Old Question but will ask anyway, What is the good bad and ugly on the CV Bessa R

[o0dano0o]

Its easier to wipe the nose grease off laquered metal than leathercloth. Could it be a size thing 😱

haha i dont think so... oh well, haven't had a bessa in a while, but the back of mine was rubbery and marked up easily.

 

[tedwhite]

I am left-eyed and have oily skin. Oh, the horror. However, the back of my Bessa R where my nose would leave huge residue of oil is now covered with blue masking tape. When the tape starts to look grungy I peel it off (blue tape leaves no sticky stuff) and apply new. Someone standing next to me saw the brught blue tape and asked what it was for. "To scribble notes on," I replied. Person gave me a rather odd look and moved on.

Ted

 

[cbass]

I'll second the suggestion of using a wrist strap with the Bessa R. It's a sure-fire cure for the strap lug blues.

I'll also throw a plug out there for fellow RFF member BJ Bignell and his awesome camera straps. Very simple, functional and durable...just like the Bessa. I've included a picture of one on my camera so you can see how heavy-duty they are.

Nice work BJ!

 

[tedwhite]

chris: What lens on your R?

 

[cbass]

Ted, you're supposed to look at the strap! 😀

That's an Industar-61 L/D, 2.8/53. Haven't shot any film with it yet. I just re-lubed it last night using the excellent instructions from Matt Denton's informative web page.

Since I bought the Bessa in May I've gone on an LTM lens buying binge. My collection now includes an I-26m, chrome J-8, I-61 L/D, CV 35/2.5 and a collapsible Summitar (pre-war) 50/2. They are all users, with the J-8 probably my favorite of the bunch. Didn't pay more than $30 for any of them (including the Leitz)

I'm now on the hunt for a newer black J-8. After that I'm hoping to save some $$ for the CV 75/2.5.