Bessa Porn?

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It might be the ultimate in Bessa porn. A 1/2 frame Bessa R4M. Cosina made a couple of prototypes and I got one of them. It is a R4M with a frame set up oriented vertically, same 21 through to 50mm focal length as the regular Bessa R4M. Film gate is 18x24mm and the film counter goes to 72 frames.
Most likely not a production item as the market would be small.
With modern fine grain film image quality is not a problem and the vertical orientation of the finder makes it great for people shots. I have tried it with a variety of lenses, including Nokton 50mm f1.1 and Leica Summilux 50f1.4 Asph - but I use it mostly with the 28mm, either the Color Skopar 28mm f3.5 or the Ultron 28mm f2.0. Somehow the 28 seems to work well in this format - at least for me.
Ok, I know that the ocular is dusty - forgot to wipe it clean!
 
Tom A said:
It might be the ultimate in Bessa porn. A 1/2 frame Bessa R4M. Cosina made a couple of prototypes and I got one of them. It is a R4M with a frame set up oriented vertically, same 21 through to 50mm focal length as the regular Bessa R4M. Film gate is 18x24mm and the film counter goes to 72 frames. Most likely not a production item as the market would be small. With modern fine grain film image quality is not a problem and the vertical orientation of the finder makes it great for people shots. I have tried it with a variety of lenses, including Nokton 50mm f1.1 and Leica Summilux 50f1.4 Asph - but I use it mostly with the 28mm, either the Color Skopar 28mm f3.5 or the Ultron 28mm f2.0. Somehow the 28 seems to work well in this format - at least for me. Ok, I know that the ocular is dusty - forgot to wipe it clean!
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Sweet! Wouldn't mind shooting one of those.
 
Tom A said:
15029529331_8590f8237d_c.jpg


It might be the ultimate in Bessa porn. A 1/2 frame Bessa R4M. Cosina made a couple of prototypes and I got one of them. It is a R4M with a frame set up oriented vertically, same 21 through to 50mm focal length as the regular Bessa R4M. Film gate is 18x24mm and the film counter goes to 72 frames.
Most likely not a production item as the market would be small.
With modern fine grain film image quality is not a problem and the vertical orientation of the finder makes it great for people shots. I have tried it with a variety of lenses, including Nokton 50mm f1.1 and Leica Summilux 50f1.4 Asph - but I use it mostly with the 28mm, either the Color Skopar 28mm f3.5 or the Ultron 28mm f2.0. Somehow the 28 seems to work well in this format - at least for me.
Ok, I know that the ocular is dusty - forgot to wipe it clean!
Click to expand...

Tom,

Glad I saw this post here. I follow you on Flickr and was thoroughly confused by the shutter counter when I saw this on Flickr. Makes sense now that I know the background.
 
Here is my new to me camera and lens. It is a Bessa L and a snapshot 25/4. Today I have to go out and shoot a roll and develop tonight. So excited.:D
 

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Tom A said:
It might be the ultimate in Bessa porn. A 1/2 frame Bessa R4M. Cosina made a couple of prototypes and I got one of them. It is a R4M with a frame set up oriented vertically, same 21 through to 50mm focal length as the regular Bessa R4M. Film gate is 18x24mm and the film counter goes to 72 frames. Most likely not a production item as the market would be small. With modern fine grain film image quality is not a problem and the vertical orientation of the finder makes it great for people shots. I have tried it with a variety of lenses, including Nokton 50mm f1.1 and Leica Summilux 50f1.4 Asph - but I use it mostly with the 28mm, either the Color Skopar 28mm f3.5 or the Ultron 28mm f2.0. Somehow the 28 seems to work well in this format - at least for me. Ok, I know that the ocular is dusty - forgot to wipe it clean!
Click to expand...

Very cool! Really interesting for the novelty of it! It's almost like micro 4/3'rds in digital.

Do you like using the 50mm? I would image the frame lines to be very small inside that 21mm viewfinder. I liked the R4M for wide angle lenses. I never tried a 50 mm lens on it but maybe it's nice to have all that space to compose.
 
Right! That just does it. I'm now craving a Bessa again. Having had to sadly part ways with 2 over the last ten years I can stand it no more.
 
I have been away from RFF for a couple of years, but the recent purchase of a Bessa R3M has brought me back. In the spirit of the new purchase and to give this thread a needed bump, here are two low-key shots of the R3M

(The first one was "explored" on Flickr. Who would have guessed ;) )

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Steve
 
JBanderob said:
Hey William, are those para cord straps something you purchased or something you made yourself? They are great.
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hello JB

a friend of mine , make 4 of them for me ... M5, M4, ZI and R
each is measured by the lug spacing to my right wrist

its strong, comfie and assuring on the field

Thanks
William
 
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