this just in...from stephen

[Kyle]

the now discontinued:
Bessa R [olive and blue]
Bessa L
Bessa R2
Bessa T
2001 Bessa T Heliar 101st Anniversary

Bessa 25 lens

what have I missed?

does the rest of the product line sell THAT much better?

Here's how I understand everything.

Bessa R was replaced by the R2, and so it was discontinued.
The Bessa L simply became outdated, so it was discontinued.
The Bessa R2 was improved upon and replaced by the R2a, so it was discontinued.
The Bessa T was their first M mount body, so it was replaced (I believe) after the R2 was released.
the 2001 Bessa T Heliar 101st Ann. set was just a limited edition, so once stock was gone, it was gone.

I think its really just them improving upon their lineup, and discontinuing products as they see fit. I'm sure it makes much more sense for them to successfully market one or two bodies, rather than try to juggle 5 or 6 different bodies in their lineup. Thats just how I understand it all, I could be wrong.

 

[back alley]

i suggest you email stephen for an update.

i assume that he would know.

 

[cbass]

Is the CV 25mm non-brightline finder really that bad? There's obviously no parallax correction but cutting off the tops of buildings seems extreme.

Photo Village is offering NOS 25/4 lenses with the old style finder for only $189. I'm plunking down my money tomorrow, brightlines or not. That price is hard to beat. Maybe I'll even spring for a $69 L body to go with it so I can add to my "all-discontinued" Cosina kit.

 

[Kyle]

Is the CV 25mm non-brightline finder really that bad? There's obviously no parallax correction but cutting off the tops of buildings seems extreme.

Photo Village is offering NOS 25/4 lenses with the old style finder for only $189. I'm plunking down my money tomorrow, brightlines or not. That price is hard to beat. Maybe I'll even spring for a $69 L body to go with it so I can add to my "all-discontinued" Cosina kit.

I'm interested to know how bad that is as well. I'm interested in the $189 NOS deal as well, but if the finder is that bad, I might just go for the new version.

 

[Graham Line]

Don't count on a faster/RF-coupled/updated 25 from Cosina as long as they're commited to ZI production.
Voigtlander-Cosina's mode seems to be series production of specific types and models, not creation of a Nikon- or Canon-like ongoing system with a commitment to steady availability.
Given that several RF-coupled lenses were produced using the same barrel, it seems like a conscious decision by VC not to couple up the 25.

 

[Graham Line]

Back in the early days of the VC 25/4, several people reported masking their non-brightline finders with opaque tape to give the right field of view. A couple people just drew lines on with Sharpie's.

 

[Bertram2]

. I'm sure it makes much more sense for them to successfully market one or two bodies, rather than try to juggle 5 or 6 different bodies in their lineup. Thats just how I understand it all, I could be wrong.

It is a tiny niche market, small quantities and a manufacturer with limited production capacities which are btw needed for the ZI line too now.
Such a market is saturated quickly, and when the quantities go down a certain model can get unprofitable quickly .

To me Mr. K. seems to be an ingenious marketing specialist, following his market demands always with quick reactions. He got his several lines ready to market out of nowhere very quick and as well he replaces them . His biz has rules very different from the Leica market, the margins are as tiny as his niche itself is.

bertram

 

[Bertram2]

Is the CV 25mm non-brightline finder really that bad? There's obviously no parallax correction but cutting off the tops of buildings seems extreme.

Photo Village is offering NOS 25/4 lenses with the old style finder for only $189. I'm plunking down my money tomorrow, brightlines or not. That price is hard to beat. Maybe I'll even spring for a $69 L body to go with it so I can add to my "all-discontinued" Cosina kit.

BUY IT ! You'll vever ever get anything comparable for that money ! Iuse that finder since 3 years and haven't ever cut buildings and I have no clue how one can do that with this finder ? Parallax plays a role at closeups only, just leave a bit space around the girls ! 😀

bertram

 

[Tin]

I love my 25/4. However, I have never used the external viewfinder in any of my pictures. The outer limits of the viewfinder of the R2 is good enough for me. Although mainly I shoot landscape pictures. As for coupled rangefinder, I don't need that either. Not with this lens, nor with a 35 mm lens (both RF and SLR)---zone foucussing is more than adequate.

 

[dostacos]

Is the CV 25mm non-brightline finder really that bad? There's obviously no parallax correction but cutting off the tops of buildings seems extreme.

Photo Village is offering NOS 25/4 lenses with the old style finder for only $189. I'm plunking down my money tomorrow, brightlines or not. That price is hard to beat. Maybe I'll even spring for a $69 L body to go with it so I can add to my "all-discontinued" Cosina kit.

+-02
only having the one without the brighline I don't know what I am missing and the shots I have taken so far it would be hard to tell if I lost a part of the picture. I guess I don't miss them

 

[dostacos]

the problem I have is the R is a screw mount R2 is bayonet so to me they are two different products. the R2 and the R2A is Apature priority and the R2 is not again two different products.

to me they keep discontinuing the product line, not upgrading, since most of the camera bodies will fill a different need.

I guess I would prefer cameras that can be used even if the battery takes a dump. [and I do have several light meters that do not use batteries either..... 😀

 

[pvdhaar]

If my translator worked correctly the Cosina Japan site says the 75mm 2.5 is also discontinued.

If I read it correctly it's the 75mm SL, which is the M42 mount SLR version. The 75 LTM is not listed..

 

[sockeyed]

I've used both finders with the 25 and found the brightline one an improvement in terms of composition. But if I never knew that there was an improved brightline version and only ever had a plain finder, I would probably have still been happy with it. It's a fantastic lens with optics that eat my Canon FD wides for breakfast. I love the scale focusing too, and have yet to mis-focus a shot.

I would recommend picking one up if you can, either new through one of our sponsors, or by putting a WTB post here and on photo.net (which is how I got mine).

 

[BillBingham2]

I have two 25/4, one in LTM that I got with an L (best rear lens cap ever made) when I got a used 15mm. I have fallen in love with the lens and L, carry it most everwhere. The other is in Nikon/Contax mount which is RF coupled. Just as sharp as the LTM, much nicer mount. Do not expect too much of a price drop for NIB lenses. If you can find a good bargin, jump.

Of say 50 rolls through her, I have had only three miss focused shots total.

I got my first Bessa (a T) three years ago from PhotoVillage, Rich is a good guy. Of late I have been dealing with Stephen Gandy over @ CameraQuest, VERY GOOD GUY.

A friend just got the R/24 combo for a great price. I say get the lens, get an L and be very happy.

B2 (;->

 

[Nearsighted]

Hi, It's Friday the 13th of January. I was jazzed about picking up the 25/4 w/ finder for $189. I had the 21/4 and found it was to wide for my taste so I sold it (along with my L). I think the 25 would be an easier lens for me to shoot with. Today's price for the 25/4 and finder from PV is $209. I think I'll try the used market. I don't think the finder would be that usefull with the lens mounted on my R. It seems like a shoot from the hip lens anyway.

 

[cbass]

I bought the 25/4 and finder for $189 from PV two days ago (January 11). Will from PV called me last night and told me that they had no more black 25/4 lenses in stock, so I switched my order to a chrome one (my R body and 35/2.5 are black, I never did have an eye for fashion 🙂).

At $209 the 25/4 is still a good bargain, as long as you don't mind chrome and the old-style finder. PV's website is still showing the $189 price. There was also a chrome 25/4 on the big auction site a few days ago but I don't know what it finally sold for.

 

[Kyle]

I bought the 25/4 and finder for $189 from PV two days ago (January 11). Will from PV called me last night and told me that they had no more black 25/4 lenses in stock, so I switched my order to a chrome one (my R body and 35/2.5 are black, I never did have an eye for fashion 🙂).

At $209 the 25/4 is still a good bargain, as long as you don't mind chrome and the old-style finder. PV's website is still showing the $189 price. There was also a chrome 25/4 on the big auction site a few days ago but I don't know what it finally sold for.

I got mine the same day as well for the $189 price. I got the call last night from Will also, so I'm getting a chrome lens and Bessa L.

 

[sockeyed]

I actually think that the chrome CV lenses are classy. See:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockeyed/64838782/

They also wear ('brass') better than the black ones.

 

[Nearsighted]

Hey, Twenty bucks is twenty bucks. I was more than a little shocked when the guy at PV told me not only was the lens and finder more than what you guys bought it for, but he wanted another twenty dollars to mail it to me. I can understand paying a fair price for postage but it shouldn't exceed ten bucks. I was rather infuriated. I've had alot of items sent to me and I know how much the postage (priority mail) is to Alaska. I just had a radio sent via UPS ground and it was only ten bucks to send it that method.