Anyone using a Bessa T?

[hiphopopotamus]

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As mentioned in a few of my other posts, I (relatively) recently sold up all of my Canon, Sony and Contax gear to focus fully on the Leica M system. That move also saw me offload a Leica iif as I just could not see me almost ever wanting to pick it up (beautiful and quirky, but just so cumbersome in use) with an M now in hand. 

And though I am completely besotted with my M9M (have never shot so much in my life, I want to carry it and shoot everywhere), I'm just missing shooting film on occasion. But the price for film Ms seems a little crazy to me, and while I've enjoyed the rumours of a "cheaper"/"new" film M coming to market soon, I don't want to wait any longer.

Matt Osborne's fantastic channel on YouTube first made me aware of the Bessa T, and today I stumbled across a 101st anniversary one with the matching 50/3.5 lens and 50mm viewfinder from a reputable dealer here in the UK.

At under £700 for the set it seemed a no brainer when comparing to current prices for an M6 or M3, especially considering this would only be for occasional shooting, but I can't see much discussion of this camera on the forum. Either way, I thought the price was good (/much better than an M6, which I cannot afford at the moment) so I decided to pull the trigger.

Any users here? Any tips/issues I should be aware of? And importantly - anyone have a good reason why I should only look at this as a stepping stone toward an M6 or similar, or - for just occasional film shooting - will I not be missing much by sticking with the T?

thanks all

Edited June 24, 2021 by hiphopopotamus

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[Matlock]

9 hours ago, hiphopopotamus said:

 

Matt Osborne's fantastic channel on YouTube first made me aware of the Bessa T, and today I stumbled across a 101st anniversary one with the matching 50/3.5 lens and 50mm viewfinder from a reputable dealer here in the UK.

At under £700 for the set it seemed a no brainer when comparing to current prices for an M6 or M3, especially considering this would only be for occasional shooting, but I can't see much discussion of this camera on the forum. Either way, I thought the price was good (/much better than an M6, which I cannot afford at the moment) so I decided to pull the trigger.

Any users here? Any tips/issues I should be aware of? And importantly - anyone have a good reason why I should only look at this as a stepping stone toward an M6 or similar, or - for just occasional film shooting - will I not be missing much by sticking with the T?

thanks all

I have one and I can recommend it if you don't mind having to use an auxiliary viewfinder. Obviously it is not a Leica but, in the end, it is the lens that matters.

[Danner]

I saw Matt's video on those as well.  Looks like a good option for ultra-wides with an external finder.

[250swb]

Matt's review of the Voigtlanders is very good and if you are used to the separate rangefinder and viewfinder the 'T' is a good camera. Personally I'd go with the R if you also plan to get a Leica M body down the road because it will integrate with an M better for as a second body because of the combined viewfinder and rangefinder. If however the T is likely to be your only M lens body then it's Barnack style quirkiness may be endearing.

https://cameraquest.com/VCBT.htm

 

 

[Lee S]

I recently picked one up, shot my first roll of film on it at the weekend along side my M10.

The rangefinder is magnified and beautifully clear to nail focus, I didn’t mind focusing then composing in separate windows at all. Great fun, great idea and surely will be heading up in value as it’s a quirky M camera. 

[adan]

I have not used the T - but used a couple of other cameras based on the same "box." Original Bessa-L (no RF as well as no VF) and the Epson R-D1 (mechanics by Cosina/Voigtlander).

I also used a "separate RF and VF" Leica IIIc in college 40+ years ago. And, of course, have used separate focusing and viewing with my 21mm on any M camera - for 20 years ).

1) My Epson R-D1 developed a shutter problem - shutter often would not "latch" in cocked position after a few months. Had to be replaced under warranty. This did not occur with the pure-Cosina Bessa-L

2) I was impressed by the IIIc's separate magnified focusing! Not enough to keep it long-term - since in college classes I needed "practical" SLR viewing for lenses 16mm-500mm.

3) If you are using the T with more than one focal length, you will need to budget for additional viewfinders (just as with the IIIC, for anything other than 50mm). And pausing to swap them with every lens change.

But collecting those can become a hobby in itself.

Except - with the IIIc, the round RF window was a fairly good "aiming tool" for a 135 lens at longer distances (3m+) - its depth was a very good approximation of the depth of the 135 rectangular frame.

[ O ]