Tom hicks
Well-known
Picked this little gem up at our local camera show a few weeks back .
Not sure of the exact model or year made, but it was very clean . $50 for the camera and $37 for a minor repair of the film advance on the bottom plate. ( loose, needed a new rivet installed.) Here are some shots of the camera and some shots with the camera ( Portra 400) Pleased with the first roll. (lens in UN-coated)
Not sure of the exact model or year made, but it was very clean . $50 for the camera and $37 for a minor repair of the film advance on the bottom plate. ( loose, needed a new rivet installed.) Here are some shots of the camera and some shots with the camera ( Portra 400) Pleased with the first roll. (lens in UN-coated)
Attachments
Tom hicks
Well-known
Tom hicks
Well-known
In this last shot, shooting at an angle to the sun I got this red flare thing going on . Do you think it is the because the lens is not coated ? It has been checked for light tightness. I got a little in a few of the other shots when shooting at an angle towards the sun , but this is the worst one. I'm thinking a hood would help.
Attachments
Joao
Negativistic forever
It is a fine camera and you made a good deal.
Have a look to this Bessa advertisement from 1938 (not 1942), with the Skopar lens - please ignore the beast in the background.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32981029@N07/8428522982/in/photostream
Have a look to this Bessa advertisement from 1938 (not 1942), with the Skopar lens - please ignore the beast in the background.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32981029@N07/8428522982/in/photostream
oftheherd
Veteran
I have a Zeiss 6x9 that I really like. Even without a Skopar lens it gives nice photos. I really enjoy the format. You can almost do contact prints for decent photographs. And there are times when that 6x9 just gives a really pleasant composition.
Much as I like my Zeiss, I do envy you the Skopar. Show us more when you get the chance.
Much as I like my Zeiss, I do envy you the Skopar. Show us more when you get the chance.
BW400CN
Bessamatic forever!
What a beauty!
Ive got a bit an older one:
Voigtländer Rollfilm Skopar 4,5 10,5cm build 1929
The catalog from 1930 seen on the pic can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69541531@N04/sets/72157629898749811/with/6985146092/
If you send me your serialnumber, can can have a look in my prochnov to see what year exactly your camera is.
Ive got a bit an older one:

Voigtländer Rollfilm Skopar 4,5 10,5cm build 1929
The catalog from 1930 seen on the pic can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69541531@N04/sets/72157629898749811/with/6985146092/
If you send me your serialnumber, can can have a look in my prochnov to see what year exactly your camera is.
hausen
Well-known
I think the flare you see comes when you don't close the frame indicator on rear of camera so the red cross shows. That is a mistake I made with my Bessa II.
citizen99
Well-known
I think the same.I think the flare you see comes when you don't close the frame indicator on rear of camera so the red cross shows...
And, I also agree that you have a fine camera. Those uncoated Skopars give excellent results, including with colour film as your shots show, and if you make sure to hood/shield the lens from stray light in my experience you won't notice any significant 'softness'
Kenj8246
Well-known
Man, that is a PRISTINE copy. Very clean, very nice.
Kenny
Kenny
rhl-oregon
Cameras Guitars Wonders
Great deal! I have the same Bessa/Skopar, but spent $150. Enjoy. And perhaps a nice hat is what's called for instead of a hood--something you can seriously block sun with, presuming the Bessa is (as it usually ought to be) on a tripod.
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Tom hicks
Well-known
Kenj8246
Well-known
Those look good. I have GOT to try the caffenol one of these days.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Tom, the red indicates the film was struck from behind, and with that circular pattern, does indicate like the others said the film number door was not closed. I almost picked one of these up for a pittance, but it was a basket case. 6x9 is definitely the way to go in medium format, as you can do so many things with it. Trying to put an Ikonta back together at the moment.
PF
PF
Tom hicks
Well-known
It is a fine camera and you made a good deal.
Have a look to this Bessa advertisement from 1938 (not 1942), with the Skopar lens - please ignore the beast in the background.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32981029@N07/8428522982/in/photostream
Thanks Joao, I figured ( guessing ) around 39. Interesting add .
Tom hicks
Well-known
I have a Zeiss 6x9 that I really like. Even without a Skopar lens it gives nice photos. I really enjoy the format. You can almost do contact prints for decent photographs. And there are times when that 6x9 just gives a really pleasant composition.
Much as I like my Zeiss, I do envy you the Skopar. Show us more when you get the chance.
Thanks OTH , I too really enjoy the format, I also have a super Ikonta in 6X9. very sharp . And as you have said the format is very pleasing.
Tom
Tom hicks
Well-known
What a beauty!
Ive got a bit an older one:
![]()
Voigtländer Rollfilm Skopar 4,5 10,5cm build 1929
The catalog from 1930 seen on the pic can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69541531@N04/sets/72157629898749811/with/6985146092/
If you send me your serialnumber, can can have a look in my prochnov to see what year exactly your camera is.
Wow what a beautiful camera, I for some reason are really attracted to the folders. I have a small collection . I guess I need to drag them out for a group shot. thanks for the ser # offer, I sent you a PM .
Tom
Tom hicks
Well-known
I think the flare you see comes when you don't close the frame indicator on rear of camera so the red cross shows. That is a mistake I made with my Bessa II.
Hausen , that has got to be what it is . I did have it open during the shoot . Lucky , this will be an easy fix . Thanks
Tom
kuzano
Veteran
Have owned a few of these over time....
Have owned a few of these over time....
The two best shooters were:
an early Bessa RF that used the same coupled rangefinder as the BESSA II, but all black body, 1/400th shutter, and the Helomar triplett. Amazing images from that camera. Better than the two Color Skopars I had on Bessa I's.
The other superb image shooter was an earlier straight Bessa with a Braunschweig triplett. Amazingly sharp and great colors from Velvia, even though not color corrected, or coated.
The really incredible aspect of both of these camera's was that they were dual format 645 and 6X9, and BOTH of them had the 645 mask for 16 on 120 when I purchased them. Not one other dual format BESSA I owned had that mask intact.
Have owned a few of these over time....
The two best shooters were:
an early Bessa RF that used the same coupled rangefinder as the BESSA II, but all black body, 1/400th shutter, and the Helomar triplett. Amazing images from that camera. Better than the two Color Skopars I had on Bessa I's.
The other superb image shooter was an earlier straight Bessa with a Braunschweig triplett. Amazingly sharp and great colors from Velvia, even though not color corrected, or coated.
The really incredible aspect of both of these camera's was that they were dual format 645 and 6X9, and BOTH of them had the 645 mask for 16 on 120 when I purchased them. Not one other dual format BESSA I owned had that mask intact.
BW400CN
Bessamatic forever!
Wow what a beautiful camera, I for some reason are really attracted to the folders. I have a small collection . I guess I need to drag them out for a group shot. thanks for the ser # offer, I sent you a PM .
Tom
Got your PM
It´s a bit difficult to identify the year of your cam.
As far as I am now - your Bessa is a doubble format Bessa 3rd model build from 1945-50
These cams didn´t had a serialnr. by its own. The nr. you gave me is the serialnr. of the compur shutter.
There has been a webside where all compurnr. can be identified - hope to find it again.
Michael
Tom hicks
Well-known
I think the same.
And, I also agree that you have a fine camera. Those uncoated Skopars give excellent results, including with colour film as your shots show, and if you make sure to hood/shield the lens from stray light in my experience you won't notice any significant 'softness'.
Thanks C99 for the stopping by .I usually wear a hat but didn't on this outing , I need to use my tripod and then be able to shield the lens with the hat .
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