Help! Bessa II expert?

[mammolo]

Greetings!
I recently bought a Bessa II that has some quirks that I was not able to see elsewhere on the Web. One is a tiny metal window right between the two RF windows, the second is the presence of two red windows -- and not one --- in the back. As for the latter, does it mean this camera was set up for 6x4.5 as well? If that were the case the serial number does not seem to match, as the camera appears to have been built in 1953 (SN# 3572169) while I read somewhere that only 1956 Bessa IIs were set up for 6x4.5 as well (with the appropriate mask, of course). And what about that funny metal window on the front? I have attached two pictures to explain better what I mean.
Thanks a million for any help you may have...
Cheers!
Marco

[Solinar]

You definitely have what appears to be one of the final Bessa II cameras. First, it has the mounted accessory shoe. Second, it has the VF mask and the second window to allow you to shoot 6x4.5.

Did the camera come with the removable 645 mask for the film gate ?

[chippy]

Marco,
yes, your suspicions are correct, the camera can (with the appropriate mask) take 6x4.5, when you insert the mask (have you got the mask?) both red windows open, you read the number in the first window to begin with and wind on after exposure to the see the same number in the second window e.g 1-2, 2-2, 3-3 and so on. the metal. the funny metal mask for the front window is for 6x4.5 selection as well. when you have put the mask in then flip the viewfinder mask into place so you just see the viewfinder frame for 6x4.5--crude set up but no doubt works--this is the 4th model bessa II (not commonly available),

the first has a round and rectangular window on the front, the second has two retangular windows (like yours) but no accessory shoe on top, the 3rd has the shoe fitted and the 4th has the 6x4.5 back and front flip mask...

what lens have you got? as for the serial number, well i guess its either old stock (which does happen) or someone has swapped it with an older lens...the other posssibility is the back and flip mask are retro fitted, this set up always looked like an aftermarket tacked on thing to me so maybe you could take them in and they would retro fit them to take 6x4.5

[Leigh Youdale]

My Bessa I has a wheel to turn that changes the viewfinder for 6x4.5 but it's likely that couldn't be fitted to the RF model II and the little swing window is rotated through 180 degrees to frame the field of view. As Chippy says, crude but effective. There were plenty of early folders (pre war) that had only a device like that for their viewfinder.

[mammolo]

Hey, you guys are really great... many thanks.

Andrew in Austin: no, the camera didn't come with the 6x4.5 mask. It's no big deal for me, as I bought the Bessa strictly for 6x9 work (and I am not a collector).

Andrew in Adelaide: the lens is a color skopar. It is in truly excellent shape: no separation, no cleanup marks... Yup, the setup of the front VF mask does look a bit, ahem, "home made", with that rather bulky screw. Your hypotheses re: retrofitting (or having a NOS lens installed) are also good ones.

All right, I am on my way to Venice in a few ours for a weekend of shooting, let's see what comes out of this fascinating camera with some Neopan 400.

Cheers!

[chippy]

Originally Posted by mammolo

Hey, you guys are really great... many thanks.

Andrew in Austin: no, the camera didn't come with the 6x4.5 mask. It's no big deal for me, as I bought the Bessa strictly for 6x9 work (and I am not a collector).

Andrew in Adelaide: the lens is a color skopar. It is in truly excellent shape: no separation, no cleanup marks... Yup, the setup of the front VF mask does look a bit, ahem, "home made", with that rather bulky screw. Your hypotheses re: retrofitting (or having a NOS lens installed) are also good ones.

All right, I am on my way to Venice in a few ours for a weekend of shooting, let's see what comes out of this fascinating camera with some Neopan 400.

Cheers!

well enjoy yourself in Venice Mammolo, and take plenty of film ! WOW, what photo oppotunities await...i hope you will show a few of Venice--i may never get to see it myself and would love to see some results from the bessa with scopar, it takes a very nice picture

didnt mean to cross post with Andy in Texas, no doubt we were typing at the same time--snap--common interests, and simular sister states from across the water.

in its day the bessa II was far from a cheap camera, but perhaps, i can imagine that some critisim was leveled at it for not taking 6x4.5 as most cameras of previous years had the ability, even though it would no doubt of been purchased, used and wanted for its 6x9. i can only assume or guess about the times back then , but can imagine that in this era 6x9 was coming to an unpopular end...with film quality improving smaller formats are good enough for most happy snaps etc, and 6x9 too exspensive for amature/consumer sales and journo's were using larger format press cameras with systems for the highest quality...apart from the foolish (fom a historical aspect) Ensign mob throwing lots of money into 6x9 development perhaps Viotglander saw the writing on the wall and made the last version bessa with its basic dual format as crude as it is, just to save money and gain a few extra sales....

as opposed to the bessa I with its dial that shifts formats in the viewfinder as well as compensation for close up paralex compensation, its a shame they didnt provide this in the bessa II (just to save costs no doubt, because it could have been) but its still a nice camera, that with its unfinished looks and quirks, speaks of an era past that is still functional and with todays film gives ..outstanding.. results

Show some pics eh!