If Bessas were Cars...

The R a VW bug?......More like a first generation Golf. and for the 1/2000th I think of it sometimes as a Miata.....
 
I think Hyundai is an apt comparison (and no slur meant to either Cosina or Hyundai) -- constant improvement in quality over the years, and steadily moving up-market, but still reasonably priced. From a rational standpoint, all the car/camera you need.
 
I drive a Dodge Dakota pick up, so I'd liken my R2a to that.
It's reliable and gets good milage and looks good too.
Brian
 
A Leica III would be a finely tuned hand-made bicycle. It's just your muscle against the steepness of the road, baby!

An M4-P would be a Honda Accord EX (top of the line), looked down by the elites, but oozes quality, gets the job done, comfortably, and efficiently.

Don't own a bessa, sorry. But I held a Bessa R3A once. It feels like a Toyota Corolla or Camry, but I don't know about the reliability, I've often read even here that Bessas are quite prone to little but nagging problems.

For some reasons I think of a Hummer when I saw an Alpa ... :D
 
My Bessa R would be equivalent to a Mazda from the 1990's. I generally like cars of the older model years. A Mazda 323 from the late 90's is beautiful to me, may have some problems, but will never let me down ;)
 
car_1.jpg
 
Bessa T = 2CV simple look but very sophisticated when you take it apart.
Bessa R= VW bug - it just gets the job done
Bessa R2= VW Bug with Judson Supercharger and non synchro gera box
Bessa R3M= Volvo 245 wagon
Bessa R3A= Volvo 245 wagon with automatic transmission
Bessa R4M= Citroen DS 15 in 1955 - nothing like it out there!

Leica M2 Land Rover Long Wheel base Diesel
Leica M1 Ford 150 pick up with the straight 300 cu.in 6
Leica M3 BMW 2002 Ti
Leica M4 Mercedes 300 SEL 1972
Leica M5 Lada
Leica M6 Porsche 911
Leica M6 TTL Porsche 911 with Sport Matic transmission
Leica MP Ferrari GT SWB Berlineta from 1960 - a perfect design
Leica M7 Ferrari 400 with automatic transmission
Leica M8 BMW 750 with all its electronic problems!

Nikon S Toyota Land Cruiser (1 st version)
Nikon S2 Porsche 356
Nikon S3 Mercedes 190 SL
Nikon SP Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing
Nikon S4 Replica Porsche 356

Hasselblad SWC T* Rolls Royce Silver Ghost 1912. For 2 1/4 square - the only one!
 
well i reckon my R4M is a lot like my 25 year old Echo chainsaw. bits fell off it in the first month, i had it repaired and it runs like a dream, now, that's both the camera and the chainsaw.

dj
 
As a car guy, I find these posts very interesting. I'm seeing that many associate Bessas with basic a-to-b transportation - Kia, Hyundai, Corrolla and other appliances. What is this? Don't you have fun with your Bessas? :D A Kia is more like a most-basic point-and-shoot!

Mr. Kobayashi reminds me very much of another legendary Japanese business leader and not just because their names start with the same letter - I'm talking about the infamous Mr. K - Yutaka Katayama of Nissan. The man that changed Nissan's direction from building economy cars to sporty cars! The father of the great 240Z and sporty 510.

Bessa-L = Skyline 1500 (C10 Skyline)
Bessa-T = Skyline 2000 GT-R (C10 Skyline)
Bessa-R = 240Z
Bessa-R2 = 300Z
Bessa-R2M/A + R3M/A + R4M/A = 350Z with different option packages.

From CV, I only have the Bessa-T.

For my other cameras:
Zero135 Pinhole: Ford Model-T (with the brass fittings instead of the black-painted ones)
Leica M3: Ferrari 365 GTS-3 (aka Daytona) - long legged
Leica MP: Ferrari 355 - mechanical perfection
Pentax MX: Land Rover Defender 90 (K-series being the 110)
...and...
Leica IIIf (just bought off classifieds): Ferrari 250 SWB (probably)

None match up to my all-time favourite car, the Ford GT40... :D But could it possibly be the new Zeiss Ikon?

Leica a Jenson Interceptor? Eeek... I think I need a drink.
 
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KoNickon said:
I think Hyundai is an apt comparison (and no slur meant to either Cosina or Hyundai) -- constant improvement in quality over the years, and steadily moving up-market, but still reasonably priced. From a rational standpoint, all the car/camera you need.
Click to expand...


Agreed on this one - very good analogy.

To add one to the mix:

Hexar RF - Subaru Outback - very reliable, does more than most competitors, you get a lot more features for the money than most in the same price range, and not as common as major brands. ;)
 
cmedin said:
I think a classic Barnack model would be like a nice diesel Benz; will run forever with minimal maintenance, doesn't have a lot of frills, is a bit clunky, but adored by their owners and those who appreciate fine machinery.
Click to expand...

Definately a Benz, but I was thinking more of some 1930's vintage convertable. Stylish, fun to drive, but easy to end up with bugs in your teeth if you're not careful.
 
A Leica M is like a Rolls Royce - exclusive, expensive, conservative with some lovely quirks.
A Bessa compares to Toyota models - simple entry models of the seventies up to Lexus (like Toyota, the high end Bessa models are named differently - Ikon).
 
jgeenen said:
A Leica M is like a Rolls Royce - exclusive, expensive, conservative with some lovely quirks.
A Bessa compares to Toyota models - simple entry models of the seventies up to Lexus (like Toyota, the high end Bessa models are named differently - Ikon).
Click to expand...

Why would the Ikon count as a high end Bessa?

Samuel
 
The Leica M series are more like a Porsche 911. Both have had a very long production run in the market place. Older models lack sophisticated electronic features.

Old Barnack Leicas are like the 356 bathtub Porsches.

The C/V line up of Bessas are like Nissans with the Ikon as its Infinity brand.
 
Tom, an M5 is a Lada?? That's cold! I think maybe something like a Porsche 928 might be more like it -- a break from the previous design that was not well received by the traditionalists.
 
Hmmm...the only Bessa I've owned was the Bessa L.

I'd have to compare it to a Domestic (U.S.) compact car. Something like a Chevy Cavalier or a Dodge Neon. Functional, but utterly lacking in charm, polish or sophistication, and damned unpleasant to use. Every turn of the wheel (or click of the shutter, in this case) reminds you you didn't have the money to buy better.

Still, there's something to be said for a camera you care so little about, and have so little invested in, that you'll take it anywhere or do anything with it. ;)
 
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