R2A Problems

[ourmodern]

Recently bought a used R2A at a pretty decent price. The seller bought the camera used for a year and did not use it but assured that the camera worked.

When I brought it home I tested many functions I could without a lens (still waiting in the mail for one). Oddly, the whole AE lock button and the ring around it is missing. Everything else is sound, until I tried using a flash(es). Every flash I put on the hotshoe seemed to refuse to fire when the shutter is released. When I plug in my little Rollei flash (with it's PC cord) it constantly fires non stop, without any aid. I reckon it is a circuit problem. Has anyone experienced these problems before? From what I am reading on this board, I don't think I am willing to ship the camera all the way to Japan to be repaired. Obviously, the quality of work in repair shops vary, but I would really like to know if Bessas are generally serviceable in North America.

I contacted the seller and he is giving me an additional discount and trying to find a local place in Toronto to service it.

[Pickett Wilson]

I'd get my money back. Sounds like somebody went into the camera to try to fix a problem and didn't get it back together with all the parts there!

[ourmodern]

That also crossed my mind. It's pretty apparent that someone did something, where the AE lock was there is a piece of leather inside to cover the hole. The seller did give me the opportunity for a full refund, and I am sort of still debating wither I should take that or the discount. For $230 Canadian is it worth having this Bessa that is in need of repair?

[Leigh Youdale]

Originally Posted by ourmodern

That also crossed my mind. It's pretty apparent that someone did something, where the AE lock was there is a piece of leather inside to cover the hole. The seller did give me the opportunity for a full refund, and I am sort of still debating wither I should take that or the discount. For $230 Canadian is it worth having this Bessa that is in need of repair?

I'd send it back. It is repairable - I just got my R4A back from Japan after I found it had a similar problem of the flash constantly firing, but the repair cost A$125 and for a camera that cost just C$230 that's out of proportion!
It required the entire circuit board that operates the shutter to be replaced and the local distributor was not prepared to undertake such an unusual repair - so back to CV it went. Only took 3 weeks, but the camera cost me a lot more than $230 to start with!

[JeffL]

In Toronto contact Downtown Camera, they sell the Bessa. You could send it to Stephen Gandy/Cameraquest in the States. Distributor and service for the Bessa.

[tyrone.s]

Be careful, these things are like puppy dogs.... "Here's scrappy the AE lock-less rangefinder. I found him on the net."

Lots of Bessa's out there. If the seller is offering a refund or some sort of price adjustment I'd take it, maybe. Missing AE lock button? Was this stated or obvious in the pictures / description? Sounds like you could do better than this for the money on a camera that you probably haven't even used yet (i.e. there's no emotional attachment).

[ourmodern]

Thanks for your opinions guys.

I guess I should ask for a refund, the repair would probably bring the price of the camera to how much it's worth new.

The AE-button deal was a weird thing, actually I guess this whole deal was a weird thing. The listing did not say anything about it being missing. I guess I just got caught up with wanting the thing.

If anyone wants to sell me a used R2A or R3A for a good price, let me know.