looking for a Bessa

[gandalfk7]

hi guys,
in the last times I almost got in love with Bessa cameras,
i like their lines and the concept of a viewfinder camera.
(I used an Oly XA, what a beautiful piece of history)

i am looking for a camera that is resistant and that can
shoot in various situations (hot, cold, humid..)

i think that a bessa can be a good choice.

i dream it with a nokton 40mm 1.4..

i found a bessa r3a at 350€, it is good??

i also read the difference between A and M, well,
i use always Av, but the possibility to shoot
without any kind of batteries is nice..

(anyone is selling an R3M? 😉)


please, help!

thank you


Matteo

 

[januaryman]

Keep checking the classifieds here. They show up all the time.

 

[robin a]

Camera Quest has a used one listed ............

 

[capitalK]

I got an R2A in like new condition (never had a roll through it) for $400... You just have to watch the classifieds and be ready to pounce.

 

[kshapero]

I have had both. The need IMHO for manual just because of the battery issue is somewhat overly paranoid. first of all these batteries last forever in a Bessa and second the take up the space of about a nickel.

 

[sojournerphoto]

Here's one - not mine and I don't knoe the seller.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-new-Voi...ryZ15234QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[chris00nj]

Jack's Camera has a R3A as well.

Don't forget that the primary difference between the R2A/M and the R3A/M is only the framelines.

 

[gandalfk7]

I have had both. The need IMHO for manual just because of the battery issue is somewhat overly paranoid. first of all these batteries last forever in a Bessa and second the take up the space of about a nickel.

well, you are perfectly right!
but if I have to choose between the A and the M i prefer
to loose the aperture priority,
the possibility to use it without batteries gives me the idea of something eternal..
I already tried way to shoot adjusting both time and aperture with
the Oly OM-1.

 

[capitalK]

Don't forget that the primary difference between the R2A/M and the R3A/M is only the framelines.

I'd say the viewfinder magnification is a much bigger difference than the 35/40 framelines.

 

[Prosaic]

Changing either aperture or shutter speed feels awkward in the beginning but you will get used to it after a some rolls. Prefer the body finish on the Bessa M models too.