R3m vs R3A

[Popum]

As a newbe to RF's I'm trying to sort out the differences between the R3A with the 40/1.4 lens and the R3M kit with the 50mm lens. I understand the mechanical shutter issue but beyond that is the only difference the lens?

For B&W street work which lens would be better (yes I know thats very subjective)

Humor me... serious answers please

Popum

 

[Nachkebia]

I guess one has Auto exposure mode and one does not... also one has 40mm frame line and other one 50mm? Though I am very new to rangefinders 🙄

 

[mr_phillip]

Both the R3m & R3a have the same viewfinder configurations and brightlines (40mm, 50mm, 75mm and 90mm). The differences are m's mechanical shutter versus the a's electronic one, and the manual exposure on the m - the a is aperture priority auto exposure.

One other difference to bear in mind is that the batteries in the m only operate the light meter, so if they die when you're out that's all you loose. In the R3a, if the batteries die, so does the camera (a good cause to be sure to carry spares at all times).

Their are, obviously, cosmetic differences too - the black paint finish on the R3m is somewhat more 'classic' looking than that of the a series Bessa. And if you've just got to have silver, then you've only got one option.

 

[kshapero]

Another difference

Another difference

The R3A shows the shutter speeds in the viewfinder while the R3M shows only exposure readings such +2,+1,0,-1,-2. Some find this more useful, I prefer seeing the shutter speeds.

 

[CameraQuest]

my take on it is at http://cameraquest.com/voigtrwhich.htm

Stephen

 

[kshapero]

my take on it is at http://cameraquest.com/voigtrwhich.htm

Stephen

Stephen says it all. Read it.

 

[julianphotoart]

Well, I'm for sure biased toward the R3M. See http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=354285#post354285

 

[Huck Finn]

One other difference to bear in mind is that the batteries in the m only operate the light meter, so if they die when you're out that's all you loose. In the R3a, if the batteries die, so does the camera (a good cause to be sure to carry spares at all times).

On the other hand, mechanical cameras gradually lose the accuracy of their shutter speeds & need periodic service to return them to specs. Not very often, but when they are in for service, you are without a camera for a much longer time than it takes to change a battery - not to mention the periods during which you are working with the camera when the shutter speeeds are less than accurate.

This is just nitpicking, but so is the battery criticism. The differences are more a matter of personal preference than any real world difference in performance or reliability.