I've recently bought (well, traded....) an R4M with 35mm Nokton f1.2 (Mk I) and 21mm f4 Color-Skopar. Although I have lots of other cameras (and I've used Leicas in the past) I got this for street and travel shooting / interiors / low light. The Color-Skopar could do with being a bit quicker but I'll just uprate XP2 Super a couple of stops.
Peter_S
Peter_S
Not on the list, but: Bessa III.
Light, small, MF, 6x6 + 6x7, absolutely silent and so much fun...a Zeiss Ikon on steroids. A bit fragile, but when it gets really tough I get out the Contax anyways.
Light, small, MF, 6x6 + 6x7, absolutely silent and so much fun...a Zeiss Ikon on steroids. A bit fragile, but when it gets really tough I get out the Contax anyways.
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
After owning and keeping 4 Bessas, the (next) one for me is a compact, fixed 35mm lens rangefinder camera I hope they make one of these days... The best 35mm fixed lens compact camera ever... 
I'll buy 4 when they come: 1 for my girl, 2 for my twins, and mine!
Cheers,
Juan
I'll buy 4 when they come: 1 for my girl, 2 for my twins, and mine!Cheers,
Juan
Morry Katz
Established
I had a Rollei 33RF for a year or so. Sold it because it was SO NOISY! Got an M4. That's better.
traveler_101
American abroad
CV glass and other cameras
CV glass and other cameras
What camera are you using? I really like the Leitiz Elmar 50/3.5 on my IIIf and it makes historical sense too (even though the Summitar may well have been the original lens on the camera). But at times I want more contrast than these older Leitz lenses are capable of and the CV lenses provide that at a reasonable price. I can't say anything about the Jupiter lens. I wasted money twice purchasing FSU glass. Never again.
Good point. I have the Color Skopar C or "classic" model with the focus tab; it is really nifty! Of course the Elmar has a focus tab too, but for some reason the Color Skopar focuses faster than the Elmar or any other lens I have.
CV glass and other cameras
What camera are you using? I really like the Leitiz Elmar 50/3.5 on my IIIf and it makes historical sense too (even though the Summitar may well have been the original lens on the camera). But at times I want more contrast than these older Leitz lenses are capable of and the CV lenses provide that at a reasonable price. I can't say anything about the Jupiter lens. I wasted money twice purchasing FSU glass. Never again.
Good point. I have the Color Skopar C or "classic" model with the focus tab; it is really nifty! Of course the Elmar has a focus tab too, but for some reason the Color Skopar focuses faster than the Elmar or any other lens I have.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Sold Bessa R, Summar and Summitar 50/2. I switched to M4-2 with CV 35 PII and Industar-22.
Both lenses providing good contrast and sharpness in prints.
Trying to find J-3 under reasonable price as fast lens, which renders with "character".
Both lenses providing good contrast and sharpness in prints.
Trying to find J-3 under reasonable price as fast lens, which renders with "character".
Aurelius
Well-known
My "old" R3A brought back to life and use thanks to the 12 mm lens and the trigger winder. It is a heavy package now and the R3A's big finder is very useful for speedy focusing.
biomed
Mentor
My Bessa gear - (taken with a cheap digital PS)
The R3A with the 50/1.5 and 75/2.5 saw the most use. The R4M and 28/3.5 used almost as much. The 50/2.5, 35/2.5 and 21/4 also were used on the R4. I sold all of my Bessas and lenses a month ago and am missing them a lot. I hope the new owners will enjoy them as much as I did.
The R3A with the 50/1.5 and 75/2.5 saw the most use. The R4M and 28/3.5 used almost as much. The 50/2.5, 35/2.5 and 21/4 also were used on the R4. I sold all of my Bessas and lenses a month ago and am missing them a lot. I hope the new owners will enjoy them as much as I did.
SamShio
hiking/walking photog
I only have a R2 (green) and have been enjoying it so far. I'm using Canon LTM lenses on it and getting nice results. No complaints yet
_lou_
Established
I bought an R2M a few years ago, sold it to focus on medium format, then bought back a R3A which I like a lot. Very efficient camera. I now look at buying an R4M for the 28mm and 35mm.
forceusr
Member
I recently bought an R4A specifically for the 21 (and 15mm) lenses. A 50mm is my go to lens, so it works well.
I'm already planning on picking up an R2 or an R3M for lenses longer than 50mm, though.
I'm already planning on picking up an R2 or an R3M for lenses longer than 50mm, though.
Aurelius
Well-known
Great camera and great accessories. Bottom Grip A arrived from Robert White.
A better grip by Torbjörn Stoor, on Flickr
A better grip by Torbjörn Stoor, on Flickr
fotomeow
name under my name
My fave has been the R4a wide-angle with built in bright lines and RF down to 21mm! no extra VFs needed.
(BTW- one available in the classifieds, and full disclosure: its mine!. I could only top the R4a with the wide angle M7, which I now have).
(BTW- one available in the classifieds, and full disclosure: its mine!. I could only top the R4a with the wide angle M7, which I now have).
computer controlled
Established
I used to have the Bessa R. But that broke. I recently got the R2M 250 Jahre in trade for my X-E1 body and am real happy. Nice build, feels solid. Much more so than the Original R. Got a Nikkor 50mm f/2 LTM lens on it.
Voigtlander Bessa R2M Rangefinder. by Computer Controlled, on Flickr
Voigtlander Bessa R2M Rangefinder. by Computer Controlled, on Flickrjhalmu
Newbie
I Have Bessa L and now R. Bessa L was great for "tourist photos", landscapes etc and worked very fine. I have 15mm heliar and 35mm voitgländer. I allso have 50mm industar but havent developed photos with it yet. I have liked lightness of these. I bought R becose of RF and that's superb. Seller said that this R over lightens photos about 1/3 but let's see... For half-automatic photoing I use my Nikon FM.
I just ordered Mr Zhou's half-case for Bessa R.
Edit: Only drawback with these have been my big finger in pictures
I just ordered Mr Zhou's half-case for Bessa R.
Edit: Only drawback with these have been my big finger in pictures
ray*j*gun
Mentor
My actual fav is the R2s but it wasn't listed on the survey...
rbsinto
Well-known
Mine as well.
Bought one a few years ago to go along with my S3 and SP Nikons. On the plus side, the R2S has a much stronger rangefinder spot than the Nikons, as well as an on-board meter and shutter speeds that top out at 1/2000th. On the minus side not as robust a camera as any of the Nikons.
And while I've not had any problems with the Bessa, the camera just doesn't quite feel as though it will last as long as the Nikons.
Still for the money, I'm sorry I didn't buy at least one more.
And now they're out of production, scarcer than hen's teeth and cost a fortune if you can even find one.
Pioneer
Mentor
The R2C is not on the list either. Lately I am walking around with the CV Color Skopar 25. Awesome camera, terrific lens.
Gary E
Well-known
My R3a gets the most use compared to my old M4-2. Seems the metering and lighter weight is what the doctor ordered.
RLG
Established
Where to buy a R4M in Europe
Where to buy a R4M in Europe
Much to my satisfaction I have a R2M 250 years set with additional lenses. Now I want to add a R4M. Importing to Europe would cost too much taxes etc. So I have to buy in Europe. After some research I found variuos prices. A well known Austrain shop and a well known UK dealer are at the same rather high price level, but I found one at Amazon France. The price difference is near 200 Euros cheaper. Should it be safe to order at Amazon, at this moment they have a prolonged return period. Thanks for any thoughts about this. I purchased in the past some digital equipment from Amazon and did never encountered any problems, but these where cheap things compared to the Bessa.
Many thanks in advance
Best
Where to buy a R4M in Europe
Much to my satisfaction I have a R2M 250 years set with additional lenses. Now I want to add a R4M. Importing to Europe would cost too much taxes etc. So I have to buy in Europe. After some research I found variuos prices. A well known Austrain shop and a well known UK dealer are at the same rather high price level, but I found one at Amazon France. The price difference is near 200 Euros cheaper. Should it be safe to order at Amazon, at this moment they have a prolonged return period. Thanks for any thoughts about this. I purchased in the past some digital equipment from Amazon and did never encountered any problems, but these where cheap things compared to the Bessa.
Many thanks in advance
Best