Question:
Abbey Camera’s site says that they have it for about $630, silver or black. Is this the deal of the century or what? If Cosina doesn’t sell a shit-load of these then something’s wrong!
I don’t know about the rest of the world but $630. for a camera seems like a lot. If it were $200. to $250. I would be interested. Considering the huge over priced pile of old lenses that have been sitting in people’s closets collecting fungus for the past 50 years I would say the only alternative are the new Voigtlander lenses. It’s nice to see a return of the old time camera styles for nostalgia’s sake but really. A better deal would be the Olympus OM2000, actually the same cameras as the Bessa-R but in SLR style, made by the same company and a ton of great OM lenses out there (every one based on a Leica design anyway). AF. This I would sincerely doubt, when has Leica ever made a 21mm f/2, a 24mmf/2, a 50mm f/2 macro, a 100mm f/2 and the list goes on and on… To the best of my knowledge Olympus designs its own lenses that are based on its own designs, not Leica. That’s not’s not to say that many of Olympus’s lenses aren’t extremely sharp. Some of them may even be equal to or better than their Leitz counterparts, depending on particular lenses. But where did you get the idea that "every one is based on a Leica design anyway"? This sounds like very wishful thinking or idle speculation to me… Regards and… Viva! If you wish to e-mail me just try and disconnect my brain. Have a thought and go ahead, make my day! "Clifford, on your planet, what color is the sky?" "Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need any roads" "1.21 gigawatts! Do they make that in AA?"
Response:
Post a link, I only see the Bessa-L listed on the site. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Abbey Camera’s site says that they have it for about $630, silver or black. Is this the deal of the century or what? I went over to their store in Philadelphia, but they could only get me one in black and I want silver. So good news for us RF fans, it’s on the way! If Cosina doesn’t sell a shit-load of these then something’s wrong! — TravGlen
Response:
Ok I tried the search technique, yes I see a Bessa-R listed. But why can one not access it through the standard manufacture’s page. I’m sorry I don’t think this Camera is available yet. Cosina, and Thk sites only show the Bessa-L and no the R yet. I think it is coming but I really wonder if it is in the stores yet… they sure are not advertising it if you have to use search to find it. The Japanese Cosina site has some info on the new release, if you can read Japanese. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Abbey Camera’s site says that they have it for about $630, silver or black. Is this the deal of the century or what? I went over to their store in Philadelphia, but they could only get me one in black and I want silver. So good news for us RF fans, it’s on the way! If Cosina doesn’t sell a shit-load of these then something’s wrong! — TravGlen
Response:
Abbey Camera’s site says that they have it for about $630, silver or black. Is this the deal of the century or what? I went over to their store in Philadelphia, but they could only get me one in black and I want silver. So good news for us RF fans, it’s on the way! If Cosina doesn’t sell a shit-load of these then something’s wrong! — TravGlen
Question: What’s the difference between R and L models? — S.W. Anderson "Courage consists not in hazarding without fear, but in being resolutely minded in a just cause." — Edward Young
Response:
Question: What’s the difference between R and L models?
Only one major difference, but it’s a big one: The R has a coupled rangefinder plus parallax-compensating framelines for 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 90mm lenses. The L has no rangefinder, so you focus by scale and estimation; it’s designed primarily as a body for Cosina/Voigtlander’s super-wide-angle lenses. It’s the addition of the rangefinder/viewfinder system that accounts for the approx. $400 price difference between the L and the R; yes, engineering and assembling a precision rangefinder system really is expensive, which is why they can’t sell the R for the same price as their high-volume SLRs such as the Olympus OM2000. And yes, you can buy an old Leica M for about the same money and get something "proven" — assuming you don’t care about TTL metering (the Bessa-R has it, pre-M5 Leicas don’t) AND that you’ve got plenty of time and leisure to shop around, AND that you’re enough of a Leica expert to know whether the particular used Leica you’re buying is decent or a dog.
Response:
GOTO abbeycamera.comcatalog"Click here to enter"searchvoigtlander & it all comes up. Com’on, get half a brain, will you?
It’s not his brain that’s the problem, it’s Abbey’s website design. The frame with the "Search" button in it doesn’t come up on all browsers, even some that are supposed to be frame-compatible. Current versions of NN or IE should work, though. I’d still like to know whether they actually have these things, or are just listing them in expectation of getting them later.
Response:
Hey TravGlen, Kiss my …..ahh nevermind. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – GOTO abbeycamera.comcatalog"Click here to enter"searchvoigtlander & it all comes up. Com’on, get half a brain, will you? And, yes, they do not sell grey. http://www.abbeycamera.com I could not find it on their web page. I don’t think they sell grey regards, Abbey Camera’s site says that they have it for about $630, silver or black. Is this the deal of the century or what? I went over to their store in Philadelphia, but they could only get me one in black and I want silver. So good news for us RF fans, it’s on the way! If Cosina doesn’t sell a shit-load of these then something’s wrong! More info, please? — When they say they "have it," do they mean "we can put one in your hand right now" or "we can get it pretty soon, we think, maybe"? — And are these direct imports, or through the official US distributor? (HKS Photo, I think.) — What’s the URL of their website? Thanks! — Marc S. Fogel http://www.fogel.net
– Marc S. Fogel http://www.fogel.net
Response:
Actually, I did not do a search. I looked around the catalogue and did not fin it. When I did do a search the Bessa-R came up. I think TravGlen: is a little uptight. regards, GOTO abbeycamera.comcatalog"Click here to enter"searchvoigtlander & it all comes up. Com’on, get half a brain, will you? It’s not his brain that’s the problem, it’s Abbey’s website design. The frame with the "Search" button in it doesn’t come up on all browsers, even some that are supposed to be frame-compatible. Current versions of NN or IE should work, though. I’d still like to know whether they actually have these things, or are just listing them in expectation of getting them later.
– Marc S. Fogel http://www.fogel.net
Response:
I’m not sure what you’ve been reading, CC. The Bessa-L includes an onboard lightmeter in the body, you don’t need an accessory light meter. It has no built-in viewfinder or focusing system so it’s best used with the 15mm and 25mm lenses and their viewfinders. It is $249.95 as you stated. The Bessa-R is a new camera, built on a similar chassis, which includes a rangefinder and viewfinder system for 35mm to 90mm lenses. It’s just barely becoming available now. The first prices we’ve seen are about $630 for the Bessa-R body. So, for a Bessa-L with 50mm lens, you’d pay for the body, the lens and the viewfinder. For a Bessa-R with 50mm lens, you’d pay for the body and the lens. You don’t need the accessory light meter for either, that’s for use with other cameras which do not have built in meters. Godfrey – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I earlier today was doing my library reading at our local Borders Books & Music. I read through several photo mags, and I think I was reading a feature about Bessa in the April issue of Popular Photography. My memory is getting foggy as I now stare at this monitor screen :-) For your information: B&H Photo (www.bhphotovideo.com) is advertising Voigtlander Bessa-L body for $249.95 (choice of black or silver). Accessory light meter is $179.95 (black or silver). 50mm f/1.5 aspherical lens is $459.95 (black) or $449.95 (silver). 50mm viewfinder is $169.95 Almost $1060 for a set in basic black. Case/bag is available at extra cost. I’m confused about references in newsgroup about Bessa-L and Bessa-R, I originally thought that posters were making spelling errors. It does seem a bummer that the viewfinder needs to be removed in order to insert the light meter, but retro seems to be the height of fashion nowadays.
Response:
I earlier today was doing my library reading at our local Borders Books & Music. I read through several photo mags, and I think I was reading a feature about Bessa in the April issue of Popular Photography. My memory is getting foggy as I now stare at this monitor screen :-) For your information: B&H Photo (www.bhphotovideo.com) is advertising Voigtlander Bessa-L body for $249.95 (choice of black or silver). Accessory light meter is $179.95 (black or silver). 50mm f/1.5 aspherical lens is $459.95 (black) or $449.95 (silver). 50mm viewfinder is $169.95 Almost $1060 for a set in basic black. Case/bag is available at extra cost. I’m confused about references in newsgroup about Bessa-L and Bessa-R, I originally thought that posters were making spelling errors. It does seem a bummer that the viewfinder needs to be removed in order to insert the light meter, but retro seems to be the height of fashion nowadays.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Question: What’s the difference between R and L models? Only one major difference, but it’s a big one: The R has a coupled rangefinder plus parallax-compensating framelines for 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 90mm lenses. The L has no rangefinder, so you focus by scale and estimation; it’s designed primarily as a body for Cosina/Voigtlander’s super-wide-angle lenses. It’s the addition of the rangefinder/viewfinder system that accounts for the approx. $400 price difference between the L and the R; yes, engineering and assembling a precision rangefinder system really is expensive, which is why they can’t sell the R for the same price as their high-volume SLRs such as the Olympus OM2000. And yes, you can buy an old Leica M for about the same money and get something "proven" — assuming you don’t care about TTL metering (the Bessa-R has it, pre-M5 Leicas don’t) AND that you’ve got plenty of time and leisure to shop around, AND that you’re enough of a Leica expert to know whether the particular used Leica you’re buying is decent or a dog.
Response:
I have a Bessa-L with the 15 and 25mm lenses. Will these lenses work on the Bessar-R body with the rangefinder.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m not sure what you’ve been reading, CC. The Bessa-L includes an onboard lightmeter in the body, you don’t need an accessory light meter. It has no built-in viewfinder or focusing system so it’s best used with the 15mm and 25mm lenses and their viewfinders. It is $249.95 as you stated. The Bessa-R is a new camera, built on a similar chassis, which includes a rangefinder and viewfinder system for 35mm to 90mm lenses. It’s just barely becoming available now. The first prices we’ve seen are about $630 for the Bessa-R body. So, for a Bessa-L with 50mm lens, you’d pay for the body, the lens and the viewfinder. For a Bessa-R with 50mm lens, you’d pay for the body and the lens. You don’t need the accessory light meter for either, that’s for use with other cameras which do not have built in meters. Godfrey I earlier today was doing my library reading at our local Borders Books & Music. I read through several photo mags, and I think I was reading a feature about Bessa in the April issue of Popular Photography. My memory is getting foggy as I now stare at this monitor screen :-) For your information: B&H Photo (www.bhphotovideo.com) is advertising Voigtlander Bessa-L body for $249.95 (choice of black or silver). Accessory light meter is $179.95 (black or silver). 50mm f/1.5 aspherical lens is $459.95 (black) or $449.95 (silver). 50mm viewfinder is $169.95 Almost $1060 for a set in basic black. Case/bag is available at extra cost. I’m confused about references in newsgroup about Bessa-L and Bessa-R, I originally thought that posters were making spelling errors. It does seem a bummer that the viewfinder needs to be removed in order to insert the light meter, but retro seems to be the height of fashion nowadays.
Response:
No rangefinder coupling on the Bessa R since these lenses do not have the focusing cams necessary to couple. Regards, Bob Rosenstein * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
<– And are these direct imports, or through the official US distributor? (HKS Photo, I think.) That’d be THK. See http://www.thkphoto.com/ regards, Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video http://www.bhphotovideo.com
Response:
<The Bessa-R is NOT the same body as the Olympus OM2000/Nikon FM10/Yashica FX-3 Super 2000. They are related in some aspects of the design (particularly the shutter), but the Bessa-R is much better made. On what do you base this statement? regards, Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video http://www.bhphotovideo.com
Response:
The 15 and 25 mm lenses will work perfectly on the new Bessa R body. you use them just like you would on any other body with a coupled rangefinder. You still have to zone focus them , but that is no real big deal, that is the way you have been using them all along. HTH John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a Bessa-L with the 15 and 25mm lenses. Will these lenses work on the Bessar-R body with the rangefinder.
Response:
I would assume that a new camera, from any reputable manufactuer, would be safer then an older Leica. I’ve heard too many stories about guys from the Upper West side suffering injuries from exploding Billinghams; sometimes I could just cry for those boys. I’m worried sick, as it were.
Response:
<< I would assume that a new camera, from any reputable manufactuer, would be safer then an older Leica. I’ve heard too many stories about guys from the Upper West side suffering injuries from exploding Billinghams; sometimes I could just cry for those boys. Don’t cry for me Argentina… And… Viva! If you wish to e-mail me just try and disconnect my brain. Have a thought and go ahead, make my day! "Clifford, on your planet, what color is the sky?" "Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need any roads" "1.21 gigawatts! Do they make that in AA?"
Response:
<< I’ve heard too many stories about guys from the Upper West side suffering injuries from exploding Billinghams; sometimes I could just cry for those boys. Don’t cry for me Argentina… And… Viva! Darn! With "Argentina" and "boys" as clues I should have titled my post "The Boys From Brazil"! Adeiu and Heil Pero’n (or Guilianni 
)… And… Viva! If you wish to e-mail me just try and disconnect my brain. Have a thought and go ahead, make my day! "Clifford, on your planet, what color is the sky?" "Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need any roads" "1.21 gigawatts! Do they make that in AA?"
Response:
JSM I’m not crying for Argentina, its Ecudor I sob for. MF
Response:
Abbey Camera’s site says that they have it for about $630, silver or black. Is this the deal of the century or what? I went over to their store in Philadelphia, but they could only get me one in black and I want silver. So good news for us RF fans, it’s on the way! If Cosina doesn’t sell a shit-load of these then something’s wrong! — TravGlen
Response:
Abbey Camera’s site says that they have it for about $630, silver or black. Is this the deal of the century or what? I went over to their store in Philadelphia, but they could only get me one in black and I want silver. So good news for us RF fans, it’s on the way! If Cosina doesn’t sell a shit-load of these then something’s wrong!
More info, please? — When they say they "have it," do they mean "we can put one in your hand right now" or "we can get it pretty soon, we think, maybe"? — And are these direct imports, or through the official US distributor? (HKS Photo, I think.) — What’s the URL of their website? Thanks!
Response:
http://www.abbeycamera.com I could not find it on their web page. I don’t think they sell grey regards, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Abbey Camera’s site says that they have it for about $630, silver or black. Is this the deal of the century or what? I went over to their store in Philadelphia, but they could only get me one in black and I want silver. So good news for us RF fans, it’s on the way! If Cosina doesn’t sell a shit-load of these then something’s wrong! More info, please? — When they say they "have it," do they mean "we can put one in your hand right now" or "we can get it pretty soon, we think, maybe"? — And are these direct imports, or through the official US distributor? (HKS Photo, I think.) — What’s the URL of their website? Thanks!
– Marc S. Fogel http://www.fogel.net
Response:
You can get a nice functioning used Leica M2, M3, M4-2 for less than $800 and have something proven.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Abbey Camera’s site says that they have it for about $630, silver or black. Is this the deal of the century or what? If Cosina doesn’t sell a shit-load of these then something’s wrong! I don’t know about the rest of the world but $630. for a camera seems like a lot. If it were $200. to $250. I would be interested. Considering the huge over priced pile of old lenses that have been sitting in people’s closets collecting fungus for the past 50 years I would say the only alternative are the new Voigtlander lenses. It’s nice to see a return of the old time camera styles for nostalgia’s sake but really. A better deal would be the Olympus OM2000, actually the same cameras as the Bessa-R but in SLR style, made by the same company and a ton of great OM lenses out there (every one based on a Leica design anyway). AF.
Response:
GOTO abbeycamera.comcatalog"Click here to enter"searchvoigtlander & it all comes up. Com’on, get half a brain, will you? And, yes, they do not sell grey. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – http://www.abbeycamera.com I could not find it on their web page. I don’t think they sell grey regards, Abbey Camera’s site says that they have it for about $630, silver or black. Is this the deal of the century or what? I went over to their store in Philadelphia, but they could only get me one in black and I want silver. So good news for us RF fans, it’s on the way! If Cosina doesn’t sell a shit-load of these then something’s wrong! More info, please? — When they say they "have it," do they mean "we can put one in your hand right now" or "we can get it pretty soon, we think, maybe"? — And are these direct imports, or through the official US distributor? (HKS Photo, I think.) — What’s the URL of their website? Thanks! — Marc S. Fogel http://www.fogel.net
Response:
$630 is certainly not cheap. However, for an interchangeable lens rangefinder 35mm camera with a high quality lens line, it’s inexpensive. The Bessa-R is NOT the same body as the Olympus OM2000/Nikon FM10/Yashica FX-3 Super 2000. They are related in some aspects of the design (particularly the shutter), but the Bessa-R is much better made. It doesn’t sound like it appeals to you, but many other folks prefer rangefinder cameras in which market the Bessa-R is a very good deal compared to the Contax G system, Konica RF system and Leica M system, all three of which are more expensive. Those are the only other cameras competing in the 35mm RF marketplace right now. For those who say you can get an M2, M3 or M4 …. Fine, you’re buying a 37-20 year old camera for a little more money. I haven’t seen many of any of them for under $800 recently that were worth buying. Yes, they’re proven and beautiful cameras, but you don’t get the meter, you don’t get a new camera, you don’t get a new camera warranty. Far as I’m concerned, the Bessa-R and its lens line is the best thing to happen in 35mm equipment in many years. A quality, simple, sensible camera with a reasonable price. I’m quite happy with my Leica M6TTL, but I might buy a Bessa-R anyway. I know already that I like the lens line: I have the Heliar 15mm lens, have seen plenty of pictures taken with the 35, 50 and 75mm lenses. Godfrey – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I don’t know about the rest of the world but $630. for a camera seems like a lot. If it were $200. to $250. I would be interested. Considering the huge over priced pile of old lenses that have been sitting in people’s closets collecting fungus for the past 50 years I would say the only alternative are the new Voigtlander lenses. It’s nice to see a return of the old time camera styles for nostalgia’s sake but really. A better deal would be the Olympus OM2000, actually the same cameras as the Bessa-R but in SLR style, made by the same company and a ton of great OM lenses out there (every one based on a Leica design anyway). AF.
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