good website for info on Bessas?

[bessa_L_R3a]

Hi,

I have more questions about the inner workings of the R3a, specifically, but I don't want to bore anyone here so is there a website that has an explanation of how it works in and out?

 

[Lee Shively]

http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtrwhich.htm

 

[copake_ham]

Also: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/

As I understand it, the site is now owned by the same fellow who owns Camera Quest.

BTW: Steve Gandy is a "good guy". I've purchased two R2S camera bodies from him and several lenses to fit etc.

 

[BrianPhotog]

Also: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/

As I understand it, the site is now owned by the same fellow who owns Camera Quest.

BTW: Steve Gandy is a "good guy". I've purchased two R2S camera bodies from him and several lenses to fit etc.

Only so long as you're buying from him (and I have, including my 28 Ultron, 25 Skopar, Bessa L, and a few odds & ends). If he thinks you're biting into his business, like publishing how-tos on Bessa repair, etc... then it's a different story. :rolleyes:

 

[BrianPhotog]

Hi,

I have more questions about the inner workings of the R3a, specifically, but I don't want to bore anyone here so is there a website that has an explanation of how it works in and out?

For a little more on the inner workings, I have a DIY article on R2A/R3A rangefinder adjustment at: Dead Link Removed.

There is also an article out there (can't locate it now) that has photos of a disassembled R2.

 

[Donald Boyd]

Only so long as you're buying from him ... If he thinks you're biting into his business, like publishing how-tos on Bessa repair, etc... then it's a different story.

What exactly do you mean by that?

 

[BrianPhotog]

What exactly do you mean by that?

It means exactly what it says. It's a fairly straightforward statement. As to why (that's probably what you intended to ask) it was already discussed to death some months back on the CVUG (a discussion which I could not be a part of) and the forums on the uCVc.

The CVUG has archives. Check there.

 

[Andy K]

Thanks for mentioning uCVc Brian, having been made persona non grata in the RFF shop quite some time ago I had no idea the uCVc was out there! Just signed up.

Also I saw mention of rfcameras.org on uCVc, but get a domain default page when I navigate there. Does anyone know if the site is down, or is there a problem at my end? I'm running Safari or Firefox on Intel mac.

 

[BrianPhotog]

Thanks for mentioning uCVc Brian, having been made persona non grata in the RFF shop quite some time ago I had no idea the uCVc was out there! Just signed up.

No worries. For a time Gandy was banning any reference to the uCVc on the RFF (i.e. if anyone would post a link to a review or article there the post would be deleted by a mod...not photo.nut or any other site...just uCVc). I'm not sure if he's still doing that.

Also I saw mention of rfcameras.org on uCVc, but get a domain default page when I navigate there. Does anyone know if the site is down, or is there a problem at my end? I'm running Safari or Firefox on Intel mac.

Yeah, it didn't last long. There were a couple users that really beat the forums admin to death and he just threw in the towel.

 

[Andy K]

Yeah, it didn't last long. There were a couple users that really beat the forums admin to death and he just threw in the towel.

Thats a real shame. One person having a virtual monopoly on RF discussion is not good, particularly when that person has a vested interest in selling RF cameras.

 

[bessa_L_R3a]

For a little more on the inner workings, I have a DIY article on R2A/R3A rangefinder adjustment at: Dead Link Removed.

QUOTE]


Hi Brian,

I checked out your pages and bookmarked them. It's very interesting. I'm wondering if the whole alignment issue you discuss is the issue I'm having.

When I use the focus patch on my r3a, I can usually line up high contrast vertical lines, but it doesn't quite work with other things. Example: I'm focusing on a face with glasses. When the nose is focused according to patch alignment, I notice the rims on the glasses are not. Is this a depth of field issue?

 

[Uhner]

The tip of the nose and the glasses are most likely on different distances from your camera and hence can’t be in focus at the same time.

Cheers.

 

[BrianPhotog]

The tip of the nose and the glasses are most likely on different distances from your camera and hence can’t be in focus at the same time.

Cheers.

Yep! the glasses are behind the nose so both can't be the focal point.

 

[vdonovan]

Gents, For what it's worth, I've started a Bessa repair Wiki with the intent of offering a place where Bessa knowledge can be consolidated:
Dead Link Removed

Feel free to use it or ignore it as pleases you. It has pointers to the articles you've mentioned above.

I've posted information about this wiki several times on Rangefinderforum.com and the information has never been deleted.

 

[copake_ham]

I was banned from RFF [...] quite some time ago now - back when the site was owned by Jorge Torballa.

It was a blessing in disguise as I had just discovered APUG and have never really looked back.

I'm going to check out BrianPhotog's site recommendation. I remember him from my RFF days - good to "hear" from him again.

BTW: I've only lightly used my two CV Bessa R2S's - but very interested in hearing about how they stand up over time. And how, if need be, to get them repaired.

 

[Donald Boyd]

There are a lot of good people here from what I see. Why did they ban you George? You seem like a knowledgeable and friendly person.

 

[bessa_L_R3a]

Yep! the glasses are behind the nose so both can't be the focal point.

Ok, then how come when I focus on a wall frame and the vertical sides are aligned, the top side is not? Is this also a distance issue? If I align right up to the top corner, the vertical side is good and the top side is slightly off ... It sort of bothers me, but if it will all come out in focus anyway then I´m not too concerned.

 

[copake_ham]

There are a lot of good people here from what I see. Why did they ban you George? You seem like a knowledgeable and friendly person.

Thanks. I never quite knew why and no longer care. It was a long while ago.

 

[Donald Boyd]

Maybe they were having their period.

 

[BrianPhotog]

Ok, then how come when I focus on a wall frame and the vertical sides are aligned, the top side is not? Is this also a distance issue? If I align right up to the top corner, the vertical side is good and the top side is slightly off ... It sort of bothers me, but if it will all come out in focus anyway then I´m not too concerned.

Vertical misalignment? I have a article on vertically adjusting the RF patch at Dead Link Removed, but I'm not sure that's what your issue is. :confused:

 

[Uhner]

Ok, then how come when I focus on a wall frame and the vertical sides are aligned, the top side is not? Is this also a distance issue? If I align right up to the top corner, the vertical side is good and the top side is slightly off ... It sort of bothers me, but if it will all come out in focus anyway then I´m not too concerned.

If there is a vertical/horizontal focus discrepancy I suspect that something might be wrong with your camera (I can’t be sure since I have only used Leica cameras and they might work differently – although I doubt this). If I remember correctly you bought this camera recently and it should be under warranty. Have someone look at it.

 

[bessa_L_R3a]

If I remember correctly you bought this camera recently and it should be under warranty. Have someone look at it.

Good memory! Yes, I did bring it in for the guy to look at it and he spent a few minutes focusing and checking it out and said he didn't notice anything wrong ... I'm not going to push it. If I start noticing a lot of blur issues I will deal with it again. I've only developed one roll so far and of that scanned just a few frames so I won't be sure yet.

 

[kivis]

Thats a real shame. One person having a virtual monopoly on RF discussion is not good, particularly when that person has a vested interest in selling RF cameras.

None this is my experience. Rangefinder Forum is a lively place where criticisms when warranted flow freely even if it includes Cameraquest which is rare. It is rare because IMHO he does a bang up job.

 

[Lee L]

None this is my experience. Rangefinder Forum is a lively place where criticisms when warranted flow freely even if it includes Cameraquest which is rare. It is rare because IMHO he does a bang up job.

I'd say the same of the CVUG (Cosina/Voigtlander Users Group) list, which Steve Gandy also runs. People freely criticize C/V products and talk about problems there. Gandy may step in occasionally and offer his views, but doesn't prevent or censor discussion about the hardware. If you read the cameraquest pages with your brain engaged, you can get a much better idea about the strengths and weaknesses of the C/V products than you can from any other retailer's web presence that I've seen.

Lee