mdspace
Established
Greetings!, I’m a newbie in the RANGEFINDER world and in the CV world. I have been fascinated for this CV cameras for so long, and finally I got a used beautiful olive Bessa R2.Everyday I spent some time searching and studying everything about the CV Bessas and one thing has became a mystery for me. What are the real differences between the R2 and the R2m?... just a change in the rewind crank? What is about the internal mechanics, the rangefinder quality, the viewfinder, the meter, the body quality...
? If some of you have both of cameras, which one is you favorite R2 or R2m?
Spyderman
Well-known
Basically the internal parts are the same. AFAIK changes are the rewind crank, diopter adjustment and a different connection for eyepieces and diopter correction lenses etc. Both cameras are very good, and I wish you many nice photos with the R2. I have a black one.
Jacob
Established
Hi mdspace and welcome to the rangefinder world.
I have none of R2/R2m but have had thougts of getting one of them. In addition to what Ondrej wrote I think the meter readout in the finder is more detailed on the R2a and the rangefinder focus to 70cm instead of 90cm on the R2.
I have the Bessa T and love it, allthough the separate viewfinders bug me sometimes.
Best
Jacob
I have none of R2/R2m but have had thougts of getting one of them. In addition to what Ondrej wrote I think the meter readout in the finder is more detailed on the R2a and the rangefinder focus to 70cm instead of 90cm on the R2.
I have the Bessa T and love it, allthough the separate viewfinders bug me sometimes.
Best
Jacob
Spyderman
Well-known
Thanks Jacob, I think you're right. There is some difference in the VF meter readout. The R2 has the same as R and it has only a dot and 2 arrows. The dot for correct exposure, arrows for + and - . R2m has more symbols. I think it has a dot for correct exposure, and then numbers 0.5 1 1.5 2 in both ways + and - to show the emount of over / underexposure.
kshapero
South Florida Man
great photos can be taken by both rigs.
mdspace
Established
Thank you very much guys, I very appreciate your comments.
I was thinking to buy the R2m because is newer and maybe there were some troubles with the R2 that Cosina changed in the R2m, another reason was the Heliar 50 classic combo (I like this lens, because I think the lens is beautiful, no matter that I had not experience with any RF camera and also a RF lens by now), but definetly I bought the R2 because I think the olive colour is awesome and there aren't many options in olive. Sounds fetichic, but ok, I really want to enjoying taking pictures with it. I have to tell that I sacrificed many things to have one R2, waitting and waitting for a good price in some auction web in Japan, saving and saving, forgetting to buy a cheapy digital camera... but I finally did it.
Another question, the rangefinder adjust is the same for both?
I was thinking to buy the R2m because is newer and maybe there were some troubles with the R2 that Cosina changed in the R2m, another reason was the Heliar 50 classic combo (I like this lens, because I think the lens is beautiful, no matter that I had not experience with any RF camera and also a RF lens by now), but definetly I bought the R2 because I think the olive colour is awesome and there aren't many options in olive. Sounds fetichic, but ok, I really want to enjoying taking pictures with it. I have to tell that I sacrificed many things to have one R2, waitting and waitting for a good price in some auction web in Japan, saving and saving, forgetting to buy a cheapy digital camera... but I finally did it.
Another question, the rangefinder adjust is the same for both?
like2fiddle
Curious
mdspace said:
Hello and welcome.
I briefly owned a R3M and now own a R2. Other than the frame lines, I believe the r3m and the r2m are identical. I won't get into the reasons I no longer have the r3m, suffice it to say I owned a lemon which I had fortunately purchased new so the dealer took it back. I very much liked the meter of the r3m. The rewind cranks of both the r3m and the R2 seem delicate, but perhaps that is because my only other experience is with a Leica M2 and various older SLR's which are of considerably heavier build than the Bessas. Even though I like the R2, I can't quite get used to in-camera metering so I am going to sell it. I prefer an external meter because it allows me to get a reading and then concentrate on framing and focusing only (and I don't usually use a meter outdoors anyway). Overall, in spite of my experience with the r3m, I would probably choose the r2/3m over the r2 mostly because of the meter.
Huck Finn
Well-known
In addition to the differences already mentioned (rewind crank, eyepiece, diopters, viewfinder display, 0.7 mm minimum focus distance), the metering pattern itself is different (more center weighted), the shutter noise is supposed to be quieter, & the top plate arrangement is boxier.