It does what it's supposed to and well. Reliable meter, and mechanics. Small and unobtrusive.

Plastic parts feel like they wouldn't sustain a fall too well. Shutter is louder than any other rangefinder I've heard--however, it's quieter than a mechanical SLR.

For the price and what the camera is supposed to be (a light-tight box for super-wides), it excels. I've used it for a while now with the 21/4 mounted, and it's been a great knock-around.

Customer Service

N/A

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Plenty of rangefinders, but none like this.

-Metering is right on. -Camera was intially made for wide angle lenses that Cosina Voigtlander produces and all of the lenses are sold with finders. The finders work well, but with the wide angle, you really don't NEED to use the finders if you don't want to. -You can use this camera with most leica thread mount lenses. If you get the Russian Universal Turret Finder or something similar, you are set for about any focal length--if you don't mind zone focusing.

--This is not a macro tool, as you are zone focusing. --Ditto for portrait work in low light with a longer focal length. --The camera seems to have a backlash when rewinding. As hard as I try, I can't seem to just wind the film up easily, as I always get a backlash when I get close to the end of the film and have to start again, by taking up the slack.

The Bessa L has been discontinued as of May 2003. Retailers are discounting the cameras to move them out. Stephen Gandy at Cameraquest.com offers a one year warranty on the camera along with an excellent price, so for $75, it is hard to go wrong. I find the camera to be light yet sturdy (unlike other reviewers). It is very easy to hold it in one hand to take pics and the fact that the meter is easily seen on the top of the camera encourages this. That makes it the perfect shoot from the hip camera when paired with a wide angle Voigtlander lens like the 25mm f4 Skopar, or most other Leica thread mount lenses. Be aware that some of the Russian thread mounts may not work with this camera, because of the long back lens element they have. With the 25mm Skopar mounted you have a lens that has immense depth of field at f8 and smaller apertures, and the lens give your photos the Leica look at a fraction of the cost of the real thing. This is then the shoot from the hip set up that was made in heaven--move over Lomo LC-A :), plus you have the capability of changing lens to meet changing needs.

Customer Service

Stephen Gandy at Cameraquest.com is extremely responsive about any problems or questions about the camera.

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I've used lots of fixed lens rangefinders and a Fed 5c. Now if you want to experience cheap (as other reviewers have complained about the Bessa L), try the Fed 5.

Lightweight, exposure diodes on the body, cheap (in every way)

Cheap (in every way)

For the price it sells it can be considered as a bargain; looks like an FM10 Nikon w/o viewfinder. Plastic parts, especially the ISO and speed buttons, are real crap. The rest is OK. Valuable because it goes along with 15mm Heliars.

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Hexar RF, 21/4 VC

Its cosmetic appearance is nice -- that's it!!!

It shutter jams!!! It is unreliable!!!

THIS CAMERA IS NOT VERY RELIABLE -- EVEN IF YOU PAMPER IT. My camera's shutter jammed after only two photo outings and I carried it around in a cushioned camera case -- NO ABUSE! I am glad that I purchased a Mack Warranty for it but its reliability has me concerned. Cosina/Voigtlander produces very nice lenses but the cameras are JUNK!!!

Customer Service

I sent it to Mack Camera & Video for jammed shutter.

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Cosina 12mm & 15mm lenses

Simple design with meter LED''s placed on the external top edge of the body. Shutter speed max of 1/2000s, flash sync of 1/125s and PC socket - anyone make a flash that illuminates 12-15mm lens coverage ??? Simple operation. Meter is accurate, but metering with any very wide angle is hit and miss if there are large contrasts in the subject - better to use a spot meter and expose for the important part of the scene.m

Some of the parts feel cheap, but they do the job - mount lenses that are far superior to those on a point and shoot..

Well, it''s not a rangefinder so having it in this section is somewhat disingenuous. As some previous reviewers have mentioned, this camera is just a film carrier for the wonderful Voigtlander wide angle lenses, especially the 12mm f5.6, the 15mm f4.5 and the 25mm f4 - none of which are rangefinder linked therefore only need a very basic body! The immense depth of field of these lenses negates to a large extent the need for accurate focus - just hyperfocal and go! I use my Bessa-L with the 15mm and 25mm lenses - mainly the 25mm as a "point and shoot".

Customer Service

Not used.

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Bessa-R which is rangefinder coupled

It works! It allows access to the superb "Voigtlander" wide-angles. Small, light and easy to carry.

Horrible controls strqight from the Cosina parts bin. Loud shutter. Build quality mixed - some bits feel solid, others very flimsy.

The camera is amazingly basic - the only frill is the TTL metering system. This camera really is nothing more than a film holding and transport device, with a shutter, meter and mount for a lens plus an accessory shoe (note: NOT a hotshoe) for av iewfinder. Oh, and there''''s also a PC socket for flash. But that''''s all you need when mated to the fantastic 15mm. I didn''''t intend to buy this camera, but it was included with the lens in an auction. Now I''''m hooked, after just a week! Great at what it does.

Customer Service

N/A

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Various Russian rangefinders (FEDs, Zorkis)

Serves its purpose, i.e., allows you to take good pictures using ultra wide lenses. Very low price.

Very poor quality control and build quality, shutter prone to jamming, cheaply made, limited to ultra wides only.

Serves its purpose, i.e., a camera body for ultra wide LTM lenses. Think of it as a film back, shutter, and light meter.

Customer Service

Haven''t used it.

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Leica M1

This camera is simple, and I've found it to be reliable so far. The 25 and 15 MM lenses are simply amazing! I've been able to take travel photographs in several European cities with excellent results. This camera is really a joy to use. The direct vision viewfinders are extemely bright and it's easy to see the full frame, even with glasses. The depth of field of these lenses is great enough that zone focussing has been quite accurate and "user-friendly"

The rear lens caps of both lenses are hard to quickly screw on. Parallex framelines for the 25 mm would be helpful.

This is a specialized camera for people who are interested in the craft of photography and some unusual high-quality lenses. This is a great little tool!

Customer Service

Not needed as yet

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Many rangefinders -- Konica S3, Canonet, M6.
Also a Rollei QZ T

Cheap

Shutter broke after one roll of film.

Can't take pictures if the shutter doesn't work.

Customer Service

Got screwed by one of those New York mail order houses with a gray market camera (they didn't tell me at time of purchase. Now I'm stuck with a broken camera and no warranty. No chance they'll give me my money back, even though they lied about it being gray market.

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Hexar, Leicas, Contax G2

I first used this camera on a ski tour in Yosemite; the results, using Velvia 50 and the 25mm lens, were outstanding. These lenses just have to be experienced! Contrast was extremely good (better than Contax lenses in my opinion) and tack sharp!
I mostly shoot in mountain areas, so the 25mm is perfect for getting climbers and backgrounds together. It takes some time to remember to focus manually, but the wide angle lens hardly requires focusing in most situations. The camera body appears to be identical to the 'Cosina' line of bodies used in the Olympus 2000 product as well as the Nikon F-10; the internal meter is basic but I've used it on two expeditions with no problems whatsoever; although I tend to shoot a stop or two under the 'standard' readings given since I am often in snow/glacier situations.

The body is a 'Cosina' product and is over-priced in the Voightlander model (a nearly identical SLR type of this body can be found in the Olympus 2000 for at a cost of 169.00 rather than 240.00+ that the Voightlander tends to run)-- although the Voightlander body has worked fine for me, my Olympus 2000 body jammed; this may just be a freak incident however, since I was on a very cold mountain at the time! Also, the view-finder can hang up when pulling the camera out of its bag or out of pack-- I think it could get knocked off in time if a person were not careful.

This camera is superbe if you like total control and you seek a lightweight camera; but the real advantage is in the extremely bright viewfinder and the incredible contrast and sharpness of these lenses; I had mine stolen in Peru, and I intend to buy another Bessa-L as soon as the insurance arrives! If you are tired of auto, tech-weeny stuff get this soon.... and really, with the new color slide films, you will find images coming back that you never though possible. SLR's just can't match these lenses.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus 2000
Contax T-2
Rollei Prego (24mm)