Edit: Sept 9 2009 Update:
Voigtlander Bessa III's are in stock ready to ship.
USA price $2250
see http://cameraquest.com/voigtl_bessa_iii.htm
edit: discontinued, sold out 2015
Thanks,
Stephen
Voigtlander Bessa III's are in stock ready to ship.
USA price $2250
see http://cameraquest.com/voigtl_bessa_iii.htm
edit: discontinued, sold out 2015
Thanks,
Stephen
sam_m
Well-known
I'm sure the viewfinder is bloody fantastic, but I just can't swing it.

aizan
Mentor
any chance you'll be importing the fuji gf670 version?
any chance you'll be importing the fuji gf670 version?
No chance, and no reason. The Bessa III is the same except for the nameplate.
Stephen
Jason Sprenger
Well-known
Do we know what the meter display is going to look like?
Sal Santamaura
Member
Three questions not addressed by the updated page:
- What is the rangefinder's base length?
- What is the viewfinder magnification?
- Do the viewfinder frame lines also expand and contract to account for changes in field of view while focusing or do they only shift for parallax?
Sal
sooner
Well-known
Can you say what the first production run will be? I'm curious how many of these Fuji plans to produce. As I've stated before in other forums, there are lots of us like me who would love to buy this camera but can't touch it for anything near the current price.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Fuji is planning a run of 5000 of the 667 (Tokyo price at Yen 218 000). I don't know what the Bessa III production estimate is though - probably similar volume. Obviously there is a pent up demand for a high quality, compact folder. A lot of Plaubel users are looking to the Fuji/Bessa as an upgrade.
Dont know the base length of the finder - will try to figure it out.
The frame lines do not correct for closer or infinity focus as far as I know. They do parallax compensate and of course shift from 6x6 to 6x7 format automatically.
The viewfinder looks pretty damn close to 1:1 or thereabouts. Very bright with a sharp, well defined focussing patch too.
Dont know the base length of the finder - will try to figure it out.
The frame lines do not correct for closer or infinity focus as far as I know. They do parallax compensate and of course shift from 6x6 to 6x7 format automatically.
The viewfinder looks pretty damn close to 1:1 or thereabouts. Very bright with a sharp, well defined focussing patch too.
Ernst Dinkla
Well-known
Three questions not addressed by the updated page:Thanks in advance for answering,
- What is the rangefinder's base length?
- What is the viewfinder magnification?
- Do the viewfinder frame lines also expand and contract to account for changes in field of view while focusing or do they only shift for parallax?
Sal
The specs + some (German site) picture measurements by me (ED), give or take 1 mm.
Technical specifications.
Folding camera with coupled rangefinder
Film choice 120/220 film
6x7 cm (56x69 mm ED)(120-10 exp. / 220-20 exp.)
6x6 cm (56x56 mm ED)(120-12 exp. / 220-24 exp.)
Switch for frame sizes inside the body (ED)
80 mm/f3.5 (4 groups 6 elements)
7 rounded aperture blades (ED)
Close focus is 0.9 m, 3' (CK)
Bright frame-type viewfinder.
Physical rangefinder base 37 mm (ED)
Automatic parallax compensation
Integral LED exposure metering indications
Electronically controlled lens shutter. 4-1/500 sec, B
Exposure control: SPD Sensor
Center-weighted averaging system
Aperture priority AE and manual switchover
Exposure compensation approx 2EV in 1/3EV steps
Film speed: Manual setting, ISO25-3200 (1/3EV step accuracy)
Manual film wind by winding knob
Mechanical-type counter
120/220 (changeable)
6x7/6x6 (changeable)
CR2 (3v) lithium battery
Outer dimensions: 178x109x63 mm folded (ED)
and 178x109x138 mm unfolded (BJoPh)
Weight 1KG (BJoPh)
The rangefinder is in my opinion basically the one of the 35mm Bessas. While brightness and magnification will adjust for the MF size-80mm standard lens the most interesting detail will be how accurate the rangefinder coupling is on this folder. On some older folders it has been good and on other folders lousy. All kinds of designs were used to get good rangefinder precision combined with the folding construction. Mamiya Six film shift, Zeiss ikon optical wedges, Plaubel and Polaroid strut coupling, Agfa + Iskra coupled helix construction that is used in the Bessa III too. Wonder whether there is a Bendix cable used that can be adjusted for wear in time.
Ernst Dinkla
W
Way
Guest
The lens area (shutter, focusing and aperture adjustments) looks very similar to the older Fuji GS645, which seems very solid and I have had no problems with focusing accurately. I hope the Bessa III will be even better.
John Robertson
Well-known
According to AP the first supplies have reached UK. £1900.
JanPB
Member
No chance, and no reason. The Bessa III is the same except for the nameplate.
Stephen
The Fuji version seems the only one with silver and black body (I don't like all black cameras in general).
JanPB
Member
Can you say what the first production run will be? I'm curious how many of these Fuji plans to produce. As I've stated before in other forums, there are lots of us like me who would love to buy this camera but can't touch it for anything near the current price.
Which brings the obvious question: why isn't the price lower? Isn't it clear Fuji would make more money that way?
david b
film shooter
It is now minutes from June 30.
Is this camera available yet?
Is this camera available yet?
thenakedlens
Newbie
Just got mine today.....very excited.
Sal:
What is the rangefinder's base length? 37mm (effective bl 25.9mm) Auto parallax correction
What is the viewfinder magnification? x0.7
Do the viewfinder frame lines also expand and contract to account for changes in field of view while focusing or do they only shift for parallax? yes frame lines (left side and top ) expand and contract with focus in field of view
Sal:
What is the rangefinder's base length? 37mm (effective bl 25.9mm) Auto parallax correction
What is the viewfinder magnification? x0.7
Do the viewfinder frame lines also expand and contract to account for changes in field of view while focusing or do they only shift for parallax? yes frame lines (left side and top ) expand and contract with focus in field of view
Last edited:
Sal Santamaura
Member
Thanks very much for the follow up. Here are a few more "assignments" for you.Just got mine today.....very excited.
Sal:
What is the rangefinder's base length? 37mm (effective bl 25.9mm) Auto parallax correction
What is the viewfinder magnification? x0.7
Do the viewfinder frame lines also expand and contract to account for changes in field of view while focusing or do they only shift for parallax? yes frame lines (left side and top ) expand and contract with focus in field of view
- Shoot a series wide open with the rangefinder focused on targets at varying distances, preferable halfway down a yardstick pointed away from the camera. This will reveal how accurately that base length + viewfinder magnification + mechanism precision focus the lens.
- Make photographs at varying distances with the camera on a tripod so you can sketch out the exact scene edges covered by viewfinder frame lines. Compare resulting negatives/transparencies with your sketches to establish framing accuracy.
- Determine whether, ensuring focus is set to infinity, one can non-destructively close the camera with a filter attached to the lens. Note that B+W offers "slim" filters if needed.
It is now minutes from June 30.
Is this camera available yet?
Voigtlander Bessa III for USA Update 2nd Shipment August
My SECOND Bessa III shipment will start shipping from CameraQuest on or about August 3rd. It should be large enough fulfill all my orders for those who have Bessa III deposits!
If you have a Bessa III deposit, please pay your balance now so your camera can be shipped as soon as possible! For those wishing to get in line for future shipments -- which should not be that far away -- I'm taking $100 refundable Paypal deposits to [email protected] , or checks or credit card.
I'm taking $100 refundable deposits via Paypal to [email protected] for those wishing to get in line for the new Bessa III.
Thanks,
Stephen
Thanks for looking,
Stephen
thenakedlens
Newbie
Sal,
eddale on this forum has already shot a bunch.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eddale/sets/72157621359684043/
It will take me 3 weeks to get back from my whirl wind tour in the NE which begins this Friday. I will put up plenty of examples when I get back.
-T
eddale on this forum has already shot a bunch.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eddale/sets/72157621359684043/
It will take me 3 weeks to get back from my whirl wind tour in the NE which begins this Friday. I will put up plenty of examples when I get back.
-T
Sal Santamaura
Member
Thanks for the link and enjoy your tour. While eddale's photos are interesting, they don't provide the information your "assignement" will. No rush; we can all wait until it's convenient for you.Sal,
eddale on this forum has already shot a bunch.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eddale/sets/72157621359684043/
It will take me 3 weeks to get back from my whirl wind tour in the NE which begins this Friday. I will put up plenty of examples when I get back.
-T
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