This is a Mirrorless website but who said I would post digital stuff only? I am glad to finally link to a film camera review 🙂 My friend Carl Garrard (Click here) tested the [shoplink ‘Voigtländer Bessa R3A’ ebay]Voigtländer Bessa R3A (here ot find on eBay)[/shoplink]: “The Bessa R3A is comfortable well built, feature packed (for a film camera) and has the competition beat in some of its specifications for a much lower price. There’s nothing chincy on the Bessa R3a for near $700.00, and when you compare this camera to a Leica or Zeiss rangefinder you might wonder why you’d want to spend more money on those cameras with the Leica M mount.“
Nice camera and unlike Digital Cameras this will last for your long life time!
23 Responses
i was very close to buying one, than i read some user experiences about stuck shutters and less than perfect built quality. im still on hold with this one.
I have the r2a, which is the same as the 3 only with different frame lines. I haven’t read those complaints about the Bessarabia bodies. The major complaint is that the viewfinder can get knocked out of alignment, but it’s easily fixed, I’ve had mine for years and love it, but at times I wish I could justify an M7. It’s a great body.
There are always some, no matter what you buy. Even Leica M9 sensors crack.
Yes, I hv shot 2.5 rolls, and hv got the shutter/lever stuck 2 times. first time paid to get it fixed, costed AUD150.
gonna fuckin’ selling soon.
garbage.
“Nice camera and unlike Digital Cameras this will last for your long life time!”
Is the human life expectancy that short anywhere? LOL.
I dunno I prefer the Zeiss Ikon myself, as the viewfinder bests even the M7. There’s no disputing the fact though that the Bessa is bang-for-buck.
“Nice camera and unlike Digital Cameras this will last for your long life time!”
Sure, but I wonder how long they will continue to manufacture film..
These are the equivalent of a small sensor digital camera. You can get a “Texas Rangefinder” with a body under 1000g and shoots just as fast as these but yields much better results.
@mike
Very confused by your comment….. 35mm is by no means small. Its the equivalent of a full frame digital sensor.
And the texas rangfinder…. Do mean texas leica which are the nick name for fuji medium format rangefinders?
I have a fuji gw690ii aka a texas leica. And although image quality is amazing with a 6×9 negative and great glass i only get 8 shots a roll. Hardley convienant.
Ive been thinking of picking up a bessa system for a while. Seem like great rf from all ive heard.
Mike?…….mike?
(crickets…..)
Well I owned an R3A at one point. I agree with most of the reviews. Build quality??? Hmm I dunno if it is a lifetime camera. But the one thing I did not like about it (and this may not be an issue to some) was how loud the shutter was. R3A was my first rangefinder and when I had the chance to use an M6 along side it there was no contest. The difference is huge. When you fire an R3A( and I assume the rest are the same)everyone knows. People stop to look who fired a camera. You never get that with a Leica. The 1:1 finder is nice for both eyes open focusing. Value for money yes, but the quiet shutter makes all the difference…
Let us hope that it inspires Epson to build the R-D2. Hint, hint.