I hate that rewind crank

[oscroft]

Can anyone here manage to rewind a whole film in a Bessa that has the folding rewind crank (mine's an R4A) without it slipping or folding at least once and losing tension? I haven't managed it (in fact, I never managed it with the rewind cranks of my previous L and R either), and normally slip at least 2 or three times per film.

I contrast that with the rewind levers on my Leica M6 and my Olympus OMs - they work smoothly and reliably, without any slips, every time.

(It's only a minor gripe in the scheme of things - I otherwise love the R4A - but it does niggle)

 

[dazedgonebye]

It's not the best design, I think, but not such a big deal either.
I'd like to try the rewind knob on a Z1, but that knob is much more expensive.

 

[nikon_sam]

I have the same problem on my F2, F4 and F5...that's why I like to use the motor to rewind the roll...unless it's in a very quiet room then I do it manually...
The Pentax MX and other Nikons (FE & FM) which I also have, have a rewind handle that lays flat and is not easily flipped back into the knob...

 

[loslosbaby]

It makes me a little nuts now too. (I just got my R3M+21/4...and I'll post the 1st pic as is custom!)

G.

 

[chris000]

Yeah, I have that problem too (R3M), I don't think I have managed to rewind a single film in one go so far. It's my only niggle with an otherwise great camera.

 

[Photog9001]

true, not the best design but not that evil either imo. what drives me practically nuts about theses bodies though, is the positioning of the strap lugs. whoever thought that it'd be a good idea to have a camera hang in a strap with the lens facing up..."!!!!

 

[chris000]

whoever thought that it'd be a good idea to have a camera hang in a strap with the lens facing up..."!!!!

Mine hangs OK ....... but that may be more to do with the shape of my stomach! 😀

 

[biomed]

I haven't had any problems rewinding - it seems that the folding crank snags on anything and everything in my bag. The crank on my older R3 does not have that problem.

 

[audible]

phew

phew

phew, so i'm not alone...

i have to have a real good grip on my r4 crank, and now and then it still gets away...

 

[pvdhaar]

Can anyone here manage to rewind a whole film in a Bessa that has the folding rewind crank (mine's an R4A) without it slipping or folding at least once and losing tension? I haven't managed it (in fact, I never managed it with the rewind cranks of my previous L and R either), and normally slip at least 2 or three times per film.

I contrast that with the rewind levers on my Leica M6 and my Olympus OMs - they work smoothly and reliably, without any slips, every time.

(It's only a minor gripe in the scheme of things - I otherwise love the R4A - but it does niggle)

This isn't limited to the R4a, I've got the same problem on the Bessa-T which has a non-folding crank. Whenever I rewind, it slips a couple of times out of my fingers. It's something that never happens with the M4 where the crank is set at an angle and also runs a lot smoother...

 

[rxmd]

Had the same problem with my Bessa R and its non-folding crank. I wasn't too bothered because I used a Zorki 6 before that which has a thin serrated knob instead. By comparison the Bessa's knob is really good. 🙂

 

[c.poulton]

Yep, same with my R3A - I thought I was alone with this problem...

 

[wyk_penguin]

Maybe I have small fingers and wind at a snail's pace. (Anyone complaining should go get themselves a Horizon camera and try rewinding that!!) One thing about bottom loading Leicas is that you can spin the body around holding the rewind knob when rewinding. (Not responsible for any fatalities.)

As for the strap lug problem, get a Bessa grip or use a wrist strap (which is what I do).

 

[kalokeri]

And I thought it´s the size of my fingers ...

Honestly I have the same problems with my R2M and my "evil slr" FM2. The rewind knobs of Leica M2 and MP work much slower, but I don´t loose them while rewinding.

Maybe the rewind crank of the Bessas need a redesign, but I can live with it as it is.

Thomas

 

[loslosbaby]

I just put a 24V DeWalt on it, and squeeze the trigger.

G.

 

[rogue_designer]

I've had this problem with any camera with a folding winder. My P's, Fm2, F1Ns, All of em.

Only one I've used that I didn't was the post style of the M3/M2, but I have other issues with that.

Never really found it problematic, just a minor annoyance.

 

[teo]

Simple: buy an Hexar! 😀

(I'm a heaten, I know...😉)