Voigtlander Bessa 1, is it any good, full review and comparison

This video takes a good look around the Bessa 1 6x9 camera, a good reason to test your vintage cameras and how important that is, also a side by side comparison of this camera to the Bessa 11 and Bessa RF models
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[@frankzappa3834]

I quite like the look of these shots, even if the focus is off. Wonderful compositions, hopefully to be recaptured with the Bessa once again once fixed. Great work, Mr Henson!

[@gemista]

Agreed. Yet another Martin Henson video that is making me want to buy a camera...

[@WayneKnight_Rider]

I like the shots, the camera, and now I want one. Another bangin review by the Hen man.

[@martinhensonphotography]

I will try again now I seemed to have fixed the focus issue

[@michaeldimmitt2188]

@@martinhensonphotographyYes please!

[@stevebarnett5048]

True it’s a big learning curve but I wouldn’t curse my worst enemy with one to learn photography. They aren’t directly relatable to 99% of advice for shooting film for newbies available on the internet, and have the disadvantage of fewer shots to ‘get things wrong and learn from’. It’s an expensive learning curve you’ve set your pupil on with one of these. Disclosure I have two and use them regularly.

[@williamorford6966]

Just a couple of pointers from an ex repairer. Check the bellows by extending them and putting a torch inside to locate pinholes. If they are leaking and you want to replace them get in touch with Keith at Custom Bellows in Birmingham. They will supply them in the correct thickness to enable the camera to fold properly. Set the shutter speed to 1 second and fire first. If you’re going to get a problem with the shutter it will start here. Also look for oil on the blades on both aperture and shutter blades.

[@martinhensonphotography]

I had bellows made by them for my Mamiya 6 folder, really good quality

[@kavi14in]

Sir, I love your passion for photography and being Truly Purist....My Salute to you....👍👌

[@martinhensonphotography]

I thank you

[@maryandsam2]

this video has been perfect for me, I love vintage voigtlanders, I've only been shooting film (again) for a year and yet I've picked up a Vito B, Vito CLR, Vito II (my favourite), and a Bessamatic - I do have some medium format cameras but Just cannot justify the prices of the more expensive Bessa II or RF...Thank you so much for making these Films. If you have the time I'd appreciate your thoughts on the Vaskar Lens as this is less popular a bessa with that lens should be more affordable for me.

[@martinhensonphotography]

The Vasker is an excellent lens with its own unique character, not as sharp all over as the more expensive lens, thanks

[@nikolipham5952]

Thank you! I was searching all over the internet for instructions to this particular camera. God bless!

[@Andregg2]

By far the best Bessa video of KZbin. Thank you for the content. I have my Bessa one with the original box and manual yet, brand new. Unfortunately it's a pronto shutter, the most simple one, but still i love my camera

[@reusedisland1904]

Thanks for this very engaging video. I really appreciate your fine eye for composition. I bet thousands of people walked past the same place and never realized it would make a great photo. hats off to you, Martin! Phil, BC, Canada. And BTW, I really like the 6x9 ratio - it’s close to the 35 mm ratio, isn’t it?

[@juanmanuelromero4433]

Dear Martin, your channel is amazing. thanks for your passion! Congrats from Argentina!

[@billkaroly]

I have a Kodak Tourist 620 with a similar lens. I've ordered some film to test it out (Shanghai GP3 which although it is rated at 100 it's actually ISO 50).

[@russellsprout2223]

A really interesting and informative video, Martin. Can I ask where you get your push-on Kodak filter adapters please? I can't find a UK seller. Thanks.

[@TomNorthenscold]

I bought a Voigtlander external rangefinder after seeing that’s what you use. Do you know of a way to adjust the vertical alignment on this rangefinder? The instructions only address how to adjust the horizontal alignment.

[@My-Opinion-Doesnt-Matter]

Man, your video camera (phone?) can make cool oil paintings...

[@JeffStovall38]

Great video Martin. I got my Bessa I last month for less than $90 including shipping. I’ve had a lot of fun shooting two rolls with it so far.

[@PremKumar-yf8jo]

I need one accessory range finder, is it available to you?

[@fredlada1634]

Just seems to me the values just weren’t in feet but simply in meters… Particularly when it comes to landscape, nobody can notice if a distant object or peak or cloud is really in focus, that’s why like the painters effect, it’s best to set the minimum focus and then step down the aperture to the smallest you can to get a proper sense of things, with a focus gradually fading in the distance. These old cameras do not use the same standard values as of today too, it’s just the reality of it. An F8 on this type of 6x9 is more like an 5.6, so like one to two steps down in terms of sharpness and what you gonna have in focus. I have a kinax I and at f16 it rather looks like an f8-f11ish when compared to my Hasselblad 500cm negatives, no wonder why it goes down to f32, because if you want to have everything in focus from foreground to background it’s best to set minimum focus and step down to the maximum aperture, that way there is no surprise, and frankly, no one truly needs a gadget to tell you distance focusing, it just comes down to the technicalities of how optics and how photography works Martin. I’m really surprised as an old chap like you that you can almost look like a rookie here and be surprised with the results. I don’t believe there needs/needed to be a service done on the camera, but that it’s simply an issue of values. Looking at these pictures, things in the very far distance from the clouds to the next mountain hill on that first picture in particular were tac sharp and in focus, the rock in the foreground wasn’t, meaning the focus was already pretty far off set in the distance and not the foreground. If you set it to minimum, probably 5 feet, the rock would have been in focus at f16, and the clouds and distance mountain hill would have also been, only relative to the scale of things, so they would have been less in focus because they are very far compared to the rock. And then let’s not forget that back in the day people didn’t have 2 trillion pixels to zoom in on a screen, most images of back in the day were either contact printed or silver gelatin printed without as much precision as we can get today with current equipments, out of focus was barely noticeable if not embraced, especially when it comes to landscape photography, it’s expected not everything is in focus, it shouldn’t be I think because the eye cannot focus on everything at once. This Voigtlander isn’t made for photojournalism I think, although it’s quite sharp too, but i think it’s meant to be used for more artistic purposes, and one has to embrace what may seem defects compared to today’s standards, it’s what makes these cameras unique. My Kinax cable release socket doesn’t work, and it’s the only issue with it, preventing me from taking long exposures other than by having to manually hold the shutter down and I’m considering the Bessa 1 to be honest. It’s a very great review you just made here, very detailed, and to be honest it just seems to me the Bessa 1 is better than the RF and Bessa 2… especially when it comes to that shutter, the simplicity of use and when it comes to the wallet it just seems like a no brainer!

[@kjltube]

What a horrible tone your message has.

[@tompaste387]

Lovely camera. Love the way you pronounce aperture... apachoore lol Thanks for sharing. My only annoyance is that after each review I go to eBay to consider purchasing, I already have 86 cameras at is hahaha

[@bernardkealey6449]

Hi Martin I’ve finally bitten the bullet and bought one on eBay - from the UK and the shipping and eBay import charges to Australia were more than the camera! I checked with the seller to see if the focus was in metric or imperial and it’s actually metric. Not found a metric Watameter yet so for the time being I’ll see how my laser rangefinder I bought for renovations works… I hope you’re well and happy, you bring many of us joy out here.

[@jlg4094]

Hello Martin, another great video. I had have some cameras from a Petri TTL, Nikon FM, until a lumix gx80/85 that I have right now. I Have my Nikon, that my wife gave me in 1981, broken and watching your videos has encouraged me to return to analog photography, with my Lumix I have not get joy taking photos, shooting and shooting without thinking, with my Nikon was different. Thank you and great work.

[@Zetaphotography]

I have an Early Bessa Folder. I like it. Maybe i can upgrade to the Bessa I or get lucky and get a Bessa II or Bessa RF depending on uour video review

[@neilfoddering921]

Hello Martin, another most enjoyable and informative video, thank you. Coincidentally, I’ve just bought a Bessa 1, albeit with a Vaskar lens and Gauthier shutter. It’s in as-new condition, complete with its pristine ever ready leather case and reduction mask, and, as you say, was priced below £100, in fact just below £80. However, having watched your video, I shall be sending it to Miles for a service, together with my Bessa RF, which has the rangefinder out of alignment. Like you, I really rate these cameras. The Skopar lens in my Bessa RF performs superbly, and I’m hopeful that the Vaskar in the Bessa 1 will be excellent too, albeit a three element lens. I’ve owned a Super Ikonta, and though very well-engineered, I found it heavy and ungainly to handle, compared to the Voigtlanders.

[@rigbyUnbound]

just wondering how much a CLA costs if nothing needs to be replaced, such as the bellows, also is the Mike you mention the fella in liverpool (i can't seem to find anybody else who does it for these vintage folders)? cheers

[@neilfoddering921]

@@rigbyUnbound I’m referring to Miles Whitehead, a camera engineer used by Martin and me. Miles is winding down his business, and doing repairs only for existing customers. I expect to pay about £85 or so for a straightforward service. Miles recommends 1st Aid Repairs or Thomas Camera Services, both in Tunbridge Wells. I’ve not used either of them, so I don’t know what they charge, so I suggest that you contact them and see what they have to say.

[@rigbyUnbound]

@@neilfoddering921 superb, actually think i remember Martin mentioning he was only working for existing customers in an earlier video, so thanks for the info.

[@rhykko77]

Thanks ! EXACTLY the same problem I have found with mine . Cheers

[@felixk1606]

Great video, what size is the yellow filter? It's hard to find the voigltander filters for bessa i. Thank you 😊

[@slow.poetry]

Might this version with the Compur-Rapid be quite rare? I only see them with the Prontor shutter.

[@jw48335]

It may sound silly, but I use a golf laser rangefinder with these old scale focus on cameras, and often a light meter in the hotshoe:) I find it so much faster to "zap* my target and instantly know the range. I even use it with my Fujica 6x8 since I don't mich like the rangefinder patch. Another truly interesting video sir. Thanks!

[@martinhensonphotography]

I think that's a great idea, will look into that , thanks

[@letmebereal]

Which light meter do you use?

[@jw48335]

@@letmebereal TTartisan II, and prior to that, a keks 01.

[@davidmcfarland3940]

That is a great idea for the golf rangefinder Any particular recommendations for one?

[@jw48335]

@@davidmcfarland3940 I had a Bushnell brand that lasted 8 years of both golf and photography. When it died, my wife bought me an off-brand "Gogogo" $90 one off Amazon and that has been working great for two years now.

[@Swordandsphere]

This video is exceptional. Thank you very much for your time and knowledge in making this.

[@theoldfilmbloke]

MARTIN -- I was given a BESSA 66 and it had 'haze' inside but photos were sharp - I unscrewed front and rear element and got inside and cleaned off haze but now there is a 'Focus Issue' - i have disturbed the calibration of the lens !

[@martinhensonphotography]

Sounds like you have, will be sane as mine and needs the focus re setting

[@ledesclos5321]

Excellent. You are the master of vintage cameras. Thank you.

[@martinhensonphotography]

Thank you

[@georgegunnell6319]

Lovely and informative video. Thank you!

[@Eclectachrome]

Love these cameras, I have a folding Zeiss Ikon Nettar that I love but the Bessa's look amazing. Awesome video and thanks for making it for us to see!

[@martinhensonphotography]

Your welcome

[@lensman5762]

Well, I doubt if I could afford even the basic Bessa I with the present trend in film camera prices. last year I bought an Ensign Selfix 820 6X9, with the Ross Xpres 105mm F3.8 which is a superb lens. The camera is rather basic , no range finder , no frills but it does produce beautiful images. The first thing I did after checking that all the speeds on the shutter were working correctly was to put a ground glass at the film plane and check for focus setting accuracy. It turned out to be pretty spot on. I am sure that you will return to the rocks with the camera in full working order and do them justice they deserve. Great to watch another video from you and thank you.

[@martinhensonphotography]

Thanks, I have made the adjustment and seems fine now, thank you

[@avroml]

Sir, your videos are gems! I'm grateful that I've found your channel. I've bought Voigtländer Avus (for almost nothing), then (overpriced) sliding backs and expired 6,5 x 9 cm film sheets, and I'm going to take it for a spin.

[@dedskin1]

how did the spin go , i wonder my self to get a film camera here is some of my work , just family stuff drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hEwyFuBaY62EEva-9b_6Ep-3aK3-Lpyd?usp=drive_link

[@alanhuntley55]

Great video, Martin! No idea how prices compare with your Bessa I, but I really enjoy shooting my Zeiss Ikon Mess-Ikonta 524/2 and it has a rangefinder built-in. To be clear, though, the rangefinder IS NOT coupled to the lens; you have to set that yourself as on your Bessa I.

[@martinhensonphotography]

Great cameras , thanks

[@redsphoto6708]

As always a super video. Your previous videos were what made me buy the Bessa 2 and as finnicky as it is, I adore the photos I get out of it when they come out well (to be honest my biggest problem is that framing with such a small viewfinder when you wear glasses is error fraught). A real shame they did not carry over the multi-exposure prevention from the 1 to the 2/rf. I have messed up many times!! Good point on testing the camera before relying on it too much. I think I should take a ground glass to my folders and double check the focus sometime. I usually blame myself before the camera but sometimes the camera truly is at fault haha. There are other 6x9s folders too thankfully at good prices as well. It seems to have been sort of the original popular format. I have ordered a Franka with a Rodenstock lens and hopefully with a bit of service, it will produce nice results I look forward to it!

[@martinhensonphotography]

For framing The Voigtlander 6x9 kontur is something I use a lot works really well, although it’s best mounted on the camera cold shoe but you can manage using it if camera

[@michaelmalodrums9674]

Wonderful video thanks for producing this . My father who is 92 now still owns a bessa II with the color Skopar lens . He purchased it from a friend in the late 1950’s and barely ever used it . I got to use it a few times as a teenager and was always very impressed with the quality of the images . I think it couldn’t be that hard to use as I seem to get nicely exposed images in tack sharp focus . The black and whites were stunning and I remember how I really loved how the colours rendered using Fuji film not sure why . This model has the tray inside to split the images so you get 16 instead of 8 . I could only imagine how much more beautiful those images can be if they tray is removed to shoot true 6x9 . It’s a very lovely camera , and even if the color skopar lens is considered the budget lens of the options I’ve found it to be optically very pro quality .

[@martinhensonphotography]

I dont have any 6x4 masks for any of my folders, I keep hoping to come across one , thanks

[@innstikk]

Great video! Looking for a small 6x9 that I can take with me on trips along my Perkeo II. The Bessa I looks great, but difficult to find a copy with Skopar, most are Vaskar. Not worried about the f4.5 vs f3.5, but seems the Vaskar is soft in the corners and not so great with colour film and sunlight (no coating). My only problem is the tiny viewfinders that are not very glasses friendly. Should perhaps have a look at a Zeiss, but there are so many options and almost impossible to understand which to get.

[@martinhensonphotography]

The Bessa rf has a better focus and viewing system although you have two viewfinders to work with much like the old Leica’s, easy when you get used to it

[@innstikk]

@@martinhensonphotography I'll take a look for the RF. I do like the arrow functionality of the Bessa I though, and I do have 3 different external rangefinders (so difficult to find one with meters and not feet)

[@Federico84]

What does clad mean?

[@martinhensonphotography]

Clean, lubricate and adjusteded

[@Federico84]

@@martinhensonphotography oh ok, I have a bessa but the shutter doesn’t work correctly. ii works with high shutter speed but it becomes stuck at like 1\30 and also the timer is stuck

[@Martin_Siegel]

I guess by eliminating the RF on the Bessa 1 they had space for the additional features like the masks. To me it seems that there is not enough space up there to have both but they could not make it a flat top like the original Bessa because the "sports finder" was certainly not acceptable any more when the Bessa 1 came out back in 1950.

[@martinhensonphotography]

Yes i think your right regarding space, the mask selector is rather big under the cover

[@Martin_Siegel]

@@martinhensonphotography And so is the RF mechanism plus the internal 4.5x6 mask

[@thomaspopple2291]

Just wanted to say thank you for all your videos and the work that goes into creating them. I have learned an awful lot watching your channel. Cheers.

[@martinhensonphotography]

Your welcome

[@Headin_South]

Hi Martin, another very enjoyable video. I've calibrated a few cameras now, and found the best material to make a focusing screen by far, is a chopped up white polythene bin bag. Forget tracing paper or all the other suggestions, this gives you a really bright image. Top tip 👍

[@martinhensonphotography]

Good tip, I used a spare screen for am RB 6x7 to do mine, thanks

[@williamorford6966]

I still have from my time in servicing cameras a 6x9 ground glass to help calibrate the focus. Works well. We used to have an artificial infinity setup which worked very well.

[@glenntaylor7906]

As always a fount of knowledge and experience..... I have a 645 frame mask for the Bessa 1 if you can make use of it???

[@martinhensonphotography]

You know I have been looking for one for ages, thanks very much, if you contact me that would be great, thank you

[@glenntaylor7906]

@@martinhensonphotography not sure how to PM you via KZbin.. so will drop you a contact message via your website.

[@martinhensonphotography]

@@glenntaylor7906 Message received , I have text you with the details, thanks