Voightlander is back, with two new camera models
Written: Feb 19 '00 (Updated Jan 15 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Affordable rangefinders, nifty "new" lenses, and lots of classic Leica SM lenses.
Cons: None at all
The Bottom Line: A pair of quality rangefinder cameras (with tons of available lenses) for those who don't want to invest big bucks in the Leica or Contax systems
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| Howard_Creech's Full Review: Archived Electronics Reviews |
Voightlander was one of the classic German camera firms, like Rolleiflex, Leica, Exacta, and Contax. Unable to compete with the onslaught of Japanese SLR and rangefinder cameras in the 50's and 60's, the firm went belly up. In the latest pairing of a classic German camera name and a Japanese manufacturer (like Leica/Minolta and Contax/Yashica) Cosina has resurrected the Voigtlander name. They are offering two new camera models and both bear a striking family resemblance to the Nikon FM10/FE10 which is also manufactured by Cosina. This "family" resemblance is a brilliant move by Cosina, and saved millions in R&D costs by using the existing FM10/FE10 camera body as the basis for the new cameras. Several computer designed lenses are available in the venerable Leica screwmount. There is no "on board" meter, exposure is handled by an LCD light display on the back of the camera.
The Bessa "L" is a viewfinder camera (no on board rangefinder...like the classic Leica Viewfinders of the '30s) a separate shoe mounted viewfinder must be used for each lens. The lenses offered with the "L" model are wide angle optics and are scale/distance focused. The lenses available for the "L" are a 15mm F4.5 ultra wide angle and a 25mm F4.0 "snapshot" wide angle. The Bessa "L" is the camera for street/candid shooting. The major strength of viewfinder cameras is their "shoot from the hip" capability, especially with wide angle lenses.
The Bessa "R" is a rangefinder camera. For many years the only rangefinder camera available was the Leica, but in the last few years the rangefinder has made a real comeback with new models from Hasselblad and Contax. Rangefinders work by turning the focusing ring on the lens to match two small "coincident" circles in the viewfinder to achieve proper focus. The Bessa "R" can use the 15mm and 25mm lenses, in addition the "R" model also offers three rangefinder coupled lenses, a 35mm F1.7, a 50mm F1.5, and a 75mm F2.5. The "R" model is much like the classic Leica, Nikon, Contax, and Canon rangefinders, that were so popular with photojounalists and war correspondents in the 40's, 50's, and 60's.
The Voightlander Bessa body weighs in at about 12 ounces, is quiet, unobtrusive, and offers better low light focusing than comparable SLR cameras. Have you ever wanted to pretend that you were Henri Cartier-Bresson seeking the "Decisive Moment", but the five grand for a Leica is holding you back? Then the Voightlander may be the camera for you. The basic "L" body retails for less than three hundred bucks, and the 15mm lens is four hundred and fifty (which is dirt cheap for a 15mm aspheric lens) The "R" model won't be available in the U. S. until March or April.
I had an opportunity to play with the "L" model and 15mm lens, and I must say that I was very impressed with the quality of construction. So if you always wanted a Leica (or one of the newer Contax G1/G2 rangefinders) but didn't want to spend the kids college money to get it, then consider the Voightlander, for about seven hundred bucks you can buy the "L" model and the 15mm lens.
If you would like to read more about 35mm cameras, please see my reviews:
Nikon SLR’s
Manual Focus
Nikon FM2n
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-3CFA-1D553EB-37BC4CFF-bd2
Nikon FM10
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-6C07-23519DF-393087EA-prod2
Nikon FM3A
http://www.epinions.com/content_32634801796
Auto Focus
Nikon F5 (35mm) SLR
http:http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-3A32-DBB0138-37FBC7B7-bd3
Nikon F100 (35mm) SLR
http:http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-540D-DBAA8E5-37FBC6D5-bd3
Nikon F4S
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-1BF0-4DCCD57-389DB017-prod2
Nikon N70
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-6991-EA50BF1-38EE1854-prod4
Nikon N80
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-5CF1-20F9233-3915B0F2-prod6
Nikon N65
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-46B3-76FC62B-3A00116B-prod1
Nikon N90S
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-2BE1-1D4C2DF-37BC4B8C-bd2
Contax SLR’s
Contax N1
http://www.epinions.com/content_21301202564
Contax 645 (Medium Format) AF SLR
http:http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-31B5-B8D40D6-38AECFC4-prod2
Olympus SLR’s
Olympus OM4ti
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-5ABD-F3D6954-38B42C34-bd3
Rollei 35mm
Rollei QZ35W & QZ35T
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-6991-EA50BF1-38EE1854-prod4
Voightlander 35mm Rangefinder Cameras
Bessa L & Bessa R
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-5D5-BC745AC-38AF6B20-prod6
Choosing a 35mm Camera
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-658D-D159BD0-38EA19CC-prod4
Choosing 35mm Lenses
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-283E-10641A05-393D299A-prod1
Just “cut’n’paste” the URL into your browser’s address window
Recommended:
Yes
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Howard_Creech
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Member: Howard Creech
Location: Louisville, KY
Reviews written: 333
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About Me:
Photographer/Writer fascinated by Movies, Music, Books, American Diner Food, History, "Popular Culture", and Travel.
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