RE: [Leica] Bessa R

[Jem Kime <jem.kime@cwcom.net>]

Tom,
I too noticed the fact that all the publicity photos seemed to show chrome 
wind on levers for the black model. On their web site there is one black 
armed picture to be seen, and I think that was at the top of the Bessa-L 
page (could be wrong) I asked the UK importers about this and they had no 
reason why either!

That MGA story had me laughing out loud, very very funny!

best wishes,
Jem

- -----Original Message-----
From:	TTAbrahams@aol.com [SMTP:TTAbrahams@aol.com]
Sent:	09 February 2000 04:17
To:	leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject:	[Leica] Bessa R

 I unpacked my Bessa R this afternoon and have fondled it for a couple of
hours. It has been loaded with Tri-X and I will shoot with it as soon as 
the
rain stops. The camera will most likely handle the rain, but I am not going 
to go out and get wet just now.
 First impression of the camera as follows:
It is not flimsy. It is a rather substantial camera, same height as a M6
(without Rapidwinder) and a bit shorter. It looks a bit like an IIIG with 
an
M-rangefinder attached to it. Feels well built and all the controls are
smooth and tight.
 The body is a black one, but for some reason the filmadvance arm is chrome 
and so is the rewind crank! Could be that this is a preproduction model and 
that these pieces will be properly blackened when it goes on sale.
 The finder is very bright, compared to my M6 0,85 and my TTL, as bright if 
not brighter (even after I cleaned the windows on the M6's) than those. The 
rangefinder patch is sharply defined with slightly rounded vertical bars. I 
have found that if you don't look straight at the finder patch it is
difficult to see. Only a small deviation from the sight centerline will 
cause
it to disappear. The frameline selector is on the top. Slightly to the 
right
of the eyepiece. 75 frames to the left, 35/90 on center and 50 on the 
right.
Clearly defined lines although not "full lines" just lines without visible
corners.
 The rewind crank looks like a crank from a Canon P, folds up from a 
slanted
edge of the camera and it has a red, rotating dot that indicates 
film-travel.
 The back door has a small window that shows the film cassette marking. No
more gaffer tape with cryptic notes stuck to the top-plate! Front cover has 
a
slight texture to it; the back door has a smooth rubber like material on 
it.
It also has a small "grip" on the back that orientates your thumb to the 
film
advance lever.
 The meter is very M6 TTL like. A left red arrow with a "-" sign, a center
round dot and to the right another arrow with a "+" sign. All bright and 
red,
actually very bright!
The shutterspeed dial is large and easy to grip AND IT ROTATES THE SAME WAY 
AS ALL MY PRE-TTL M's. On the back there is an engraving:
VOIGTLANDER
GERMANY
Since 1756
 A good nylon strap with rubberised "non" slip surface. Weird clips and
plastic things for attaching it to the strap lugs. Will be exchanged for a
KameraLeder strap very soon. Flash synch outlet on the left edge of the
top-plate. ISO information in the shutter speed dial a la Nikon (lift and
turn). Synch speed is 1/125 and top speed is 1/2000.
 Looking at the camera I keep thinking, this would make one hell of an
affordable Leica M intro camera. Change the mount to M and have it on the
market for US$650-700. Great 2nd body and dedicated to the 35/50 and maybe 
75
focal length. The short rangefinder base would make even a 90 a bit tricky 
to
focus correctly. It would give us the higher synch-speed and the 1/2000
top-speed, but if we wanted the longer, more precise rangefinder, we would
have to go for the M6. Sounds like a much better idea than re-badging the
Hexar RF (which would be almost the same price as the M6 anyway). This 
would
make a nifty 21st century Leica CL!
 The lens I got with it is a new 35/2,5 compact. It is not a true pancake 
as
it sticks out about 22mm from the body. Large barrel diameter, very
comfortable to hold and an extremely short focus throw (an about 30 degrees 
from 0,9mm to infinity). It is a non-aspherical lens and if any of you can
remember the old Nikkor 35/1,8, it resembles that one in size and looks.
 There is no Off/On switch for the meter, but it turns itself off after 
9-10
seconds.
Some risk of draining batteries if you leave it in a bag with pressure
applied to the release button.
 That's all for now. I will venture out in our miserable weather in the 
next
couple of days and shoot some Tri-X and there is a faint promise of 
sunshine
over the weekend and that should allow me a chance to shoot some Delta 100
and Presto F 32 ASA for more fine-grain testing.
 As this is a pre-official release camera, it came with no instruction 
manual
(which would be of no use to me anyway as I cant read Japanese) and also
nicely packaged in a Bessa-L box.
Ah, to heck with it! I am going out shooting in the darkness and rain right 
now. Can't stand the wait for nice weather here!
All the best,
Tom A