Three days witha Bessa-R

[trineonx]

I just got back from a short trip around the southwest with a new (to me) Bessa-R with an Industar 61l/d mounted. I'm just testing this camera out as a foray into serious (interchangeable lens) rangefinders for travel.

A little background: I'm a photojournalist/student who is well accustomed to taking a few hundred pictures a day with a EOS-1D camera, so the bar is set pretty high.

Anyway, I'm thoroughly impressed with this camera. After reading plenty of moaning about the build quality of this camera I was pleasantly surprised that it is built to the same standards as most other consumer level cameras; its no EOS-1D but it also doesn't require that I bring a gear bag with me. When I got it, the vertical alignment was off a bit, so I fixed that the morning before I took off. It ended up getting knocked out of alignment just a few hours later when I knocked it off a picknick table, it had not other ill effects from the fall, which is pretty miraculous considering how hard it fell. The entire trip it lived outside of a case, hanging off of my shoulder pretty much the whole time. It was barely noticeable when compared to my 1D. The viewfinder is amazing, as is the rangefinder patch, compared to my ql-17 it is both brighter and has a better RF patch. My only complaint is a matter of personal opinion; I don't like the meter readout at all. I like to know how far off I am on a scene, not just that I am over or under.

Anyway, thanks for listening, and here is a favorite pic from the trip. Its my dad and sister in one of the hogans at monument valley.

 

[Scarpia]

I think the Bessa R is great too. I also have a Bessa R3A and although it is a little heavier I really can't say it is more sturdy although most people say so.
One day two years ago I used the R with both a CV Nokton 1.5 and a Jupiter 8 and frankly it is very hard to tell the difference at F 5.6 and F8. The Jupiter makes the camera very convenient to carry, though.
Kurt M.

 

[Cleber Figueiredo]

this is exactely the combo I'm waiting to arrive at home!

and the customs here are at a never ending strike! hahahahaha :bang:

thanks for your comments, and maybe you could share some more photos?

 

[januaryman]

Maybe there is some latitude in the meter, but it never effected my shots. Besides, since I do a lot of meterless camera work, I have more or less memorized or can recognize what the lighting calls for. Spending a little time getting to know Sunny 16 will pay off in big dividends. I rarely worry if batteries are dying on my cameras. Well, except with the Yashica Electro 35s, whose shutter is controlled only via the battery.

Love the Bessa R, just as much and sometimes more than my Canon P.

 

[ibcrewin]

Nice shot.. Did you clip the PW to the hot shoe? That would be a cool sight.

 

[Spyderman]

Welcome to the forum.

I appreciate your courage (admitting that you are a 1D user just calls for flaming replies ;D) But we (read RFF members) aren't like that...

I've got both the Canonet and Bessa R (R2 actually) and like both. I use bessa with I-61LD (on sunny days and general photography) and Jupiter-3 50/1.5 "Sonnar" for portraits and available light kind'a stuff.

If the "rangefinder bug" hits you seriously, the next natural choice lens-wise would be the Voigtlander Color Skopar 35/2.5. From cameraquest for 200+something ? that's pretty cheap IMHO.

Can we see some more results from that trip ?

 

[ishpop]

Nice shot and good review.

My Bessa T meter is strikingly accurate, I never misss an exposure.

I love it.

My only complaint is the rangefinder is tiny, I feel like I am looking into a pinhole to focus. : \

I have heard the R3A and the other later Bessas have a bigger rangefinder or no?

 

[Spider67]

I can also recommend it. Using ist' lightmeter was OK with me as I was used to the Nikon FM's. It's light weight is a big advantage and I often had it as my drag around all day camera on several occasions. Only drawback I have the black one and its colour already started to come of in small chips but hey you cannot have it all. (A drawback in pricing: in Europe its price is ridiculously high!)
I use it with a Canon Serenar and a 35 Skopar Those are great combos! Whereas using FSU lenses is a very mixed pleasure.
The sharpness seems to vary from lens to lens and my batch of FSU's that simply does not do well wide open wit it. A J 9 I have worked as a portrait lens when you put the focus on the nosetip (or was it the ear? anyways you have to do one of them if you want the eyes to be in focus).

Great Photo and good luck!

 

[charjohncarter]

Welcome, I have a BessaR, after almost 50 years with a Leica IIIf, I wanted an on board meter. With the BessaR I use the meter 100% of the time. The meter seems to be very good for my shooting. My lenses (6) are from 16mm fisheye to a 135mm tele. They all seem to be fine with the meter.

 

[eric rose]

I just sold my beloved Bessa R. I packed that camera all over the world and it never failed me when it counted. I did manage to jam it once but that was my fault. The viewfinder is fantastic as you mentioned and the meter is dead on. The LTM lenses I have for it cost me a fraction of M mount lenses and quite frankly I don't see any difference.

The other thing is they are cheap! If you end up smashing one, well just chuck it and buy another one.

Welcome to the world of rangefinders. It's a different feel than a SLR and for me at least it seems you are more "in the moment" with a RF.

 

[trineonx]

My next lens is in the mail, a 28 Ultron. I'm a sucker for fast lenses. I was planning on not using an external finder and just guestimating using the finder on the camera, if that doesn't work, I'll trade for a 35. I figure the only other lens I will need is a nice telephoto for portraits, but I haven't decided on that yet As far as the metering is concerned I can generally guess within a stop of what I need to be at in any circumstance and ignore the meter, unfortunately, the diaphragm on my industar has some slop in it which means that the f16 setting can be faster or slower than f16, so I just have to go with the meter reading.
There were a lot of shots that should have been great, but were ruined by my insistence on using very expired film, which then got scratched at the el-cheapo minilab I use. From here on out I guess I'm going to stick to pro labs, and just use the scanner we have at the office.
ps. the 1D wasn't my idea, our paper is all digital, and my editor is in love with Canon.

 

[robin a]

They are nice cameras..........Robin

 

[casualuser]

Does anyone have experience with the Zeiss Biogon lenses (35 f2) and the R2? I heard that it blocks some of the frameline? Comments? Ease of use, etc?

 

[markrich]

I'm looking to pick up a Bessa-R very shortly but can't afford expensive glass so going to use some FSU lenses like the Jupiter 8. Does anyone know what other sizes work well with this model?

 

[Murray Kelly]

The J-9 works well. The J-12 doesn't fit - it clashes with the front shutter blind.
Murray

 

[kaiyen]

The J3 is a nice fast 50. I mean, 2.8 is good. 1.5 is better 🙂. A fast 50 is my next goal. I am really enjoying my R.

 

[januaryman]

And don't forget the Industars - the 61L/D is superior, the 26M is also a favorite. They are tessar types, I think. 52mm/2.8, so not real fast, but very good otherwise.

 

[markrich]

Thanks peeps!

The list is made, now I go researching and price watching 🙂

 

[Roberto]

I don't like the meter readout at all. I like to know how far off I am on a scene, not just that I am over or under.

Anyway, thanks for listening, and here is a favorite pic from the trip. Its my dad and sister in one of the hogans at monument valley.

Dot plus arrow means half a stop.. arrow only means one stop or more..
Hope this can help.
Rob.

 

[tennis-joe]

Bessa R

Bessa R

I received my Bessa R and I coupled it with a Canon 1.8-50mm lens and I am pleasantly pleased with the results of the first roll. I will be using it much more. Pictures later when I scan them.
Joe