Thinking of selling the Bessa III...

[Godfrey]

I've been thinking about this while I've been traveling. I like the Bessa III a lot, but it's so much bigger than my Perkeo II that I find it off-putting and just don't want to carry it. I find the Hasselblad 500CM, despite being a bulky SLR, easier to carry about: it hangs more naturally at my side when I'm walking. I'll also never use the 6x7 capability of the Bessa III. As it is, I always grab the Perkeo or the Baldix ...

So I think that when I arrive home, the Bessa III will go on the block.
Convince me that I'm wrong to do this ... ;-)

G

 

[f16sunshine]

It would be easy to try and convince you if it was 6x9. I'm like you in that 67 is a non starter for me. The camera is lovely but, not my cup oh tea either. I prefer my Bessa ii Heliar. Sure, it's slower to use. The huge 2:3 negative and lovely sharp lens make it worth the effort.

 

[J. Borger]

Awesome viewfinder. Outstanding meter. Quietest shutter in the world, handholdable at 1/8, creamy files.....
The fuji GF670/Bessa iii is my favourite MF camera along with my Contax 645.
I also use the Pentax 67ii so the Fuji gf670 comes in as my carry everywhere 6x7.
I never got along with Hasselblads or Rolleiflexes, no matter how hard i tried and sold my Mamiya 7ii for the Gf670 and never regretted it.

So it is a very personal thing. If you do not use the camera enough: sell it, buy something else and move on.

 

[GaryLH]

Compared to the perkeo, it is quite big... The hasselblad is much bigger. Kind of surprised u like it better. I don't use the 6x7 format much as well. I end up shooting the Bessa 3 in 6x6 mode most of the time.

The only camera I have that is as light as the perkeo is a franka Solida ii w a / enna triplet. That triplet is just about as good as the skopar. Outside of that the Zeiss super ikonta IIi and iv are the next in size and weight.

If I get a chance, I will post a picture of the three other cameras for u..

Gary

 

[gshybrid]

Hard to beat the bessa/fuji for portability but I sold my GF670 after picking up a Mamiya 6. Collapsed with the 75mm it makes a very nice tavel camera. It's nice to have the option of changing lenses as well.

 

[thegman]

If I was to sell my Rolleiflex, it would likely be replaced with a Bessa III or GF670. I've used one, loved it. I bought one, but it has to be returned, and I ended up with my Rolleiflex.

I'm not interested in swapping lenses really, love folders, so it's an ideal camera as far as I am concerned.

If you don't shoot wide open (and therefore a coupled range finder is not such a big deal) and if you don't shoot slide film (then the meter is not a big thing), then the GF670/Bessa III does not offer that much over the older folders. If you do though, then I think it's an amazing camera.

 

[Matus]

Hard to beat the bessa/fuji for portability but I sold my GF670 after picking up a Mamiya 6. Collapsed with the 75mm it makes a very nice tavel camera. It's nice to have the option of changing lenses as well.

I am a Mamiya 6 owner and have though several times about the GF670/BessaIII - every time I collapse the lens on the Mamiya I realize that it is quite compact, but the Bessa should still be more than 1 cm flatter.

This may sound cheesy, but what keeps me away of getting the Bessa is the OOF lens rendering - quite busy at times. So I keep eyeballing the Rolleiflex FX (not good for my account balance 😉)

 

[gb hill]

If it's not the camera for then by all means sell it. I just wish I had the monies to buy it. I hope it goes to good hands.🙂

 

[GaryLH]

Godfrey, personally I like the gf670. It has a more modern user interface compared to my other folders. I actually would not have bought it if it were not for the dual format 6x6 and 6x7.

Here is shot of my other 6x6 folders. Smallest to largest.

- Voitlander Perkeo w/ rangefinder and Skopar
- Franka Solida II w/ Enna Werk
- Agfa Speedex w/ rangefinder and Solinar (red bellows was way it came)
- Zeiss Super Ikonta IV w/ Tessar
- Certa 6 w/ Tessar

They are all fine picture takers but my favorites are the Perkeo and the Solida... The Certa is almost as heavy as the gf670..

For kicks, here is a shot of my Bessa II and the gf670 (Bessa III).. Lol the 6x9 is actually smaller and lighter than the gf670.

The Bessa II has a Heliar.. They came w/ three lens choices, Skopar, Heliar and Lanthar. Lanthar are rare and priced accordingly.

When I shoot film, it is mostly medium format and usually one of these folders. 😀
Gary

 

[FrozenInTime]

I find it off-putting and just don't want to carry it. I find the Hasselblad 500CM, despite being a bulky SLR, easier to carry about: it hangs more naturally at my side when I'm walking.

I find exactly the same : a hasselblad 50X with WLF just tucks in and hangs so well on the shoulder without slipping or bouncing around when walking.

It's something special with the 500s ; the SWC and 203FE don't quite have the same balance and are less enjoyable to walk with.

 

[jsrockit]

I couldn't talk you out of this at all... to me, there are 3 6x6 cameras that I like. This is one of them along with the Hassleblad and the Mamiya 6.