How tough is a Bessa R?

[robert blu]

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.

This is the reason for which in a recent trip to Sardinia, where I also planned to spend time on the beach I went with my Bessa R and not the Leica M7!
And the pictures came out good, at least for me...
robert
PS: if you are curious, here!

 

[Pioneer]

I have had one shutter jam on my oldest R since I have owned my Bessas. I rewound the film, left the tail out and removed it from the camera. Then I held the camera in one hand and, holding the shutter button down I smacked it hard against the palm of the other hand. On the second smack the shutter closed. I finished that roll of film and have run many more through it. The problem has not recurred. But if it does I know what I'll do.

It is a little like the carburetor bowl float valve that would stick open once in awhile in my Jeep CJ. A quick tap or two on the side of the outside of the bowl with a light hammer would free it and life went on. 🙂

Had a shutter that quit working in my Leica IIIc. Cost me $125 to get it working again.

I can put up with the Bessa. 🙂

 

[Pioneer]

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

I hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but the bumpers on your car are probably made of composite material/plastic as well. Actually absorbs shock very well.

 

[bucs]

Rugged camera

Rugged camera

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.

This is exactly my reason for buying an R2. For the price i can bring it to everywhere I go. I like to travel and I need a rugged camera I won't worry too much about.

 

[gho]

Bessa R is LTM only. The viewfinder is very nice and is has a build in meter. My R has a problem with the film advance post, a screw tends to get loose, but I guess a bit of nail polish could fix that. However, I have been using an M4-P for years, it fell on concrete stairs and has some marks of that unfortunate incident, but it still works like a charm. I was not that lucky with an M2. Both cameras (M4-P, M2) do not have a light meter. I am still using the M4-P for film photography.
Why not simply staying with the FM2 as it has already proven itself to be reliable?

 

[esc_ctrl]

I most definitely will stick to the FM2, just not for all purposes...
The Bessas seem reasonable, but that film advance problem is making me hesitant.