Why buying a Bessa?

Why a Bessa rangerfinder? Fast, quiet ,quality.

Why a Bessa rangerfinder? Fast, quiet ,quality.

All of us who use rangefinders in general and Bessa R cameras in particular (I have the Nikon-mount Bessa R2S with trigger winder and 21, 25 and 85 lenses) agree on the fine points. mpt600's reply says it best for me: fast, compact and quality outfit. The lenses and finders are beautiful! So nice NOT hearing a mirror, and the lenses are sharp. I do not think any of us who use these cameras regret the purchase and enjoy the use of them.

bobkonos
 
mpt600 explained very well ! Full agree. And if you like to take pictures of people they feel much more natural compared to when they are in front of more impressive cameras, SRL, digtal or not. It' s just my impression, ciao.
rob
 
Here's a suggestion: get a Bessa L with the 25 lens and finder. It is a simple and effective tool. Use fast film, stop down the lens, and shoot away. Marvel at the precision, compactness and sheer fun. Do it!

bobkonos

______________________________________________________________\\

Bessa R2S, 2 @ Bessa L
 
Here's a suggestion: get a Bessa L with the 25 lens and finder. It is a simple and effective tool. Use fast film, stop down the lens, and shoot away. Marvel at the precision, compactness and sheer fun. Do it!
bobkonos


Or, bessa R +skopar 28 (smallest CV lens) ... this is a set i'd like to try ...
 
I would suggest purchasing a used cheeper leica model, like an M2, CL, or M3. It will probably cost you a little more in the end, and it is more reliable than a bessa. Two of my friends had bessas and traded up to a Leica within 4 months.
 
well, it seems me there are many usefull interesting ideas ! Maybe more ideas than available money ! But one question is missing: what kind of photo are you interested in? Street ? reportage ? conventional portraits ? Not conventional portraits ? ...
anyway a bessa (or an used cheap leica as trittium suggest) will work! ciao
rob
 
I have used a SLR, TRL and digital cameras too (including a DSLR), but my Bessa R is my favourite shotter, I LIKE using it much more than the others.
Of course, I would like to try a Leica M or a Zeis Ikon😛
 
@trittium: yes, I considered the reliability of leica. but, not even being sure about a bessa, i don't want to spend so much money! and I can't afford that Kind of camera...

@robert: i usually do reportage and street (in these days i'm preparing a project about world cup's tifosi). I also do landscapes, but principally with a 6x6 camera. And when I go trekking I try to take with myself all the cameras I have...
 
I think my main reason is quite different:
I was a professional photographer before and I mainly used 4X5 in studio and 120 for model and interior shootings. In those old days, I was trained for caring about the details everyday but this is not suitable for 35mm shooting especially street photography which I am very interested in after I left the industry. Now I mainly use RFs (Bessa R2s) because I can get rid of my previous habbit (seeing deatils) by their vague (I may use the wrong adj. here) viewfinders.

Those advantages mentioned by other members above are also the reasons why I chose RFs.

I mainly shoot landscape, travel and street photography (although these 2 years I seldom take pictures).
 
Brad,

I first got the Bessa L as a very inexpensive camera body for wide angle lenses. It surprised me with its excellent meter and smoothness of operation.
I have on it a CV 25mm/4. Then, I got a Bessa T, and it became my workhorse.
I use all type oflenses on it. It has the excellent meter in it, plus a magnifying focus aid. Neither cameras have a rangefinder or viewfinder. Both are great for travel. They are light weight and if stolen or lost or damaged, no big deal.
The focus aid in the T is very accurate, and I can use it successfully with a 85mm/1.9 lens wide open for sharp results.

Then, I use the "real" cameras too. The Leica M3, CL, Standard Leica are all wonderful precision instruments. The Canon IVsb, the IIIc, and the P are great cameras too.

Each has its use and flavor.

Regards,
Raid
 
Why need a reason ?

Why need a reason ?

palabras said:
well, the reasons why I thought about this camera are many. In order of importance:

-smallness (even if I see now that it's not so true), and the possibility to carry an entire set of lenses in the trouser pockets (is it true? i'm no more sure about it...)
-incredible quality of the lenses: i shoot mainly B&W, and haven't seen before images so sharp. they have also something that can't be explained...
-the possibility to use these cameras in low-light conditions
-the charm of doing difficult things: in the era of digital cameras (and I own one) it seems crazy to buy a camera that hasn't the light meter!!! but many times I see that images taken with my rolleicord ar far better, in light control, than those taken with the help of sofisticated lightmeters!

Now I don't know if all these reasons are real or I've been influenced by the fascinating history of these cameras and by the names of people who used them...
Help me understand!
Click to expand...



Hi Palabras,

Hello, I would like to see your question in other way. Your question is just like a guy who only eats orange and banana through out his life , and now wants to try apple. Just go ahead, find a friend, borrow one rf and takes a few pictures, then you will get your answer.

To me comparing the difference between slr, tlr, dc and rf really doesn't matter.
 
palabras said:
I know this dilemma has been exposed here many times, but not in the way I will do it now.

I have a couple of cameras: a digital reflex, a reflex and a medium format camera.
And was thinking about buying a Bessa R.


But now I ask myself: why should I buy this kind of camera? Which are the differences between a bessa with a 50mm and a reflex with the same lens?

Can you describe all the reasons that made you choose this kind of camera instead of another?

Thanks!🙂
Click to expand...
Like you I've already got quite a few cameras. A D70 I converted to IR, a D200, two D100 bodies, a F65, a F80, a F100, a Lubitel 166 I like playing with (along with some Holga's), some old Pentax, Canon, and Mamiya SLR's, various digital and 35mm P&S's, and the one that caused me to want the Bessa R, my trusty old Argus C44.

Now I love my old rangefinder. I bought it off an older man that basically had never used it as far as I could tell. The 50mm 2.8 it uses is perfectly sharp. The only thing that makes me want the Bessa is built in metering and the ability to use old Leica screw mount lenses. Most important is the fact that I can get faster glass. I've gotten kind of spoiled by most of my Nikons. Between my Nikon 35mm 1.4 AIS, Nikon 50mm 1.4D, and even faster converted lenses (I've actually got quite a few faster than f1.0 now) I just want access to different glass with a the rangefinder experience.

The rangefinder experience is hard for me to explain. All I can say is that as cheap as you can find a used (or new) Bessa R the best you can do is try it for yourself. Others have already covered the advantages better than I could. You'll either love it or hate it. Guarenteed. 🙂
 
Palabras,
James Brannan suggested me an idea:
I'd like to try a 6x6 but I have no friends with such a camera to borrow,
you'd like to try a bessa and I have one that I can lend you,
you also said you like tuscany...
bye.
Nico
 
Ciao Palabras,
for reportage and street a range finder is ideal. For trekking it depends on... how much weight are you reday to bring with you ! I m getting old and learning to travel light, but sometimes I miss my 80-200 !
ciao, spero di vedere presto tue foto ! robert
The italian family is growing, maybe one day we'll be able to organize a meeting !!!
 
robert blu said:
Ciao Palabras,
for reportage and street a range finder is ideal. For trekking it depends on... how much weight are you reday to bring with you ! I m getting old and learning to travel light, but sometimes I miss my 80-200 !
ciao, spero di vedere presto tue foto ! robert
The italian family is growing, maybe one day we'll be able to organize a meeting !!!
Click to expand...

Rob,
I agree about the meeting I think it would be funny, but I completely disagree about what you're getting!😉
I think that a rangefinder is also good for portraits.
Bye
Nico
 
Ciao, Robert! Visto che bella Italia?!?!?! (only for italian speaking...)

Right tomorrow I'll go for a short trek on my mountains, the Orobie. I'll take with me my digital reflex with a 400mm for beavers and chamoises.

BUT also a good tripod and my Rolleicord.

I'll carry that weight! 🙂
 
nico said:
Rob,
I agree about the meeting I think it would be funny, but I completely disagree about what you're getting!😉
I think that a rangefinder is also good for portraits.
Bye
Nico
Click to expand...


Well, I'm always ready for a meeting!!!

But there must be at least a kg of finocchiona!!!😀
 
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