The most popular Bessa is....

[thegman]

Does it also bother you that the VW Karmann Ghia is called the poor man's Porsche?

Neither bothers me a great deal, just that sometimes people buy cheaper items because they want them, not because they can't afford the more expensive one, that's all.

 

[migtex]

You got it all "wrong"!!
It's the R2S NHS!!

 

[wlewisiii]

None of the above.

I loved my R and may get another one or else I'll get a R2C & a Sonnar 50/1.5.

Since I can't afford that I have a Leica instead...

/What?

 

[lxmike]

For me it has to be the R but that was not a poll option

 

[raid]

R & L thank you... long live the screw mount lenses.

and yes, I do also own a Leica.

P,S. Raid - Why not send your R back to Stephen?

His repair charges are, IMO, surprisingly reasonable.
Especially in comparison to some of the prices I've seen quoted on RFF for others' work.

Actually, even more reasonable than Eddie's were.

.

The R is still with Eddy Smolov,and it may now have been passed to his "replacement" repairman.

 

[patois]

Adding the Leica option ruins the validity of the survey. Leica's are class signifiers and so everyone is going to say they want one, like how people by Rolexes even though they are tacky. Everyone will say they want a Leica because they want to believe they can afford one and be seen with one.

 

[biomed]

I like my R3A, but use the R4M more often.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Adding the Leica option ruins the validity of the survey. Leica's are class signifiers and so everyone is going to say they want one, like how people by Rolexes even though they are tacky. Everyone will say they want a Leica because they want to believe they can afford one and be seen with one.

They're also rather good cameras.

I think I'd probably prefer my R2 to an M2, but as I started using Leicas long before the modern Voigtländers existed, it's hard to tell. But without wishing to be any ruder than necessary, I'd disagree completely with your assertion, which smacks of reverse snobbery.

Cheers,

R.

 

[wlewisiii]

Thinking about it some more, I think what I want is a R1A - build me an LTM version with AE and the improved construction of the later Bessas. Yes, I know that M mount is more versatile, but I'd rather keep it LTM as that's what glass I own :angel: 28/35/50/90 frame lines would be a plus, too. Just build the baffles so my collapsible lenses are safe to use LOL!

 

[raid]

William,
I also would like such a Bessa camera, but we may never get it.

 

[Tompas]

(...) Anyone who worries excessively about 'class' either doesn't know what the word means, or is pretending to be something they're not (be it baron or peasant). (...)

Or is a revolutionary, of course. 🙂

 

[Roger Hicks]

Or is a revolutionary, of course. 🙂

Fair point!

(Though of course they could just be pretending to be a revolutionary.)

Yours fraternally,

R.

 

[rbiemer]

After rigorous analysis, I can report that my R2a is twice as popular as my R...🙂
I really don't know which Bessa is most popular but I do know which Bessa I use most; the R2a. I do still use my R though not as often as I used to. I did have an L for a while but have sold it since I was not using it as much as I'd thought I would. I had planned to dedicate the L to my 21mm lens but found it worked better for me to just use the R2a.
As to the "R1a" idea, I use my R2a as that: I only have one M-mount lens and so mostly just leave the LTM adapter on the camera.
Rob

 

[Thardy]

I use the R2A much more than my L.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I sold my Bessa R when I got An R2. But it left me cold, so I sold it and now have another R.

FWIW the original R, L and T screwmount models are my favorites but not represented here.

I wonder if Stephen could provide an "answer" to this poll, i.e. sales figures by model?

Chris

 

[Hammerklavier]

I don't own a Bessa, but I don't think it's fair to call them a "poor man's" Leica or whatever. The R4 has a wide angle finder simply not available elsewhere, plus they are not so steal-able, and you're not going to worry as much if it's clattering around your bag. Like I say, I don't own one, but I don't like the snobbery which surrounds the idea that if you can afford Leica, you'd buy one, rather than *choose* something else.

Dear thegman,

I was only refering to R2A vs M7/ZI and not the entire Bessa or Leica lineup.

 

[gb hill]

Like newspaperguy am a Bessa R & L user. I like my R but the funnest camera is a Bessa L with a 25/4 lens.

 

[LKeithR]

For me the "L" is my fav--the fact that it's my only Bessa probably plays a role here. Funny thing about the camera is that I bought it about two years ago and it froze up on me before I finished my first roll of film. It languished on the shelf and I kept telling myself I should send it off for repair but never got around to it. Then a few months ago I stumbled across a thread on RFF about the shutter lock up issue. I did a bit of research, gathered up some tools and took the darn thing apart and fixed it. Works a charm now.

Coming from a stable of DSLRs the L is a bit of a culture shock but as I get used to the scale focus I find it's a lot of fun to use. I've located a Jupiter 8 (50mm) locally and I'm supposed to meet the seller early next week--might have happened this weekend but at the moment I'm down with a bloody cold! Here's a porn shot...

 

[Krosya]

My Favorites:

 

[back alley]

if i shot film i would still have my r4a...great camera, solid and loves them wides...