Moving up to a Bessa R3M from Canonet?

[rafriedman@gmail.com]

For years, I've used a Japanese-made Canonet QL17. I paid $35 for it used in 1993 and I did a ton of work with it, taking it with me everywhere. I got away from using it for a while, but have recently rediscovered the fun of using it again. I'm considering a Bessa R3M as a possible next camera, essentially a light, flexible camera I can carry around all the time (and can also change lenses.) The Canonet is of questionable reliability (so far so good) but doesn't like the cold and freezes up probably because of old oil/grease. An overhaul, if I can find anyone is going to be $150+ I'm sure.

Will I see a marked increase in sharpness and overall image quality going to a modern lens? Anything else will I gain for my $1000+ investment?

 

[Chinasaur]

Gear Aquisition Syndrome (GAS).

I wish I'd had stuck with my Yashica CC and not gotten into replaceable lens bodies. Don't fix what's not broken 🙂

Best of luck!

 

[rafriedman@gmail.com]

Well, that's largely why I asked. I do intend to actually pare down the amount of gear I own in the coming year the number of old cameras in this place is out of control!

 

[gb hill]

I use my Canonet & my Bessa R more than any other camera. Go for it! We need more Bessa shooters out there. The R3m has frame lines for 40mm which you are familure with on the canonet. The 40 rokkor & the CV40 are fabulous lenses. On my R I like the option of switching off my J-3 or other 50mm lens to my CV35/2.5 when I need something a bit wider. If I had the money I'd go for the R3m & 40mm setup because to me it's the perfect combo.

 

[Brian Legge]

I moved to interchangeable lens cameras (LTM camears to be specific) because I wanted to shoot both 50mm and 35mm on the same body. I also wanted a faster lens as I often shoot low light.

Aside from the mechanical issues, what other limitations bug you about the Canonet? If there aren't any, I'd probably have it serviced and stick with it as it is a great camera.

 

[Brian Legge]

And despite that, I just picked up a Yashica CCN. An equivelent interchangeable lens with a fast wide angle is expensive. 🙂