Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/01/16
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Jem, are you sure that's a variable mag viewfinder on the Bessar-R? It looks
more from the lever's position on the top plate that it is only a
frame-selector (on the Canon, the lever is closer to being right on top of
the finder). Besides, if the magnification were changing, wouldn't it stand
to reason that the 90mm would necessitate higher magnification than the 35?
On the Canons, the 35mm was 0,75x, the 50mm 1.0x and the longer lenses 1.5x.
The only spec for the Bessa shows 1.0x at all lengths. I think reproducing a
41-year-old design as complex as the VI-L's finder may be hoping for too
much. : )
In a message dated 1/16/00 11:16:42 AM, jem.kime@cwcom.net writes:
<< The major difference between the Yasuhara and the Bessa-R is in the type
of
viewfinder used.
Both of them may appear superficially similar, posessing a more squat shape
than the Leica-M / Konica Hexar-RF.
The Yasuhara has a 'static' 50mm field of view with 1:1 magnification and a
brightline. The Bessa-R seems to have a viewfinder of the type used by
Canon in the 1950s on the VT model whereby there is an option of
magnification available to the user. A lever sets the magnification to
offer a 35mm field of view (I'm unsure whether there is a frameline or
not), then with a turn of the top mounted lever it can offer a 50, or a
75mm setting. The 35mm setting also seems to offer the 90mm option, I'd
presume this to be a second frameline. This was /is(?) achieved by rotating
a cunningly designed optical unit through 270 degrees.
With the short base length of the rangefinder it is important to offer as
much magnification of the viewfinder image in order to maximise the
accuracy of the focusing. However I suspect that neither of these two
camera will be the ideal vehicle for more taxing lenses such as the 85/2,
85/1.5, 100/2 or 135/2.8 lenses.
The Yasuhara has the rangefinder window built into the second illuminating
window (for the brightline) whereas the Bessa has a seperate window from
the illuminator.
Jem
- -----Original Message-----
From: Robert Deane [SMTP:deane@pcug.org.au]
The image shown has a remarkable resemblance to the publicity photos of the
screw mount
Yasuhara T981 shown at www.cameraquest.com/yasuhp.htm. Curious as the T981
is supposedly
made in China.
</XMP>
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Message-ID: <01BF603D.865D5B80.jem.kime@cwcom.net>
From: Jem Kime <jem.kime@cwcom.net>
To: "'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us'"
<leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Subject: RE: [Leica] Re: Bessa R _ Skip Williams reference
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 15:51:57 -0000
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