Voigtlander Bessa R2 vs R2a Film Camera The Full Comparison

Voigtlander Bessa R2 vs R2a Film Camera The Full Comparison

Voigtlander Bessa R2A or R3A ?

The R2A / R3A bodies are identical, except for the viewfinders.  The R2A has a .7x magnification viewfinder with 35/50/75/90 framelines.  The R3A has a 1.0x magnification viewfinder with 40/50/75/90 framelines.

The advantage of the R2A is the 35 frameline, and that IF you don't wear glasses, some people use the full frame of the viewfinder for an approximation of a  28mm field of view -- although the hot shoe mounted 28 accessory viewfinder does a better job.

The advantage of the R3A is the life-size 1.0x magnification viewfinder.   This means that if you focus with your right eye, you can shoot with both eyes open, giving you full periphery viewing far beyond the framelines with less eye strain.  And of course, the 40 frameline mates perfectly with the very popular Voigtlander 40/1.4 Nokton.  With the higher magnification, you also get slightly more accurate focusing as the R3A has a longer effective rangefinder base length than the lower magnification R2A.   IF you don't wear glasses, you may find it useful to use the entire full R3A viewfinder as a 35mm field of view.

The disadvantage of the R3A to some glasses wearers is trouble seeing all four edges of the 40 frameline.  This problem increases with the thickness of your glasses.  Yet many people who are bothered by this are expecting SLR like viewing accuracy from the framelines.  In fact framelines in all Leica mount cameras (regardless of camera manufacturer) are more like approximations as they show the minimum you will get on film when the camera is focused at its closest focus distance.  At infinity, you always get more than what the framelines show.  Bottom line, it depends upon your glasses and what works with you.  Even if you wear thick glasses, you will likely have no problem seeing the 50/75/90 R3A framelines.

These four cameras are produced in the same factory on the same assembly line by the same personnel, using the same body casting.  They differ primarily in their shutters and Aperture Priority Exposure vs. Metered Manual Exposure.

One of my personal favorite color films is the Kodak Ektar 100 Professional ISO 100, 35mm, 36 Exposures, Color Negative Film

My all time favorite black and white film is the Ilford 1780624 Delta 100 Professional Black-and-White Film, ISO 100, 35mm 36-Exposure

The R2A / R3A have electronic shutters which makes possible your choice of either metered manual metering (you adjust the f/stops or shutter speeds to match the finder readout) or Aperture Priority Automatic Exposure (you choose the f/stop, the camera automatically chooses the shutter speed) with AE exposure lock.  The R2A / R3A offer faster shooting with Aperture Priority -- a big plus for street photography or quick moving events. The disadvantage is like virtually all other electronic shutter cameras, dead batteries mean a dead camera.

The perfect combination?

Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.1 Leica M Mount Lens - Black

click on the lens for more info

This is the FASTEST non-Leica lens currently in production for the M mount system, and it sells for about 10% of the Worlds fastest Lens, this may be all you need to know to make your purchase decision.

This lens WILL make you want to go bang your head on a brick wall, it is frustrating, challenging, it will make you look like a idiot again and again.... and when you are ready to give up focusing it... it will deliver pictures like nothing you have ever seen before.

The R2M / R3M have mechanical shutters, which means no Aperture Priority AE.  Dead batteries mean no meter, but you can continue to take pictures by setting the exposure yourself.  In my opinion the R2M / R3M have the best metered manual metering display of ANY Leica mount rangefinder.  In addition, the R2M / R3M shutters are noticeably quieter than the earlier mechanical shutters of the Bessa L, T or R2, but yet not as quiet as the cloth shutters in the Leica M series.

The R2M / R3M 250th Anniversary cameras are relatively rare limited edition cameras produced in either silver paint or classic black paint.  The R2A / R3A are standard production cameras, produced in either black splatter paint or gray paint.  The R2M / R3M have a LED meter readout in plus / - half stops from -2 to +2.  The R2A / R3A have a LED meter readout indicating the closest selected shutter speed.

Another personal favorite is the 50mm 1,5 Nokton lens, click at the lens for more info

Voigtlander M 50mm f/1.5 Nokton Aspherical Lens

My thoughts about the Voigtlaender Film Camera Bessa 2RA

Analog Film cameras are making a huge comeback, not only in the USA but also in Europe, and The Bessa s are the ideal camera for beginners and for the die hard analog film camera s lovers who cannot or do not afford or do not want to pay $1000 s of Dollars for just a name like the Leica, Do not get me wrong here, Leica, although a investment company owned company and saved from bankruptcy the Leica cameras are well made, but we must all admit that Leica has become more and more a way overpriced lifestyle brand and although superb quality, I bet 99% of the people can not notice the difference in quality of the pictures taken with a Bessa or a leica, we all know that the Voigtlaender lenses are almost the same build quality as those of Leica, only the price difference is huge. 

ready to buy the voigtlaender Bessa Camera? Here is a great deal on the Bessa 3RA!, just click at the camera for more info!

Or maybe the Voigtlander Bessa 4RA

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