View Full Version : I wanna be a Bessa owner
So this is where some of you photo.net'ters and FM'ers hang out! I've been lurking here for a bit and want to go down the RF path. I just can't decide b/w a R or R2 (btw, i've read most if not all of the posts on this particular subforum). I've never shot with an RF, except for handling a friend's M6. While it was nice, I'm a student. Well, 'nuff said!
Anyhow, it's hard to beat the $399 R + 35/2.5 deal from Photovillage. Since I don't know anyone who has a Bessa around here (st louis), i just can't decide whether an R will hold up for me. I basically want a travel camera as well as a street photog and lowlight alternative to my SLR setup which is NOT a lot of fun to drag around. I don't foresee needing any M lenses since the CV stuff seems to be pretty good. I could foresee getting a 28 ultron and 50 nokton. Used R2's have been around $350-$400 or so from what i can tell. So add a 35mm + adapter and we are in the $700+ range. Of course, I could use the remaining money towards some Alien Bees. So, where money is not endless, is the R that much worse/more likely to fail/inferior to the R2 at nearly half the price?
Of course, the longer i wait, the less time I have one to shoot. Anyone, push me one way or the other :D I just don't want to get an R, and find out that i should have spent more money in the first place with an R2. But, conversely, i'd hate to spend that much on an R2 and then end up not using it enough. :bang:
back alley
03-28-2005, 17:34
you can't go wrong either way.
honest.
joe
The $399 Bessa R deal is a pure steal - I have a number of Bessas and still have a pair of L's, a T and an R3. I can't see any reliability issues that should scare you.
For the $700 an R2 deal would run you, you can buy a new R, the 35 and another lens to complete the kit.
torontotom
03-28-2005, 18:00
ent2b, I happen to have an used R2+35mm/f2.5 kit for sale. Not sure if you are still looking for one. Drop me an message (torontotom@gmail.com).
email sent.
thanks for the input, guys!
well I just bought the setup from tom above and am anxiously awaiting so that i can lose my RF virginity. YEAH BAYBEE!
Congratulations, ent2b! That's a nice rig that should be a lot of fun.
Congratulations, ent2b! That's a nice rig that should be a lot of fun.
what i'm afraid of is that i won't want to shoot with my DSLR equipment any longer. :D
Terence T
04-15-2005, 01:08
what i'm afraid of is that i won't want to shoot with my DSLR equipment any longer. :D
Don't go junking the DSLR just yet. It's always nice to go back and forth between the digital and film world. You'd probably find that each system will have its own advantages. For me, the DSLR is still used for action photography with long lenses and the RF for candid street shooting.
Well just shot my first roll and loved it. BIG difference b/w my 20D + gear vs. this tiny thing. Although I don't have my friend's M6 in front to directly compare weights, but by "weight memory" the R2 doesn't feel all that much lighter than the M6. I will probably split usage just the way you stated Terence, along with using digital for studio stuff - when i get some lights that is.
Terence T
04-20-2005, 16:06
Stick some shots in your gallery! We'd love to see the results. You'd find that scanning is an art in itself, I certainly did.
tedwhite
04-27-2005, 20:10
Keep the DSLR, or some other D camera. They're good when you have a client that needs the picture RIGHT NOW! Otherwise, I don't use my digital camera which, by the way, is a Kodak DX6490 with a Schneider/Kreuznach lens. Wonderful lens.
Ted
I've also been thinking of purchasing Bessa R to use with FSU lenses as my go-to camera. Right now I have a FED-2/I-26M that I'm really happy with...is the R worth the (admittedly low) $249 price of admission? Will I get shots with the R that I might not get with the FED-2?
Cameraquest has free shipping until 5/9. Has the cheap and loveable FED-2 spoiled me enough to keep me from pulling the trigger? OTOH, the Bessa meter and VF/RF sure would be nice. I've got a big cross-country trip in June, need to decide soon...
Also....black or silver body?? :D
I have a Bessa R and use it frequently with a Jupiter-8. That makes a nice combo. I think the R is a very nice cam, but I don't enjoy changing LTM lenses so I tend to use whatever lens is mounted and stick with it. The main advantages of using the R over a FED-2 are faster film changing, onboard meter, brighter and much larger VF and RF patch, and higher shutter speed.
My opinion? Black looks better.
Gene
back alley
04-29-2005, 10:58
i'm with gene on this one.
joe
Chris,
if you only want to use the 50mm lens, the Bessa R may not be worth the admittedly low price, if you have already got a well-working FED 2 (in my opinion, an onboard meter is not that important, but I like incident metering with handheld meters...); if, however, you'd like to use 35mm or 75/85/90mm lenses, the Bessa R will be FAR superior to the FED2, and be worth every single cent, due to the parallax-corrected framelines for focal lengths other than 50mm. The framelines were the single reason that made me get a Bessa R in addition to my (otherwise nice) FSU RFs.
Roman
tedwhite
04-29-2005, 18:06
I'm with Gene. Once you use an 'R' you'll fall in love with it. Much easier to use than the FED 2. However, if you're going to buy the R, buy it in the package deal with the Color Skopar 35/2.5. The combo price is unbeatable pricewise. So is the cv lens.
The first roll I ran through mine - I was very impressed with the lens quality and with the accuracy of the meter. I shot indoors for a municipal client (library interiors), outdoors in bright desert sunlight, in the rain, etc. Every exposure was correct.
The J8 will give you a normal lens, the 35/2.5 a mild wide angle lens.
Ted
nwcanonman
05-02-2005, 06:55
Well,
I finally did it. Found a lightly used R for $200, which I can use my J8 on.
Now I'll have my eye open for a 35/2.5 Skopar, since I like 35mm perspective for street shooting.
Will having the meter in the R make me want to stop using the Zorki's?
Congrats, Harold! That will be a nice useful rig. Black or chrome?
nwcanonman
05-02-2005, 11:51
Doug,
Black of course - LOL.
Seriously, all my Nikon SLR's are black. Silly psycological thing we've been taught by marketing I guess.
Looking forward to shooting the new toy (now moving to "Waiting for the Postman") later this week ~ ; - )
the only 2 silver things i own are my car (subaru) and my first "real" camera (elan IIe). other than that, black (or white) baby! wait, i just bought a 50 1.2, and that's like half n half :(
After selling a bunch of gear and then hemming and hawing for two weeks I finally ordered a black Bessa R from Mr. Gandy this afternoon. With some additional consideration I also went in for the CV 35/2.5 lens.
If the 35 is as good as advertised I should be very happy. Throw in the Jupiter-8 that I already have and now I've now got a very decent little RF kit. My FED-2 is already getting jealous.
Of course, buying the 35/2.5 means I will need to sell my recently acquired Jupiter-12. :mad: No sense keeping both 35s in my gear collection.
I'm very excited for the Bessa to arrive. Hopefully she'll get here in time for my Cape Cod trip over Memorial Day. Thanks to Gene, Ted, Joe, Roman & others for the sound advice. :angel:
I'll also be taking the new Bessa along on the Race Across America (www.raceacrossamerica.org) from June 16-30. Hopefully I will bring back some nice photos to share with the RFF gang!
tedwhite
05-17-2005, 20:23
Chris:
You will love the Bessa R and that great Color Skopar cv35/2.5.
There is a 100 year old library in my town and I had photographed the reading room (15 foot ceilings, arm chairs, tall windows) with several other cameras, but none rendered the colors more accurately (nor mor sharply, for that matter) than the combo you just bought.
I was on the point of buying a Leica M2 with 50/2 Summicron, when I got the opportunity to borrow one for a few hours. Shot a roll of film through it. Very nice and smooth, very nice lens. However, looking at the prints, I can't see a significant difference between the end product of the two cameras, namely, the prints. So I'm not buying the Leica because if I did, it would be purely for the prestige.
wlewisiii
05-17-2005, 20:42
Of course, buying the 35/2.5 means I will need to sell my recently acquired Jupiter-12. :mad: No sense keeping both 35s in my gear collection.
Actually, I'd advise keeping it. There is a difference in the optical formulation and while in most cases it's not going to be noticable, it is plausable that there are circumstances where that old Biogon will pleasantly surprise you. Also you said you have a Fed body? Put the 12 on it and "don't worry, be happy".
I bought the 35/2.5 SC and sold my J-12 Kiev mount to a RFFer. I regret it as I do have several Contax/Kiev mount bodies so I could still be using it. OTOH, at least selling it here, I know it's going to eventually end up in use on a camera... :)
William
I'll agree with William on keeping the J-12. Besides, these sell for such low prices it's very little of your funds tied up in it. That's a decent lens, too, with a character that's different from the Skopar.
Ted, sorry to hear of your attack of restraint re: the M2...
Don't sell the J12, Chris. You sometimes might feel like shooting the FED, and with that J12 on it you'll have a very nice small package. You could even bring it along as a backup camera. I have my J12 on my M2 (not having any other 35mm lens) and I'm very pleased with it.
tedwhite
05-17-2005, 22:28
Doug:
I appreciate that.
Ted
Richard Black
05-18-2005, 03:55
Chris,
I must echo the comments above, Don't sell your Jupiter 12! I have mine mounted on a Leica IIIc and am totally blown away by the character of that lens. If you want to evoke a time-passed, use some FP4 and a J12 and the images will look like the 50's. It is hard to explain but for the little amount invested, you will regret not having it for the Fed.
MY2cents
Well, it looks like I'll be keeping the J-12, then! :)
The J-12 doesn't quite mount on my FED-2 body; the lens threads don't want to mate up with the camera's lens mount - it's almost as if the diameter of the lens is slightly larger than the diameter of the lens mount. It could be the camera or it could be the lens...not sure yet.
Luckily, I had a GAS attack two weeks ago and I bought a Zorki-4 on the 'bay. I'll be picking it up on Saturday; hopefully the J-12 will mount properly to that body. The Zorki/J-12 would make a sweet combo!
nwcanonman
05-18-2005, 05:37
Well, it looks like I'll be keeping the J-12, then! :)
The J-12 doesn't quite mount on my FED-2 body; the lens threads don't want to mate up with the camera's lens mount - it's almost as if the diameter of the lens is slightly larger than the diameter of the lens mount. It could be the camera or it could be the lens...not sure yet.
Luckily, I had a GAS attack two weeks ago and I bought a Zorki-4 on the 'bay. I'll be picking it up on Saturday; hopefully the J-12 will mount properly to that body. The Zorki/J-12 would make a sweet combo!
.................................
Have no fear, unless the J12 is defective it mounts well on the Zorki 4. I keep a J12 on my 4K all the time. :)
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