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Photo : Classic camera : Classic 120 format : RF (Range Finder) : Voigtlander Bessa family

Voigtlander Bessa family

The Bessa family of Voigtlander, Germany is one of the best and sought after medium format RF in the market, began around 1930s to compete with Zeiss's, some were 6x6cm like Baby Bessa 66, mostly they were 6x9cm format, but some are dual format (6x4.5cm and 6x9cm) Prewar Bessa. Afterwards, Bessa RF (Rangefinder) which release with "unique focusing", with the upperleft knob as it's cousin Bessa II, 135 relatives are Vito III and Prominent family, to move the lens plane chamber for focusing (the lens has no focusing ring and I was told that they are symmetrical design which rendered more quality, and Contax AX, first Contax AF SLR which use with MF lens used this moving chamber method).

Bessa I, Voigtlander pushed Bessa II, which has coupled rangefinder integrated with viewfinder as from BessaRF. the last of it's series Bessa II still have the same superior machanical and optical design than the competitors.
The era of Bessa ended when SLR start to take over the market from RF, and 135 format begin to eat up the 120 share.
The advantages of Bessa to other RF are :
• The unique or odd machanical and optical design make are very eye catching.
The disadvantages of Bessa to other RF are :
• The unique focusing, the upperleft knob focusing which someone may find difficult to use and handle the camera steady.

Description

Manufacturer : Voigtlander, Germany
Era (Mfg.) : 1930-1950s
Lens : Fixed normal lens (focal lenght 105mm or 110mm)
Format : Medium (120) with 6x4.5, 6x6cm, 6x9cm, or dual format of 6x4.5 and 6x9 (mask needed)
Accessories : Voigtlander Accessories
Models available :

• Prewar Bessa circa 1930
• Prewar Bessa circa 1931-49
• Baby Bessa 66
• Bessa RF
• Bessa I
• Bessa II

Model	Lens available for entry level	Lens available for midprice	Lens available for prestige
Prewar 1930	Anastigmat Voigtar 1:6.3/105mm, uncoated
Prewar 1931-49 Era (Mfg.) : 1931-1949 Shutter type : Copal leave; Kilo Compur-Rapid Shutter speed : 1/150 sec., B, T, self timer Cable release socket : N/A Flash Sync. : N/A Rangefinder : N/A Viewfinder : Waist and eye-level viewfinders Format : Dual format of 6x4.5 and 6x9 (mask needed)	Voigtar 1:4.5/110mm, uncoated Basic lens for entry level.	Skopar 1:3.5/105mm, uncoated
Baby Bessa 46
Baby Bessa 66
Bessa RF Era (Mfg.) : 193x-1948 Shutter type : Copal leave : Compur-Rapid Shutter speed : 1/400 sec., B, T, self timer Cable release socket : N/A Flash Sync. : N/A Rangefinder : Eye-level coupled rangefinder ; operate by rotating the knob on top of the camera Viewfinder : Built-in, Coupled with rangefinder Tripod bushes : 2 at both ends Weight : 750gms (26oz)	Helomar 1:3.5/105mm, uncoated Basic lens for entry level.	Skopar 1:3.5/105mm, uncoated Basic lens for entry level.	Heliar 1:3.5/105mm, uncoated 5 elements rare and legendary Heliar optics.
Bessa I Era (Mfg.) : 195x Shutter type : Copal leave with these options; Pronto-S Synchro-Compur Shutter speed : 1-1/500 sec., B, self timer Cable release socket : Near shutter Flash Sync. : X-M all speed Rangefinder : N/A Viewfinder : Eye-level, built-in, with paralax correction on 1-3m and infinity. Format : Dual format of 6x4.5 and 6x9 (mask needed) Tripod bushes : 2 at both ends	Vaska 1:4.5/105mm Basic lens for entry level.	Color-Skopar 1:3.5/105mm, coated Coated version of Skopar optics.
Bessa II Era (Mfg.) : 1950-54 Shutter speed : B, 1-1/500 Shutter type : Copal leave, Synchro-Compur Flash Sync. : X-M all speed Rangefinder : Coupled built-in with viewfinder Viewfinder : Eye-level, built-in, coupled with rangefinder Format : 6x9cm	Color-Skopar 1:3.5/105mm, coated Coated version of Skopar optics.	Color-Heliar 1:3.5/105mm, coated Legendary Heliar optics and coated.	Apo-Lanthar 1:4.5/105mm Very rare, most sought after and damn expensive.

 

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