Any Bessa R4M or R3M users here?

[miatadan]

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Now that I know I can get film processed , I am trying to decide on Bessa R4M or R3M...

 

Anyone here use these cameras?

 

I will order as first lens Leica Summarit-M 50mm f/2.5 and decide later on 28mm or 35mm. Other than that, for portraits Summarit-M 75mm f/2.5.

 

This will give me practice with using rangefinders until I can afford Leica MP or ME ))))

 

I can not try before buying, so advice needed , thanks

 

Dan

[kdriceman]

They are fine cameras. A bit lighter on build quality, but good nonetheless.

 

Why not try a Zeiss or Voigtlander lens to begin with? They have many quality lenses for a fraction of the cost and if your just trying to find out how you like the RF experience it will be a more economical approach. The Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar is more than a stop faster than the summarit, almost as compact and less expensive. It's a pleasure to use and has a unique character, in my opinion, especially when using with film.

 

 

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[miatadan]

They are fine cameras. A bit lighter on build quality, but good nonetheless.

 

Why not try a Zeiss or Voigtlander lens to begin with? They have many quality lenses for a fraction of the cost and if your just trying to find out how you like the RF experience it will be a more economical approach. The Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar is more than a stop faster than the summarit, almost as compact and less expensive. It's a pleasure to use and has a unique character, in my opinion, especially when using with film.

 

 

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Maybe the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.4 lens be good starting point with the R3M?

 

Dan

[jlindstrom]

Maybe the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.4 lens be good starting point with the R3M?

 

 

 

Dan

 

 

It's a fantastic combo! Had it and loved it.. was just too lazy for film and since moved to digital rf.

 

//Juha

[Guest]

I suggest a Zeiss Ikon body instead and also the 1.5/50 Zeiss on it. It is discontinued for about a year now, but dealers may still have this combo, that was offered for a special price.

[Stealth3kpl]

I have a R4A which I took on a trip backpacking in Canada. I really like it. It's light-weight, has 1/2000, and there's no need for external finders whilst using a 21mm. I would typically have it in my sack's lid pocket whilst wearing an M2 and 35mm combo around my neck. I'd hoik it out when I needed something wider.

I didn't find the shutter speed or aperture indicators easy to see in the viewfinder, but that's no big deal for me, considering the way I use cameras. The only thing that stops me getting another, or a R4M, is that I have far too many cameras already.

Pete

[chris_livsey]

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I have far too many cameras already.

Pete

 

Is that even possible?

[Dikaiosune01]

I personally started with a R3M about 5 or 6 years ago. I still have it. I can't sell it. I don't use it much anymore. Now I use a M3, and MP and my most recent acquisition is a M240 for times when I can't choose to shoot film.

 

Why did I stop using the R3M? It gave me a number of problems. (1) the biggest problem was trying to get accurate focus. I was using a 50mm F/1.1. And due to the relatively short rangefinder baselength, it was hard to get really accurate focus. The M3 was much better (it should be noted that by the time I got the M3, i was using the zeiss plannar which gave me a little more Depth of field to play around with). (2) the R3M gave me a lot of problems when using collapsable lenses - particularily the Leica 50mm Elmar. When collapsed, the lens would scrape the inside chambre, which caused occassional flare spots on the film. (3) a small problem that was easily fixed was that the body leather was peeling hot; mostly due to the hot humid weather and my clammy hands. This was easily fixed by an order at cameraleather.com.

 

Other that than, this camera is great. Why did I choose the R3M?

I didn't know if the rangefinder experience would be good for me. new Leica's were too expensive. I didn't run the risk and potential frustration of a used leica and the unfamilar territories of a CLA. Which led me to a new Voigtlander R3M.

 

Do I regret buying a R3M? A little bit. I still feel confident in the choice I made back then. If I had someone as knowledgable as I am now about leicas and the trust I have in myself, and could speak to my past self about the voigtlander R3M. I would tell my younger self, "Don't do it. You won't be able to sell off the voigtlander in the future. A Leica M6 isn't that much more expensive. You should get a Leica M6 that has been serviced and you'd be ready to go; in almost every conceivable way it is better than the Voigtlander... "

[MattMaber]

Do I regret buying a R3M? A little bit. I still feel confident in the choice I made back then. If I had someone as knowledgable as I am now about leicas and the trust I have in myself, and could speak to my past self about the voigtlander R3M. I would tell my younger self, "Don't do it. You won't be able to sell off the voigtlander in the future. A Leica M6 isn't that much more expensive. You should get a Leica M6 that has been serviced and you'd be ready to go; in almost every conceivable way it is better than the Voigtlander... "

 

This is why I weighed up the options and after buying 2 Canonets decided Id be best just getting and M6 rather than a Bessa.

If you're just trying rangefinders for the first time a Canonet is a reasonable quality way and cheap priced to get into it.

[spydrxx]

I may be the curmudgeon here, but if you haven't tried rangefinders to see if you like them, why not get an inexpensive used one first....if you find the experience good and want to move nearer the top of the heap, fine..there are some pretty good choices, Voigtlander, Zeiss, Leica. It is like you decided to learn to drive a car....you don't just jump into a Porsche or Ferrari until you find out if you enjoy the driving experience and then determine if the higher end car is worth the money. In the meantime you get something which will get you to where you want to go, just as you would with the higher end car, but much less expensively. Just my $0.02.

[alfredian]

I have both. The R4M was one of the first few RF cameras I bought. Easy to load & handle (especially loading = No Tulip!) the RxM is very compact - even smaller/lighter than M4/MPs. R4M is good with 50mm (Summicron or the CV 50/1.5 or 2.5) and is best with the Wides - unusual in having frame lines for the 25mm FL. The CV Snapshot (not RFC) is what I use the the later CV 25s are coupled.

 

Big plus: the RxM models only use the battery for the meter - the shutter is purely mechanical, soooo... if the battery dies, you still have a full-functioning CAMERA. I use a hand-held or squintmeter anyway. I actually went even more retro with a Bessa L for the 25 and a Bessa T for longer FL.--alfredian

[Sandokan]

Or have a look at the Zeiss Ikon. Much better viewfinder than the M6, M7 or MP. Or get a Leica- higher investment cost but far easier to resell if you dont like it.

[Archiver]

In 2008 I was all set to buy a R3A as my first rangefinder. I met with a friend who had the R3M, and he was going to show me a good place to buy one. After handling the R3M for a while, we went to the shop, only to find that they also had the Zeiss Ikon in stock. The Ikon felt better in the hand than the R3M, and it had a much bigger viewfinder and longer effective baselength, making it more accurate to focus with fast lenses.

 

I bought the Ikon and fell in love with rangefinders. In a couple of years I bought the M9 and M7.

 

The idea of buying a secondhand rangefinder in good condition is a good one. You'll quickly discover if you really like rangefinder shooting, and you can sell with little loss if you decide you don't. The Ikon was discontinued in 2012 but there will be secondhand ones floating about. Some might even suggest a nice secondhand M6 or M4-2, depending on what focal length you'd like to shoot. The M4 and M6 are closer in body size and shape to the X Vario you (the OP) recently sold, so that may be of interest to you.

 

As for lenses, the CV 35/1.4 and 40/1.4 are excellent. Bokeh can be a bit 'nervous' in some situations, but in others all you will see is soft glowing light spheres and gently blurred background. The Zeiss C Sonnar 50/1.5 is a super lens, although it has a 90cm minimum focus distance which limits it a bit, and it has focus-shift when shot wide open. Nevertheless, if you can live with those quirks it will reward you with amazing images.

 

I'm back to shooting film after four years, and I use the M7 when I want to that luxurious Leica feeling, the Zeiss Ikon when I'm walking around a lot and need a lighter camera, and the Contax T3 for when I want something even smaller and more discreet.