I have owned this camera for several months and it has been a dream to use. First, it can't compare to Leica - How could it, it cost about 1/3 of what they go for. Ya can't compare a Porsche with a Honda.
Anyway, it is one well built machine for the price. No problems so far and I'm hard on a camera...it has been on some journeys where more plastic cameras around this price would not have made it back.
It is easy to focus and works well with streetphotography. The meter seems to be accurate and I have produce some excellent negs.
This is highly recommended for the beginner who wants a camera that will help them learn the basics of photography.
You will find that it is a trustworthy camera that will never leave you high and dry (even if the batteries go out).
Also, I believe with the limited production of this camera you'll have a collectors item on hand, but go for the olive :)
Strengths:
Built like a tank.
Great for streetphotography.
Affordable and has killer lenses...just a good a Leica without the $$$.
Weaknesses:
Loud ss compared to a Leica or any old school rangefinder.
Similar Products Used:
Leica M7 (used not bought...one day tho!)
Yashica Electro 35 GSN (if you can find one buy it!)
Price above is in Sterling Pounds for a second hand olive camera that I bought a few months ago. It was in as new state and basically I think it had received no use and that Ffordes was selling it as second-hand because the camera is now discontinued. The first thing that attracted me about this camera is the estetics. The olive Bessar R2 is a beauty. That said I love military cameras and its imitations. In general I love using this camera and I am having a loty of fun with it. To me it is a camera that demands shotting handheld and not really a tripod. If I want to shoot with tripod I always use another camera. But as a carry everywhere handheld shooter is fantastic. It is slightly smaller than my Nikon FM3a (but just a little bit smaller). However, the FM3a is a better quality made and has a more accurate meter. Nevertheless, the Bessa R2 is still a wonderfull camera. As a mechanical rangefinder is the best value for money. It has three quirks, one of them easily repairable.
The first is that the rangefinder needs adjustment when it leaves the factory, because it does not focus to infinite. It is a very easy adjustemnt and I wonder why Cosina does not do it in the factory. (This is a known quirk that convinced me that my suposed to be used camera had not being used).
The second is that the lightmeter is not accurate below 1/30 speed and f2.8 at ISO 100. I am surprised that such a modern camera has such a small range of EV measures in the meter. My Nikon FM3a measures exposures of a few minutes. My X-Pan II measures exposures of 30 seconds at f4 and ISO 100. This is exactly the same problem suffered by the predecessor the Bessa R adn I am curious to know if it has been corrected with the two Bessa R3 models avaliable now. I have a Vöigtlander VC meter (make 1) that I use with a Leica IIIc. The VC meter is the same meter than that of the Bessa R2 and Bessa R and it is very accurate in all circumtances. The problem in the Bessa R2 and Bessa R is not the meter but the way it takes the reading from the reflected light of the shutter.
The thrid quirk is that I was exepecting to use this camera with available light in indoors and low speeds (bellow 1/30) when the Nikon FM3a vibrates too much. I am dispointed on this point because the Bessa is less effective on this than the FM3a in those circumstances, even if the FM3a is a reflex camera. It is also louder than the FM3a. The main issue is not really vibration from the Bessa R2 (which has some coming from the focal plane shutter) but that shutter release bottom of the Bessa R2 that is not sensitive enought compared to the shutter of my FM3a, my X-Pan II and extreamly far from the sensitivity of my Bronica RF645 (a camera that is vibration free). After puting the mini softrelease in the shutter relase bottom, the problem has improved but not dispeared at all. I don't manage to press the shutter release bottom without moving the camera a little bit, but I can do that with the Bronica RF645.
Even if the baselengh of the rangefidner is short focusing is accurate. The rangefinder and the viewfinder are very bright and clear. Just for that this is a better camera than the Bessa R. On my part, I have no compaints as far as the rangefinder and the viewfinder are concerned.
I only have the Nokton 50mm lens. Great, very fast and sharp lens. Even better very unexpensive like the Bessa R2 body. I have no complaint about that lens except that it takes part of the viewfinder view, specially with the hood. However in practical terms is not big deal. Against what I expected, focusing at f1.5 does not seem to be an issue. I also tested the camera with a Jupiter 3 open at f1.5 and no issues either.
As said here already it is a fantastic camera to shoot outdoors and take with you at all times or as a back up for another 35mm camera. For me it is a very acceptable quality as a camera and I reccomended it to any shooter of clasic cameras. Like the Nikon FM3a is a jump to the 70s with modern technology and quality.
Strengths:
Wonderful unexpensive Voigtlander lenses available
Robust and small
Amazing value for money
Weaknesses:
TTL meter has a small EV range for today's standards
Shutter release bottom is not senistive enought
Similar Products Used:
Bronica RF645, Hasselblad X-Pan II, Leica IIIc, Olympus RC and Canonet.
Customer Service:
I sent the camera back to Ffordes for adjustment of the rangefinder under guarantee. No problems.
Although I'm not sure that there is an official Voigtlander repairer in the UK, I'm sure that any good camera repairer will be able to find parts and repair this mechanical camera.
I bought the Bessa R2 as a second camera to carry with me on trips abroad etc. As my main camera is a medium format Mamiya 6 I was looking for a camera which could fit into a pocket . Having used Nikon cameras for 30 years it was not easy to change to a different camera. The Mamiya 6 is also a rangefinder therefore using the Bessa was very easy although having purchased the 35mm pancake lens it took a few weeks before I was able to focus as quickly as with my other camera.
All in all I am very pleased with the Bessa it compliments my other cameras very well. There are times where you want to blend in to the background and not look like some mobile camera stall. As the camera is small and under stated it allows you to do this.
Strengths:
Build quality is a great plus also the variety of different lenses.
Weaknesses:
Because of it size the smaller lenses can be a bit difficult to use
Bessa R2 is my first RF camera and so far I've been very happy with it. I don't have money to afford a Hasselblad or Leica. Contax G1 and G2 were a bit too high-tech for me and Rollei's 35 is nothing else but a Bessa R2, so Bessa R2 was really an obvious choice for me. The camera has been heavily used for over a year and I can only say good things aobut it. It's pretty solid, not too heavy and Voigtlaender Ultron 35mm f1.7 lens is superb. With this RF I've taken some extremely sharp pictures. It's completely manual and it adds more alure to it. In a way it looks very classic and the olive colored models is an eye candy. Many people tried to compare it to Leica, and that it is not. In terms of craftsmanship and build quality this is an excellent product but still far from Leica. It'd be nice if it had a nice and quiet shutter. Sometimes it's hard to focus the camera, low light situations can be a pain in the neck, not to mentione general RF problem with taking pictures of objects that are very close. Yet, rangefinder is very nice and bright. After a few rols of film one quickly gets used to this peice and its compact size made it my favorite all around pice of photo equipment. I am a hard-core manual camera lover, so I really don't miss any of the automation that you get with other high-tech cameras. However, if you ask someone to take picture of you with this camera they'll have a hard time to use it unless they know how to work with AF cameras.Overall it's an excellent entry level RF camera.
Strengths:
Well built, high quality, strong metal body, excellent lenses, compatibility with Leica's lenses, light, easy to operate, relatively small, looks really cool...
Weaknesses:
Mettal shutter is very noisy, the batteries (although not expensive) tend to be sucked up pretty quikly, the strap hinges and the camera case are a bit akwardly designed, (re)winding can be a bit of a pain and rough.
Customer Service:
www.cameraquest.com is Cosina's US representative - so far they've been very helpful with any accessories, advice, and quiestions I had about the Voigtlaender system(s).
I'm selling this camera 4 days after buying it. OK, I'm probably spoiled - I have two Leicas, and a Leica this isn't. For the money it's great value - built like a tank, seems a reliable, no-fuss camera. Why did I buy it - my Leica M2 doesn;t have a meter, and I couldn't afford another M7. See below for points about the camera.
Strengths:
An excellent mount for Leica lenses. I have the olive one - it looks beautiful. 1/2000 sec shutter speed. Great viewfinder.
Weaknesses:
And reasons for selling.
1) Shutter button far too heavy. I 'missed the moment' when trying it on a sports event. Never did with the Leica.
2) Have put three films through it. The sprocket holes of the film are lined up with the gaps between the pictures, so that when they are cut into strips you have to cut through the sprocket holes. I think that's bad design, and resulted in the grade of 3.
More Products from Voigtlander
Link to this page
4 of 5
5 of 5
3 of 5
