Returning to the Bessa R

T

tedwhite

Guest
I left the Cosina Voightlander Bessa forum for a few months because, blind with lust, I bought a Leica M6. I then bought one of the new Ultron 28mm f:2.0 lenses to go with it (you can see money bleeding away here), and a few adapters to fit my Canon 50/1.8 and CV 35/2.5 Color Skopar screw mount lenses, and off I went on my Leica adventure.

But Monday I sold the M6 to rff member Flip Flop, and then found myself sort of stuck with an Ultron that I couldn't use on my venerable Bessa R. Fortunately no one bought it. Why? Because my friend and rff member DesertShooter lives in the same town as I do. He has an R3A and the Ultron Aspherical 28mm f:19 that he uses with an adapter. We looked at each other for a moment, and then immediately traded lenses!

Now, why did I sell the M6? Well, it was so pristine I was nervous every time I went out with it (what if I drop it? scratch it? put a ding in it?). Out here in the desert cameras do get banged about. As a consequence I found myself leavng it home more often than not, and venturing forth with my already well-worn but reliable Bessa R.

Finally I had a sort of epiphany wherein I realized that a Bessa R does everything a Leica M6 does (minus the Leica mystique and the solid feel) and for a fraction of the price. Range finder was equally bright and clear. Plus being easier to load and having that handy little window in the door.

I guess I just never bonded with that M6; whereas, with the Bessa, we were friends from the day I took it out of its box. (It's probably heresy to reveal not being able to cotton up to a Leica, but there, I've said it. The thrill is gone).

What an I going to do with the money from the sale? Well, I've been eyeing the 4A for some time now...
 
Ted,
The 28 framelines on the R4 are PERFECT! I wear glasses and I found the 28 framelines to sit just comfortably inside the viewfinder window. It'll go great with that Ultron.
 
agree with that , I tried the leica M6, nice camera but it wont change my pictures, I prefer to save money and keep my bessa :)
 
I just purchased a Bessa R with Jupiter-8 to carry around DC, where I am not comfortable carrying my R3M with 50/1.5 Nokton. Same reason.

:)
 
Thanks for the story Ted. From this day foward everytime I feel a tinge of lust for a Leica I'll remember your words. I'll cling to my Bessa R & be satisified. I still remember what a salesman @ the camera store told me when I bought my first RF. "It's all about the glass" Thats helped many a time.
 
I used Bessas quite happily for a number of years while my kids were young and I was too afraid I might do the stupid thing and worry about them or me messing up a beautiful M. BC (Before Cids) I used my Ms all the time and did not worry about them. Perhaps at that point in time I could replace them easier.

It should be said, I am using a mint S3-2000 as my main RF camera these days. Still a bit jittery about letting the kids use it, but when ever I get the OK for film, she's out.

We are very lucky to have such a dedicated benefactor such as Pres K who listens to the small who-like voice from the niche of a niche that is Range Finder Lovers and builds excellent products at reasonable prices.

B2 (;->
 
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Ted, your story echoes my own experience.. So I think you've made a wise decision to go with the R.

When my Bessa-T was in for a repair, I succumbed to the siren call of a Leica and got an M4. The M4 is a splendid camera, and outclasses the T in almost every way you can imagine. Its shutter is silent, it's solid as a brick, the advance and controls are so much smoother, and it radiates that feeling of 'this is a serious camera'..

But as soon as the T came back from repair, that was the camera I took along all the time. Never mind that the body is plastic, that the paint chips to reveal an ugly ghoulish grey, that the back door bends a bit when you press it, that the camera jolts when it's running under 1/15th, I just like it..

In the end, after it sat unused for ages, I sold the M4, and kept the T. And I'm having tons of fun with it..
 
Now, why did I sell the M6? Well, it was so pristine I was nervous every time I went out with it (what if I drop it? scratch it? put a ding in it?)
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I had exactly the same feelings when I replaced my Bessa-R with an M6, but my solution was different. I dropped, scratched, and dinged my M6 - it was a bonding experience and now I love it :D

But the Bessa-R is great - truly amazing for the price. And its viewfinder is brighter than the M6.

What an I going to do with the money from the sale? Well, I've been eyeing the 4A for some time now
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Now you're talking! The R4A is a fantastic bit of kit - I have one and use it mostly with a CV 21/4.
 
A nice thread - and my feelings about my original Bessa Rs are the same as this. I agree with Oscroft, though. I took the bottom plate protective film off my M6 and a couple of scratches on the back door from my belt buckle (I always sling cameras over one arm: round the neck looks too touristy and doesn't feel right). Now it feels like a part of me. ...And it's just a camera, not an investment any more. I like the weight and heft of the M6, and it just feels like an extension of me when I shoot. I like the flimsiness and lightness of the Bessa, too - I'm more confident to shove it into people's faces, as it feels like less of a 'real' camera (to me). I like my Rollei 35 for this reason. Looks like a toy to most people, but feels solid and heavy.

I've never bought the 'camera is just a light-tight box' idea. For me, there's so much psychology involved. Why do I feel excited when I pick up an RF, but clinical and bored when holding my digital SLR?

Most important thing, though, for anyone who's got a Bessa and those vague feelings that they're missing out without a Leica: you're really not.
 
I briefly had an M6 and can attest to the worry that comes w/ shooting a nice Leica camera. Next time I'll get an M7 beater. We're in the desert too and dust in Las Cruces gets into everything, but the fungus issue is worse on the coast.

The R cameras are quirky. Some have loud shutters, some just go "snick". The meters are really accurate. I will probably get another for my LTM lenses at some point, but for now a Fed 2 works well enough. Unfortunately the R cameras are no substitute for an M camera as they won't take M mount lenses. I had an R3a that took both the M mount and LTM's w/ an adapter. It was a good down sized M7 solution, but I tired of never knowing what the shutter speeds were because the viewfinder would white out in the readout area. 9 out of 10 times I couldn't read it. I always have to put a side grip on the Bessas to make them hang correctly on a strap. Makes the camera more stable and comfortable to hold too.
 
I purchased an M6 with Summicron 50f2.0 lens and I am still babying it also even though I have a Bessa R with Nikkor 50f1.4 lens. I carried the Bessa around NYC and it wasn't too bad on weight but the Leica will be heavier next time I go out. The Leica has been a learning experience, like setting the flash speed to 1/50 and making sure the back is tucked in before the bottom is secured on. I had left the back loose and took about 4 pictures with it like that, luckily the pictures came out okay.

Like today I am going to the ranch in South Texas and it's full of sand and I am taking my Bessa R. I also don't have to put on the adapters on my LTM lenses as I can just screw them on.

It has been fun knowing I am in the M Class now and testing my LTM lenses on the M6 and I have found out there is very little difference in the quality of prints.

Last week I took out my Dad's old SRT 101 with Minolta lens and it blew me away as to the quality and contrast of the results. I really should rid of some of the 35 mm cameras I have but not likely.
Joe
 
Oscroft: Your comment about the R's viewfinder being brighter than the M6's echoes my suspicions also. I used to hold the two bodies side by side, looking through one VF, then the other, and R's did seem a bit brighter. But "bit" is the operative term here.
 
This thread helped me choose the camera I'll be using tonite at the county fair.Bessa R -J3,Fuji 400............Thanks

Robin
 
I am still looking for a bessa R! I can never get the ones that apper here in the classifieds, they tend to be bought faster than a speeding bullet!
 
Rhodes said:
I am still looking for a bessa R! I can never get the ones that apper here in the classifieds, they tend to be bought faster than a speeding bullet!
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And those of us with them tend to hang on to them. :cool:

Though I have to admit to looking wistfully at the M3s in the classifieds every once in a while and imagining trying to trade my Bessa for one...
 
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