Voigtländer Bessa RF Medium Format Rangefinder

theartofphotography.tv/episode...
/ tedforbes
/ tedforbes
Jurgen Kreckel's website: certo6.com/
Voigtlander produced the Bessa series from 1929 to 1956. For its time it was one of the most advanced folding cameras available. Notable are the coupled rangefinder and high end lens choices.
One of my favorite antique cameras. Mine's in mint condition and I still photograph on it today.

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

I bought an old ferrania falco 2 folder fell in Love with folding cameras now have an Ikonta mess which is stunning and a bessa II which I absolutely adore I know I’m gonna love thing forever 📷❤️📷

[@ozbaz99]

I have the new Bessa III medium format folder. It is simply my favourite camera. Sharp beautiful images. It has a large bright viewfinder with a clear coupled rangefinder and a centre weighted lightmeter built in. i love the way Cosina has kept the Voigtlander name alive and they still make film cameras

[@JoeDoesVoices]

I inherited a non-rangefinder Bessa from my great-grandfather and it's part of the reason I got into shooting film. The very first roll I developed at home was shot with the Bessa, in fact! Glad to see an episode on this lovely specimen.

[@johnfarley4201]

Gentle respect for a wonderful presentation of a beautiful camera.

[@trevorpinnocky]

Very nice segment. I actually own a vintage voigtlander rangefinder. Superlative engineering.. Brilliant little shooter....

[@northstar1950]

I know this is quite an old post now but I really find these vintage camera reviews interesting...thanks Ted.

[@alexs.362]

Ted! I just got a 1937 Bessa last week, it works so smooth you'd think it was just built. I get my film back tomorrow, hopefully I got some good shots. My Bessa isn't the RF model so I have to guess the distances to what I'm shooting and focus accordingly. Great stuff none the less!

[@barryz1969]

Great episode! Thank for the tip about Jurgen Kreckel, I'm going to send him my Bessa I (Color-Skopar 3.5) and him him go through it completely. I have been looking for the right repairman for a little while now, sounds like he is the right one. I can't wait to run the first roll through it, I've never shot with it before.

[@SilntObsvr]

The two windows won't both show the frame number. This camera originally had a 6x4.5 frame mask, and when it was in, you'd advance to the first window, then the second, then the next frame number to the first window, and so forth. With the mask out, you advance always to the second window; if you use both, you'll overlap your frames.

[@GenWivern2]

Thank you for this series of videos Ted, all wonderful cameras which slow the photographic process down and make you think. This one is my favourite thus far - love 6x9 folders. The Bessa looks very sleek compared to my Ensign - and yes, a coupled rangefinder would come in mighty handy! I'm very much looking forward to the "shootout", and hope this camera is included.

[@Foxglove963]

GenWivern. Which model of Ensign are you comparing with this Bessa? Ensign cameras were fitted with better lenses, by renowned makers Taylor & Hobson, Ross, Dallmeyer, Aldis. It was Voightlander who cheated Petzval, moving their factory across the border so that they would not have to pay him. Voightlander made millions and Petzval died in poverty. Ross improved a second Petzval lens.

[@soleillnoir]

Hey Ted. I have exactly this camera and I still use it. I just wanted to mention that this camera also has an adapter to change format of photos from 6x9 to 6x4.5. When you put the adapter in the camera you can have 16 shots per roll of film. So when you have the adapter in, you have to wine the number of exposure twice. For example, when you expose first shot (no.1) you'll have to wine it to the second window to get shot no.2 despite that it says 1. Also, if you noticed that silver button above the viewfinder (window for composing shot), that button serves to change the view in this window from 6x9 to 6x4.5. You just have to wine it clockwise in order to change your view from 6x9 to 6x4.5. So, I just wanted to share it with you in case you didn't know. Bye!

[@theartofphotography]

Ah! I don't have the adapter - that's cool - explains the windows. Thanks for sharing!

[@kevinhooa4325]

The 1937 Bessa I used to have was the same way. They actually made the mask with a wedge in it, and when the mask was put in, it covered one red window so there was no confusion in getting 16 exposures. When the mask was removed, you manually moved it back for 8 exposures.

[@lex3729]

Stop all your wineing.

[@samadkohi9166]

If I Want to take pictures in 6:9 I only use the first window?

[@randallstewart175]

These are nice cameras, and the Bessa II, being the post-war update, significantly improves the lens (coated now), shutter and viewfinder, being far more useable. When buying a used Bessa, be careful of its one design shortcoming. Of the many "folder" designed cameras made before the war, the Bessa (all of them) have a front lens standard (the piece which holds the lens when open) which can be knocked loose and misaligned, which will kill your pictures. Repair of this is not usually practical, so watch what you buy.

[@alfredbarten4901]

I had a Voigtlander Vito 35mm folder. Don't know if was of the same vintage or not, but it took great pictures and was very compact.

[@murusons]

Very informative as always. Wish you could’ve included some photos to see the results. Or a link to go see?

[@garytill]

I have a Vitessa T with 3 lenses, it's a magnificent piece of engineering. It's not quite as pretty as the earlier Vitessa fixed lens designs, which were essentially 35mm folding cameras.

[@jaza4805]

There is also Bessa 667 (or Fujifilm 667) which is modern folder (from 2009 I believe). It has unique feature: it can be switched between 66 and 67 formats. Not to mention it has lightmeter and electronic super quiet shutter.

[@stephenarling1667]

Super Ikontas from that era are excellent coupled rangefinder MF cameras too. It is easy to see how Germany built its hegemony in cameras back then, when you compare their products against English, American and Japanese contemporaneous products.

[@CalumetVideo]

I have the Voigtlander Bessa I, great camera and makes large sharp negatives. I have owned the Fuji GL690 and sold it quickly since it was a beast. I have thought about the Fuji GL690III but just can’t justify the price for a few rolls a year. If anyone is looking to occasionally shoot the 6x9 format, these folders are great.

[@leonarddaneman810]

Nice camera. I have a Robra with a Rodenstock lens. 6x4.5 format, which makes it pocket size. The cool thing is how the lens/bellows pops out with a push of a button. K'chunk. Not as full-featured as your Voigtlander, but can get the job done.

[@NBartrina]

Hi! I know this video is a bit old but I can't find "Jürgen Crackles " website about foldable cameras. Does it exist still? Luis

[@tifariel]

I have a rare version of the Heliar Bessa RF, which actually has a PC Port on the shutter for flash photography. Unfortunately, the PC Port is located where the Cable Release Hole would be, so I don’t have a Cable Release option, but I’m OK with the trade off. I also have a Heliar Bessa II camera, but for portraits, I prefer the uncoated Heliar of the Bessa RF. It is tack sharp, but not as contrasty as the Bessa II, Heliar. The uncoated Heliar has a gentle, charming vintage look to it.

[@Crewchief227]

I almost bought the exact same camera but it was a Zeiss. They wanted $35 and I didn't pull the trigger because their were some pinhole leaks in the bellows.

[@user-ms8qg2rz5s]

Does this can have a black print with close version ? I want one with a Black VC meter ii on it. Thx

[@scottfromoahu2896]

Wow. This is fantastic. Based on the focal length, it looks like it will frame an exposure to be just about "normal" e.g. 40-50mm FL on a 35mm. Almost seems like a waste on that huge 6x9 negative. Have you ever heard of a way to attach a filter/lens to shoot a slightly wider angle on it? Maybe 28mm equivalent framing...

[@cflorio]

Ted, what's on the front of the camera on the door that swings open? Looks like a 1/4" 20 female mount? What's up with that? Thanks for making this video, I had seen your previous one as well on the bessa and I really am interested in getting one.

[@spajdude]

It's a tripod mount. It has one on the door and one on the bottom.

[@bthemedia]

My first analog camera... picked mine up (non rangefinder version) at a flea market in Bulgaria. I wish I could tell for certain (instead of range guessing) if my subject is in focus!

[@blackwhitestyles1309]

There's little range finders that you can put into the hot shoe of your camera available for cheap on ebay. get one tht has the same scale as your camera (ft or m) - you'll be amazed at how well it works!

[@pedromeza2398]

I own four different folding 120 mm cameras, that I shoot 120 as well as 35 mm using an adapter with black electrical tape covering the back window, for the fun effects.

[@husbondensrost]

Why would it need two red windows on the back? I know it's for viewing frame numbers on the back paper, but I have never seen a 6x9 camera with two windows. Some early 6x4½ cameras I know have the two window system, but as I understand they needed it because the film didn't have marks for 6x4½ frames. But this is 6x9?

[@carbondragon]

I know this video is old, and I'm not sure you're still watching the comments, but good video AND you might look at the old Konica I rangefinder. Why? Well it was my first camera but more importantly it has the same kind of shutter as this camera and it too folds out and it too is fixed length. No bellows and it's 35mm but still a pretty nice little camera. Anyway, thanks again for the video.

[@samadkohi9166]

If I Want to take pictures in 6:9 I only use the first window? Should the number be in the cirkular red window?

[@SilntObsvr]

Voigtländer is the oldest name in optics. They made microsopes in the 17th century, and made the very first commercially built Daguerreotype camera in the 1830s.

[@rossjlee]

Hey Ted. i wanted to get a 35mm film body to snap with for fun. yesterday i got pretty lucky was talking to a family member and he mentioned he had his grandfathers voigtlander bessamatic with a 35, 50 and the 135(w/ all original leather cases) and i told him id buy it straight up for $300 and he agreed. he went back home and is mailing it to me today. i was wondering if you could give me a little information and opinions of the bessamatic if you have any.

[@fanjan7527]

Ted, what size filters does this camera take? Reason I ask is about four years ago I bought a box of filters of a guy who bought the box from a pharmacy. There is roughly 100 filters in the box, many of smallish diameter. I could send you a couple if you still use your Voightländer Bessa, obviously if I have the right sizes. About three of the filter boxes hasn't even been opened yet. I think it is pretty much new old stock that never got sold. Most of the little foam pads have disintegrated inside the plastic cases, but from what I remember, the filters are still top notch, I just don't have any camera's to use them with, not even the larger diameter filters. Let me know.

[@theartofphotography]

I have no idea what size. Email me if you're interested - I'd be happy to discuss/take a look!

[@spajdude]

It takes 37 millimeter slip-on filters and shade. The lens has a thread, but it's only for the front element retaining ring.

[@fanjan7527]

spajdude Awesome spajdude. Thank you so much for the info.

[@spajdude]

You only use both red windows when you use the mask for 6x4,5. Then you wind the film so the number shows up in the first window, take a shot, then wind a little so that the same number shows up in the second window, and take a shot, and repeat with each number. The reason for that is that 120-film didn't have markings for 6x4,5 in the beginning.

[@samadkohi9166]

If I Want to take pics in 6:9 I only use the second window or the first?

[@neilpiper9889]

Skopar for Black &white Colour Skopar for colour. Vaskar was the budget lens.

[@ilovealbundy]

It would have been very interesting if you had shown some photos that were taken with this camera. So everything is unfortunately only theory :-(

[@Steaphany]

I have an original Bessa that my father found while in Germany during WWII I rarely use it but I'd love to know What size is the thread in the tripod mount ? Being so old, I do not want to risk damaging the threads by experimenting.

[@KIFQHESE]

Stephany, we can't know what thread may be in your camera. It may or may not be already fitted with an adapter, for example. Old Bessas (like Ted's) have 3/8 thread, it's wider than usual and it needs either a proper adapter or a release plate with 3/8 screw..

[@Steaphany]

Thank you, that helps.

[@chatterhype]

cool stuff! :)

[@mikedibella]

I know this is an old video but does anyone have any information how to swap the lens?

[@Igaluit]

I think Brassai shot on a Voigtlander Bessa.

[@neilpiper9889]

Voightlander Perkio?

[@henrybn14ar]

I have one of the non-rangefinder versions. Beautifully made but disappointing performance with soft ie out-of-focus images. I gather this is a widespread issue with these cameras. The design of the linkages does not stabilise the lens panel adequately. Same issue with the Zeiss 6x9 Ikonta. Agfa Ventura and Ross Selfix have a positive system which locks the lens panel firmly in the correct position.

[@ellardyow5692]

nice camera.

[@Aps3FanBoy]

Anychance you'd look at the bessa l??

[@KIFQHESE]

I've had unnumbered Bessa made around 1935, completely operable, literally working like new. Got rid of it after going through a single roll. Not a god camera by any means, sorry. Brilliant finder is very small, frame finders have great parallax errors. theartofphotography : Ted, gosh... Talking crazy, crazy fast, you're praising another camera with white triplet lens. You're not mentioning words "lens hood" again. And you're telling us you leave your camera for teh special stuff. Well, I guess people believe you. Sure I remember your old profile photo...

[@krishartsphotography5643]

Nice :)

[@felipemehl]

i have one in perfect condition, how much can i sell it for?

[@snowh6644]

Hi helmut mehl, is your Bessa RF still available?

[@felipemehl]

@@snowh6644 yes

[@snowh6644]

@@felipemehl I am interested to buy one. May I know which lens does your Bessa RF have?

[@felipemehl]

@@snowh6644 I'll have to look

[@bassimelalami]

Canon FTb QL !!!