In praise of my Voigtlander R3M and their lenses

[kshapero]

Just a reminder to you newbie's and Leica fan boys (myself included), we all owe a lot to Mr K, Cameraquest and Tom A for bringing rangefinders back to popularity during the past 10 years. Still enjoying my R3M and bevy of CV lens.

 

[lonemantis]

They really do deserve a ton of credit. Without CV, rangefinder shooting would not have been a practical reality for me. Sure, there are older Leica lenses in the same price range, but I hate the flare-prone, low contrast, easily damaged glass. If a rangefinder is your thing, then CV definitely the best value for money there is.

 

[gb hill]

So right. I want one so bad. If my R ever bites the dust...perhaps.🙂

 

[Pioneer]

So right. I want one so bad. If my R ever bites the dust...perhaps.🙂

Oh God Forbid!! Next to my Zeiss Ikon, my little R complete with CV Color Skopar 35 and CV Color Heliar 50 are absolutely my pride and joy! If Mr. K ever decides to build another LTM rangefinder I will be there with my money in hand. I do enjoy my little collection of Barnacks, but the Bessa R is so much more fun to actually shoot with.

 

[alan davus]

Just a reminder to you newbie's and Leica fan boys (myself included), we all owe a lot to Mr K, Cameraquest and Tom A for bringing rangefinders back to popularity during the past 10 years. Still enjoying my R3M and bevy of CV lens.

Substitute R2M for R3M and I'm with you all the way.

 

[kshapero]

Just a reminder to you newbie's and Leica fan boys (myself included), we all owe a lot to Mr K, Cameraquest and Tom A for bringing rangefinders back to popularity during the past 10 years. Still enjoying my R3M and bevy of CV lens.

Substitute R2M for R3M and I'm with you all the way.

Yes of course, I love all the CV R*M's.🙂

 

[jsrockit]

Beautiful camera.

 

[Haigh]

I'm with you on these little rangefinders. I walked around Paris with a 4A and 28mm asph leica lens and it was such fun to use.

 

[robert blu]

The Bessa R was my first step in the RF cameras field after many years of SLR. I still use it beside the M7. Yes, if Cosina had not produced it I had never considered a RF camera.
robert

 

[rfaspen]

I genuinely love my R. Screwmount with a meter. Where else is that to be found? Not to mention hinge-back film loading, lever wind, light weight modern materials, and classic design. My only nit with the R and R*M/R*A cameras is the short-ish RF base length. But, its a small and inconsequential complaint.
I will keep and use my little R as a staple part of my shooting "arsenal" for as long as I, or the R, live. I'd love to be able to pass it (along with all my cameras and lenses) down to my son. His interest is tepid at best right now, but I'm confident he'll be good to my collection and give them occasional use at least.

Long live CV, Mr. K, Tom A. CameraQuest, and RFF! Leica too, I suppose, but I'm not seeing much attention to photographers these days, more focus on "consumer" market.

 

[Austerby]

I'm a very happy user of an R3A and a number of CV lenses from 15mm to 75mm. I had a very nice time wandering around the souks in Manama earlier in the year with the 40/1.4 attached.

One thing though: I do wish they still made the LTM lenses.

 

[biomed]

Thanks to Mr. K and Stephen! I have enjoyed my R3A and R4M for may years.

 

[kossi008]

The Bessa R was my first step in the RF cameras field after many years of SLR.

Same here. I picked up a set with the Bessa R, 21/4, 35/1.7, and 75/2.5 for a really good price on eBay. That's how I got started with rangefinders, and I guess if only Leica had been around, I still wouldn't own one today...

 

[kehng]

Bessa R3A and 40mm 1.4 was my first rangefinder. Wish I'd kept it.

 

[Snapper_uk]

I love 'em. I don't think I would have got into 35mm RFs without CV.

 

[Leica All Day]

I have never owned a Voigtlander body, but I have a couple of their lenses.....they are sweet lenses and work for me just fine.....

cheers, michael

 

[zuikologist]

R4A and R3M here, with a slew of CV lenses. One minor issue is the RF on the original Bessa R, which can get knocked out of alignment relatively easily. But geenrally very happy with these great cameras and lenses - light weight, great IQ, good prices.

 

[kshapero]

Updated shot.

 

[raid]

I used the Bessa T quite a lot, but I am fortunate to also have Leica cameras. I also have a Bessa R and an L. My CV Leica mount lenses only include the 25/4 and the two Heliar 50mm lenses, and each of these three lenses is great in my opinion. I have added the 21/4 in Nikon S mount this year. I have not used it yet.

 

[pdexposures]

I love the Bessa series, like others in here the R was my entry way into rangefinder cameras. And although I've got a few Leicas currently. If another Bessa came into my life (or the wonderful CV lenses) I would not complain in the least!