Bessa R3A/R3M

[Amin Sabet]

I really like the Ikon, and wouldn't trade it for anything, but I miss my R3A!

The Ikon is a better camera for use with a 35mm lens, but the R3A was fantastic for 50mm. Seeing the framelines suspended in air with two eyes open and the R3A 1:1 finder was something one has to try to understand. Any R3A/M users here?

[Brian]

I use a Bessa R2, and understand about 1:1 framing. Nikon RF users have been spoiled by it since 1954 with the introduction of the S2. I modified one of my Nikon S2's to use Contax mount lenses. Has a Zeiss-Opton Sonnar 50/1.5 on it now.

[Alex]

Any R3A/M users here?
R3A user reporting for duty, sir.

I've got a ZI in the sights for some day, but not yet. The 1:1 frame of the R3A has been superb for me, as I naturally frame and focus through any viewfinder with both eyes open (custom acquired from years at the eyepieces of an astronomical telescope and a lab microscope). Mostly it has an N40/1.4 on the front, but occasionally there's an old Jupiter that's allowed an outing now and again, via the thread-to-M adapter, and the 50mm frame lines are just the business. The 35-40 range is probably my favourite focal length. Some wides occasionally get mounted, though the need for an accessory viewfinder or turret takes away a little of the uncomplicated-ness.

I like the laid-back retro feel, the lightness, the solidity, and my word, but the lack of mirror slap, is still a joy. It has been getting more exercising in the last few months since I've had it than the SLRs.

[JFH]

I've had my R3A for a bit over a year now and I agree that the 1:1 viewfinder is a real strong point. I wear glasses, so the 40mm framelines don't work well, but the 50mm is perfect. I use a 40mm external finder for my 40mm CV as well as my 35/2 Biogon, and a 25mm finder for the 25mm, which is about as wide as I care to go at this point.
So far the R3A has done everything I've asked of it. One minor complaint is a very slight vertical misalignment in the focusing patch, but I've learned to live with it. Once in a while too, the rewind crank gets loose and jams the film advance, but I live with that. I've considered getting a ZI body, but at half the price the R3A seems a better value, so I'll probably pick up another R3A as a second body as well.... It's my only RF body so far, but I feel like I get along well enough with it that I really don't need to spend bigger bucks for a ZI or Leica, and prefer to put my money in lenses. I also like the aperture priority, and am still on my first set of batteries. Although I'd prefer an easier to see LED display, it seemed to get easier to use as I gained familiarity with it.
It may not be the fanciest thing out there, but it works well for me, and I've grown quite comfortable with it. And, maybe the most important point, if it hadn't been available at its price point, I might not have gotten into RF's at all...

[Amin Sabet]

My R3A had a very slight vertical misalignment just like yours, and my Ikon has the exact same issue. Since I had it that way on both, I just assumed it was within spec.

[Alex]

I'm a glasses wearer too, and I have the same sort of thing with the 40mm framelines, so if I'm taking out the R3A, the contact lenses become an option with the Nokton, but the Jupiter and Industar lenses mean that the 50mm framelines are nigh on perfect, even for spectacle wearers.

I really don't want to tempt the patience of the gods who are in charge of these things, but my R3A's alignments in vertical and horizontal planes are pretty good - I can't detect anything untoward.

[Tom A]

I have both the R3M and the R3A (the latter in green no less - it was a Christmas gift to my wife from Mr Kobayashi of CV - one of only two made). I do use them with the 50's - but more often with the 75's as it has solitary framelines for this lens - something that my Leica's sorely miss. The dual set up on the M6/MP with the 50/75 frames is simply too close.
The main 75 is currently the Summicron 75f2, but also a Heliar 75f2.5 as a lightweight package. I did use it with my 75f1.4 until i disposed of that lens, simply was getting too big and heavy - even after 27 years of using it. Never had a problem with the shorter rf base of the R3 - even at close focus. Had a lot of problem with it on my M6/MP's though!
I like the EV read out on the R3M - makes it easy to compensate for too bright or too dark areas in the image. The R3A is a great "walk around" camera - but I never wholly trust an aperture priority camera's ideas of exposure!

[Nando]

Hi Tom. This is off-topic so I apologize. How often do you use a 75mm? When I used a 21/35/75mm combo, my 75mm Heliar got used a lot. Once I added a 50mm to the mix, the 75mm got regulated to the shelf. I've only used it once since; at a cousin's wedding where I needed a bit more distance. I've been meaning to sell the lens but then I read your article on the 75mm Summarit in this month's Viewfinder and was really impressed by the small size of the Heliar compared to Leica 75's. I'm now having second thoughts about letting go of this lens.

[Tom A]

I dont use the 75's that often - but they are nice to have around when you need a bit extra reach. The Heliar 75f2.5 is a nice little lens - wide open it is soft enough to work as a very good portrait lens - but once you have stopped it down to 4-5.6 it is very sharp.
I like the Summicron 75f2 - but it is heavy and also expensive. It comes along if I know I need the extra "snap" in contrast - but mostly it is sitting in a drawer.
I would not sell a 75f2.5 Heliar - it is one of those lenses that you will miss. Not expensive and used ones dont bring that much. Just keep it and put it through its paces now and then so it doesn't feel neglected.

[Doug]

No R3 here, but my Nikon S3's finder is 1:1, and many of the accessory finders I need to use on the Bessa T are life-size. I'm often surprised at how strongly some users feel about the 1:1 view, while I find it nice but not enough to influence a purchase.

[Johnbear]

I get along well enough with it that I really don't need to spend bigger bucks for a ZI or Leica, and prefer to put my money in lenses.









-

[Amin Sabet]

I ended up selling my Ikon ZM after a period of non-use, missed having a film rangefinder, and bought another R3A. Having now an R3A for a second time, I think I can say that I prefer it to the Ikon! The grip feels better to me, the 1:1 is really nice, and the RF patch is easier to see without the eye quite centered.

The R3A is suboptimal to use with a 35, whereas the Ikon was fantastic for that. However, for use with a 50, the R3A is just perfect.

[anthony_semone]

First post here. For "street/candid" photography, what would recommend R3M or R3A relative to each other? I have now a Contax G2/28mm and I've not been able to get used to the small viewfinder, although I like how it handles.

thanks for any help you all might offer,

tony

[Doug]

Tony, if you like to use auto exposure on your G2, then you might prefer auto exposure on the R3A as well. The option is there, anyway. Otherwise the R3M and R3A are pretty much the same, I think, though I'm speaking here as an R4A owner!

Out on the street for candid shots, I find the AE useful for fast reaction to radically different light.

I like my G2 a lot too, and I guess I'm so concentrated on composing what I do see that I'm not really aware that it may be small and dim compared to a Bessa or Zeiss Ikon. Doesn't bother me... And it does have the advantage of variable magnification to match the lens mounted, which you won't find in these others.

[anthony_semone]

Doug,

thanks for your comments. I expect a large part of my experience with the G2 reflects that I've not used it often enough, having come to be dependent upon my D700. It doesn't help that I'm blind as a bat, so the dim VF on the G2 occasions that I choose the D700. I do indeed appreciate the option of Av, and that of course would lead me to the R3A. Out of curiosity, what led you to choose the R4A?

thanks again,

tony

[Doug]

Hi -- The R4A (and R4M) is unique as the only RF body ever to have built-in parallax-compensated viewfinder framelines for 21mm and 25mm lenses. So, it has framelines for 21, 25, 28, 35, and 50mm. This makes for a very versatile normal-to-wide camera. I so seldom find use of 75 and 90mm that I don't miss those framelines, or 135mm either!

About the only quarrel with the R4 is that the VF is so wide, only the smallest of lenses won't intrude much into the view.

An external shoe-mounted viewfinder generally avoids this intrusion, but not only adds more parallax error, it offers only crude means in compensating for it. While I don't mind an external viewfinder as much as some do, the R4 is a nicer way to go.

Actually the R4A and R3A make for a very nice cooperative pair! :D