Why buying a Bessa?

[palabras]

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!

[mpt600]

The Bessa will be smaller. Without that mirror slapping up and down every time you shoot you can hand hold well below the 1/60th or 1/30th you could with a reflex. But I just like rangefinders. I like the manual focussing. I like fast prime lenses. I like using hyperfocal distances for landscapes. All of these can be had in slr's, usually older ones, but rangefinders do it in a neater, smaller package.

[varjag]

To me the major difference is the viewfinder. On SLR you see the world with lens wide open and shallow DOF; on RF everything is sharp from your nose to infinity.

SLR way works nicely for portraits, but when you zone focus to cover considerable depth of field, the finder gets in the way: each time the camera is brought to the eye for composing, I have an urge to refocus. To me, going "down" from RF's everything-in-focus is simpler than mentally reconstructing what these blurry blobs in SLR finder are really like.

[Jocko]

Perfectly put mpt600!

One can "see outside the frame" - the area beyond that covered by the lens - which often proves a great advantage when composing pictures . One can also judge the effect of other focal lengths without actually changing lens, which is very useful too. One could also argue that the Bessa is more discreet than an SLR, forming less of a barrier between photographer and subject.

Cheers, Ian

[lubitel]

This isnt really a question on why Bessa? this is more a question of why a Rangefinder? Since I have a Bessa I rarely use my SLR unless I want to use a zoom lens. I use it because of the smaller size, I always have it with me. I easily get good shots at 1/30th a second. I love using it in lowlight situations when I sit with friends in a bar -- I would not take an slr in these cases. I dont always want to look like a "photographer" with a big lens

[palabras]

Yes, lubitel, perhaps is a challenge between reflex and rangefinder.

I also considered the aspect of smallness: I'd like to have a camera that I can always take with me (it's usual, for me, to see the best shots when i'm without the camera!!! ).

But a couple of days ago I went to a shop to see dimensions of BessaR, and it wasn't as small as I expected: it seems like one of those plastic-y reflex made by minolta or canon... Obviously the lens is smaller, but is it a sufficient reason? Or my impression about dimensions was wrong?

[lubitel]

Well, the most important difference is in the experience of shooting and seeing. Size is smaller but not really a major factor. If you want something really small then you need a minox 35 or Olympus XA.

[palabras]

Originally Posted by lubitel

Well, the most important difference is in the experience of shooting and seeing. Size is smaller but not really a major factor. If you want something really small then you need a minox 35 or Olympus XA.

what do you mean with: "the experience of shooting and seeing"?

About minox 35: I like, in the bessas or Leicas, the possibility to change lenses and so perspective, possibility this camera doesn't give...

[nico]

Hi Palabras,
I bought a Bessa because my Nikon F55 - that i don't use anymore - was not fastly usable as completly manual. With Bessa I have a total control on the camera, can buy faster lenses at cheaper price, I can easily hand hold the camera below the 1/60th or 1/30th, i prefer the viewfinder with framelines and a more silent shutter.
Bye.
Nico

[Richard Black]

The company also makes some great lenses at reasonable prices. As wide as 12mm, which on an SLR would be quite ackward. I use the Bessa R more often than any of my slrs except for the Maxxum 4 with autofocus. My grandsons move to fast for me to focus manually. Buy an inexpensive Russian r/f and see if you like the experience. Then you can answer your own question.

[palabras]

Hi, Nico! As you can see, I'm still doubtful about this buy...

But with your advices and impressions it's easier...

You touched two points really interesting:
-the cost of lenses
-the luminosity of lenses

These are aspects no SLR system can compete with!

[nico]

I tried to sent a pm yesterday about an auction (from a guy in Genova) on ebolay, but your mailbox was full.
Bye.
Nico

[lubitel]

by experience I just mean the way of using a camera and the way you see through the viewfinder.

[palabras]

Originally Posted by nico

I tried to sent a pm yesterday about an auction (from a guy in Genova) on ebolay, but your mailbox was full.
Bye.
Nico

ebolay... this is the best one i've heard in this forum!
you all hate it!


well, now my mailbox is empty, so...


(it's so strange to talk in english with you...)

[kmack]

Originally Posted by nico

Hi Palabras,
... i prefer the viewfinder with framelines and a more silent shutter.
Bye.
Nico

For me it is the viewfinder on the Bessa that recommends it. I shoot 50mm as a rule. The framelines in the Bessa give me plenty of space outside of the lines to see what else is in or near the shot allowing me to frame faster (and hopefully) better. As for the shutter, the Bessa is louder than some but not bad. My Kiev is quieter but it does not have the framelines, I can compensate somewhat on the Kiev with a separate viewfinder mounted in the shoe.

[boarini2003]

I think the only advantage in the case of the Bessa, is rangefinder viewing, which of course also has it's drawbacks. It really depends on what you like. Size is also an advantage, although a Nikon FM with a 45 mm pancake lens is just the same size. Shutter noise isn't an advantage to the bessa in this case, no whisper quiet pictures there. Then there also is the romance of using rangefinders, which in my opinion, is the greatest part of the fun!

[fitzihardwurshd]

Originally Posted by palabras

I know this dilemma has been exposed here many times, but not in the way I will do it now.
.
And was thinking about buying a Bessa R.

But now I ask myself: why should I buy this kind of camera? )

Hmm. Maybe you can remember WHAT made you thinking about such a camera ? Anyway, no matter what others will tell you, you must have used it before you can decide if you like it or not.
Best you get a used one and try it out for a while.

Fitzi

[nico]

Originally Posted by palabras

ebolay... this is the best one i've heard in this forum!
you all hate it!


well, now my mailbox is empty, so...


(it's so strange to talk in english with you...)

I must be honest, I read about Ebolay from another member (can't remeber the name...) and I thought was very funny.
I think it's also funny to be italian and write in english to another italian.
About Bessa shutter I know it's not the quietest one (also my vitoret dr has quieter one) but it's no so loud as the one on my srl.
fitzihardwurshd is right you can think about WHAT made you thinking about such a camera, and then, if you'll use it decide if you like it or not (i decided to buy a RF when I first used my father's vitoret: it was so funny that I started searching for new one for my own!).
Bye.
nico

[palabras]

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!

[bmicklea]

The smallness is real. I was converted to RF photography (which is almost all I do now) because I travel a lot an can choose to either:

1. Take a very small kit (Bessa R2a + 35mm + 21mm lenses) that fit in a men's washbag
2. Take a small and complete kit (Bessa + 50, 35, 21 lenses + Yashica GTN) that still fits in a small sling bag and allows me to shoot without flash in almost any light and get fantastic results

My friend has the Canon 350d which is a small SLR but by the time he packs a couple of lenses his kit is huge by comparison. And none of those lenses are 1.7s like my 35mm.

I also love the speed of working with my Bessa & 21mm set hyperfocally - I've never been able to get street shots so easily, quickly and discretely. It's not just about the shutter noise (which is still a little loud on the Bessa) but about how long you spend fiddling with your camera.

Finally for me it was about getting back to basics. I am very good at post-processing in Photoshop, but there's something more challenging and interesting about getting the photo right on film without being able to see every shot as it's taken.

My devalued Canadian 2 cents.

[bobkonos]

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

[robert blu]

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

[bobkonos]

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

[nico]

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 ...

[palabras]

or the bessa R+35mm that's in the classified...

but the seller has a sale pending...