Voigtlander Fujica Bessa III Purchase Decision

[Jay Decker]

When the Voightlander Fujica Bessa III was announced, I mentally told myself that I should purchase one. The primary motivation at the time was to send a clear message to film and camera manufactures with my pocketbook that new film products can be successful in the marketplace.

The camera is now available. The initial reports and apparent quality of the photographs suggest the mechanical quality of camera and image quality capabilty are good to excellent. But, I find myself hesitating to purchase the camera. What is the cause of the hesitation?

Is it that the camera costs $700 to $1,000 more any I had anticipated?

Is it that high quality used film camera equipment is available so inexpensively that it runs against my frugal nature to spend that much money on a new camera?

Is it a deep fear that film really is going to disappear and I will be left one more artifact that I could have avoided purchasing?

Is it that I already have plenty of film cameras, the cameras that I use regularly are working well for me, and run against a desire to simplify life have having less stuff?

Is it that my initial motivation (to send a message to manufactures with my pocketbook), not the right motivation purchase a new camera?

Is it economic uncertainty?

I don't know... I can't quite put my finger on it.

If you've been thinking about purchasing this camera, what are your thoughts???

[JohnM]

I did seriously considering purchasing one -- in the end, while I have spent more money on a camera before, the price of the Bessa was more than I willing to spend on that particular camera. In the back of my head, the memory of two separate Bessa T's jamming up and becoming pretty paperweights probably made me too cautious.

However, it's good to see that people who did make the plunge are enjoying them and taking great pictures.

[ray*j*gun]

I, like you Jay had decided to buy the Bessa III but I cannot ignore the high price in these difficult times. Even discounting some of the other issues you raise (all good ones I feel) the price value isn't there for my kind of shooting.

[AusDLK]

I too was initially interested. But the price point for at least $1000 more then I am willing to spend on this type of camera.

[CK Dexter Haven]

I was very enthused, early, when it was announced. But, the wait, and the continued waiting put me off. I eventually just went in another direction, and got an RF645 and two lenses for much less than what the Bessa/Fuji would cost. I would certainly have preferred 6x7, but the delays put the camera release after my travel dates....

I may, eventually, be interested again, but i'll want to see more reviews and sample imagery first.

And, yes, the cost is definitely an issue. Even though i could afford it, the price makes it impractical to have In Addition to my other MF cameras. If we were talking about 1200-1500, i might have bought it without hesitation.

[Jamie123]

Don't take this personal but buying a camera in order to "send a message" is ridiculous. Maybe that's a good reason to buy a box of cookies from the salvation army but if the film business has to rely on charity then it maybe really is time to throw in the towel.

[Pickett Wilson]

I'm not sure Fuji, with a limited edition camera as this one has been said to be, is making much of an effort to show its support for film sales. 5,000 MF cameras aren't likely to generate significant additional film sales. So trying to send a message by buying one is unlikely to do so.

[Jay Decker]

Don't take this personal but buying a camera in order to "send a message" is ridiculous. Maybe that's a good reason to buy a box of cookies from the salvation army but if the film business has to rely on charity then it maybe really is time to throw in the towel.

You are absolutely right. The context of that initial impulse reaction to "send a message" was that at that specific time I was just returning to film photography and learning that a lot of analog photography materials and equipment were no longer manufactured. The price of quality used film camera equipment had dropped because many photographers had switched to digital, the future of film was being questioned by many, Polaroid announced that it was shutting down production... the announcement of this camera was the only favorable news for film photography that I encountered.

[Paddy C]

When it was first announced I had a bad case of the wants. So much so, that I even thought about selling my Rolleiflex to fund the purchase.

But then I heard the price.

For me, the camera is too expensive. I'm not suggesting it isn't worth the money or is overpriced. Just too much for me. Mostly because, having used folders (I own two, one a Bessa II), I know this camera would be unlikely to used a lot.

You always have to determine where your money is best spent. When you consider what you could buy instead of the Bessa III it's hard to justify the expenditure. A Mamiya 7II and normal lens could be bought for about $1K less. Any of the Fuji GWs can be had for at least a third the cost of a Bessa III.

[Silva Lining]

Any of the Fuji GWs can be had for at least a third the cost of a Bessa III.


Absolutely! I intially wanted to by the Bessa III (not least as I have a Bessa I & II and all the best things come in threes ;) )

But the price is too much for me...when I have a Fuji GW690II. OK so its not 6x7 but you'd have to go some way to best the Fujinon lens....

Now if I won the lottery....:rolleyes:

[Double Negative]

I seriously took a shine to the camera when it was announced, as most here did. But similarly, once the price point became known, well, not interested anymore. ;)

For that kind of money I can buy an infinitely more useful and versatile, albeit older/used camera system (e.g. Hasselblad, Mamiya, etc.).

[Keith]

I'm one of the lucky shooters in OZ who'll have the use of the folder for two weeks as part of a travelling camera promotion by the distributor here. Financially I'm way off being able to buy one at the moment or in the near future unless I sell a lot of gear ... the camera in question will be sold at a discounted price at the end of the promotion which sort of interests me but I suspect a lot of the other participants will have their hands up also so I'm not holding a lot of hope! :p

[mgd711]

Yet another pointless thread moaning about the price of the Bassa 111/GF670.

I had a public argument with somebody from Adobe on the Luminous Landscape forum about the price of the Lightroom 2 upgrade. $99 but only in the US, in the Philippines it is $129.

In the end the Adobe guy (forgot his name) told me "it cost's what it cost's, put up the money or shut up"

[Keith]

Yet another pointless thread moaning about the price of the Bassa 111/GF670.

I had a public argument with somebody from Adobe on the Luminous Landscape forum about the price of the Lightroom 2 upgrade. $99 but only in the US, in the Philippines it is $129.

In the end the Adobe guy (forgot his name) told me "it cost's what it cost's, put up the money or shut up"


I don't quite see this as pointless moaning ... a lot of people were pretty excited at the prospect of a folder with 6x6 and 6x7 capability, AE and built with current manuacturing processes. The price has been a huge disappointment and a lot who would have snapped it up at $1500.00 have obviously had to re-think their priorities when the real cost was dropped on them!

[jslash6]

I'm with Phill. I already own a GW670iii and as much as I'd love a dual format folder with AE, I can't justify the expense.

[mgd711]

Keith,

Plenty people dumped $5k plus on the flawed M8 and there are plenty of takers for second hand M7's for $2000 to $2,300. I don't see the price of the Bessa 111/GF670 as outrageous, high? Yes but not that bad.

I put up the money for one and I'm very pleased with it.

[JapanExposures]

I think everything I want should be at the price I want to pay for it. Really. Especially products of high quality and design should around 30% cheaper so I can "afford" them. In return, they should make the cheap stuff, i.e. things that I would not buy anyway, more expensive. Online petition anyone?

[aizan]

the compactness is worth it to me, as long as the lens is comparable to the mamiya 7. cosina is a bit erratic as far as lens design goes, so i'm hoping for side-to-side comparisons (hint hint). if the lens isn't so hot, due to the bellows or whatever, i'd rather spend the cash on a leica mp.

[chippy]

Yet another pointless thread moaning about the price of the Bassa 111/GF670.

I had a public argument with somebody from Adobe on the Luminous Landscape forum about the price of the Lightroom 2 upgrade. $99 but only in the US, in the Philippines it is $129.

In the end the Adobe guy (forgot his name) told me "it cost's what it cost's, put up the money or shut up"

OP didn't seem to be 'moaning' to me, rather, its a construction of someone expressing their thought process on what is holding them back from purchasing the camera, fairly relevant points at that! certainly expresses the thoughts of a thinking buyer..surely its a pertinant and reasonable discussion for people considering this camera.

another interesting aspect is that a high end folding camera with light meter back in the mid to late 50's sold for the equivalent of about $1000 in todays money. albeit just a selenium light meter etc, however that was the best technology built into cameras at the time so it is still relevant

its hardly 'pointless' either, except to the few people that have already spent the significant sum in purchasing the camera (no one wants to induce buyers guilt on those that have bought it but you cant expect everyone to pander to your hopes or wishes of only saying how good things might be about (i am happy to hear them though); to complain about anyone else critiquing or having an opinion could be considered pointless or overbearing or moaning though

it may be pointless from the aspect that no amount of criticism of the price will bring about change, but given its a new product there is no reason the topic cant discussed and people can express their opinions

new things are often initially released nowadays with very high prices and come down in price dramatically after a period of time ....i get the impression that many people are hoping that like those other products, they are hoping this will as well..or at least expressing if the price was what they feel was more realistic then they would buy the BessaIII, whether this has any basis in point remains to be seen. probably a complete waste of time, but there are many people with their fingers crossed i would think though.

i am sure all companies/sellers would love their customers to 'put up or shut up' and have the attitude of blindly buying their products without criticism or thought about the price and further to be able the control the opinions or criticism leveled at their products on forums ...thankfully thats not the case yet. basically, dont read it if you dont like it i guess comes to mind.

LF format people in general dont get all upset about people mentioning value for money or high price, thats one use of the forums, to discuss the merits or drawbacks in a cameras compared to others, or help people come to a decision..why not the same with this camera?

[Leigh Youdale]

[QUOTE=chippy;1055912]OP

another interesting aspect is that a high end folding camera with light meter back in the mid to late 50's sold for the equivalent of about $1000 in todays money.

Andrew,
Is that just with inflation taken into account? What is the equivalent in terms of days or weeks of work at the average wage then? I recall buying my first Perkeo I f4.5 Vaskar for 12 pounds 10 shillings at Herbert Adams in Sydney in 1956 and that was more than my weekly wage back then.
Another example - I just bought a used Rolleiflex E2 f2.8. Inside the case was a docket for 80 Pounds for the Rolleiflex, second hand, in 1958 in the UK. Now I was being paid seven pounds ten shillings in the UK that year, so even second hand that camera was equivalent to nearly three months wages!
Does that put the price of the Bessa III in a different perspective? Seems to me people keep comparing the new price of the BESSA III to the second-hand price of all manner of discontinued MF cameras and complaining that the prices aren't the same. Let's have a bit of reality, guys!

[maddoc]

Being able to change between 6x6 and 6x7 is quite interesting for me. On the other hand, I have a reliable Hasselblad 500 C/M and Rolleiflex 3.5E so ...

BTW, when will this camera finally hit the shells ? I asked at my local Yodobashi shop here in Sapporo and they told me that the rollout has been postponed (again ?) :confused:

[P. Lynn Miller]

I for one am disappointed in the price of the Bessa III, as I was a definite for one. But at $3250AUD or $2250USD, it is simply out of my budget.

Not saying the Bessa III is not worth every penny.

I am going to be using the Bessa III as part of the 'Travelling Bessa Project' here in Australia, so after using it for two weeks, the Bessa III maybe on my 'to buy' list.

We shall see... at the moment it seems to be an awful lot of money for a folding camera with a slow normal lens. Making the lens f2.8 would have made it worth a few hundred dollars more to me to use in the studio and on-location for portraiture.

Although I will say if that 80/3.5 delivers like the CV collapsible Heliar 50/3.5, the Bessa III will move directly to my 'must buy' list.

[chippy]

[QUOTE=chippy;1055912]OP

another interesting aspect is that a high end folding camera with light meter back in the mid to late 50's sold for the equivalent of about $1000 in todays money.

Andrew,
Is that just with inflation taken into account? What is the equivalent in terms of days or weeks of work at the average wage then? I recall buying my first Perkeo I f4.5 Vaskar for 12 pounds 10 shillings at Herbert Adams in Sydney in 1956 and that was more than my weekly wage back then.
Another example - I just bought a used Rolleiflex E2 f2.8. Inside the case was a docket for 80 Pounds for the Rolleiflex, second hand, in 1958 in the UK. Now I was being paid seven pounds ten shillings in the UK that year, so even second hand that camera was equivalent to nearly three months wages!
Does that put the price of the Bessa III in a different perspective? Seems to me people keep comparing the new price of the BESSA III to the second-hand price of all manner of discontinued MF cameras and complaining that the prices aren't the same. Let's have a bit of reality, guys!

it can get complicated (and not accurate) Leigh when we all start to compare individually what we earned in comparison years ago, also the exchange rate between Aussie pounds in those days to Uk pounds and the American dollar was far different to what it is now..also the Rollie is a entirely different camera, pretty high end stuff back in 58, you would have to compare it to a different camera not this folder i think.

at any rate that was not my calculation, (i quoted American dollars as well, for simplicity seeing how most here talk in american $) it was using and widely accepted program that takes a number of factors into account, more than i could could write about here i am sure..i did the comparison against advertised folders over a few different years from advertisements in old brochures , seemed pretty accurate to me when tested against a variety of things

[WDPictures]

I suppose it goes without saying but I'll ask anyway... will those lucky soles participating in this traveling project be sharing their thoughts? Don't think I will be making a purchase but I'm interested in cost/benefit of such a camera.

[mgd711]

[QUOTE=chippy;1055912]OP

Let's have a bit of reality, guys!

You are right Leigh, a reality check is needed.

[chippy]

Seems to me people keep comparing the new price of the BESSA III to the second-hand price of all manner of discontinued MF cameras and complaining that the prices aren't the same. Let's have a bit of reality, guys!

with purchasing this camera, value for money inevitably comes down a personal choice based on our own situations...on one hand i think it may be worth paying through the nose for it (i think the same thing about some high end digitals as well, so i not singling out too much this camera), once the money is spent i can forget about and i have the camera to enjoy. heck sometimes i earn that much in one day and other times nothing, so if i am on a good week i wouldn't miss the money too much

if i have to express an opinion though, i do believe it is overpriced, relative to a number of things, perhaps after using it i will lean the other way and come up with good arguments for the other side...however the reality is we do have the choice of using old folders, Mamiya 7, etc etc, that are perfectly functional... so the comparison is still worthwhile

[mgd711]

Being able to change between 6x6 and 6x7 is quite interesting for me. On the other hand, I have a reliable Hasselblad 500 C/M and Rolleiflex 3.5E so ...

BTW, when will this camera finally hit the shells ? I asked at my local Yodobashi shop here in Sapporo and they told me that the rollout has been postponed (again ?) :confused:


The camera has been released, I collected mine two weeks ago from Dirk at Japan Exposure.

My initial thoughts........ FANTASTIC!

[Keith]

I suppose it goes without saying but I'll ask anyway... will those lucky soles participating in this traveling project be sharing their thoughts? Don't think I will be making a purchase but I'm interested in cost/benefit of such a camera.


I'm not sure how many of the people using the camera during this promotion are RFF members but I'll definitely be posting my opinions of the experience and plenty of pics.

I'm sure Andrew (chippy) will be also!

[P. Lynn Miller]

My initial thoughts........ FANTASTIC!

Any photos to share?

[chippy]

You are right Leigh, a reality check is needed.

(i suppose directed at me-so in reply) i'm happy if you could express what the reality is, in terms of reference to what this thread (OP) is discussing.

Purely in terms of debating the subject I feel i could make reasonable case 'for' the bessa III but i wouldnt use the words or argument of 'pointless', 'moaning', 'reality check'...Fantastic is about the closest comment to be relevant i feel (also the quiet shutter, was that you, i cant remember)..if you started a thread about how fantastic or whatever the camera is to use i would be all for it, given the price or value is taken out of the discussion...

but seeing how this thread is about difficulties in choosing the bessa III given its price and other factors in relation to other cameras i am interested in unbiased discussion, without trying to offend, that may be difficult for you because you may feel we are attacking you or your personal choice of purchasing it (or your camera), i am certainly not..its a great camera (wish it was 6x9 but thats another story) and i am very tempted to have one, i havnt made my mind up one way or the other yet...even if i did have one i would like to think i could take into account without bias various factors when seeing a thread weighing up options and discussing value for money

[Leigh Youdale]

I suppose it goes without saying but I'll ask anyway... will those lucky soles participating in this traveling project be sharing their thoughts?

I'm sure we all will, but last week it looked like delivery in Australia was still going to be early June, and Scott is organising quite a long campaign with the camera going first to those furthest from Sydney. i think the impressions as they rollin will extend over quite a few months. For example, I'm not expecting to have my turn until the last quarter.

I'm interested in cost/benefit of such a camera.

That's a conundrum! With such a personal choice, I'm not sure that there's any way to make such a calculation that would satisfy all. It's relatively easy in business terms but personal camera choice is a pretty emotional thing - witness some of the posts you see on RFF!!!!!

[mgd711]

Chippy (Andrew),

The comment wasn't particularly directed at you, just a general comment.

Since I started commenting on this forum I have seen you many times knocking or complaining about the Bessa 111/GF670's price.

What I don't like is (probably as much as you don't like my or other people's) flippant comments along the lines off "I'd love to have this but its $1000 to expensive etc.."

As said before, some people need a reality check, the M8 is $5000 plus, a second hand M7 is about the price of a new GF670. Sure other medium format cameras have fallen drastically in price (second hand) but what other choice is there for a new medium format folder? (Back to the Adobe guy (Andrew Rodney on that forum) "it cost's what it costs" and if you don't like it buy from the competition, Oh.. What competition!)

Back to what the OP's topic (some what).. Why did I buy it?
I like folding cameras, I have several other 1950's folders that I love to use. To have a new one, especially with a 6x6/6x7 format choice is nice. Nice, but I'm just as happy using 50 or 60 year old cameras.

My decision to buy the GF670 (ordered in Feb) is based purely on my experience using my 1950's folders. I love folding cameras, (why, I don't know) and the added attraction of shooting in 6x7 for a change. The camera is quite large and feels a lot bigger than my Agfa Super Isolette but feels a lot lighter. It's very comfortable to shoot with, nice grippy rubber on the body and a big bright VF that I can see the shutter speeds in while wearing glasses. The camera feels to me like using a BIG 'M' body. Shutter isn't just quiet, its extremely quiet!

I did buy the case and lens hood for it and these are not cheap... the hood is plastic and cost about $100. I do feel the camera is priced on the high side but..... I just plain wanted one.

Image quality... This is where I'm stuck. I'd love to show you some of my boring pictures but I collected the camera from Dirk on my way to join a ship in Japan. I'm still stuck on that ship and will be for another 2 agonizing weeks before I can get home and develop the film. There has been some images posted here by somebody else on this forum and I doubt Fuji would produce a 'bum' camera so I'm expecting image quality to be good unless there is something wrong with this particular camera.
A friend here did show me a review in a Japanese magazine and he said the review was good and that the reviewers said the image quality was good. I don't have the magazine though to scan and mail to you.

[chippy]

Chippy (Andrew),

The comment wasn't particularly directed at you, just a general comment.

Since I started commenting on this forum I have seen you many times knocking or complaining about the Bessa 111/GF670's price.

What I don't like is (probably as much as you don't like my or other people's) flippant comments along the lines off "I'd love to have this but its $1000 to expensive etc.."


hmm, i dont know about often, i guess it can come across that way depending on the topic discussed. more often than not i havnt mentioned the price at all, although we were in a state of shock here when we first heard the price coming in at more than $3200 AU for a fixed lens camera--we were expecting much much lower is all, the fall of our dollar contributed a great deal, its slowly on its way up so i hoping that will eventually help with our local price as well. its only my opinion but i do believe it is priced higher than a camera such as this would ideally (or should!) be priced, its not meant as an insult to anyone, just my honest critique at this point until i get to try it at least...but hey, i have paid for things that i thought should have cost less before!

the other day i did reply to an obvious beginner (using a RF camera at least) asking about the bessa III, how a RF focused etc, i did mention he needed a lot of money for the Bessa III, only because in my view it is a LOT of money for someone to spend when they havnt even used, let alone looked through a RF camera before. i suggested he by a cheaper 35mm or vintage MF to get a feel/appreciation for this type of camera first. i am not obligated to any seller/magazine or company to advertise this camera so i just give my honest opinion



As said before, some people need a reality check, the M8 is $5000 plus, a second hand M7 is about the price of a new GF670. Sure other medium format cameras have fallen drastically in price (second hand) but what other choice is there for a new medium format folder? (Back to the Adobe guy (Andrew Rodney on that forum) "it cost's what it costs" and if you don't like it buy from the competition, Oh.. What competition!)

sure, i am reluctant to comment on the leica comparisons (digital comparisons even more so-you are paying for new tech there), that just brings on an avalanche of critiques. leica have the long established name and quality build etc, but their are other much cheaper quality alternatives (than film leicas), the Bessa III durability and name can be debated or is largely unknown just yet i suppose, so i am not sure they have the same standing to trade on..one reason why i want to use and handle it first

I have actually made exactly the same comments a number of times that there is 'no other choice for a new folder' and 'it costs what it costs'.

so i guess my comments on price vary depending from which perspective the question is posed, i like to think i keep an unbiased opinion and try not to be one eyed about such things

Back to what the OP's topic (some what).. Why did I buy it?
I like folding cameras, I have several other 1950's folders that I love to use. To have a new one, especially with a 6x6/6x7 format choice is nice. Nice, but I'm just as happy using 50 or 60 year old cameras.

My decision to buy the GF670 (ordered in Feb) is based purely on my experience using my 1950's folders. I love folding cameras, (why, I don't know) and the added attraction of shooting in 6x7 for a change. The camera is quite large and feels a lot bigger than my Agfa Super Isolette but feels a lot lighter. It's very comfortable to shoot with, nice grippy rubber on the body and a big bright VF that I can see the shutter speeds in while wearing glasses. The camera feels to me like using a BIG 'M' body. Shutter isn't just quiet, its extremely quiet!

I did buy the case and lens hood for it and these are not cheap... the hood is plastic and cost about $100. I do feel the camera is priced on the high side but..... I just plain wanted one.



well i do look forward to seeing your results. i am much the same if you have read my posts, i love the folders (i also love the folding plate cameras to use with sheet film, very compact and huge negs-different story tho), i enjoy using them immensely, folding 6x9 from pre-war as well like the Weltur, so the idea of a modern folder appeals to me as well, although i would still use my ol girls if i did end up purchasing the bessa III, i just cant imagine i wouldnt

curious about the weight, from what i remember the specs show the bessa III comes in heavier than the S/Isolette or the Bessa II when i measured them

as trivial as it might seem the comments on how it feels in your hands and looking through the finder is information that is positive and interesting, thats what i wanted to hear lol..sounds good!

[P. Lynn Miller]

mgd711,

Thanks for clarifying your reasoning to justify the price.

I have not been bitten by the folder bug, so to me, spending $2250USD on a novelty is not justified. But I am getting this feeling that if the camera operates and handles as you say(I am not doubting you) and delivers high-quality negatives... well, I can see where this is going... Keith better hope he gets the Bessa III before I do, cause Scott may not get it back at the end of the 2 weeks!

I am hoping to get to Mainline this week and hope that Scott has a Bessa III for me to look at.

As for cost, everything seems to be increasing in price at this time... and you are right in saying that the Bessa III needs to compared to current new medium format camera pricing, not used gear, although that is so easy to do. Prices of all new high-quality camera gear is sky-high. Thus is life...

I build custom bicycles, 5 years ago $3000 was a lot of money for bike, now if you came with a budget less than $6000, I would tell you to have a reality check. Heck, a custom-made set of wheels can easily cost $2000 alone. Interesting, my labour rate to build a wheel has only gone up $30 in past 5 years.

So is the Bessa III over-priced... not much more than anything else I buy these days.

Back the original posters question... I guess each of us have to 'justify' the expenditure to ourselves.

[mgd711]

If you put the Bessa 111 and Agfa S.I. On the scales I think the Bessa 111 would be heavier but the Agfa is smaller and more dense so feels heavy for its size. The Bessa is about 1kg but due to its large size it feel's lighter than it really is.

[jack_hui]

Hi,

I am one of the owner of GF670 and I am standing on neither side.

I guess it is hard to justify whether the camera is expensive or not. E.g. Some leica "die hard" fans would spend USD4-5,000 for a M8, which I personally think only worth $2,000. Also, I purchase ZM rather than M7 body.

Honestly, for the GF670, the camera came out at least USD500 - 1,000 more expensive than I thought. The main reason of the final purchase is that "5,000 limited production" and the "RF coupled, AE controlled, folded camera".


To purchase a len/camera, most of the time, we are emotional, rather than rational ... haha!

For the sample pictures, you can check my other post.

Jack

[noimmunity]

I can see why this camera might appeal even if it is priced higher than some people wanted/expected. (I should add that I am one of those people).

There just isn't anything else exactly like it right now. Very cool!

I guess that is what really vexes some people, huh?!

[Keith]

I can see why this camera might appeal even if it is priced higher than some people wanted/expected. (I should add that I am one of those people).

There just isn't anything else exactly like it right now. Very cool!

I guess that is what really vexes some people, huh?!


Yeah ... I'll show them what they can do with their overpriced 6x7/6x6 AE equipped folding rangefinder ... I'll go elsewhere!

Damn ... that's right ... there is no elsewhere! :p

[Pickett Wilson]

Face it, we wouldn't be playing in the RF world at all if we didn't have more money than sense! ;)

[maddoc]

The camera has been released, I collected mine two weeks ago from Dirk at Japan Exposure.

My initial thoughts........ FANTASTIC!

Great !! That's what I expected to hear judging from the photos in "Camera Magazine" :D Now I want to handle one in real !

Cheers,

Gabor

[noimmunity]

Yeah ... I'll show them what they can do with their overpriced 6x7/6x6 AE equipped folding rangefinder ... I'll go elsewhere!

Damn ... that's right ... there is no elsewhere! :p

Guess there's always forums like RFF! :eek:

[Leigh Youdale]

mgd711,

I am hoping to get to Mainline this week and hope that Scott has a Bessa III for me to look at.



Lynn,
i was there last week. Scott has 10 units on order, he's taken major deposits on six of them. One will go 'traveling', leaving just three for sale ex stock and he's still not expecting them in before June at the earliest. Don't think I didn't ask - I'm going overseas on June 1 and wanted to look at buying one Duty Free - 10% off list would be a worthwhile saving.

[CK Dexter Haven]

...just a general comment.

Since I started commenting on this forum I have seen you many times knocking or complaining about the Bessa 111/GF670's price.

What I don't like is (probably as much as you don't like my or other people's) flippant comments along the lines off "I'd love to have this but its $1000 to expensive etc.."

I don't see what's so wrong/"flippant" about saying an object is $1000 more than someone can/wants to pay. There haven't been any complaints (in this thread) that the camera is "overpriced" or not worth the cost. If anything, there have been consistent expressions of surprise, or disappointment that the camera is priced out of range of (our) budgets. It's more about 'expectations' rather than a knock on the product or any person's decision to go ahead with the purchase.

The price is what it is. No one complains that a Mercedes costs more than a Honda. Or that an M8 costs more than a 5DMkII. But, when a product is announced a year+ before it's available, and wanters and camera fetishists (like me) are left to guess and speculate about the pricing, we should be able to express 1) regret, that the actual price isn't within our practical considerations; and 2) disappointment that it wasn't lower. Neither comment says anything about the product nor the purchasers.

And, even if we did complain - why does that matter to you? People have been paying thousands of dollars for Leica bodies, and Noctiluxes and ASPH lenses and such for years. If it's such an issue, turn it around and make yourself part of The Elite. Start your own You'd Want it If You Could Afford It club. : )

Seriously. As i said before, i wanted one. I honestly expected to buy one. Even when the Japan price was announced, i thought i would be buying one. But, it just took too much time to hit the market, and i had pressing needs. I went with a different camera, and now the new 6x7 just doesn't make sense At This Price. If it were less 'expensive,' i'd still consider it, to Add On to the Pile. But, at $2000 or so, i just don't need it. But, for me, that's the same as speaking about a Noctilux. If the Noct were $1500, i'd buy it just to play around with. At $5000+, i don't need it. That says nothing about the lens, Leica, or people who Do have one.

[shadowfox]

I for one am thankful for the those who bought the camera.

Taken within a collective context, it does send the message that there is enough interest in film, maybe enough to sustain it within a niche market indefinitely.

I have the same respect towards people who run Harman, Freestyle, etc. who has made it known where they stand regarding film photography.

I cannot justify a $2000 folder at this point. But I certainly don't begrudge Fuji for pricing it this way. I just hope there are more of you guys out there who can and will get these.