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I am curious to know whether we have any Bessa T owners here in RFF? What are your perceptions to Bessa T? Cameraquest has really attractive price for the last few Bessa Ts on the market and I am sure there are collectors/users here that are tempted. :p
Hmm, don't own a T but now that you mention/tempt ... :D
One thing may be true, if you're looking for an inexpensive backup for your R2s... The T may be the solution. Just add a cheap FSU 35mm finder and that's it, both your Ultron and your PII would have a backup body !
Oscar
Graduated tempter.
The T is a temptation, but now that I have the R3a with 1:1 finder it is less of one. It looks cool, but the functionality is the ability to focus long fast lenses, which I think I have covered.
I have a black one. It is more solidly built than my Bessa R and two Bessa L's. The rangefinder is clearer and generally superior to that of the R IMO. The meter and shutter is the same as the other two models and they all take great pictures.
Kurt M.
I have a black one also. They really seem to be designed to work best with the V/C rapidwinder. With the rapidwinder, the whole camera is more comfortable to hold, plus the vertical strap lug option solves the main design problem with the V/C Bessa-series camera --- terrible placement of the strap lugs! (too far forward ---using the standard horizontal strap lugs makes the camera droop forward, even without a telephoto or long-focus lens!) The camera body itself is light and rugged enough (a good hiking/cycling companion) and the meter is simple and decently accurate. I've used the Bessa-T in very low light situations, and have not found the separate viewfinder/rangefinder to be a problem. All in all, it's a very nice, decently-priced little camera.
Originally posted by Peter
I am curious to know whether we have any Bessa T owners here in RFF? What are your perceptions to Bessa T?
I like mine very much. The meter seems accurate and my impression is that the camera is well-built. It's one of the best buys in a RF camera on the market, IMO. I struggled for days with whether to purchase an R or the T. The R is an excellent camera in it's own right but I elected to go with the T for several reasons..... not least of which was the $65 difference in cost. I already had several universal viewfinders and Leica screw-mount lenses. One M-mount adapter and you can swap thread-mount lenses easily enough. The T doesn't have a brightline finder to activate so any M-mount adapter will work just fine.
Below is a picture of my Bessa-T with a 35mm f/3.5 Elmar and an Imarect finder.
Walker
Originally posted by l.mar
..., plus the vertical strap lug option solves the main design problem with the V/C Bessa-series camera --- terrible placement of the strap lugs! (too far forward ---using the standard horizontal strap lugs makes the camera droop forward, even without a telephoto or long-focus lens!)
I must say I've not experienced this. My R usually holds my J-8 and this lens makes the camera drop backwards, letting the lens point upwards.
When I screw my J-9 on the R, the whole set is nicely balanced; the lens points straight ahead.
I must admit that hanging a camera vertical is a nice touch. The (Leica/ Leitz Minolta) CL hangs vertical and I simply love that; shooting from the hip is extremely easy this way. But being a bad aim (or premature shooter), I need to stick the CV 25 on it. :)
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Originally posted by l.mar
..., plus the vertical strap lug option solves the main design problem with the V/C Bessa-series camera --- terrible placement of the strap lugs! (too far forward ---using the standard horizontal strap lugs makes the camera droop forward, even without a telephoto or long-focus lens!)
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"I must say I've not experienced this. My R usually holds my J-8 and this lens makes the camera drop backwards, letting the lens point upwards."
RML
RML, you're right, of course. :o Backwards or forwards, the way the camera hangs from the too-far forward standard horizontal strap lugs just feels weird (to me)...
Agree with L.Mar, even on the direction of the droop, as corrected! ;) Mine is silver, and I too like the trigger winder on the T. I'd be tempted to get a second one now that the price is so attractive, but then I have the other oddball Bessa too, the L, so probably hard to justify. The drawback of them both is the greater parallax error of the high eyepoint, but the good side is the gloriously big bright view seen through the accessory finders. Wonder if there'll ever be a Bessa-Ta?
I've got a Bessa-T and think it is an excellent deal. The meter is accurate, shutter speeds go from 1sec to 1/2000, it is more solid than the Bessa R (but maybe not as solid as the R2).
It is slower to handle because you focus and frame through different viewfinders, but I'm pretty slow with my RF camera anyway (I'll use a modern AF camera if I want speed).
I just shot a Bessa-T with 25mm and 50mm viewfinder for 250 Euro on *bay. I simply could not resist because it is a black one which is hard to find in Germany for such a low price. The silver version goes for 444 Euro (new but without finders). There is also a 101 years Heliar edition around for 1099 Euro but that is a bit much even if it has more metal parts. For that amount of money I would rather buy a second R3a and another lens.
Originally posted by thmk
...There is also a 101 years Heliar edition around for 1099 Euro but that is a bit much even if it has more metal parts. For that amount of money I would rather buy a second R3a and another lens.
Or a used Leica M2 or M3 with a (add-on) light meter and one or two fine Lieca/Leitz lenses.
Curious to revisit this thread, to see that the T was Temting me last december and that 5 months later I got one :)
And I'm loving it !
Todd.Hanz
05-26-2005, 15:11
Curious to revisit this thread, to see that the T was Temting me last december and that 5 months later I got one :)
And I'm loving it !
...and you seem to handle it well!
Todd
Benjamin Marks
05-26-2005, 15:57
It will focus the 75/1.4 and the 50/1 and other fast lenses with great accuracy. I think that they are the best deals going in rangefinders. An updated Leica IIIa. They are not without their compromises, but as a dark box to hold your film until light passes through a lens, it is all you need.
gabrielelopez
06-11-2005, 07:02
Waiting from Cameraquest my silver one....can't wait to get my hands on that istinctive, simple and funny camera!!
laptoprob
06-11-2005, 07:18
I have a black one since a few weeks, picking up the first roll of slides monday. Then I will know about the meter accuracy. The camera disagrees with my interpretation of sunny 16. This may - ofcourse - be the everlasting problem of reflective light meters.
I like it a lot. For a lot of circumstances I don't need the rangefinder. Hyperfocal does the job. In that case I have a superior viewfinder, with unlimited brightness (50mm VC brightline) and the Canon viewfinders for 35 and 85mm. If I need the rangefinder it has the best one you can imagine.
Because the rangefinder is closer to the lens it has less parralax than the viewfinder. You can roughly imagine the whole view looking through the rangefinder, after you check the viewfinder.
Very nice oddball!
Rob.
captainslack
06-11-2005, 12:56
Just got my T today! I've taken a grand total of one photo with it, but I like it so far. Wish all viewfinders were as bright as the Voigtlander 50mm!
Yes, that viewfinder is a true gem! It's brighter than any other viewfinder I've ever looked through, and it's got this very nice retro-look on my Bessa-T.
Just got my T today! I've taken a grand total of one photo with it, but I like it so far. Wish all viewfinders were as bright as the Voigtlander 50mm!
I don't have the CV 50mm VF, but the CV 40mm + Nokton 40 on my Bessa-T has been a true joy! CV 40mm VF is not metal--like the 75 and 50--more like the 25mm(also nice).
Glad you're enjoying the B-T! I posted a "warning" about the little plastic window on the camera back/film door: it's *very* poorly attached. On a more positive note, I carry the B-T with 25/4 Skopar every day... great light-weight photo kit. Recently added a RRS "generic" L-mounting plate--for tripod--and leave it on even when hand-held... sorta like the B-T grip, but on the other side and no vertical strap lugs. This adds slight weight, but also better balance over all.
rgds,
Dave
:o Thanks Todd :)
Glad to see more people joining the T-train and appreciating it. Sometimes it's certainly refreshing to carry a light camera that won't leave a mark on your shoulder ! ;-)
captainslack
06-14-2005, 05:47
And light is definitely the word!!! Even loaded with film, it barely weighs anything!
:o Thanks Todd :)
Glad to see more people joining the T-train and appreciating it. Sometimes it's certainly refreshing to carry a light camera that won't leave a mark on your shoulder ! ;-)
Yeah -- I got my T almost by accident. I had previously eliminated the R2/R2a/R3a from consideration due to the short RF baselength. I was about to buy the clip-on VC Meter II from cameraquest to use with my exisiting bodies, but I realized the Bessa T was only $16 more. I figured at that price it amounted to a meter with a free M-mount rangefinder camera attached. I also realized that the clip-on meter is of limited utility for my knob-wind bodies with non-50 lenses without the double-accessory shoe (with that, the meter would have been _more_ expensive than the T), and I already have working clip-on selenium meters for the Canon VI-T and the M2.
With the T I also have a working M-mount body once again (the M2 is awaiting a CLA and the shutter is currently stuck open).
Scott
Theo-Prof
06-14-2005, 11:17
I once considered buying the 'T' but was afraid the metal bezel around the rangefinder window would scratch the plastic lenses of my glasses. Any glasses wearers have this problem with the 'T'?
Kevin
captainslack
06-14-2005, 11:34
I once considered buying the 'T' but was afraid the metal bezel around the rangefinder window would scratch the plastic lenses of my glasses. Any glasses wearers have this problem with the 'T'?
Kevin
I'll let you know when I get a chance to put my T through its paces. It's got to be kinder to my glasses than my FED2 was!!! :rolleyes:
I'll let you know when I get a chance to put my T through its paces. It's got to be kinder to my glasses than my FED2 was!!! :rolleyes:
A light application of "Plasti-Grip" (IIRC) should solve that problem. It's a plastic in liquid form that tool handles are dipped into and when dry, it forms a durable and comfortable grip. A small amount diluted with naptha and applied with a fine artist's brush would form a soft barrier that would protect your eye glasses. Just be careful not to get any on the finder glass.
Walker
I once considered buying the 'T' but was afraid the metal bezel around the rangefinder window would scratch the plastic lenses of my glasses. Any glasses wearers have this problem with the 'T'?
Kevin
Compared to the one on a Fed-2 (as captain says) or any other classic camera, the one on the T is a lot 'rounder'. Just tried with my left glass (the unscratched one...) and no problems that I can see...
So, it's not a glass-killer, I'd say.
Theo-Prof
06-15-2005, 07:15
Thanks for the responses about eyeglasses. I will have to reconsider the T again.
Kevin
I was about to buy the clip-on VC Meter II from cameraquest to use with my exisiting bodies, but I realized the Bessa T was only $16 more. I figured at that price it amounted to a meter with a free M-mount rangefinder camera attached.
Seen that way... it's still a more impressive bargain :eek:
The eyepiece on my Bessa-T is surrounded by the standard (great feature!) adjustable diopter, which is definitely plastic. I believe that the eyepiece itself is also plastic. On the other hand, the round eyepiece surround on my M3 is definitely metal, but my eyeglasses are so scratched up already that I'm not sure whether it's done any additional damage to them!
There's a posh "Heliar 101" version of the T which has a metal top plate, and as far as I can judge from the pictures may also very well have a metal bezel around the finder.
The bog standard black T (the one which I have) definately has a plastic ring..
Theo-Prof
06-16-2005, 09:53
Thanks for the clarification. I thought the T also had metal bezels.
Kevin
Marcus B
07-13-2005, 02:42
Like Scott, I too bought the Bessa T as lightmeter with camera attached als as supplement to my M3. It takes all the lenses I have, and a lack of a viewfinder has not bothered me. I use it mainly with a Skopar 21, a summarit 50 (mostly using a Kontur finder) and a Summaron 35 with a russian universal finder (in that order). Meter and rangefinder are accurate, so I've got nothing to complain about...
Marcus
I have a blue T101 I do not use much at the moment. The lens that came with the kit sees a lot of use though.
It is a light and rather nice camera, though I tend to favour using a combined viewfinder and rangefinder these days.
The M mount on mine have a click lock that can only be heard if it is very quiet, but it locked the lens. Now, it does not even seem to do that as the lens can be moved slightly while locked. Sigh... I am not too impressed by that. I wonder if it is worth having it repaired, or if I should live with it or dump it? At the moment I do nothing about it, I use an M2, a Hexar RF or medium format gear instead.
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