Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/01/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The body of the Bessa-R is the same as that of the non-rangefinder Bessa (for the 15 and 25mm lenses). The interesting piece is the lens, a 35/2,5 pancake that sticks out only 10-12 mm from the body. This would make the camera a truly pocketable screwmount camera. The frame selector was chosen as it was very difficult to make a screwmount lenssystem that would key in a certain frame. The short rangefinder will hamper the use of longer/faster 90's would is well within the range up to 75mm focal length. I cant wait to get mine and try it out with my Cosina/Voigtlander lenses and also with my rather eclectic collection of other screwmount lenses (various Russian lenses, 50/1,4 Canon, 50/2 Nikkor). The Cosinas are easier to load than the IIIf's that's for sure. The over-the-counter price for the body and the 35/2,5 in Tokyo is supposed to be Yen 98000 (approx.: US$950), not dirt cheap, but after having used the other Cosina/Voigtlander lenses for more than a year, I have great faith in Cosina's optical quality. Tom A