Voigtlander Bessa R w/ 35/2.5 C

tedwhite · 02-24-2005

I'm looking at this combo for $425 at CameraQuest and wondering how I could go wrong at that price.

Is there something I don't know?

I've read Gandy's site over and over and it seems the main difference between the R and the R2 are the lens mounts (screwmount, M mount). I don't mind screwmounts, as I've got a Spotmatic M42 system in like new condition. Another difference seems to be better body covering, but how important is that? Posters say the plastic back is a bit off-putting but seems durable and works fine. I assume the rangefinders on both bodies are equally bright?

So, I'm getting ready to spend some money and if I need to be warned about something I suspect you folks can help me out here.

Thanks,

Ted

rover · 02-24-2005

Ted, it is time, make the call.

Nothing to warn you about other than to be ready for your new favorite camera.

back alley · 02-24-2005

there are other differences between the bodies besides the mount. the biggest being metal top & bottom plates.
the r is a great camera and the 35/2.5 is a great lens.

i think it's hard to go wrong with this combo.

did i mention that i have it too?

joe

JohnM · 02-24-2005

Jump, Ted, jump.

You will not regret it - that's a real capable combo and gives you plenty of options to add other lenses later.

chug · 02-24-2005

I bought the Bessa R and 35mm combo and it works fine for me. I like it and I bought some stuff for it just yesterday. The reason I bought it was that I thought it would be a nice decent entry level rangefinder, which it is. But it is also more than that

You can always upgrade to the newer models if you like the R.

HBC · 02-24-2005

ted the bessar is a great camera for its price i bought one from gandy he is great to deal with i intend to buy another from him soon.

Gordon Coale · 02-24-2005

I don't have this camera or lens. I wish I did.

Rick Beckrich · 02-24-2005

Go Ted...

In your heart you know it's right!

(I can hear the song: Bessa me, bessa me mucho...)

Sorry... Rick

MCTuomey · 02-24-2005

Ted, I'm a rangefinder newbie but I've recently handled both the R2A + CV 1.7/35mm and the R + CV 2.5/35mm. IMO, the R + CV 2.5/35mm is a wonderfully light, fast-focusing, compact, inviting combination. At a ridiculously low price. The R2A is heavier in hand, more like an SLR to me. The finders are very bright in both cameras, though I feel the R may actually be slightly more so. To my ear, the R's shutter sound is more pleasing than the R2A, whose sound is more Elan-ish. The film rewind is more solid-feeling in the R2A, but that's not to say the R's isn't pleasant in its lighter feel.

The plastic back comments make no sense to me - never have had a problem with plastic as long as it's functional.

I like 'em both, really, but for different reasons. At about $775 for the R2A+CV 2.5/35 vs $425 for the R+CV 2.5/35, if you're looking to get in to Bessa RFs inexpensively and enjoy basic non-AE shooting, I don't see how the R can be a bad choice.

wlewisiii · 02-24-2005

It's a combo that tempts me alot, but I ended up just getting that lens in SC mount instead. Since you don't have a Contax/Kiev investment to support, that's a screaming deal on a very good camera and a great lens. I was at a local camera shop today and showed my Kiev 5 and the Skopar to him. The Kiev was interesting to him but he was floored by the Skopar (he uses/has used Bronica, Mamiya and some Hassy professionally) and had a very difficult time believing I bought in new for the price I did - his guess was close to 3x. the real cost based on just the construction - I didn't even have any prints along.

Go for it.

William

tedwhite · 02-24-2005

Well, I'm a gonna do it. Hey RICK, I want to thank you publicly for the very gracious loan of the Kiev 4A and the Helios 103 for a couple of weeks. One shot I took with it was of an artist's hand-dyed silk scarves, scanned the 4X6 print, made it into an 8X10 in photoshop, printed it on heavyweight matte and gave it to her. She loved it and ordered four more at $20 each.

Wow! If I can do that with a Kiev, what can I do with a brand new Bessa?

The mind reels...

This RFF BUNCH is too damned seductive. I'm gonna order it tomorrow. Toss logic and prudence to the winds. And anyway, my Maxxum system on auction is almost up to $300 so buying the bessa isn't going to put me in line for surplus food commodities.

CHUG: How about the lens? Good? Great? Sharp at the edges? Etc.

RICK: "Bessa me, bessa me mucho." I like that. Hope it doesn't turn out to be "Bessa me, bessa me culo."

GORDON: You should care. You've got a IIIc with a Summitar 50/2. But you're right . Something about a NEW camera...and perhaps a brighter viewfinder.

OK, having said all this about all that, I'm buying an M39 screwmount. Tons of lenses out there I know. If I wanted to get, say, a 90mm, which would be the best buy for the buck? Same goes for a 28mm.

Thanks for the great advice and comments. I can even handle a few more.

Ted

chug · 02-24-2005

Yeah I just took at look at some of my prints and I have a couple with extreamly good sharpness and DOF

I will know more once I finish my second film and get it deved. But I am liking it a lot. Specialy when i like to take night shots of the stars and have nice sharp star trails. Looking forward to getting a 50mm too

o0dano0o · 02-24-2005

I got a bessa over the summer, and the 35/2.5 over winter break. I love the combo, but it took a while to get used to after only shooting with a 50mm. Also, I love the focussing stick.

I bought a leica m4-2 recently, as well as the 35/1.7 ultron. So far, I love the leica but I'm not blown away with the lens.

Enjoy your new setup.

Natalia · 02-24-2005

Ted, photovillage has the same kit for $399 Scroll down to the red line

http://www.photovillage.com/html/voigtlander.html

Warren T. · 02-24-2005

I'm new here, but I've been shooting for a long time. I had the good fortune to snag a Bessa R w/35mm f2.5 Skopar for $320 in like new condition (from that big auction place). I'm shooting my first roll of film through it now. I will also be using my Jupiter-8 (50mm) on it. So far, the R is higher quality than I expected, and I'm happy with its feel and handling. The viewfinder is really bright and a pleasure to use. The Skopar Classic is very compact, and I also like the focusing lever.

Warren

tedwhite · 02-24-2005

Thanks, Natalia. But I'd rather buy it from Mr. Gandy and spend a few bucks more. Besides, he's got the LH-2 square lens hood that no one in his or her right mind could possibly live without.

(I have a sick thing about lens hoods, probably a public image phobia. Imagine, talking to a shrink and telling him how I can't leave the house without the proper lens hood, and I've so many, and the choices are sooo agonizing, and I can't sleep nights, and I'm drinking too much, and, and.... )

Warren T. · 02-24-2005

Ted, I was going to mention the lens hood in a different post, but since you brought it up... My kit came with the LH-2 hood, but when I put it on my lens and looked through the viewfinder, I noticed that the hood was blocking the lower right quadrant of the finder. It was annoying. Is this something that everyone just lives with? Just wondering...

Warren

tedwhite · 02-24-2005

Thanks for the tip, Warren. Who needs partial viewfinder blockage? I'll change the order. As I understand it, the lens comes with its own hood at no extra charge?

I just thought the square one looked cool. God, I'm such a slave to fashion. But then I look at the photo of Henri Cartier-Bresson entitled R.I.P. in Northern Journey Photography. He's dressed impeccably, as always, but the lens hood on whatever lens it is attached to his venerable black Leica looks like a used automobile crankshaft seal.

Also, can someone explain the strange way he's got the camera strap wrapped in X fashion around his right wrist? And doesn't it appear he's palming the lens cap in his left hand?

I tried doing the wrist wrap. Takes a bit of doing. First try, damn near dropped the camera. Second try, started to lose circulation in my hand, plus I couldn't really move the camera.

Perhaps a small wrist strap, the sort that comes with the Olympus XA , might be worth a try. The Bessa's much lighter than Henri's Leica...

Maybe just leave the neck strap around my neck and get on with it.

back alley · 02-24-2005

my recommendation is the 35 & 75 combo.
small, light sharp. hard to ask for more.

joe

Warren T. · 02-24-2005

Ted, the lens comes with it's own, smaller lens hood that screws on to the end of the barrel.

Warren

RML · 02-24-2005

In short, you can't go wrong at that price.

Goodyear · 02-25-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by rover

Nothing to warn you about other than to be ready for your new favorite camera.

That's the thing. I picked up the exact same deal before Christmas, and as a confirmed SLR (incl. digital) nut, I'm hooked.

The postman has literally just brought me my new 21 and 75, just in time for a little holiday next week. The 21 will finally give me something to do with the L I bought at the same time just because 'at that price, I may as well - I fancy a super-wide soon anyway'!

scottgee1 · 02-25-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by backalley photo

my recommendation is the 35 & 75 combo.
small, light sharp. hard to ask for more.

joe

Joe, you must be joking . . . it's WAY too easy to "ask for more" . . . and I we usually do!

/ScottGee1

scottgee1 · 02-25-2005

Ted, I'll play devil's advocate here . . .

As nice as the 'R' is, one of the 'M' mount bodies gives you much greater flexibility in lens choices. Yes, there are a lot of fine and interesting LTM lenses out there, but an 'M' allows you to use that series of lenses in addition to the LTMs. Adapters required, of course

my two mounts worth . . .

/ScottGee1

Way · 02-25-2005

As I've found out, the M's longer base length allows you to focus more accuately at smaller apertures on longer lenses (90 cron @ f2, for example). So I guess you have more lens choices and flexibility with an M. My new CL, that is being shipped as we speak, also has a short base length and Sherry Krauter said I can use my 90 cron on it up to f4, no smaller. If you do mostly wide then it's not a problem. But the Bessas are very tempting and offer great bang for the buck!

Way