The L

[That Guy]

When I first saw it, I thought, "This is the dumbest thing I've ever seen! Who the *$%@ would get one?" It has become my absolute favorite camera. I feel silly saying it and I don't care. It's what I reach for the most. More than the R, more than the SLR. I've travelled with it and the 25/4 Skopar and nothing else and it's been perfect. No regrets... ever. Not even once.

People talk about how "free" you are to create with this camera or that lens. The Bessa L has been so liberating. With it, I am a photographer; I am a documentarian; I am a snapshooter; I am an artist. But everybody I talk to about this camera combination doesn't seem to get it. So what is it about the Bessa L that you like, love, lust, despise, confuse, consider, or obsess about?

 

[digitalox]

Hi Chris,

I too love my L. I also have the 25/4 and it took me a while to get used to that wide a lens. So long in fact I almost sold the camera. But luckily I kept it.

I just love the simplicity of this camera. Also it worked for me in -35C weather. The meter is pretty good. I can't really think of anything I don't like about the camera. I can think of things that would be nice to add to it, but then it wouldn't be the L anymore. And hey, it was only $69!

 

[RML]

"Yeah" for the L with the CV 25/4!

Wonderful camera. Like you say, it's liberating. No fiddling with all kinds of settings. Just set aperture or shutter time, set the approximate focal length, and off you go! I used it in India at a dusty +30 degrees. I used it in Mongolia at a cork-dry -30 degrees.

I wish I had a 50mm auxiliary VF so I could use one of my 50mm lenses on it, but then I'd also have to get better at guestimating distance (or only shoot at f4 or smaller).

And yes, for only $69 (about 50 euros nowadays) it won't break the bank either.

 

[wlewisiii]

Just for S&G, will the Jupiter-12 fit this camera? And is it wide enough to use as you are describing? Or is this something where a relativly expensive (compared to the dirt cheap body) lens is needed?

Thanks,

William

 

[RML]

The J12 will most likely NOT fit on the L. I have a J12 and it hits the shutter blades. If your specimen fits it'll interfere with the light meter.

A 35mm lens is wide enough to shoot in the same way as with the CV 25/4. Just set aperture and distance, mind the DOF, set the shutter speed, and GO! 🙂

 

[former member]

When I saw it first advertised and announced, it never struck me as stupid, but as bold. When I saw the Bessa R announced, I did a YEAH! The Konica Hexar RF had too many features for my taste, but I was glad to see the revival. Then the R2, R2C,R2S... I thought that was great.

Myself: Closest that I have come to an L is mirror-up lenses for the Nikon; the 21mm F4 with its optical finder. That is a collectible that gives fine performance. But when I use a wide-angle lens shorter than 35mm I tend to use my SLR's with a grid-line screen to line up the shots. And if I am really thinking, I break out the perspective control lens. I am afraid that is the opposite of the concept of the L.

 

[Jim H.]

I have trouble with compisition on my 24/2.0 Nikkor. The film plane has to be absolutly perpindicular to the ground to avoid converging of vertical lines near the edge of the frame. I would think that a shorter lens would be even more challenging to compose. Maybe it just takes practice. I like the price of the L but you'd have to have a different finder for each of your lenses, correct? Using that wide of lens could you shoot from the hip? No finder required?

 

[former member]

Jim: Have you tried using an "E" screen? The grid lines help me out. I have never resorted to using it, but Nikon made and others make a bubble level that fits in the shoe-mount.

 

[bmattock]

For those hesitating over the cost of the CV 24 or wider lens - don't forget that you can get a t-mount or M42 or other SLR ultra-wide and an M39 adapter in many cases. Just make sure it does not project too far into the camera body.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[RML]

I have trouble with compisition on my 24/2.0 Nikkor. The film plane has to be absolutly perpindicular to the ground to avoid converging of vertical lines near the edge of the frame. I would think that a shorter lens would be even more challenging to compose. Maybe it just takes practice. I like the price of the L but you'd have to have a different finder for each of your lenses, correct? Using that wide of lens could you shoot from the hip? No finder required?

Jim, I often use(d) the L + 25 for hip shots (I now more often use the 25 on my CL).

The auxiliary VFs are indeed different for each lens but if you don't mind guestimating what will be in the shot you could use the 25mm VF with the 21mm lens; there'll be more in the shot than you can see through the VF. It's a bit awkward but when in need it can be done.

I'm not too bothered about converging lines. You'll get those with any wide to normal lens unless you use a (very expensive) tilt-shift lens. It's just that sometimes a 25mm lens is just not the right lens for the subject. In cases where you don't want those extreme converging lines you could opt for normal or telelens and step back a bit.

 

[Doug]

The Bessa-L is an amazing and simple concept, and I agree with Brian on the "bold" characterization. Daring move on Cosina's part.

I got my L as a package with the 25 Skopar, and found it a great "tourist" rig in Spain. To counter the parallax issue and lack of RF, the viewfinders sure are big and bright!

 

[stevew]

Brian mentioned the mirror up lens' for Nikon F. I have been intrigued by the CV 15 lens for Nikon. I know it's more expensive than the regular CV, but it looks really cool. It has a really neat finder that replaces the Nikon prism. I've never gotten over my obsession 30 years ago, for the Zeiss 15 Hologon. I really craved it but it was way out of my league.

 

[nihraguk]

wow.... this thread really drew my attention to the Bessa-L. this might be a better LTM body for me, over the FSU zorkis and FEDs.

One question, though: can the Jupiter-8 be used on this camera without any difficulty?

And it has a great price 🙂

 

[RML]

With a wide angle lens you can simply set f-stop and set the distance. Already at f4 the DOF is incredible. And the VoF is pretty enormous, so even just aiming it in the general direction will likely get you what you want in the picture. The auxiliary VF is a great aiming tool but not absolutely necessary.

The J8, however, is a 50mm, as you undoubtedly know. To use a 50mm lens on the L you will need a pretty accurate auxiliary VF because the VoF is narrower and aiming thus more critical.

Does CV make an auxiliary 50mm VF? I don't know for sure. You could get a Russian turret finder but it's big and kind of defeats the small size of the L.

IMO if you want to use a 50mm lens your better off going for the Bessa T, R, R2, R2a or R3a; not the L.

 

[RML]

If you're fav lens is a 35mm or wider than, even without an auxiliary VF, the L is a good choice. Anything less wide and you'll want a proper RF/VF combo (though the T and Leica III's have a split VF and RF the result is equal to the combined RF/VF).

 

[thmk]

There is a metal 50mm viewfinder made by CV.

 

[Doug]

Yes. I think the CV 50mm viewfinder is 1:1 magnification as well.

 

[Jim H.]

Great thread! I'm interested in the L, cheap, cheap. Like I need another camera! Very interesting though.

 

[nihraguk]

Thanks for the input guys... I'm serious considering this. Might even just grab the camera body first... and wait till I can afford a nice Skopar or something wider.

 

[plexi]

I just sold my R, but decided to keep the L, I just love it!

The 25/4 is a wonderful little lens, that produces exellent images