Leigh Youdale
Well-known
First Impressions:-
The camera arrived well packed in it’s own little Pelican case from Mainline Photographics. Considering it has already been through the hands of the major part of the 20 or so participating photographers, each having it to use for two weeks, it’s in mint condition. It’s probably had more use in the last few months than I would give it in years, so it gets a tick from me for quality of finish and construction.
It’s a bit bigger than I expected. People who earlier wrote that it’s ‘pocketable’ in a jacket or coat must dress more substantially than here in the Antipodes and there’s no coat I possess that would accommodate it! Without doubt I’d want a modest sized Crumpler bag or similar to protect and carry it when not in use.
It’s a bit bigger than I expected and larger than my old Bessa I 6x9 folder. Certainly a lot bigger than my old Perkeo II folder which had the f2.8 lens and must surely have been one of the most compact 6x6 cameras ever made. That one was certainly pocketable. Nevertheless, the great viewfinder, split-image focusing and integrated metering makes the Bessa II a much easier and quicker camera to use.
It feels heavy – substantial – in the hand but the impression is a bit misleading. It weighs in at 1049g with strap and battery but no film. By contrast my Rolleiflex f2.8 Planar weighs 1303g without film. Quite a difference but the Rolleiflex, appearing to be more compact, really doesn’t feel any different in weight when you pick it up unless you have one camera in each hand to compare. I guess 250g isn’t that much really.
Loading was easy – standard 120 folder practice but also exactly as set out in the instruction manual. I had read reports that some had had a problem with the finished film unwinding as it was being taken from the camera. The tension spring that holds the roll appears to have little effect, but on testing with a full roll of film there was a deceptively larger amount of tension there than appeared to be the case just from visual inspection. I’m sure as long as you keep some finger pressure on the rolled film whilst removing the spool there won’t be a problem.
In the hand, the Bessa III feels large compared to the Rolleiflex. Of course, you’re viewing the Rolleiflex from directly above which is its smallest footprint and viewing the Bessa from the angle which shows its greatest dimensions but there’s no getting away from the fact that the Bessa feels larger. Maybe I’ll get used to it in use. I took some comparative photos of the two cameras side by side, closed and open which might indicate the relative size of each.
So far so good. The tactile response in actual use will be something to experience and a comparison between the results from both cameras using the same film stock will also be interesting. I’ll post something again after I get the prints and scans back but that’s likely to be a month down the track due to other commitments.
The camera arrived well packed in it’s own little Pelican case from Mainline Photographics. Considering it has already been through the hands of the major part of the 20 or so participating photographers, each having it to use for two weeks, it’s in mint condition. It’s probably had more use in the last few months than I would give it in years, so it gets a tick from me for quality of finish and construction.
It’s a bit bigger than I expected. People who earlier wrote that it’s ‘pocketable’ in a jacket or coat must dress more substantially than here in the Antipodes and there’s no coat I possess that would accommodate it! Without doubt I’d want a modest sized Crumpler bag or similar to protect and carry it when not in use.
It’s a bit bigger than I expected and larger than my old Bessa I 6x9 folder. Certainly a lot bigger than my old Perkeo II folder which had the f2.8 lens and must surely have been one of the most compact 6x6 cameras ever made. That one was certainly pocketable. Nevertheless, the great viewfinder, split-image focusing and integrated metering makes the Bessa II a much easier and quicker camera to use.
It feels heavy – substantial – in the hand but the impression is a bit misleading. It weighs in at 1049g with strap and battery but no film. By contrast my Rolleiflex f2.8 Planar weighs 1303g without film. Quite a difference but the Rolleiflex, appearing to be more compact, really doesn’t feel any different in weight when you pick it up unless you have one camera in each hand to compare. I guess 250g isn’t that much really.
Loading was easy – standard 120 folder practice but also exactly as set out in the instruction manual. I had read reports that some had had a problem with the finished film unwinding as it was being taken from the camera. The tension spring that holds the roll appears to have little effect, but on testing with a full roll of film there was a deceptively larger amount of tension there than appeared to be the case just from visual inspection. I’m sure as long as you keep some finger pressure on the rolled film whilst removing the spool there won’t be a problem.
In the hand, the Bessa III feels large compared to the Rolleiflex. Of course, you’re viewing the Rolleiflex from directly above which is its smallest footprint and viewing the Bessa from the angle which shows its greatest dimensions but there’s no getting away from the fact that the Bessa feels larger. Maybe I’ll get used to it in use. I took some comparative photos of the two cameras side by side, closed and open which might indicate the relative size of each.
So far so good. The tactile response in actual use will be something to experience and a comparison between the results from both cameras using the same film stock will also be interesting. I’ll post something again after I get the prints and scans back but that’s likely to be a month down the track due to other commitments.
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Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Here are some more photos
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Leigh Youdale
Well-known
I thought Scott must have put the strap on - it has a Voigtlander logo. What I can't quite get my head around at the moment is how huge the thing is compared to the Perkeo!
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
damn, that viewfinder looks big!
Great camera, I'd love to shoot one!
Great camera, I'd love to shoot one!
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
One of the disconcerting things about that camera is although it has the presence of a Hummer ... when you press the shutter there is virtually no sound!
In spite of it's size it does feel good in the hands though ... I found the ergonomics spot on.
In spite of it's size it does feel good in the hands though ... I found the ergonomics spot on.
Jamie123
Veteran
The strap comes with the camera. Didn't you get one, chippy??
The camera is not small by any means but I would say it's 'portable' (tbut not 'pocketable'). I mainly use it in 6x7 so for me it's a comparison between this and a Mamiya 7II or a Pentax 67II compared to which it's certainly more compact.
The only thing I really don't like about the camera is the placement of the strap lugs. They should have left them like they were on the prototype.
The camera is not small by any means but I would say it's 'portable' (tbut not 'pocketable'). I mainly use it in 6x7 so for me it's a comparison between this and a Mamiya 7II or a Pentax 67II compared to which it's certainly more compact.
The only thing I really don't like about the camera is the placement of the strap lugs. They should have left them like they were on the prototype.
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Second Impressions
Today I went out shooting with both the Rolleiflex and the Bessa III. Whereas on unpacking the Bessa I was a bit daunted by its apparent size, in use I found I quickly lost that impression and found it very easy to use. It hangs by its strap quite easily from the shoulder when closed, does not feel heavy, and is easily steadied whilst walking by slight arm pressure. The Rolleiflex, on the other hand sits rather heavily on the chest, bounces around a bit and pulls on the neck but otherwise is probably easier to carry in a ready-to-shoot state. (I prefer to carry the Rollei like this as it’s easier to use the viewfinder).
I’m sure that with practice you could develop a “quick-draw” method of unslinging the Bessa from the shoulder and opening it in one movement – rather like the gunfighters of old!
I think the Rollei is easier to use undetected for street and candid photography as you don’t have to hold it up in front of your face to make the shot.
Others have remarked on how quiet the Bessa shutter is. Even forewarned I was not prepared for just how quiet it is – a couple of times I was unsure that it had actually operated. The focus ring and meter are very easy to use, especially in AE mode and a plus for me is that I can use the Bessa without spectacles, which I find I need for the Rolleiflex. I didn't have a problem with the rangefinder patch disappearing - probably got used to this with the two 35mm Bessas I have!
I had no problem unloading the exposed film – it didn’t unwind, but I do need to wind it on a bit more as the end of the paper was still free when I opened the camera. All in all I was pleasantly surprised by the Bessa after my initial impressions.
The results will be a little while in coming as the free Kodal Pro film issued as part of the Travelling Bessa Project has to go back to the sponsoring lab for processing.
As I used the same film stock and same exposures for duplicate shots on the Rolleiflex it will be interesting to see if there is any detectable difference in negative quality.
Today I went out shooting with both the Rolleiflex and the Bessa III. Whereas on unpacking the Bessa I was a bit daunted by its apparent size, in use I found I quickly lost that impression and found it very easy to use. It hangs by its strap quite easily from the shoulder when closed, does not feel heavy, and is easily steadied whilst walking by slight arm pressure. The Rolleiflex, on the other hand sits rather heavily on the chest, bounces around a bit and pulls on the neck but otherwise is probably easier to carry in a ready-to-shoot state. (I prefer to carry the Rollei like this as it’s easier to use the viewfinder).
I’m sure that with practice you could develop a “quick-draw” method of unslinging the Bessa from the shoulder and opening it in one movement – rather like the gunfighters of old!
I think the Rollei is easier to use undetected for street and candid photography as you don’t have to hold it up in front of your face to make the shot.
Others have remarked on how quiet the Bessa shutter is. Even forewarned I was not prepared for just how quiet it is – a couple of times I was unsure that it had actually operated. The focus ring and meter are very easy to use, especially in AE mode and a plus for me is that I can use the Bessa without spectacles, which I find I need for the Rolleiflex. I didn't have a problem with the rangefinder patch disappearing - probably got used to this with the two 35mm Bessas I have!
I had no problem unloading the exposed film – it didn’t unwind, but I do need to wind it on a bit more as the end of the paper was still free when I opened the camera. All in all I was pleasantly surprised by the Bessa after my initial impressions.
The results will be a little while in coming as the free Kodal Pro film issued as part of the Travelling Bessa Project has to go back to the sponsoring lab for processing.
As I used the same film stock and same exposures for duplicate shots on the Rolleiflex it will be interesting to see if there is any detectable difference in negative quality.
Jamie123
Veteran
Chippy,
that's a bummer about the missing strap. You should call your dealer and tell them to send you one. It should definitely be in the box with the camera. It's a pretty nice narrow strap with the Voigtländer logo.
As for the strap lugs, they should indeed have included a third strap lug like in the prototype:
Also notice how the lug for sideways carrying is on the right side (photographer's perspective). This would also have been very nice as it would have made it possible to attach a hand strap for a better grip.
that's a bummer about the missing strap. You should call your dealer and tell them to send you one. It should definitely be in the box with the camera. It's a pretty nice narrow strap with the Voigtländer logo.
As for the strap lugs, they should indeed have included a third strap lug like in the prototype:

Also notice how the lug for sideways carrying is on the right side (photographer's perspective). This would also have been very nice as it would have made it possible to attach a hand strap for a better grip.
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Jamie, I think you'll find that like me, "Chippy" is a member of the "test panel" that the B3 is circulating through in Australia as a loan camera to try out, and the camera I have in my hands right now is the same one he had previously. It now has a strap, no doubt supplied by the kind distributor as it passed through his office between testers. I don't think Chippy actually bought a B3 yet.
Andrew, good point about the bellows and rapid deployment. I hadn't (and now won't) try that! But I will try carrying it from the neck and see how that feels.
I'm posting my first two films to Horsham tomorrow. I took 6x7 on the Bessa. The photos I took are virtually duplicated on the Rolleiflex and so it was an easy way to distinguish which camera the negatives came from. As the Bessa achieves the format change simply by masking each side of the 6x7 gate there is no change in lens to film distance and no change in angle of view, so as long as you ignore the half centimetre each side of the 6x7 when comparing the negatives the images should yield the same result optically. The format change is simply a result of different masking.
Andrew, good point about the bellows and rapid deployment. I hadn't (and now won't) try that! But I will try carrying it from the neck and see how that feels.
I'm posting my first two films to Horsham tomorrow. I took 6x7 on the Bessa. The photos I took are virtually duplicated on the Rolleiflex and so it was an easy way to distinguish which camera the negatives came from. As the Bessa achieves the format change simply by masking each side of the 6x7 gate there is no change in lens to film distance and no change in angle of view, so as long as you ignore the half centimetre each side of the 6x7 when comparing the negatives the images should yield the same result optically. The format change is simply a result of different masking.
Jamie123
Veteran
ah! thats it Jamie! excatly like that pic is what it needed to be! with a special custom (wrist or grip) strap to pad the inside of the hand and to wrap around the outside would make it even better to hold..
not that anyone is going to pull one of these apart {yet} but i bet those strap lugs could be attached one way or another...it makes me wonder why on earth they changed their mind to move the strap lugs when they had it right to begin with! no doubt some kind of structural prohibitation
Yeah, I wonder, too. But oh well, there's not much we can do about it
As far as holding is concerned, for me the method pictured on page 6 of the manual (http://www.chiifcameras.com/site2/images/Bessa_III_667_Manual.pdf) works best. The camera rests on my left palm and I use the thumb to focus and set aperture. This way I don't need to grip the camera too hard with my right hand and there's no strain on my fingers. It works very well for me but I also have big hands which helps.
Steve M.
Veteran
Thanks for posting the comparison photos. Never thought I'd see a MF folder that made a Bessa II and a Rolleiflex 2.8 look compact. When you see the camera on the web you don't get any conception of it's actual size.
I usually carry a Rolleiflex w/ a regular camera strap slipped through it's eyelets and sling the camera over my shoulder. Makes it a lot more comfortable to carry (or as comfortable as a large TLR can be), and I just pull the front strap w/ my thumb and slip it over to the front under my arm when I want to shoot. Takes a little practice but it takes next to no time to have the camera ready once you get used to it.
It would be enlightening if you post a couple of the identical photos that you took w/ the Rolleiflex. I have a hunch which camera will win the shootout, but it would be good to see anyway.
I usually carry a Rolleiflex w/ a regular camera strap slipped through it's eyelets and sling the camera over my shoulder. Makes it a lot more comfortable to carry (or as comfortable as a large TLR can be), and I just pull the front strap w/ my thumb and slip it over to the front under my arm when I want to shoot. Takes a little practice but it takes next to no time to have the camera ready once you get used to it.
It would be enlightening if you post a couple of the identical photos that you took w/ the Rolleiflex. I have a hunch which camera will win the shootout, but it would be good to see anyway.
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Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Australia Post is having a holiday today, no doubt to get a long weekend for everyone, so I can't mail my films for processing until Monday. It will likely be the end of next week before I have anything to post.
I'm interested to see the comparison too - a 50+ year-old legendary lens with slight separation around the edge (doesn't seem to be apparent even at f2.8) against a new-generation Heliar f3.5. The Heliar design is legendary too and Cosina seem to have got the manufacture of new lenses pretty well nailed, so, yes, it will be interesting. Unless there's no discernable difference - what then?
I'm interested to see the comparison too - a 50+ year-old legendary lens with slight separation around the edge (doesn't seem to be apparent even at f2.8) against a new-generation Heliar f3.5. The Heliar design is legendary too and Cosina seem to have got the manufacture of new lenses pretty well nailed, so, yes, it will be interesting. Unless there's no discernable difference - what then?
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Hanging Loose.
I tried a few different carrying methods today. My Rolleiflex case is commodious enough that I can leave the lens hood on when the case is closed. It makes it a bit of a lump but actually carries quite comfortably on my right shoulder - more comfortably than round my neck, and it's comparatively easy to swing it round to the front ready to use without 'unshipping' it as long as the strap isn't too short.
On the other hand I did not find the B3 comfortable when hanging from my neck in front. What seemed to work best was to hang it from my left shoulder, lens side out, and reach across with my right hand whilst simultaneously using my left thumb to slip the strap off my shoulder. Unlatch the front and shoot as normal. After closing the front just use the left hand to bring the strap back to the shoulder and it's back to the start.
I tried a few different carrying methods today. My Rolleiflex case is commodious enough that I can leave the lens hood on when the case is closed. It makes it a bit of a lump but actually carries quite comfortably on my right shoulder - more comfortably than round my neck, and it's comparatively easy to swing it round to the front ready to use without 'unshipping' it as long as the strap isn't too short.
On the other hand I did not find the B3 comfortable when hanging from my neck in front. What seemed to work best was to hang it from my left shoulder, lens side out, and reach across with my right hand whilst simultaneously using my left thumb to slip the strap off my shoulder. Unlatch the front and shoot as normal. After closing the front just use the left hand to bring the strap back to the shoulder and it's back to the start.
arseniii
Well-known
Awesome camera! Some actual images it produces, please...
John NYC
Established
Awesome camera! Some actual images it produces, please...
Lots of photos from the Bessa (and Fuji branded version of same) in these flickr groups...
http://www.flickr.com/groups/voigtlander_bessa_iii/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/fujifilm_gf670/
Jamie123
Veteran
Australia Post is having a holiday today, no doubt to get a long weekend for everyone, so I can't mail my films for processing until Monday. It will likely be the end of next week before I have anything to post.
I'm interested to see the comparison too - a 50+ year-old legendary lens with slight separation around the edge (doesn't seem to be apparent even at f2.8) against a new-generation Heliar f3.5. The Heliar design is legendary too and Cosina seem to have got the manufacture of new lenses pretty well nailed, so, yes, it will be interesting. Unless there's no discernable difference - what then?
I'm pretty sure the Rolleiflex's pictures will be slightly more pleasing to the eye than the Bessa's. Not sharper but maybe a bit smoother. Also, I'm not sure the Heliar on the Bessa is actually a Heliar design (not that I care much for lens designs anyways).
Anyways, I love my Bessa III and don't regret selling my Hasselblad kit at all. I love that it's both 6x6 and 6x7, I love the easy film loading, I love the silent shutter (!), I love the automatic exposure and the included meter. However, what I love most of all is that I don't feel like it's a ticking time bomb sitting in my bag. I had quite an extensive Hasselblad kit (various lenses, backs and lots of accessories) and one part or the other was always giving me trouble. Either it was a sticking shutter in one of the lenses or a back giving me overlapping frames. Somehow I find it quite comforting that the Bessa is not entirely mechanical.
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
A Slight Disappointment.
I loaded another film into B3 today and took it (with other cameras) to photograph a friend's wedding, with high expectations. On the first frame I noticed that the exposure indication in the viewfinder was not illuminated. Same again on the second frame.
The indicated condition would point to a low battery, and yet two days ago there was no flashing of the lights to indicate the battery was getting low and on every frame the shutter/meter appeared to function normally.
I checked the battery on a multimeter when I got home and it's showing 2.9v which I would have thought was enough, but maybe it's below a critical level or maybe I've got a sudden circuit break in the camera itself. Of course, I didn't have a spare battery. (Lesson #1).
Tomorrow I'll get a new battery and see if that overcomes the problem.
I loaded another film into B3 today and took it (with other cameras) to photograph a friend's wedding, with high expectations. On the first frame I noticed that the exposure indication in the viewfinder was not illuminated. Same again on the second frame.
The indicated condition would point to a low battery, and yet two days ago there was no flashing of the lights to indicate the battery was getting low and on every frame the shutter/meter appeared to function normally.
I checked the battery on a multimeter when I got home and it's showing 2.9v which I would have thought was enough, but maybe it's below a critical level or maybe I've got a sudden circuit break in the camera itself. Of course, I didn't have a spare battery. (Lesson #1).
Tomorrow I'll get a new battery and see if that overcomes the problem.
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Post-Operative Medical Report.
Happily B3 is alive and well. The transplant operation (new battery) went well, according to expectation, and the patient has been released for normal activities.
Now to shoot off the remaining eight frames!
Happily B3 is alive and well. The transplant operation (new battery) went well, according to expectation, and the patient has been released for normal activities.
Now to shoot off the remaining eight frames!
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Well, we got over the battery issue but today I set out to finish the film (knowing that the first two frames would be blank.
What happened next seems a bit of a mystery. I finished the film (as I thought) and wound on. In retrospect the ease with which the winding knob turned might have alerted me but on opening the camera the film had not fully wound onto the takeup spool. The backing paper was showing frame number 12, or thereabouts, so it wasn't far from the end. I closed the camera, wound on again without any success, reopened it and removed the spools and finished winding on by hand. At least the last two frames will have been spoiled.
I'll sacrifice a roll of FP4+ through it next to see whether it's a definite problem with the winding mechanism or just something random. Bit disconcerting though - I was going to use it to photograph my daughter's wedding on Saturday but I don't think I'll risk it now.
What happened next seems a bit of a mystery. I finished the film (as I thought) and wound on. In retrospect the ease with which the winding knob turned might have alerted me but on opening the camera the film had not fully wound onto the takeup spool. The backing paper was showing frame number 12, or thereabouts, so it wasn't far from the end. I closed the camera, wound on again without any success, reopened it and removed the spools and finished winding on by hand. At least the last two frames will have been spoiled.
I'll sacrifice a roll of FP4+ through it next to see whether it's a definite problem with the winding mechanism or just something random. Bit disconcerting though - I was going to use it to photograph my daughter's wedding on Saturday but I don't think I'll risk it now.
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
I've been racking my brains since my last post, trying to figure out what went wrong. There seems to be nothing wrong with the wind-on after loading the FP4 and I'm starting to think I had a "senior moment" and didn't pay attention to what I was doing. I'm strongly right handed and I'm guessing that, without thinking or looking (I was in conversation with a couple of people at the time), I did what I've caught myself doing several times with this camera and tried to wind on clockwise. The winder knob has to be turned anti-clockwise which is counter-intuitive for me. If you turn it clockwise the ratchet just idles around forever until you wake up to yourself!
So, probably nothing at all wrong with the camera and nothing at all wrong with me that can't be remedied by a sharp blow to the forehead.
So, probably nothing at all wrong with the camera and nothing at all wrong with me that can't be remedied by a sharp blow to the forehead.
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