[Leica] Leica IIIc

[bdcolen at earthlink.net (B. D. Colen)]

There is no question the Bessa R2 is NOT an M: It is not built like an M
and will not outlive you; it's shutter is not as quiet as an M shutter;
it's rangefinder base is shorter. All that said, it is a far better
camera than many here give it credit for being, and is, I think, the
ideal way to test the rangefinder waters, as it gives one a modern
rangefinder - similar to an M - that can take the astounding range of
both screwmount and M lenses. And, as you note Daniel, while it's
"louder" than an M, it's hardly noisy. And the import of quite/noise
levels is, I believe, much over rated.


-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Daniel Ridings
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 4:16 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: RE: [Leica] Leica IIIc


Coincidence ... I picked up a Bessa R2 that was marked down (new, but
marked down) yesterday and was pleasantly surprized. I had always heard
the shutter was much louder. I guess that depends on how you define
"much". Different sound, but I didn't really notice a difference in
volume. The viewfinder was great. I guess an M6 would be great too. I'm
so used to looking through old viewfinders (M2/3/4).

I probably would have boughten it if it had 40mm framelines. I have a
40mm Summicron I'd like to get some use out of. My CL is just a shutter.
Neither the rangefinder or meter works in it.

Daniel

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005, B. D. Colen wrote:

> I, too, will second everything Don wrote. But, despite a IIIc having 
> been not only my first rangefinder, first Leica, and first 'serious' 
> camera, I'd suggest a Bessa for a first rangefinder. As wonderful as 
> the LTMs are in terms of their compactness and silence, you'll get a 
> much better sense of the modern reality of rangefinders, and whether 
> the rangefinder really works for you, with a Bessa body. Then, if you 
> want to go to a IIIc or IIIf, more power to you; my guess is you'll 
> move on to an M2,3 or 6 at somepoint. But I think that that various 
> quirky features of the IIIc - especially the viewfinder - may poison 
> you as far as rangefinders go. And that would be unfortunate.
>
> B. D.
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