket which tends to occasionally swing against things like car doors, etc. So far this has not created any problems. In my humble opinion they are quite tough. The only area that may need adjustment from time to time is the rangefinder, which is not very hard to do yourself.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I purchased it mint, used it for two years and sold it with $100 loss.
It wasn't mint at all after two years of use. Rubber back and painted plastic aren't good for it.
It is more advanced technically comparing to M Leicas, works well with cheap FSU 50 mm primes and tales less expensive LTM versions of wider Skopars.
Not good with J-12 and collapsibles.
Loud shutter and zero technical support in Canada.
Switched to Leica mostly because of no service.

 

[charjohncarter]

I heard a lot about their 'ruggedness' when I was going to buy one. So, I have been very careful with mine. I also heard not to force the film advance, and to just stop at the end of the roll and rewind (don't push it). My copy has never given me a bit of trouble. I like to use it; it has meter on board, lever advance, easy loading, works without battery, synched to 1/125, view is great plus many focal lengths, and I suppose because of the composites it is light.

 

[esc_ctrl]

Thanks for the answers so far!
What about the newer R2M? Are the haptic and build quality comparable?

 

[VTHokiEE]

My Bessa R's window over the frame count fell into the body, and I (stupidly) left it there. Eventually it worked it's way down and destroyed my shutter. I had plenty of time to get the piece out, but I was lazy and paid the price. I replaced it with an R2 that feels a lot more rugged (no idea it is really is though). I assume the R2M is similar.

 

[FrankS]

An R2 I once had felt more sturdy than the Bessa R's I've had.
I think it has metal top and bottom plates.

 

[Spider67]

I have two Bessas the R and the R2. With each of the I had the following Problem: Suddenly I could not wind on the film. it stopped wporking until I rewound the film. It happened once with each of them. For me it was the reason to buy a Leica M6.

 

[jcb4718]

Some years ago (more than 10) I visited a camera shop with the intention of buying a Bessa R. There were lots of them on display and every one had a misaligned rangefinder patch. Maybe that was the reason they were traded in? The camera man in the shop aligned one, pretty easily, and I bought it. One of the lenses I bought at the time was a 75mm f2.5 Heliar. Eventually I realised that fully open the focus was still a little out and re-adjusted the rangefinder myself. It was clear to me that focussing the Heliar (I emphasise fully open) was right on the limit of the camera's capability. The rangefinder patch did not go out of alignment over the period I owned the camera (several years). The shutter is relatively loud. l think that is a characteristic of the CV metal shutters, but you do get a 1/125 flash synchronisation. Leica screwmounts in contrast only have 1/50 but are whisper quiet. That seems to be the trade off. The Bessa was a nice camera to use but eventually I sold it and bought a Leica screwmount which is a completely different experience. I won't be selling the Leica.

 

[Anthony Harvey]

Spider67: I have two Bessas the R and the R2. With each of the I had the following Problem: Suddenly I could not wind on the film. it stopped wporking until I rewound the film. It happened once with each of them. For me it was the reason to buy a Leica M6.

I had exactly the same thing happen to my R3A, once only over roughly 50 rolls of 135-36, after about the tenth roll. I also have a R3M, and with similar usage it hasn't happened (yet).

Apart from that, both are accurate in focussing and exposure, and robust enough for me. They're great fun cos they're so small and light cameras.

 

[robert blu]

My Bessa R is from the beginning of 2000s not sure exactly when I bough it. Still using it a lot beside my Leica M7 or the Nikon FM2 when I'm in the film mood.
it was only serviced once. The rangefinder never required realignment (my the M7 requires it at least once a year). So I would say it is a simple reliable tough enough camera.
robert

 

[Solinar]

It's a modern day Canonet with regards to build quality

It's a modern day Canonet with regards to build quality

I have two Bessas the R and the R2. With each of the I had the following Problem: Suddenly I could not wind on the film. it stopped working until I rewound the film. It happened once with each of them. For me it was the reason to buy a Leica M6.

************

I first read about this problem 10 years ago - which is when I bought my used Bessa R. It only has seen light use. Luckily, the shutter hasn't jammed, yet.

I've been careful handling this camera - but the wear and tear are showing.

After only 40 rolls of film - the Bessa R definitely looks more used than it should. In places, especially by the shutter button, the edges of the plastic top cover are worn to the point that grey plastic is showing through the black outer finish.

My 2nd hand example came with a 35mm Skopar lens - which I later sold. So, the body alone was less than $200.

Best Regards,

 

[traveler_101]

I have a Bessa T which is a bit tougher than the R, or so I have read, but is basically comparable. I still use mine . . . One of the advantages of getting a camera like this is (a) it is light and (b) it is not so terribly expensive. I think i paid around $220 for my camera used. The result is you can bring it anywhere-- throw it in your rucksack, go backpacking, wade into the sea. Are you going to do that with an expensive Leica? I wouldn't.