I've given up on Voigtlander!!

[Jocko]

I'm going to write the sort of post I would have sneered at 6 months ago 🙁

I have a Bessa R. It is a perfectly sound and reliable camera, if not exactly a tactile work of art.

I also have a Leica IIIf. The loss of the Bessa would be nothing worse than the loss of a certain sum of money. To lose the Leica would be to lose something of exquisite beauty, grace and efficiency, the finest camera I have ever held, the only one I ever want to use. They actually cost about the same. But there is a difference.

I once proudly stood on street corners thumbing my nose at the sprawling, mad-eyed Leicaholics. Now we share the same 3-litre bottles of White Lightning. Glug. 🙁

Get yershelf aleka, Mal, me ol'mate. Hic.

Dignititity be blowed!

Cheers, ian

 

[photogdave]

I love this statement!!!
So if newer Bessas are much better, why do they sell them here all the time? Wouldn't they want to keep them? lol
Just a thought.

You try and make it look like I'm contradicting myself. Both parts of my statements are fact.
JonathanA summed it up pretty well in his response so I'l just add: why does ANYONE sell ANYTHING that is well made and nearly new? They need the money; they're bored of it; they've upgraded; their spouses told them to.

 

[mal]

White lightning

White lightning

. I also have a Leica IIIf. The loss of the Bessa would be nothing worse than the loss of a certain sum of money. To lose the Leica would be to lose something of exquisite beauty, grace and efficiency, the finest camera I have ever held, the only one I ever want to use. They actually cost about the same. But there is a difference.

Cheers Ian, I shared a studio space with Elliot Erwitt's London agent many years ago and drooled over Elliot's shoulder-slung IIIf. I've coveted one ever since but would miss the metering ( What is it...Sunny something?)😎

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Mal,

sorry to hear of your troubles

I've had my R2A for some time now, and it has worked perfectly, as solid and trustworthy as my FM3As.

Give it another chance, a ton of RFF members swear by CV bodies.

cheers

 

[hofrench@mac.co]

Get a clean used Hexar. Fabulous and cruelly underrated cameras.

 

[Turtle]

I say turn to crime to fund a Leica. Its the only sensible option cosidering the problems you are facing.

 

[Ronald M]

Sorry to hear. These parts are metal in Leicas. You get what you pay for.

 

[kshapero]

have owned two bessa's, no problems at all. Sorry you had problems.

 

[iml]

My secondhand R2 seems very well put together. Certainly better than I would expect for the price.

Ian

 

[timeUnit]

Here: no problem with a Bessa R3A. Works perfectly after 2 years.

Although a Leica MP Anthracite would be pretty nice...

 

[BillBingham2]

Every time a new series of bodies come out, improvements are made. The L and the R were the first, followed by the T and the R2. (Knock on wood) I have never had a problem with my T.

B2 (;->

 

[Nokton48]

I have been using two R's, two L's and a T, no problems at all with any of it.

 

[Bill58]

Buy a Canon RF--get the higher quality w/o the high price of a Leica.

 

[tedwhite]

I use my black Bessa R almost daily and works charmingly. Maybe Stephen Gandy has a door he will sell you, or maybe he can fix it? I certainly wouldn't give up on it.

Ted