johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Anyway, i found myself a nice black Bessa RF with the Heliar 105/3.5 lens for not too much. Fully functional, black paint in as-new condition, clean shutter. Ready to go, so to say.
What can I expect from this camera? I'm interested in both image quality opinions as well as material/built quality remarks or observations.
What can I expect from this camera? I'm interested in both image quality opinions as well as material/built quality remarks or observations.
oftheherd
Veteran
hope i didnt give you that impression OTH...i dont mind the format per say, and for some things it is ideal, just as the others are ..i was trying to relay how odd it was [to me, being used to 6x6 folders coming from years of hasselblad use], and took some getting used to in a folding camera (which there arnt really very many of) I havnt used the 6x7 format much outside of a studio or purpose set shots outdoors and using it in a folder for the first time, as a walk around camera was, kinda odd, in comparison to other folders which are much smaller, even the larger format 6x9 folders are smaller..
so only my experiance using the 6x7 folder was i comenting on, particularly how weird it felt for the first time..framing and finding some pics in the 6x7 while 'walking around' was at times well suited (when i can get a few scanned i'll put some up) but at other times it just didnt fit what i wanted and it was quite frustrating. while doing so, i was at times thinking i wish i had it set for 6x6 (or would rather have a smaller 6x6 folder) or instead had a 6x9 folder at hand because the 6x7 just could not frame it.....grass is always greener scenario perhaps!
i guess another way i look at it is, in a studio i can relate to how one might wish to opt for an RB or RZ Mamiya against a blad, the huge difference in size doesn't matter as much in a studio (different story if you want to walk around with a Blad or RZ though), but in a folder, hmm, size matters, its kinda the reason you have a folding camera...still it is nice to have the choices
Chippy,
Well, now I have to admit to my mistake as well. When I refer to 6x7 I can only relate to it as a size I like, and use with my Super Press 23. But I don't have a 6x7 folder. You do? I'm jealous. I do like the format and would love to have it in a folder. Until such a day might come, I will be satisfied with 6x6 and 6x9.
FallisPhoto,
I have often thought of putting a 4x5 in a backpack, with a couple of lenses, and I once corresponded with a kid who backpacked an 8x10 in the wild. But a LF case with gear. Whew! You da man.
Krosya
Konicaze
I used to have one a while back, just with Skopar, not Heliar.
Not a bad camera. I didnt have a mask for it so I only shot 6x9. It has small VF as you know which was the main reason I sold it - as it was hard to focus with it. It's fairly sturdy, but not as sturdy as my Weltur 6x9. Film flatness is not bad too. Try and see - post some pics here - I'd like to see how Heliar draws compared to a Skopar. Here is a shot from ex-mine:
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Thanks Krosya, that shot sure looks promising!
I plan to shoot B&W mainly, and portraits. Has anyone used a Bessa RF for that?
I plan to shoot B&W mainly, and portraits. Has anyone used a Bessa RF for that?
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
These are excellent as far as the image quality goes, unit focusing, with a truly great lens. Ergonomics are its weak spot, and improved on the Bessa II. The RF has a odd left side lever release which tends to destabilize the camera, and separate finder and rangefinder viewports, with the finder a rather dark and tiny hole. The split image rangefinder however is nicer than most rangefinders of that period. Overall it is my favourite folder - it has the largest image size by weight and bulk in any rangefinder I own and a excellent lens.
Ernst Dinkla
Well-known
In a way I like the Bessa RF body design even more than that of the Bessa II but I didn't buy one several years ago because the finder was so dark, With glasses it can not be used at all. I adapted the Iskra finder with a diopter lens but I doubt that would be possible on the prewar Bessa.
The picture shown has been cropped substantially, I guess the prewar Bessa has a 56x88 mm frame size like the Bessa I that I have.
Ernst Dinkla
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Chippy, seems your pre-last post disappeared again.
IIRC, you were asking if the camera I found has the attached yellow filter. It has not.
I have been really lucky, apperently I found a post-war Bessa RF with a Color-Heliar 105/3.5 (which is the lens on the most expensive Bessa II's) in near mint condition.
Can't wait to test drive it!
IIRC, you were asking if the camera I found has the attached yellow filter. It has not.
I have been really lucky, apperently I found a post-war Bessa RF with a Color-Heliar 105/3.5 (which is the lens on the most expensive Bessa II's) in near mint condition.
Can't wait to test drive it!
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johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Earlier, Chippy wrote:
image quality can vary, sometimes not as contrasty as you may wish (or used to in later lens) but can produce lovely shots, black and white a specialty, [under magnification] the highlights bleed into the darker areas which gives the picture a nice glow...this is some test shot i did and happened to have handy (sorry for the poor pic-but it was close by and was just a test shot) with a bessa rf w/heliar ages ago, think i was comparing it at the time to a coated heliar and also put it under the pump with using tranny, which it did very well i thought
;hence the harsh shift in tone and the redness in the skin, thats the film not the lens (colour fringing was not noticable any more than the coated heliar, in fact uncoated gave slightly more saturated tones..obviously for a proper shots i needed scrims and reflector shades to control the light more for this shot using tranny, but it gave me the comparison at the time under uncontrolled conditions, over a number of rolls, which funny enough the uncoated heliar seemed fair better in many areas, except of course very occasional flare with uncoated lens, but a hood would of made the difference
however overall the Bessa RF does very well IMO, for portrait you have to be a bit more diligent with parallax than you wold have to using the post war bessa, the pre-war bessa has a bit more..two separate windows i personally find a pain but if you get used to it your ok (worse if your swapping cameras regularly) and some people would successfully argue that the veiw and RF windows are better/brighter to look through, separated...
there are a few different models (upgrades each year or so) of the pre-war bessa so the RF image can be different depending on which you have, also things like the ability to close the red window and other small upgrades change as the model gets newer
their build quality is up there amongst the best, but is not a hockey puck by any means (needs to be looked after), it has it weak points, so it can be damaged if undue abuse or accidents have happened, as such condition is everything when it comes to the body/struts of these to ensure its struts and hinges are good before purchase ideally...RF finders can be adjusted and put right as can shutters etc
did you manage to get one with the swing away yellow filter? thats something i really like with bessa RF (its like closing a porthole! and i have few different colour filters to fit), the shutter button release is in exactly the same position as the Bessa II so i am not quite sure what Sevo means..IMO the ergonomics work very well (it one of those love hate things with the shutter release on the bessa's-but if you get along with it then its great and doesn't induce any undue shake IMO due to holding it and bracing as you 'squeeze' the trigger, dont press or pull). main difference for day to day shooting between the Bessa RF and Bessa II is the film wind knob is on the bottom and the twin windows, as i mention before twin windows bug me some but otherwise...
another great handling feature of the Bessa RF is you can focus without opening the front up which brings less attention when preparing a shot , just less work opening and closing when you feel like trying a composition out
another test shot ,,not noticable with this pic but the heliar can become unsharp because of diffraction (par for the course really), so best not to stop down too far
its definitely one of the pretty (the best looking maybe!) 6x9 RF folders (IMO of course), it reminds me of the time when Zeppelins must of been a sight to see in the sky, also some of the sports cars were being built with those lovely curves, the bessa fits in well with those curves built into its body and sleek black top
image quality can vary, sometimes not as contrasty as you may wish (or used to in later lens) but can produce lovely shots, black and white a specialty, [under magnification] the highlights bleed into the darker areas which gives the picture a nice glow...this is some test shot i did and happened to have handy (sorry for the poor pic-but it was close by and was just a test shot) with a bessa rf w/heliar ages ago, think i was comparing it at the time to a coated heliar and also put it under the pump with using tranny, which it did very well i thought
;hence the harsh shift in tone and the redness in the skin, thats the film not the lens (colour fringing was not noticable any more than the coated heliar, in fact uncoated gave slightly more saturated tones..obviously for a proper shots i needed scrims and reflector shades to control the light more for this shot using tranny, but it gave me the comparison at the time under uncontrolled conditions, over a number of rolls, which funny enough the uncoated heliar seemed fair better in many areas, except of course very occasional flare with uncoated lens, but a hood would of made the difference
however overall the Bessa RF does very well IMO, for portrait you have to be a bit more diligent with parallax than you wold have to using the post war bessa, the pre-war bessa has a bit more..two separate windows i personally find a pain but if you get used to it your ok (worse if your swapping cameras regularly) and some people would successfully argue that the veiw and RF windows are better/brighter to look through, separated...
there are a few different models (upgrades each year or so) of the pre-war bessa so the RF image can be different depending on which you have, also things like the ability to close the red window and other small upgrades change as the model gets newer
their build quality is up there amongst the best, but is not a hockey puck by any means (needs to be looked after), it has it weak points, so it can be damaged if undue abuse or accidents have happened, as such condition is everything when it comes to the body/struts of these to ensure its struts and hinges are good before purchase ideally...RF finders can be adjusted and put right as can shutters etc
did you manage to get one with the swing away yellow filter? thats something i really like with bessa RF (its like closing a porthole! and i have few different colour filters to fit), the shutter button release is in exactly the same position as the Bessa II so i am not quite sure what Sevo means..IMO the ergonomics work very well (it one of those love hate things with the shutter release on the bessa's-but if you get along with it then its great and doesn't induce any undue shake IMO due to holding it and bracing as you 'squeeze' the trigger, dont press or pull). main difference for day to day shooting between the Bessa RF and Bessa II is the film wind knob is on the bottom and the twin windows, as i mention before twin windows bug me some but otherwise...
another great handling feature of the Bessa RF is you can focus without opening the front up which brings less attention when preparing a shot , just less work opening and closing when you feel like trying a composition out
another test shot ,,not noticable with this pic but the heliar can become unsharp because of diffraction (par for the course really), so best not to stop down too far
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johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Chippy,
my Bessa RF just checked in. Black paint with only two scuff marks, Compur-Rapid shutter, no accessory shoe, no flash sync.
Looks legit, lens is clean and seems originally attached to the bellows when checking from the inside. Serial number is 27996xx.
I'll get a picture up asap, too little light now.
Tomorrow, I'll test drive her!
my Bessa RF just checked in. Black paint with only two scuff marks, Compur-Rapid shutter, no accessory shoe, no flash sync.
Looks legit, lens is clean and seems originally attached to the bellows when checking from the inside. Serial number is 27996xx.
I'll get a picture up asap, too little light now.
Tomorrow, I'll test drive her!
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FallisPhoto
Veteran
sure Charles, but you dont carry all that ..er crap
Yeah, then I might take something else, a Super Ikonta, a Baby Speed Graphic -- or maybe one of those cute little RZs. The point is, it isn't that big. People are talking like it's going to give them a hernia or something.
jmkelly
rangefinder user
My first folder arrived via UPS today: a clean if a bit worn Super Ikonta B 532/16 with a very clean CZJ Tessar 80/2.8 in the Compur Rapid shutter. Lens (205xxxx) looks to be 1937 and body (H11xxx) from 1938. Anyone have dates of manufacture for the shutters?
I am really tickled by how small and light this camera is (my other MF cameras: Mamiya C3, Bronica ETRS, Fuji GW690III - latter, recently sold). Burning through my first roll already, crappy light be damned. Now, where is my 120 reel for the hand tank...
I am really tickled by how small and light this camera is (my other MF cameras: Mamiya C3, Bronica ETRS, Fuji GW690III - latter, recently sold). Burning through my first roll already, crappy light be damned. Now, where is my 120 reel for the hand tank...
FallisPhoto
Veteran
I was talking about the RB/RZ, but even a 40-lb kit isn't that bad if it's on a backpack. Back when I was in boot camp, we were expected to be able to carry at least twice that, all day long, over rough terrain. Working as a Mail Handler, for the U.S. Postal Service, I unloaded mail trucks for ten years, slinging 80 to 100-lb sacks of mail all day long. I suppose it all depends on what you're used to. I am by no means frail.
BTW, guess what came in the mail today? Thanks for the Xmas card, Andrew.
jmkelly
rangefinder user
LOL this is the first 120 camera I have owned that will fit in my briefcase and/or weighs less than 10lb. It's a revelation, I tell you! It does feel plenty solid, though. My shutter is 429xxxx so no surprises it slots between 1935 and 1939, as do the lens and body.
It does feel plenty solid, though. My shutter is 429xxxx so no surprises it slots between 1935 and 1939, as do the lens and body.
hehe John, i dont think i have heard of the Super Ikonta B referred to as light weight before :angel:, in comparison to other folders it is quite heavy, solid and could be used as a hockey puck while closed
i got some dates for the shutters, what number do you have?
actually, just checking the numbers for the shutter dont help much, from 1935, 3200 000 and 5400 000 onwards are from 1939