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[kuzano]

There were two coupled rangefinder BESSA 6X9 models

There were two coupled rangefinder BESSA 6X9 models

I like it! I have one of those Bessas (if you mean the coupled-rangefinder model), also with the Helomar. Yes the triplet struggles with sharpness near the edges but, ahem, "it adds character." Your picture looks like one straight out of 1937 (if not earlier), appropriately for the camera. I'm curious: What caused the curved impingement across the top of the frame? Is that an artefact with the camera, or were you standing beneath some sort of roof/awning?
--Dave

The early bessa coupled rangefinder camera's were properly designated BESSA RF and were all done in shiny BLACK enamel. The Helomar was the lowest quality lens as a triplett, but actually gave nice images.

The Helomar lens is confused quite often with the much better Heliar. All the BESSA RF camera's were nicely done, but the best lens on the camera was the Skopar 105. I don't recall any of the BESSA RF with a Heliar Lens attached. The rangefinder could be quite accurate. The BESSA RF also had a 1/400th top shutter speed and an orange filter on a hinged frame.

I had a very nice RF with the Helomar and was surprisingly happy with it.

The second BESSA II was much later (the fifties) and had an array of lenses. The least lens was the Color Skopar, The HELIAR, and the much searched for very high priced APO Lanthar which often goes for in excess of $2500 to $4000. The BESSA II only came in chrome with black leatherette. It did not come in all black, and I think the Helomar was not a choice by that time, as it was a lower quality lens.

It's confusing when one only discusses the camera's by referencing the lenses. Keep in mind the Helomar is a low cost triplet and image quality was iffy and sporadic. It's unfortunate if one confuses the lens with a Heliar which is way up the quality scale from the Helomar.

The misfortune comes when one buys the Helomar lens and pays too much because they confused it with the Color Heliar. A BESSA II in good shape with a good Color Heliar often sells in excess of $1500 to $2500.

 

[citizen99]

Actually, the Heliar (the original of course, not the later Color Heliar of the the Bessa II) was the (frequently found) top of the range fitment to the Bessa RangeFinder of the late 1930s. I concur that the Helomar is a good triplet, I have / have had & used Bessa RF versions with the Helomar, Skopar and Heliar, all are good 🙂

 

[Argenticien]

The Helomar lens is confused quite often with the much better Heliar. [...] The misfortune comes when one buys the Helomar lens and pays too much because they confused it with the Color Heliar. A BESSA II in good shape with a good Color Heliar often sells in excess of $1500 to $2500.

Yeah mine is the original, non-II Bessa rangefinder. I paid for a Helomar, and got a Helomar 🙂, so I knew going in that I had the triplet. It was my first toe-dip into medium-format folders, so I didn't want to start with expensive glass, in case I were to find that the entire format/ergonomics didn't suit me. That fear proved unfounded. I later got a Super Ikonta C (531/2), which has both a better lens (Tessar) and a less squinty RF with seemingly better eye relief for eyeglass-wearers like myself. My Bessa has stayed on the shelf most of the time since then.

--Dave

 

[Ironage]

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Goat Shepherd by ad7an, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Ironage]

I changed my printing paper to something with a smoother texture.

Kicking Horse Resevoir by ad7an, on Flickr

 

[Dayrell bishop]

With Mum Super Ikonta 533/16

With Mum Super Ikonta 533/16

 

[Ironage]

Welta Weltur 6x9

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Mission Mountains by ad7an, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Ironage]

Another with Welta Weltur 6x9


Half life by ad7an, on Flickr

 

[mbisc]

Fresh from the Drying Rack (taken with Voigtländer Bessa II & Color-Skopar):


Madurai - Tirumala Nayak Palace by nbg90455, on Flickr

 

[Muggins]

I have a couple of tons of manure she's very welcome to give me a hand with! Anyway, back on topic...

This is not a great photo. However, the camera was given to my by the son of the man who bought it in Canada while training as a bomber pilot during WW2. When I knew that the Canadian Lancaster would be visiting the UK, I had to use it! It's an art-deco Kodak Six-20, with a Compur shutter and f4.5 Xenar - a pretty nifty combination for an old Kodak! There's a dirty great chip on the rear element, but I have to say that I've yet to notice any effect on the images.


Bomber Command special by gray1720, on Flickr

ETA - forgot to mention, the irony is that the camera was made at the Dr Nagel-Werke, Stuttgart.

Adrian

 

[Mike-D]

Recently found a very clean Kodak Tourist with the F4.5 Anaston lens. Its a very usable camera with a decent finder. Shot on Tmax-100

 

[argentopictor]

Swiss Alpine Village

Swiss Alpine Village

Voigtländer Perkeo I w. Color Skopar 3.5/80mm
August 2014.
Kodak Portra 400. Epson V500-

 

[argentopictor]

Old Combine Harvester

Old Combine Harvester

... the type of harvester that was pulled by a tractor.

Summer 2014, Germany.
Voigtländer Perkeo I w. Color Skopar 3.5/80mm.
Kodak Portra 400. Epson V500.

 

[argentopictor]

Lakeside / Fall

Lakeside / Fall

Germany, October 2014.

Voigtländer Perkeo I, Color Skopar 3.5/80mm.
Kodak Portra 400. Epson V500.

 

[giurom]

Chiesetta nella nebbia

Chiesetta nella nebbia

Zeiss Super Ikonta 533/16 Porta 160

 

[Ironage]

Welta Wetur 6x9. First roll of color I have tried in this camera. Kodak Porta 400.

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Mission Resevior by ad7an, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[shortstop]

Welta Weltur 6x9; kodak 400 iso

 

[gdmcclintock]

Welta Weltur circa 1936 6x9cm

 

[rjstep3]

As it says on flickr, this was my first roll of film through a Zeiss Ikon nettar, so I was especially pleased that I nailed the focus on the blossoms in the foreground in the absence of a rangefinder on the camera! The colours are vibrant, thanks to Fuji 160S, and a joy to shoot.

rjstep3

 

[mbisc]

Another one from my Voigtländer Bessa II & Color-Skopar:


Sanchi - Stupa 3 (8x10 Print) by nbg90455, on Flickr