Restyled Bessa lineup announced

[mr_phillip]

I was just looking at Cosina's Japanese site and spotted the new-look, slightly restyled Bessa lineup. Looks like the R2A/M models are now officially part of the family full-time. They seem to have followed Leica's lead by having the mechanical cameras in retro gloss black paint, and the electronic AE models in matt black-chrome effect paint. They look good to me.

http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigt/v-camera/rangefinder/r3a.html

 

[Jeroen]

You're making me drool over my keyboard. An R4A with a 28mm, please.

 

[Ewoud]

The matte finish is a nice touch. But for now I'll live with my 'glossy' version.

 

[tedwhite]

Drool, drool, and here I am stuck with my Bessa R and no money. Having said that, my Bessa R is the best bang-for-the-buck new camera I've ever bought. Still works perfectly and I don't know how many rolls I've run through it.

But, someday, I'd like the one with the wideangle framelines.

Ted

 

[mike goldberg]

Hi Ted and all,
My father of blessed memory taught me...

Degustibus non es disputandem.

That's Latin. It means, "You cannot dispute taste.
For one thing, I love my Bessa T in silver; it was a bargain at $185-,
plus a one buck for a case.

Do you know why I bought a used Bessa R from an RFF member>
- So many of our guys really like the R... AND


- I love the slope from the top of the top deck down to the shutter speed dial.
It is pleasing to my eye. THAT is a matter of aesthetics.

The new 2007 Bessa models may be great with a pile of bells & whistles...
and the price tag, to boot. As for me, when the new car models come out...
I usually like those of a few years back in time. I learned to drive on a 1936 Olds... then a '49.

Showing my age? You betcha.
Cheers, mike 😀

 

[rxmd]

My father of blessed memory taught me...

Degustibus non es disputandem.

That's Latin. It means, "You cannot dispute taste."

[TEACHERMODE]That's De gustibus non est disputandum 😉[/TEACHERMODE]

Philipp

 

[Andy Aitken]

I'm drooling over the new 25mm f4. M mount, coupled at last, 0.5m close focus, new build quality, still 39mm filter size, still reasonably priced. Brilliant.

 

[peter_n]

Personally I don't like the matt finish on the A models. Why can't they just make it look like every other black camera? 😕

 

[Tom A]

I am heading to Japan on friday the 16th and I have been promised a R4 and a chance to try out the new lenses. Once I am back (April 1) i will post my impressions and hopefully some of the shots with it and the lenses. I have seen the R4 as a prototype before as well as the finder in a very early stage. I can see the framelines for the 21 with my glasses and even though the 50 frame is small it would work too. I am particularly interested in the 25/4 in coupled form as the Snap-Shot Skopar is oone of the best lenses around and the added benefit of coupling should improve the wide open shooting. There is obviously no change to the formula for the lens and that is fine, as it is a remarkable lens as it is. I have had the Nikon S-mount 25 for quite a while and that one will couple to the rangefinder of course. Very sharp and quite "snappy" in contrast.
The 25/2,8 ZI is a good lens, but it is big and as i get older i dont want to lug heavy stuff around anymore. Modern film is so tolerant of pushing so I rather punch up the speed a stop and have a smaller lens.

 

[back alley]

tom, will you get a chance to use the new zm lens as well?
i'm curious about the new 21 and even a little about the 18.

joe

 

[pesphoto]

Drool, drool, and here I am stuck with my Bessa R and no money. Having said that, my Bessa R is the best bang-for-the-buck new camera I've ever bought. Still works perfectly and I don't know how many rolls I've run through it.

But, someday, I'd like the one with the wideangle framelines.

Ted

Me too Ted. By the way I got my side grip and i love it! Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[tedwhite]

You're welcome. Yup, that side grip changes the whole feel of the camera. My partner in the photo co-op I operate got an M6 the other day and it felt rather hard to hold onto without a bit of anxiety. You could fit the grip onto it, but you would have to drill a new hole for the tripod mount and fasten it there, plus cut off the grip's tripod lug, etc.

However, he has the R3A with the grip/rapid advance and loves it.

My girlfriend wants to move to Providence, RI, as she's from Port Jefferson, Long Island, and dislikes the desert, so maybe we'll meet up sometime.

Long live side grips!

 

[wlewisiii]

Possibly silly question, but I can't tell from the pictures on Cameraquest - is there a tripod socket on the bottom of the side grip? I'd like to get one for my R, but I use a Gordy tripod screw based wrist strap & really like that.

Thanks,

William

 

[mike goldberg]

Good morning all,

Just got my R & side grip yesterday...
No, there is no hole in the bottom of the side grip that is machined for
a tripod screw thread. The side grip is a beautiful and small accessory, well designed. It fits securely with just the one screw in its base. You need to
carry a coin for the screw, probably an American dime or penny.

And Ted... what's this with Providence, RI? I'm a former Bostonian, and Providence is but an hour south... lovely place. Remember, relocation to any new city is rough in the beginning, as you establish your financial & social base/network.

Cheers, mike

 

[tedwhite]

Hi, Mike:

I would not be the one relocating. I own a home here in Bisbee. I would only be spending part of the year with her in Providence. No doubt the warmer months.

The reason for her interest in Providence is that there are educational opportunities available for her in that area that do not exist down here on the Mexican border. All we have here is a community college and a branch campus of the University of Arizona with a very limited curriculum. (Her interests are in textile design).

Ted

 

[Tom A]

tom, will you get a chance to use the new zm lens as well?
i'm curious about the new 21 and even a little about the 18.

joe

I will have a chance to use the 21 and 25 coupled CV lenses. The Biogon 21f4.5 is still in pre-production stage, but if there is one that I can use, I will most likely have a chance to try it.

The 18f4 is still "up in the air" as a production item according to well informed sources. I handled a non-functioning prototype at photokina last year. Big and rather clumsy but with an impresisive front element (and that was the only piece of glass in it!).

The R4 is a bit like a dream come true. The 21 has been my standard wide for longer than I can remember. I am old enough to having been excited about the 21f3.4 Super Angulon when it was anounced (I think it was 1964 or so). Over the years I have lost a small fortune in 21 finders. They were prone to be knocked off, crashing against the second body when "double-strapping" a couple of M's (one on a short strap and the second on a longer strap), lost in camera cases or having slid under the seat of a car and forgotten!

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I would like the R4 and either the 21mm or 25mm, probably the 21mm is first choice.

The trigger winder does have a tripod bush. I cannot imagine why.

 

[mtbbrian]

The trigger winder does have a tripod bush.

Speaking of the V-Lander trigger winder, or any for that manner I guess, how do they work?
Are you just kind of using a wrist motion to advance the lever to advance the film or what?
😕
Brian

 

[didotcicero]

@ wlewisiii: I haven't been using my Bessa on a tripod very often, but if I need to I just unscrew the side grip with a small coin. The sidegrip just hangs from the camerastrap when attachted to the tripod. Nothing to it.

I keep wondering why the side grip just isn't incoporated into the camera (mr K had a chance doing this while designing the R4), since it is such a valuable addition.

 

[MadMan2k]

From what I understand, the trigger winder has a rod that swings out of the bottom, and you push it backwards with your pinky finger to wind the camera.