B-9
Devin Bro
Found one of these at the local swap n shop.
Before I ultimately buy it, I have a few questions.
The camera is a Voigtlander Bessa 66, its the late version without the folding finder, bit a nice chrome top with a built in finder.
What's it worth?
Anyone use these? Decent lens?
Is it natively 126 or is it 120/220?
Before I ultimately buy it, I have a few questions.
The camera is a Voigtlander Bessa 66, its the late version without the folding finder, bit a nice chrome top with a built in finder.
What's it worth?
Anyone use these? Decent lens?
Is it natively 126 or is it 120/220?
citizen99
Well-known
Potentially, a bargain. Typical price can vary depending where you are in the world, My impression (from the UK) is that prices are generally lower within the US. You might search on ebay, tick the boxes for 'Sold' listings, 'Worldwide'.
I had one, only sold it because I'm more into 6x9 format than 6x6 (nominal negative sizes in cm, a few millimetres less in the frame hardware).
In my experience of Voigtlander lenses from the first half of the 20th century on, they range from good upwards.
For example, the Skopar is excellent, a 4-glass 'Tessar' type, and the (Color-)Heliar superb, a 5-glass lens. (I mention those because they are those listed for it in Camera-wiki, it's possible you might find one with others)
120 film
hanskerensky
Well-known
You will find some information about it here :
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bessa_66
Check that the yellow filter is still in place and undamaged. Many times it is gone and its hinge damaged.
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bessa_66
Check that the yellow filter is still in place and undamaged. Many times it is gone and its hinge damaged.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Build-in VF isn't the late one. Here is website somewhere on the Net, which shows 66 models line-up.
I have one with build-in VF and non-coated Skopar with hinged Moment yellow filter. It has shutter release lock and combined frame counter. Pain in the butt...
Late one I have was with external VF and coated Vaskar lens. Better choice if you want to take pictures with it.
Both cameras I have suffered from parallax correction. It was difficult to frame it on close distances.
Sold both of them due to this problem. Took few weeks under $40 price.
I have one with build-in VF and non-coated Skopar with hinged Moment yellow filter. It has shutter release lock and combined frame counter. Pain in the butt...
Late one I have was with external VF and coated Vaskar lens. Better choice if you want to take pictures with it.
Both cameras I have suffered from parallax correction. It was difficult to frame it on close distances.
Sold both of them due to this problem. Took few weeks under $40 price.
summar
Well-known
I got a pre-WW2 Bessa 66 with built-in viewfinder at a flea market for $20 CAD. Shutter & film advance were in excellent shape, but as usual the swing-out yellow filter had been torn off along with the ring showing the lens specs. It probably has the three-element Voigtar or Vaskar, not the top-of-the line Skopar. Results are good if the lens is stopped down.
It's a well-designed little camera, easy to load and pocket size. You only have to use the red window once, for the first frame.
It's a well-designed little camera, easy to load and pocket size. You only have to use the red window once, for the first frame.
undercharged
Member
I've got Bessa 46, which is a 4.5x6 variety of Baby Bessa. Yes, the lens is a primitive 3-element type, and viewfinder is a joke, but it takes good pictures you wouldn't expect from a camera this small and old. Especially stopped down, black and white, on a sunny day. The only thing that bothers me is the winding mechanism, it tends to lock too late and I end up with 6-7 shots per roll instead of 16.