Is it wrong to want to sell all my cameras for a Bessa R3a?

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Disrespective

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Seriously, I want to sell every camera i have to fund a Bessa R3A.

I like the specs, Aperture and Shutter priority are sweet, 1.0x viewfinder? love it. Looks? well, I can't say enough good things.

Am I wrong?

I have a small collection of some nice old RF's and SLR's that if sold for what they're worth would easily cover the cost of an R3A and lens and i get the feeling I wouldn't regret it at all. Preferably something nice and fast would be attached, in the 35-50mm range.

If you had the cash to pick up an R3A with some half decent glass would you do it or would you think about a different make/model? I'm not tied to any particular brand but this would be my first film camera i would want to use every day since playing with Dad's Nikon FTn many moons ago. I'd appreciate some more experienced users opinions.

Chur
 
I wouldn't hesitate if I was you ... that's probably the best value for money most versatile rangefinder ever made. I sold mine as it became slightly redundant when I bought my Ikon but when I owned it I couldn't fault it!

Can't say I was struck by the looks of it though! 😛
 
I would keep at least one good manual SLR. Personally I don't like cameras with electronic shutters like the R3A - my choice would be an R, R2, R2M or R3M, but some find me eccentric!
 
David Murphy said:
I would keep at least one good manual SLR. Personally I don't like cameras with electronic shutters like the R3A - my choice would be an R, R2, R2M or R3M, but some find me eccentric!
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Why do you prefer the mechanical shutters? Just some type of nuance?

I have a Nikon D300 I use for most shots I take at the moment but would like to get more in line with the whole 'one shot per scene' thing and away from the instamatic digital side.
 
Electronic shutters probably have one of the most bullet proof reliability records of any electronic consumer device ever made ... carry a spare set of batteries and you're more likely to be struck by lightning than not to be able to take a photo due to shutter failure!

David has a huge rock on a rope in his car that he keeps there in case his brakes fail ... but he has admitted to being eccentric so that's OK. 😀
 
R3A is a very good camera, but I'm also one of those paranoid people, so I have R3M as well - mechanical shutter is a mechanical shutter - I had batteries fail a few times where I couldnt get immediate replacement (and I did have extra batteries, but due to weather conditions they didnt last much at all), so I always have a mechanical back up. And if I take just one camera - it's always a mechanical one. And I do love having AE and all that, but I still feel that - better safe than sorry. 😉
 
I share the no-battery penchant... my D40 gave out on Thursday of my last holiday because I was playing with night pics...
My own RF rules are: 1. no batteries 2. the kit is older than me
so irrationally that rules out a modern Bessa, but that's just me.
Loving my Canon P and 1935 Summar.

Alex
 
Disrespective said:
Seriously, I want to sell every camera i have to fund a Bessa R3A.

I like the specs, Aperture and Shutter priority are sweet, 1.0x viewfinder? love it. Looks? well, I can't say enough good things.

Am I wrong?

I have a small collection of some nice old RF's and SLR's that if sold for what they're worth would easily cover the cost of an R3A and lens and i get the feeling I wouldn't regret it at all. Preferably something nice and fast would be attached, in the 35-50mm range.

If you had the cash to pick up an R3A with some half decent glass would you do it or would you think about a different make/model? I'm not tied to any particular brand but this would be my first film camera i would want to use every day since playing with Dad's Nikon FTn many moons ago. I'd appreciate some more experienced users opinions.

Chur
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I think it's a very good idea, and if you're looking for "something nice and fast" to attach, try either the CV 40mm or 50mm lenses; they are all excellent.

If I had only one camera (quod non 😱), I would prefer the mechanical version too: it will always just work, period. Electronic shutters don't fail often, and the batteries do go a low way, but it will always happen just at the moment you want to take THE picture ... It's not a big problem, but one small problem less doesn't hurt.

Don't forget the check the classifieds: you might find there what you are looking for 😉

Stefan.
 
I don`t think that you are wrong at all 🙂 Just my two cents, spend some time when shopping to find a good offer and also consider a used camera ... it can save many bucks that can be spend additionally for the lens.
 
Get the R3a + 40/1.4 combo. Amazing camera, amazing lens. The viewfinder's perfect and the camera feels incredibly solid. I regretted selling mine right away, but I needed the money for school.
Makes me laugh when people talk about batteries failing. It takes tiny little things, if you're that paranoid about it then pack an empty film canister with them and you'll have a couple of years worth of back ups at your disposal. Also the camera gives you a warning way before the current set run out.
 
I'm thinking of doing the same thing, selling all my 35mm format gear (bar a Contax T2) to jump head first into medium format with my Rolleiflex. My biggest hesitation lies with selling my Leica, which I'd previously said that I'd never sell. However, the combination of the 'flex, those big 6x6 squares and the simplicity of the whole set up is winning me over.
 
punkromance said:
Get the R3a + 40/1.4 combo. Amazing camera, amazing lens. The viewfinder's perfect and the camera feels incredibly solid. I regretted selling mine right away, but I needed the money for school.
Makes me laugh when people talk about batteries failing. It takes tiny little things, if you're that paranoid about it then pack an empty film canister with them and you'll have a couple of years worth of back ups at your disposal. Also the camera gives you a warning way before the current set run out.
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My guess is that you never shot for a long time in a very cold conditions. Even replacing batteries in a camera that has easy access to them is tough, much less with Bessa where you have to unscrew the little cap. Trust me - there are situations when all manual camera wins hands down.

ruby.monkey said:
A fine idea, but... the R3A is a gateway camera and will only lead you to Leica lust. Save time and go straight for the M4. 😉
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I knew it was just a matter of time before someone would say this. 😉
While it's true for many, Bessas can hold their own very well. Having had Leicas - I'm pretty happy now with only one Leica and several non-Leica RFs. 😉
 
On the contrary,the arrival Bessa R3A cured my Leica M4 fascination fairly instantaneously.

The only Leica I fancied since is that M9, and unfotunately I'm not at the top of the investment banking tree just yet..

R3a + 50mm 1.4 is my primary set up.

I'd like to try the 40mm 1.4 one day, but I'm not fussed.
 
I would do it in a heart beat , you can buy a film SLR later whenever you want because they go for pretty low sum of money.
 
It's funny about the attitude that a Bessa can be a gateway to a Leica ... or lust for one at least!

I started off with Leicas and progressively moved away from them towards an Ikon and an R4A for my rangefinder shooting ... I still have an M3 and an M2 but can't remember the last time they actually got used!
 
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