A friend is asking me whether he can buy a Bessa-R and feel that he is getting a Leica-like experience at a third the price. I have said to him that most seem to like the lenses a good deal and some seem to equal Leica quality (the Nokton seems to be as "good" as the current Summilux 50 for example). However, I know little about how well the actual Bessa-R body is fairing under long term use. Can anyone help us here? Is the r/f accurate and staying accurate? Does it have an eyepiece diopter as the Contax G? How does it handle? Are there any folks out there who can provide some feedback on the body? Would you recommended it? Thanks very much in advance.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), September 21, 2001

Answers

Robin,

I don't think you can get a Leica-like experience with the Bessa-R for a number of reasons. First, it's not nearly as well made (nore did anyone expect it to be at 1/3 of the price) - it has a signicant amount of plastic; the shutter isn't as quiet; and the effective baselength of the RF is estimated to be about 21 mm (compare that to about 50 mm for the Leica M6 0.72 and more for the Leica M6 0.85). Don't try to focus a superspeed lens on this camera - it probably takes up all the accuracy there is just to focus the 50/1.5 Nokton accurately, if that is indeed possible.

And you can only use screw-mount lenses on it, unlike the M6 (or any other M) that allows bayonet mount plus screw mount with the screw-to- bayonet adapter.

But the main thing is that you don't have the smooth feel of the Leica M, which is hard to describe.

That said, the Bessa-R offers an excellent price for what you get, and some of the lenses are quite good, at that. I have the 15/4.5 Voigtlander lens which is a very good lens in a rather extreme focal length, that is unavailable from Leica.

I hope that helps.

Eliot

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), September 21, 2001.

The Bessa-R body is Cosina's generic chassis, which is used (with mirror box) for the Nikon FM-10, Olympus OM-2000, and the K-Mount mechanical SLR's under the Ricoh and Vivitar names. It has a vertical metal-bladed shutter which from my tests of the FM-10 give more consistent exposure times than an M Leica particularly at the higher speeds (the FM-10 goes to 1/2000). The body is encased in a thin veneer of some metallic alloy...I dropped my FM10 about 6 inches onto the edge of a formica countertop and the baseplate now has about a 1/8" dent in it. I handled the Bessa-R at my local camera store, when they took a like-new one in on trade. The rangefinder was "off" both horizontally and vertically and I could not see any external means of adjusting either, such as the M-Leicas and Konica RF have. Supposedly the US distributor has been very good about adjusting the rangefinders. The Bessa R seems at first blush like a bargain in comparison to an M Leica, but when you stop to consider that the same chassis plus a mirror and auto-diaphragm mechanism sells for about 1/3 the Bessa-R's cost, it begins to seem less of a deal. Add to that the fact that while the Bessa's lenses can be adapted to an M Leica, the two platforms are inconvenient to combine. Lastly, the Bessa-R's effective baselength is such that a 75 or 90 faster than what's already available shouldn't be expected. If your friend will be content to stick with the Cosina/Voigtlander lenses and doesn't plan to make the Bessa-R part of an eventual M-Leica outfit, and won't lament not getting more than the nominal 50,000 or so cycles out of the shutter, it's probably worthwhile.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), September 21, 2001.

I just got rid of my Bessa-R last week, but I kept the lenses to use on my Leica M2 and M6. It's not a bad camera, but it's just not a Leica. (You get what you pay for.) The meter is good. Focusing was okay on mine, and exposures were good. However, it doesn't feel or handle like a Leica. It feels like a plastic camera, and nothing at all like a Leica. The only similarity between the two is they are rangefinder cameras. The lenses, though, are another story. I very much like the 75mm. I had a 35mm f2.5 that I traded for the faster f1.7 version. I haven't shot enough film to render an opinion on the faster one, but the f2.5 was sharp and contrasty. I also had the 50mm f1.5, which has gotten great reviews. I thought the lens was okay, but not great. Since I already have a 50mm Summicron, I traded the f1.5 for the new Voigtlaender 21mm. I still haven't used it, but my expectations are high. In all, Voigtlaender lenses are a less expensive alternative to Leica lenses, or at least a way to supplement your Leica lenses. For example, I feel safer taking the Voigtlander lenses on some trips where I might not want to risk losing my Leica lenses to thieves. When you can afford it, buy Leica. But, if you can't Voigtlaender lenses will do just fine.

-- Dennis Couvillion (couvilaw@aol.com), September 21, 2001.

You can buy a used Leica M4-P for seven or eight hundred. You won't have built in metering, but you will have a Leica. In a few years you can probably sell it for the same money. Don't try that with a Bessa, from every report, they don't wear well. I have a Bessa L as a platform for the CV 21/4, and the shutter noise is downright jarring after using a Leica.

-- Phil Stiles (Stiles@metrocast.net), September 21, 2001.

If you have a drawer full of old Leitz screwmount lenses the Bessa-R can truly be the deal of the decade. For the relatively low price of roughly $400 you get a very bright finder and TTL metering. I can't stress the brightness of the finder enough - it is better than the Hexar RF and the M2 and M4-2 and P. Only the M6 finder is brighter. The rangefinder finder in the Bessa-R is very accurate and this is why the $400 price tag. The plastic doesn't bother me since I now have a very light travel package. If I can use a Leica lens then it is a Leica experience. Get the Bessa-R and the Elmar 50/3.5; you will be very happy.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), September 22, 2001.

I agree with the others: the Bessa-R is a great tool, but it feels about as durable as a Canon ElanII or Nikon N80--plenty of plastic; and the rangefinder doesn't seem well protected under the plastic top plate. Some users have reported sticking shutter blades (remedied by tapping the camera into the palm of your hand, with the lens forward), others say it can be prevented if you never cock the shutter unless you're about to shoot.

And there's no built-in eyepiece diopter.

And how does it handle? Great, despite all the disadvantages.

-- Oliver Schrinner (piraya@hispavista.com), September 22, 2001.

The Leica experience never comes at reduced price.....if he never intends to touch any Leica kit, then he'll be happy with the Bessa....

Otherwise he'll need a Leica eventually.....and then lenses....and then more lenses....and more....and then a spare body....and the accessories that.......you get the picture.

I think we try to economise without realising that we'll end up spending a truckload of money on lots of "relatively" low priced items.

Tell him to save, buy a M6 and either a 35 or 50 'cron and then don't buy anything else other than film....:-) Well maybe a soft release and a rapidwinder.....and....

-- Simon Wong (drsimonwong@hotmail.com), September 22, 2001.

Thanks all. From your thoughts he might well give the Bessa-R a try with the 35/2.5 and 75mm/2.5 lenses.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), September 25, 2001.