Side grip for the Bessa

I use one on the Bessa R3a and I find it balances the camera very nicely so I'd recommend it. Fits really nicely as a finger grip when carrying the camera with the Gordy strap.

I also have a CV trigger winder which adds heft and funkiness to the Bessa and gives it a more solid feel with more space for the large -handed.

Both are nice options.
 
yes i used it when i had a bessa R and R3A.
its really very helpful to get an extra grip over the camera
it also protects the base of the camera (if you are paranoid of potential scratches)
overall a useful addition.
its not big and ugly but practical.
i actually still have the grip.. holding on to it in case i might get a bessa again 🙂
 
side grips are great if you use a wrist strap.
less needed if you use long neck strap.

i have one on the r4m and wish it were a bit bigger and more angular, like the mgrip that i use on the zeiss ikon.

joe
 
I have the small grip on my Bessa-T and love it. I have the Bessa in the (bottom) case usually so that adds a liitle to the size. The camera with grip fits in the whole case by the way.
There is one on the bay now...
 
Akiva, I too have the Bessa side-grip, and find the extra security of the hold very useful. Partially as a result I've become a fan of side-grips in general, appreciating those cameras with built-in grips like the Bronica RF645, Pentax 677II, etc. I also like a vertical carry for the rig, so wish the Bessa sidegrip offered a low strap lug like the trigger winder has.
 
Dear Akiva,

I see that you have R3M with the 21mm lens.

I am new to rangefinders and I am interested to see how do you work with the 21mm lens on teh R3m which has framelines for min 40mm. Do you attached the external viewfinder for 21mm. If yea, how does it actually work? Is it mechanical activated, electrical, I don't quite get it.

thanks,
meste
 
jmilkins said:
I use one on the Bessa R3a and I find it balances the camera very nicely so I'd recommend it. Fits really nicely as a finger grip when carrying the camera with the Gordy strap.
Click to expand...

Same here. Works very well with a wrist strap - almost indespensible I would say, if using one.

My ony grip is that I wish it was bigger, as Joe commented earlier.
 
I don't have the side grip, but I do have the trigger winder and love it! First thing that sold me on it was the two side lugs. I've heard people complain that the bessas tend to tilt upwards unless you have a bit of a heavy lens when using a strap, though I've never experienced this (because I've never tried). I initially wanted the smaller side grip, however the base of that grip doesn't extend completely across the base of the camera so I opted for the trigger winder instead.

The trigger winder also adds a bit of height (depth?) so the camera fills my hands a lot more comfortably. I can't say how effective the trigger winder actually is as I've never really used it, but I understand some people have problems with overlapping frames if they're not very careful with it.
 
sienarot said:
...I understand some people have problems with overlapping frames if they're not very careful with it.
Click to expand...
When I first got my trigger winder I had to try to see how fast I could knock off a string of shots, and I did get out of synch with myself and got some overlapping frames. Since then I have not used it much, though leaving it in place for the reasons you cite. But recently I've found an overlapping frame or two on each roll, while using only the regular top wind lever. Taking the trigger winder unit off the camera eliminates the problem. Putting it back on and then using only the trigger to wind also eliminates the problem. I think there may be something wrong with my trigger winder; maybe it's adding some drag to the process when the regular wind lever is used.
 
meste said:
I am new to rangefinders and I am interested to see how do you work with the 21mm lens on teh R3m which has framelines for min 40mm. Do you attached the external viewfinder for 21mm. If yea, how does it actually work? Is it mechanical activated, electrical, I don't quite get it.
Click to expand...
Hi Meste, and welcome to the world of RF cameras! The external auxilliary viewfinders are simple optical devices that fit into the accessory shoe with no other mechanical or electrical connection to the camera. No metering diodes or other viewfinder information appears, you cannot see focus aids, and there's no automatic parallax compensation.

Yet it works well after some familiarization. Use the camera's viewfinder for metering and focus, then move your eye to the accessory viewfinder to compose your photo. Press the shutter! If focus and light remain the same, you may continue to take more shots using only the accessory finder until you want to check if one of those factors has changed.
 
Doug said:
Taking the trigger winder unit off the camera eliminates the problem. Putting it back on and then using only the trigger to wind also eliminates the problem. I think there may be something wrong with my trigger winder; maybe it's adding some drag to the process when the regular wind lever is used.
Click to expand...


I read that too, though I've yet to experience it. Well, maybe I have, I just don't know it? Spacing seems fine, maybe it's better without the grip? I think someone on here said they took apart the trigger winder and said it was just a simple design using a rubber belt or something like that. Maybe I should take it apart and remove the winding mechanism to eliminate the drag before it becomes an issue...
 
Hi All...
Akiva, you're the guy who linked me to being a beta tester for ACDSee Pro 2.0, and I'm really into it.

Re: Side Grip: I have one for my Bessa R and love it. It's well made, fits perfectly with the one tripod screw, feels good in your hand... and, if you use a neck strap, it'll hang better. Also, the back can be opened without removing the side grip.
Cheers, mike
 
meste said:
Dear Akiva,

I see that you have R3M with the 21mm lens.

I am new to rangefinders and I am interested to see how do you work with the 21mm lens on teh R3m which has framelines for min 40mm. Do you attached the external viewfinder for 21mm. If yea, how does it actually work? Is it mechanical activated, electrical, I don't quite get it.

thanks,
meste
Click to expand...
Actually looking for a Bessa L to work with it. But right now, I just scale focus and shoot away for a "surprise" composition. Actually kinda fun.
 
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