VC Bessa R2 not in production?

[Sumo_du_Jour]

Just come from a trawl around the re-freshed Cosina web site (as pointed out by Rover).

Missing from the Voigtlander line up is the Bessa model R.

There's a link to Cosina Cameras, with a SLR, model C1-s, and a whole bunch of lenses to suit (I don't know if this is new).

http://www.cosina.co.jp/

 

[rover]

The web site was "updated" a couple weeks ago. Interesting that the Bessa R was not included, when you consider that the T, L and R2 are also all discontinued. The slide show showing the progression of the Voigtlander cameras by year of introduction does include the R, and seems poised to add an entry for 2004.

 

[ElrodCod]

i just hope the new camera(s) stay affordable.

if they were well built and felt substantial in my hand i would be happy.
ae would be nice, or maybe a spot meter...

joe

$500 for the body & $250 and up for a lens (plus case, strap, etc.)is hardly affordable. The SLR cameras (including lens) that the R2 is based on sell for considerally less than the cost of the R2 body alone. I like the fact that there's an alternative to Leica but the build quality should be alot better than it is for what they cost.

 

[pshinkaw]

If you can make do without a few frills and just live with an interchangeable 39mm LTM lens mount, coincident rangefinder, shutter speeeds from B, 1 to 1/500, X sync flash at 1/30, self-timer, and a 50mm f2.0 Sonnar clone, affordable can mean about $30-50 dollars. That would be a Zorki-6 with a Jupiter-8 lens. Net cost would include about $15 S&H from Ukraine.

Another $150 would get you a 35mm and 85mm lens. That's about the price of 20 rolls of color negative film plus processing. ormaybe just 6 tanks of gasoline?

-Paul

 

[back alley]

i don't have a problem with the build quality of the bessa. i think the leica folks started this 'old wives tale' on the net and it grew & grew.
you pay for the uniqueness of the product. a brand new metered body and new lenses, not a 40 year old body and lenses that are older than i am.
i'm glad for the cv line from cosina, it got me back into the game, with brand new equipment, and didn't cost me what a leica would.

no complaints from me.

joe

 

[rover]

$500 for the body & $250 and up for a lens (plus case, strap, etc.)is hardly affordable. The SLR cameras (including lens) that the R2 is based on sell for considerally less than the cost of the R2 body alone. I like the fact that there's an alternative to Leica but the build quality should be alot better than it is for what they cost.

You are right, affordability is a relative term. I do think though that the SLR cameras you are talking about are based on the Bessa R though, not R2. For the R2 you do pay a premium, a higher level of build quality, but the cost I would bet are not twice that of the R. The premium above the R though is still relatively low compared to the competition. A used Leica M6 will run you at least $1000, so $500 for a new R2 is still a "bargan" price.

 

[iMacfan]

Here in the UK, one of the oldest and most respected photography magazines, Amateur Photographer, is reporting that the new VC RF will be based on the ... M6! What do you all make of that?

David

 

[GeneW]

Amateur Photographer, is reporting that the new VC RF will be based on the ... M6! What do you all make of that?

Tantalizing rumour but no more than that. Speculating is fun, though. It would mean a longer-based RF, giving more precision with fast lenses. It would probably cost much more than the current R2. I suppose it would be more like an M6TTL since I imagine they'll include a metering system 🙂

Gene

 

[rover]

M6=R2 as far as features go.

Yes a longer rangefinder baselength would be appreciated, and a jump in build quality would be nice.

The price will be higher than the R2, we know that from Steve Gandy. But a camera based on the M6 will not shock the world. I wonder if instead of AE and/or an FM3a type shutter they plan on taking Leica on full force and go with a cloth shutter?

With Photokina almost 2 months away we still have a lot of waiting to do.

 

[Kris]

I'd rather have the noisy metal shutter. Down Under, we are pretty much sun blasted and have bigger chance burning the cloth shutter.

Hmmm...FM3A shutter, Aperture priority and Leica M RF baselength? If it came true, I will need to make good excuses to trade my R2 with R3 (or whatever the name is). I don't think my R2 will wear out in my lifetime, so I'd better start making up some reasons for upgrade.

Anyone wanna buy an R2 with paint chipped all over the place and dusty viewfinder? Still can take good photos as long as the user know how to. 😀

 

[Doug]

David, I wonder just what they mean that the new Bessa is "based" on the M6? Sounds like they're suggesting Cosina buys tooling and rights from Leica. But it's hard for me to imagine Leica doing that, given how closely related their current models are! And hard to imagine Mr Kobayashi choosing to compete so directly with his respected Leica.

Now if they mean the new Bessa is very very similar to an M6, that's not startling news, since the current R2 is similar in many respects. They're so close in size that they can even fit the same case. They both have TTL metering (the M6TTL adds only TTL flash metering too).

I'd expect Cosina to address areas of the RF niche market that Leica is not. Consider the Bessa L and T, for instance. The challenge for Mr K's team is likely in thinking up a useful product that is different from Leica, will sell well, and which makes best use of existing parts and tooling. 🙂

 

[back alley]

i'm guessing that 'based on' means features not any actual materials or tooling.

i am trying to contain my curiosity re the 'r3'.
but i am dying to know...

joe

 

[taffer]

I'd rather have the noisy metal shutter. Down Under, we are pretty much sun blasted and have bigger chance burning the cloth shutter.

Why not use metal curtains a la Canon 7/P (sorry, I'm biased 😀)?

But really, metal curtains may be a nice compromise between the Leica cloth shutter and the double Copal square on the actual Bessas, and they are pretty quiet and sun proof ! 🙂

 

[rover]

Posted September 14th on the Mainline Photo website, Australian distributor for Cosina. (http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au/)

"By the way there are only 6 more sleeps until I can reveal everything about the NEW Voigtlander products coming your way later this year. Just keep your eye on our website for all the details. Believe me it it worth waiting for whether you are a Voigtlander buff or not."

So by my count we should hear something on September 20th, next Monday.

(Please give us a longer baselength rangefinder.)

 

[Peter]

Oh Lord! Please deliver me from this temptation call Voigtlander!

 

[Tim]

I've actually been talking to Scott at Mainline (They're just up the road from me) a couple of times over the last week, trying to persuade him to drop a hint or two. He swears he and the other dealers REALLY don't know - which if true means it's about the best kept secret around.
He has told me that apparently information packs are on there way to all CV dealers, they are all allowed to release the info next Monday. So then we (finally) will know!

He did say that from what he had heard, where the R2 is M6-like, figure on the "R3" being M7 like. Which we'd all kinda guessed anyway....
🙁

Now everyone - repeat after me - "I DO NOT need another camera"

Anyone wanna buy a excellent condition R2???
🙂

tim

 

[jdos2]

I've a buck that CV releases a Contax-to-LTM and Nikon-to-LTM adapter.

Why? Because I'm getting rid of my M-3, and it would be a PERFECT time for them to introduce something like that I'd use!

 

[Peter]

Tim, I was so badly afflicted with Voigtlander mania that I have 3 R2 in my collection and 4 different 35mm Voigtlander lenses! What was I thinking! 🙁

 

[Tim]

3? That's a bit excessive......

I only have the one R2, and I was a good boy, I sold my R to finance it. It's just all the other bits and pieces and the old cameras that keep on tempting me.
Have to say, don't know just how tempting I'd find an R3 if it just had an AE mode. I'm about to go through a big sell off of the cameras I don't use (I think) and the automatics are all going......
Still, it may have other features. Guess we will just have to wait until Monday!

tim

 

[back alley]

i have to admit that while i'm very interested in what the next big thing is gonna look like, i doubt that i will be tempted to buy it.
i'm ok with a screw mount so the r does me just fine and unless i drop it i think it will last a good long time. i'm normally pretty good with my stuff, i still have my first 'good' camera, the oly 35rc, and it's in great shape and i have used it pretty consistantly over the years, so i'm confident the r will last. it is my metered camera.
i hate to say this but my true love is the canon p and i plan on buying maybe one a year for a couple more years. i like using a hand meter and trusting my brain in between. this surprises me.
so when i'm feeling really lazy the r comes out otherwise it's the p. i hope to pick up a canon 35/1.8 somewhere along the line also.
crazy! i know...