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itacal

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Apr 4, 2010
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Dear All,


I am returning from the dark side. Frustrated with Canon lenses and the digital platform (Anytime you begin thinking, "It's too easy. All I have to aim, fire and look at the back to see if I got the shot." You need to go back to film.) Anyway, I have been on the digital wagon for a while, since I began working at a newspaper about six years ago. Before that I shot Hasselblad and loved the IQ and color of Zeiss lenses. I am planning to buy a rangefinder system and would like to start off with a Voigtlander Bessa. The majority of my shooting is wide, but I also like to shoot environmental portraits in the in the 35mm range. Also, if I want a Bessa dedicated to a traditional portrait lens, which would it be? I know very little about rangefinders. For instance, I have no clue about viewfinders, the .58 vs. the .7, etc. Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
I'm sure you will get answers to your questions but I just wanted to say welcome to the forum. I have enjoyed shooting Bessas with a variety of lenses, I don't think you can go wrong there. Choices, obviously, dictated by your needs.
Lots of info on the forum, good luck.
 
itacal said:
Dear All,


I am returning from the dark side. Frustrated with Canon lenses and the digital platform (Anytime you begin thinking, "It's too easy. All I have to aim, fire and look at the back to see if I got the shot." You need to go back to film.) Anyway, I have been on the digital wagon for a while, since I began working at a newspaper about six years ago. Before that I shot Hasselblad and loved the IQ and color of Zeiss lenses. I am planning to buy a rangefinder system and would like to start off with a Voigtlander Bessa. The majority of my shooting is wide, but I also like to shoot environmental portraits in the in the 35mm range. Also, if I want a Bessa dedicated to a traditional portrait lens, which would it be? I know very little about rangefinders. For instance, I have no clue about viewfinders, the .58 vs. the .7, etc. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

.58 vs. .72 etc is the viewfinder magnification. The lower the magnification, the better for viewing wide framelines. The higher the magnification, the higher the focusing accuracy and hence the better for longer lenses. You dont need high accuracy for a 15mm lens, for example, because of the large depth fo field.

The bessa line has a number of cameras - bessa r, r2, r3, r4. R3 and R4 come in auto exposure or manual flavors.

If you decide what focal lengths you will use, that will basically dictate which camera to buy.

Keep in mind you can use external finders for wides or ultrawide lenses.

If you get a camera with a low viewfinder magnification which is built for wides (which would be the bessa r4a or r4m) then you will have some trouble focusing your dedicated portrait lens. Not to mention you probably wont have framelines for it.

I'm sure lots of people would be happy to make specific recommendations for cameras and lenses if you tell us your budget and also the focal lengths you plan to use. And, whether you are willing to buy used.
 
Welcome!

I also came here through the Voigtländer Bessa forum a year ago... Now I use several of their cameras and lenses: it's a great line!

Hope you enjoy CV equipment very soon!

Cheers,

Juan
 
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