Stephanie Brim
Mental Experimental.
Other than David Murphy's obvious intent to make it as difficult as possible to get the camera out of the package 
D), I'm loving this already. I just put the 35/2.8 Serenar on it and I'm looking forward to shooting something with it.
D), I'm loving this already. I just put the 35/2.8 Serenar on it and I'm looking forward to shooting something with it.
ibcrewin
Ah looky looky
Awesome!!! Just in case put in an order of sr44 batteries from adorama. My meter flicked and died two months after getting it. It will come in handy later.
Florian1234
it's just hide and seek
Great, I'm looking forward to see your first results.
Also looking forward to go out shooting a roll or two with my Leica M4 and waiting for mail, too (Jupiter 8 50mm/f:2 to come! no spam). :angel:
Also looking forward to go out shooting a roll or two with my Leica M4 and waiting for mail, too (Jupiter 8 50mm/f:2 to come! no spam). :angel:
lZr
L&M
Good luck. You are ready for Streetshoots now. How long is the list of registered participants for the contest?
nico
Well-known
Hi Stephanie,
you'll enjoy it! Hope to see some photos soon,
ciao
P.S. the quote about HDR photos was fantastic!
you'll enjoy it! Hope to see some photos soon,
ciao
P.S. the quote about HDR photos was fantastic!
Stephanie Brim
Mental Experimental.
Okay. After shooting a little with it inside I can say that I don't know if I'm going to like it.
Having a meter is a very nice thing. I have to admit that it makes shooting inside easier. However, I'm finding that I don't like the rangefinder spot as much as, say, a Canon P. That sounds strange as the spot in the Bessa is larger, but the P's is generally easier for me to see. I don't know why.
I'm going to use it through the weekend to see if it grows on me.
Having a meter is a very nice thing. I have to admit that it makes shooting inside easier. However, I'm finding that I don't like the rangefinder spot as much as, say, a Canon P. That sounds strange as the spot in the Bessa is larger, but the P's is generally easier for me to see. I don't know why.
I'm going to use it through the weekend to see if it grows on me.
I do not have a problem with the R2 finder. I use a Canon 50/1.2 with it. It is a 0.6x finder, and shorrter base. The 1x finder of the Canon P makes it easy to focus. A little more care is required with the Bessa. Try the finder outside.
David's packing is as first rate, as are his items and prices. Great guy to deal with.
The Bessa is a great camera. Enjoy it!
David's packing is as first rate, as are his items and prices. Great guy to deal with.
The Bessa is a great camera. Enjoy it!
Stephanie Brim
Mental Experimental.
Yeah. The packing was so good on this one that it took me about 10 minutes to cut all the tape he used to get the bubble wrap secure! I'd definitely buy from him again.
I'd definitely buy from him again.Stephanie Brim
Mental Experimental.
I just don't know about this.
I think I'm just used to the build quality of older cameras. I have an offer of a Canon P in exchange for the Bessa on the table. It's a hard decision.
I think I'm just used to the build quality of older cameras. I have an offer of a Canon P in exchange for the Bessa on the table. It's a hard decision.
raid
Dad Photographer
Other than David Murphy's obvious intent to make it as difficult as possible to get the camera out of the package
Congratulations on this set. The lens should be fun to use. The R has a bright viewfinder and is an excellent camera.
raid
Dad Photographer
I have a not-so-great-looking P, and I am keeping it. Still, the R has a meter, and it should have a better viewfinder. Do what you have to do ...
myoptic3
Well-known
Stephanie, if it is any consolation, I had to sell mine because I couldn't get used to the clacking shutter and the build quality. It was aggravating, because it seemed that if VC had just put in some more money for better quality they could have given us a real alternative to a Leica RF at a good price. I had trouble w/ the RF patch as well, especially coming from an M3. The M3 was the perfect camera to me, but having no meter did not work for my shooting.
Since then I have tried the R3A (same noisy shutter and wouldn't take my Summi DR lens, but otherwise a really, wonderful camera ) and a Canon 7 (great build quality, but the uncoupled meter on top of the camera was not very easy to use, and the RF patch was, on mine, not that easy to see). I then bought an M5 and it was great, except that the shutter and meter display in the view finder is lit by ambient light. Guess what happens when there is low light...you can't see the meter!
It seems that every Rf camera I have tried has, for me, had at least one designed in Achilles heel that makes it too quirky for me to use consistently. I think the M6/7's would be the way to go if I wasn't so cheap. So I have a CL coming, and if that doesn't do it I am going back to the Nikon SLR's and the Contax G1 cameras. They are both cheap and have great lenses, and at least the Contax is RF size. Lacking a real camera store in my small New Mexico town means a lot of internet buying, and you never know how the camera will work for you until you get it in your hands.
The really odd thing is that if you go to the less expensive, fixed lens RF cameras you get cameras that are sometimes a lot better designed, maybe because they were marketed at consumers who would not put up w/ a lot of difficulties in the picture taking process. My small and light Konica C35 had a great, but kinda slow, Hexanon lens, exposure lock, bright viewfinder and focusing patch, quiet as a mouse shutter, and cost all of $20.00.
Since then I have tried the R3A (same noisy shutter and wouldn't take my Summi DR lens, but otherwise a really, wonderful camera ) and a Canon 7 (great build quality, but the uncoupled meter on top of the camera was not very easy to use, and the RF patch was, on mine, not that easy to see). I then bought an M5 and it was great, except that the shutter and meter display in the view finder is lit by ambient light. Guess what happens when there is low light...you can't see the meter!
It seems that every Rf camera I have tried has, for me, had at least one designed in Achilles heel that makes it too quirky for me to use consistently. I think the M6/7's would be the way to go if I wasn't so cheap. So I have a CL coming, and if that doesn't do it I am going back to the Nikon SLR's and the Contax G1 cameras. They are both cheap and have great lenses, and at least the Contax is RF size. Lacking a real camera store in my small New Mexico town means a lot of internet buying, and you never know how the camera will work for you until you get it in your hands.
The really odd thing is that if you go to the less expensive, fixed lens RF cameras you get cameras that are sometimes a lot better designed, maybe because they were marketed at consumers who would not put up w/ a lot of difficulties in the picture taking process. My small and light Konica C35 had a great, but kinda slow, Hexanon lens, exposure lock, bright viewfinder and focusing patch, quiet as a mouse shutter, and cost all of $20.00.
Stephanie Brim
Mental Experimental.
The Canon P is, in almost every way, my dream camera. The only things that could make it better are an M mount and a meter. I thought that the Bessa would be the best of both worlds and at least get me halfway there. Alas, I don't think it is to be.
I will give it a good workout over the weekend, though, to make sure. It may grow on me. For now, I'm thinking I'd be better off selling it outright or trading for a P.
I will give it a good workout over the weekend, though, to make sure. It may grow on me. For now, I'm thinking I'd be better off selling it outright or trading for a P.
People have a tendency to lump the various modern Voigtlander Bessas together -- probably because they have not handled all of them.
In a nutshell, the Bessa L, R, and T have the same build quality with outer plastic body covers attached to a diecast metal body. The R2 is improved with a M mount and metal body covers. But all of this first group have the same first generation mechanical Bessa shutter, which is louder than the Bessas that followed.
The later electronic R2A/R3A/R4A have a slightly quieter shutter than the earlier cameras, with much improved build quality.
The later mechanical R2M/R3M/R4M have the quietest Bessa shutters, but still louder than a M series, again with much improved build quality over the Bessas of the first group above.
Stephen
In a nutshell, the Bessa L, R, and T have the same build quality with outer plastic body covers attached to a diecast metal body. The R2 is improved with a M mount and metal body covers. But all of this first group have the same first generation mechanical Bessa shutter, which is louder than the Bessas that followed.
The later electronic R2A/R3A/R4A have a slightly quieter shutter than the earlier cameras, with much improved build quality.
The later mechanical R2M/R3M/R4M have the quietest Bessa shutters, but still louder than a M series, again with much improved build quality over the Bessas of the first group above.
Stephen
Bingley
Veteran
Stephanie -- I recently bought a Bessa R from another RFF'er (thanks, bobkonos!), more as an accompaniment to my P and not as a replacement. Yes, the R's shutter is noisier than the P's, but I have to say I love the viewfinder and framelines, particularly with the 35mm lens. And the Canon 50/1.8 looks good and balances well on the R, too. My suggestion would be to shoot w/ the R for a few weeks and see if it grows on you. There are plenty of Ps still out there, and prices have come down; perhaps Mr. Murphy will have another for sale soon.
charjohncarter
Veteran
Stephanie, take a picture of the baby, first thing. Post it, for us to enjoy. You will love your BessaR. I have one and for some unknown reason I keep taking my best 35mm shots with it. Too bad they discontinued it.
Stephanie Brim
Mental Experimental.
But see, that's the thing. I really DON'T like the R. So much so that it's frustrating.
I think it's just not the camera for me.
I don't know. I'm restless right now. My vision and what I want to do with my photography has some strange bokeh at the moment.
I think it's just not the camera for me.
I don't know. I'm restless right now. My vision and what I want to do with my photography has some strange bokeh at the moment.
raid
Dad Photographer
Stephanie,
If you don't like the Bessa, sell or trade the camera for a P.
It is sometimes not a matter of logic but a matter of taste.
If you don't like the Bessa, sell or trade the camera for a P.
It is sometimes not a matter of logic but a matter of taste.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
I got into rangefinders because while I was in Iowa City for a conference, I wandered into University Photo and the owner let me play with the one and only Bessa R he had in stock.
I was very tempted... because I liked the built and finder. But I didn't bite the bullet like before simply because I had too many impulse purchases to regret, and didn't want to make another one (plus, I was traveling with my wife, who had had surgery some two months before).
In other words... keep the camera for a little longer. And take care!
I was very tempted... because I liked the built and finder. But I didn't bite the bullet like before simply because I had too many impulse purchases to regret, and didn't want to make another one (plus, I was traveling with my wife, who had had surgery some two months before).
In other words... keep the camera for a little longer. And take care!
T
tedwhite
Guest
Hi, Steph, and congratulations on the new tot.
I've had/have Bessa R's for several years now and find them as easy to use as my friend's M6, which also has a meter. Both viewfinders/patches seem the same - equally bright - and while there's obviously no comparison in terms of build quality, you sure get a lot for the money. And its nice to have a meter, especially one this easy to use, and that's very accurate in the bargain.
I recommend you get outside and use it on the street for a month - shoot several rolls through it and become accustomed to the camera. You should be pleasantly surprised.
I loaned mine to my M6-owning friend, who at the time had never used an RF camera. He was strictly a Nikon SLR and Nikon DSLR guy . He fell in love with the Bessa, and after a few weeks he bought an R3A, and much later on the M6.
Question for Mr. Gandy: How come the shutter is quieter on the R4M than on the R4A?
Second question: Is it noticeably quieter - or just a little bit quieter? Probably a stupid question, I mean how does one describe sound in language in the first place...
I've had/have Bessa R's for several years now and find them as easy to use as my friend's M6, which also has a meter. Both viewfinders/patches seem the same - equally bright - and while there's obviously no comparison in terms of build quality, you sure get a lot for the money. And its nice to have a meter, especially one this easy to use, and that's very accurate in the bargain.
I recommend you get outside and use it on the street for a month - shoot several rolls through it and become accustomed to the camera. You should be pleasantly surprised.
I loaned mine to my M6-owning friend, who at the time had never used an RF camera. He was strictly a Nikon SLR and Nikon DSLR guy . He fell in love with the Bessa, and after a few weeks he bought an R3A, and much later on the M6.
Question for Mr. Gandy: How come the shutter is quieter on the R4M than on the R4A?
Second question: Is it noticeably quieter - or just a little bit quieter? Probably a stupid question, I mean how does one describe sound in language in the first place...