New to RFF; New to Bessa-R

[marknyc]

Just purchased (within the last hour) a new Bessa-R with the 35/2.5 Looking forward to lunch today to try it out!

I assume it is normal to see a bit of the lens in the bottom right hand corner of the viewfinder, right? (First rangefinder)

Also, how do you all carry your camera? I want this to be my everyday camera, but am I nuts to consider carrying it loose in my pocket without a case? The soft case I purchased is small, but adds to the bulkiness a lot.

First post on RFF -- been into photography for almost 30 years. My list of cameras in order of purchase:

Box Brownie
Russian no-name, fully manual SLR which weighed about five pounds!
Nikon FG-20
Yashica T4
Early Canon Sure Shot digital -- as big as the Bessa and heavier (with all of 2 megapixels!)
Canon Digital Elph
Canon Digital Rebel -- now gathering dust.
Toyo 45 A (a 4 x 5 view camera)
Bessa-R

I know that the last two make me a weirdo in today's world, so I figured I should join a forum with some fellow oddballs.

-- Mark

 

[JoeFriday]

oddballs? here?? no way

hiya Mark.. yes, it's normal to see the lens in the corner of the viewfinder.. usually it's not a problem, altho some lens hoods can create an obstructed view

I personally never use a case on my cameras.. but then, I don't carry them in a pocket.. except for my Contax T, which folds up to protect the lens.. I'd say as long as you use a lens cap you should be fine.. I'd suggest not advancing the film until you're ready to take a photo, tho.. unless the Bessa has shutter lock to prevent accidental photos of the inside of your pocket

 

[lubitel]

Welcome to the forum!

I dont think its strange to buy a digital SLR then LF and the a Bessa. I think you found the right forum.

 

[Kragmeister]

Hey Mark,

Welcome! I bought my R with the same lens at the end of October. I basically carry it naked in my pocket 😀 . I also bought the never-ready case for it as part of an accessory kit but I've never used it.

What I do normally is put the lens cap on over the hood and don't have the film advanced. I have a mini-soft release on mine. If I were to have the film advanced it would probably fire in my pocket and I'd get a blank frame. I like having big coat pockets.

Anyway, this is an enjoyable combination. Since getting it I've also picked up and modified a Russian collapsible 50mm to work with it, a 85mm f2 Jupiter-9 and a 135mm f3.5 Super Acall lens to complete the outfit. I already had a 50mm f2 Jupiter 8 so I'm pretty much covered for LTM.

Later,
Greg

 

[Bill K.]

Hi Mark and welcome,

I have the same Bessa R & lens that you have and really enjoying using it. I store it in a camera bag but to carry it, I got a wrist strap for Gordie's Camera Straps (one of our sponsors and I find it very handy.

Enjoy your new toy & best regards to all,

Bill K>

 

[Doug]

Welcome, Mark! My pockets aren't big enough to carry a Bessa like that. 🙂 One thing I have in mind is quick access. You don't want to be digging frantically for your camera as something briefly interesting is happening! I don't use cases or lens caps, and just sling the camera over my shoulder on a short strap that keeps it tucked between my elbow and side. This is pretty discreet, and fast into action.

 

[wrenhunter]

Welcome, I made the same purchase last month. I second Bill in recommending a Gordy strap. I like the Domke F5 bag, if you find that having the R in your pocket doesn't suit.

David

 

[marknyc]

Thanks for the welcome all. Had fun today at lunch shooting in Tudor City near the UN building.

 

[peter_n]

Welcome to the forum Mark! 🙂 I also don't use cases but I have a filter and hood permanently on every lens. I use a canvas Domke F-803 knock-off as a briefcase and that combo seems to work well.

 

[rover]

Having the bottom half of the CV case on your camera while bopping around the city is a good thing. The case in general will provide good protection for the camera so that you can throw it into whatever bag you may be lugging. I always kept my R in the bottom half of its ERC when I had it.

 

[wlewisiii]

Welcome! I don't use the Bessa, though I never know what will end up here anymore 🙂 My pocket camera is my Canon IVSb with an old FSU Industar-22 50/3.5 collapsible, the lower half of it's ER case and one of Gordy's wrist straps. That is just about as compact a package as it gets this side of an old folder (and those are a worse bug than any of these!) The main thing is to find a way to carry it that is comfortable so that you have it with you all the time.

I forget where I heard it, but the best camera in the world is the one you have with you. It won't take pictures at home on the shelf.

Enjoy, and be sure to share your photos with us.

William

 

[DougK]

Welcome aboard!

For my R I use either a neck strap or one of the SLR-style hand straps that attaches to the bottom and slides over the back of your hand (usually the hand strap as I hate hanging things around my neck). When I get tired of carrying it, I slide it into a small Case Logic messenger-style bag I found on sale at Circuit City. Works great; good scratch-and-dent protection, lightweight, and doesn't look like a camera bag.

 

[dostacos]

Just purchased (within the last hour) a new Bessa-R with the 35/2.5 Looking forward to lunch today to try it out!

I assume it is normal to see a bit of the lens in the bottom right hand corner of the viewfinder, right? (First rangefinder)

Also, how do you all carry your camera? I want this to be my everyday camera, but am I nuts to consider carrying it loose in my pocket without a case? The soft case I purchased is small, but adds to the bulkiness a lot.

First post on RFF -- been into photography for almost 30 years. My list of cameras in order of purchase:

Box Brownie
Russian no-name, fully manual SLR which weighed about five pounds!
Nikon FG-20
Yashica T4
Early Canon Sure Shot digital -- as big as the Bessa and heavier (with all of 2 megapixels!)
Canon Digital Elph
Canon Digital Rebel -- now gathering dust.
Toyo 45 A (a 4 x 5 view camera)
Bessa-R

I know that the last two make me a weirdo in today's world, so I figured I should join a forum with some fellow oddballs.

-- Mark

I like the Domke 5 bag, small but will hold a BessaR a spare lens and flash [or second lens] and film + filters if you use them

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I have my Bessa R3A on a shoulder strap, and I have the winder grip on the camera so it hangs vertically.

There is also a non-winder side grip which is pretty inexpensive and would also allow vertical hanging and give the grip ridge for secure handling.

 

[RML]

Having the bottom half of the CV case on your camera while bopping around the city is a good thing. The case in general will provide good protection for the camera so that you can throw it into whatever bag you may be lugging. I always kept my R in the bottom half of its ERC when I had it.

Can't agree more! My Bessas NEVER go out without the bottom section of the ERC. Best protection ever I found for them. My Bessas have seen a lot of abuse and climate extremes over the years but still look very nice and have no scratches bumps or dings at all.

 

[cbass]

Hi Mark, welcome aboard. The Bessa R & 35/2.5 is a nice camera kit. I've owned mine for about seven months and it's become my go-to film camera.

When I'm shooting quickly I tend to just carry the camera around in my hand with a large nylon wrist strap attached. If I'm going to be walking around for the day "tourist-style" I carry my camera, extra lens & film in my Timbuk2 bag.

Sometimes I use a thin neck strap and I carry the camera either tucked at my side or on my back with the neck strap around the front of my neck. I realize this is probably stupid but I did it once out of necessity (I was wading into the ocean) and it felt natural so I kept on carrying the camera like that even on land. In a pinch I can loop my thumbs under the strap and lift the camera up to the back of my neck and out of harm's (or seawater's) way.

 

[Rurouni]

Hi Mark,

You're gonna love that camera. I got my Bessa-R kit last year as well, and I've really liked the output of that kit! Its brought a lot of joy to other people as well as the CV35/2.5 tends to take very soothing people shots 🙂 And that to me is one of the joys of photographer, giving your family and friends nice shots for the ages!

The digital workflow is so much faster but here's what works for me in terms of speed/perf/price:

Color Films: Superia 100-800 (Plus the Cyan layer auto colour corrects most office lightings)
B&W Films: XP2, Delta

Developed and scanned at a good photoshop for around US$5 per job (16base scan). I get a CD and the negs. Turnaround time usually 1 to max 3 days.

Been working so well for me that I have stopped using my Nikon D70 for a while! I usually just save that for event photography now, because for those hectic events, nothing beats the 'ammo' capacity of a DSLR! 😛 Unless you got one of those crazy F3 press backs!