I wanna be a Bessa owner

ent2b · 03-28-2005

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

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.

back alley · 03-28-2005

you can't go wrong either way.

honest.

joe

JohnM · 03-28-2005

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

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).

ent2b · 03-28-2005

email sent.

thanks for the input, guys!

ent2b · 04-13-2005

well I just bought the setup from tom above and am anxiously awaiting so that i can lose my RF virginity. YEAH BAYBEE!

Doug · 04-14-2005

Congratulations, ent2b! That's a nice rig that should be a lot of fun.

ent2b · 04-14-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

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.

Terence T · 04-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ent2b

what i'm afraid of is that i won't want to shoot with my DSLR equipment any longer.

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.

ent2b · 04-20-2005

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

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

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

cbass · 04-29-2005

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??

GeneW · 04-29-2005

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

i'm with gene on this one.

joe

Roman · 04-29-2005

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

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

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?

Doug · 05-02-2005

Congrats, Harold! That will be a nice useful rig. Black or chrome?

nwcanonman · 05-02-2005

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 ~ ; - )

ent2b · 05-02-2005

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

cbass · 05-17-2005

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.

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.

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbass

Of course, buying the 35/2.5 means I will need to sell my recently acquired Jupiter-12.

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

Doug · 05-17-2005

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...