Really need some help deciding on a Bessa

[schofferhofer]

So I primarily want to shoot with 35mm and 50mm focal lengths, as well as 25mm and 28mm when the need arrises. I shoot all four of these focal lengths at the moment on my SLRs and if I switch to a rangefinder body I'd want all of them available to me, right?

So I've been thinking that the obvious choice for me is the Bessa R4A, because it has all the framelines I need in one package with no need for expensive viewfinders.

But then I had a look at the framelines and I've started wondering just how useful the 50mm framelines are, considering their size and the .52x magnification. Same goes with the 35mm, the framelines for these two lengths looks to me to be a bit too small to be accurate with.

So am I just being silly, or is it actually difficult to use 35 and 50 lenses on the R4A? I plan to get my hands on a body soon, because where I live none of the stores stock them. Forgive me if I've ignored an obvious solution.

 

[dpredie]

35 is perfect in r4*, 50 not so.

 

[schofferhofer]

Nice beer. Nice camera.

So what's the diff between the R2 and the R4? I know the framelines and the viewfinder differences, but did I read somewhere that the R3/4 are improved models of the 2, or am I confused?

 

[sparrow6224]

The viewfinder in the R2 is beautiful for 35 and 50. (And pretty ok for 75 and 90...). I love my M4-P for its 28 / 35/ 50/ 75/ 90/ 135 framelines. They're not perfect: with my glasses, the 28 is too wide and a guess for me; and the 90 and 135 are pretty tiny. But it's nice to know I have them all in the camera.

With my LTMs I use the Nikon universal finder: I have two of them. They're the best. But they don't go to 28. If you have a 28 finder (there's an old Canon one that's good and not too expensive most of the time) you really can estimate the 24/25 shots. I even use it for my 21 sometimes. My 21 finder stays permanently (electical tape) on my CL. Using that and the 40mm framelines in the camera, I can easily guess the 28 and 35.

There are no perfect solutions to this problem. I'd go for the camera which offers you the best 35-50 (R2 or R3) and learn to work with those and only use the wide stuff when you really need it.

That black SP is sickeningly good-looking. It was rather cruel to put it up there. Aaaaaggghghhhh.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I have had an R3A and still have an R4A. If starting over again and the budget was constrained I'd go for an R2A in your situation. It covers 35/50/75/90.
You didn't mention 28mm so jumping straight to the 21/25 combo I have a CV accessory viewfinder that covers those.
I loved the R3A but sold it and instead got a very good M6 that gives me from 28mm upwards. In other respects the R3A has advantages over the M6 but not in the area of frame selection.

 

[Matus]

I would say define the focal length priorities first. If you are mostly 35 & 50 shooter - go for R2A. If you more often use 28 or even wider - the R4A.

... and what about the Zeiss Ikon? The viewfinder covers 28, 35, 50 & 85 ...

 

[Vincent.G]

The R2A/M will be suitable for 35/50 focal length. I have tried its VF and the size of these framelines are just nice. Fyi I wear glasses and yet its VF is comfortable to use. The VF is surprisingly bright and RF patch contrasty.

A good alternative will be R3A/M with a 40/1.4 nokton.

For both these cameras, an external VF for wide angle lens is more than sufficient.

 

[Doug]

The R4 is unique in the world of RF cameras in having native framelines for 21mm and 25mm lenses. That can be handy, but mostly if you have frequent use for those lens focal lengths. I find the 50mm framelines in my R4A to be about like 75mm framelines in a .72x finder; a bit smallish, but easily useful. It's really luxurious for 28mm lenses, compared with other cameras.

 

[thegman]

R4A is OK for 50mm, far from ideal, and probably not fast 50 (faster than f/2). 35mm is just fine on an R4A, but it's really for lenses wider than that. I love it with the 21mm lens, no more clip on finders is great, but if you're wanting 35mm and 50mm, I would not get the R4, better off with an R2A.

 

[fotomeow]

I'll offer my suggestion, then tell you why below:
Get the R4M/A and a 1.4 magnifier to screw into the VF. It will increase the VF mag from 0.52 on the R4 to about 0.72, which is what most RFs are made with, and will be more than sufficient for 35/50mm focal lengths.

I think this is a better solution than buying a 0.72 VF with 28mm-90/135mm framelines and buying more multiple external VFs that you are going to have to switch out anyway when you change lens focal lengths. And the external VFs dont help you focus anyway, you can only use them for scale focussing. As I stated above, with the 1.4 magnifier, you will be set for 50mm for sure, and 35mm as well.

I've pondered the same question as the OP: my main issue is that I'm wearing glasses, and I had an M6 0.72 VF that I was always "searching" the periphery of the VF framelines on the 28mm and 35mm lens'.

I had bought (expensive, as you rightly note) external VFs (28/35mm, etc), but found that that wasnt much better, plus I couldnt use them to focus. I bought a VF screw-in magnifier for the M6 to decrease the mag power of the VF from 0.72 to something like 0.64, and make the framelines for 35mm smaller. But the "cheap"-$78-China made screw in magn-eBay purchase- via Hong Kong wasnt really much better. I bought the 0.72 M6 for the 28mm in-camera framelines but found that the 28mm and 35mm framelines were difficult to see with my glasses. I loved the M6 for 6 years, but sold her and the VFs.

So all that leads me back to the R4M/R4A with the 1.4 VF magnifier.
Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

 

[schofferhofer]

Yes! If there's a VF magnifier then I'll be set. What are they worth?

 

[kossi008]

Get a ZI and the new CV metal 21/25 finder. This thing is so tiny that you can always leave it on the camera. You can then use the 28 to 50 without the extra finder, you'll need it only for the 25. Plus, if you ever acquire a 21, you're still in business...
And you have a really decent rangefinder base length for focusing any fast 50 and beyond.

 

[schofferhofer]

Can't afford the zeiss thanks to the extortion racket that is Australian camera pricing. It's nearly 2k Australian.

If this eBay r3a is still going for cheap when it closes ill snatch that up and out a 40 nokton on it for something different. That'll last me a while.

 

[meandihagee]

I'll offer my suggestion, then tell you why below:
Get the R4M/A and a 1.4 magnifier to screw into the VF. It will increase the VF mag from 0.52 on the R4 to about 0.72, which is what most RFs are made with, and will be more than sufficient for 35/50mm focal lengths.

I think this is a better solution than buying a 0.72 VF with 28mm-90/135mm framelines and buying more multiple external VFs that you are going to have to switch out anyway when you change lens focal lengths. And the external VFs dont help you focus anyway, you can only use them for scale focussing. As I stated above, with the 1.4 magnifier, you will be set for 50mm for sure, and 35mm as well.

I've pondered the same question as the OP: my main issue is that I'm wearing glasses, and I had an M6 0.72 VF that I was always "searching" the periphery of the VF framelines on the 28mm and 35mm lens'.

I had bought (expensive, as you rightly note) external VFs (28/35mm, etc), but found that that wasnt much better, plus I couldnt use them to focus. I bought a VF screw-in magnifier for the M6 to decrease the mag power of the VF from 0.72 to something like 0.64, and make the framelines for 35mm smaller. But the "cheap"-$78-China made screw in magn-eBay purchase- via Hong Kong wasnt really much better. I bought the 0.72 M6 for the 28mm in-camera framelines but found that the 28mm and 35mm framelines were difficult to see with my glasses. I loved the M6 for 6 years, but sold her and the VFs.

So all that leads me back to the R4M/R4A with the 1.4 VF magnifier.
Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

i'm thinking about the same solution for an R4 in order to get all the frames usable. but what's the right magnification for the R4 vf...?

can you recommend me a useful link?

thanks