Best Folding 6x9 Camera Ever? YES! The Voigtlander Bessa II
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- Опубликовано: 17 сен 2018
- My review of this lovely 6x9 folding film camera from yesteryear.
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Like this one, many Voightlander cameras from the 1950s did not have a top mounted cold shoe to hold accessories. I think that policy was mainly to avoid upsetting the styling of the camera, plus there were few accessories to use then anyway. However, a cold shoe was provided. It clips to the top of the camera between the two view/rangefinder windows, attaching to the little pins which protrude between the windows on front and same in back. As it works out, the cold shoe for the Bessa II is probably its rarest and most expensive accessory..
My grandfather purchased a bessa 2 brand new in 1950. He passed away in 1980 after owning it 30 years. My mother gave it to me, in 1980. I've owned it for 40 years & it's still in perfect working order, never been serviced. It has a cold shoe & color-skopar lense.
Wow that’s incredible. It might be a cliche but they really don’t make them like this anymore.
I have the Bessa my grandfather brought back from Germany in '45.
I’ve been loving your videos of film cameras! Thanks for the great content, would love to see your whole collection in one video.
Beautiful example of a timeless classic
My first post-DSLR film camera was an older model Voigtlander Bessa from 1930s. Worked great, super compact for travel in the mountains. My lens was good but had some imperfections and uneven focus, though still a very portable, beautiful and fun MF camera.
I have one exactly identical, with the Color-Skopar. It's a really gorgeous camera, that gives wonderful pictures and aesthetically is one of the most beautiful ever built.
I agree 100%. They don't make them like this anymore!
Nice review. I have a Bessa RF on the way with a Heliar lens which I will review once I get it.
It looks like a really good camera, even the shape and how it's constructed seems great. You did a great review :)
Thanks so much!
Wonderful video! Thank you very much for the information. What a beautiful little camera. And so compact for 6x9! The Mamiya you mention is like a tank in comparison! Thanks again! 😌👍
Thanks so much! I’m glad you found it useful.
I watched this video about 6 moths ago. Since then I was always patient on search for a decent Voigtländer/Zeiss Ikon Folder.
Now I ended with a mint Bessa I with the 4.5 Vaskar. I couldn't be happier.
Many thanks for your effort to show us the beauty of this breed of cameras!
Greetings from Austria!
Thomas
The Zeiss ikon is also a great folder with top notch Optics. I plan on getting one some day but the Bessa is top notch out of all of them IMHO.
i am having same camera
Just got hold of a mint Bessa I with rangefinder and filters. As I have (like many users) trouble reading the faint exposure numbers of Ilford HP5 through the red window, I wondered if anyone here can recommed film with readable numbering on the back paper. Up to now I simply learned how many turns of the wheel it takes to advance to the next frame, but I'd rather be able to read the exakt number.
That’s very tricky because the number of turns necessary to advance a single frame changes pretty drastically because the intake spool grows as you advance the film.
Your good. You know your Cameras. Thanks for your time!
Thanks.
Great video Eric. You always manage to get in all the necessary information without repetition or unneeded explanations. The only drawback to the Bessa ii is that these have become the priciest folders of the era - and very hard to find in the first place. Well done. Andy
Thanks so much Andy. I agree 100% that the Bessa II prices have gone through the roof. I bought mine a couple of years ago for about two-thirds of what they’re selling for now. It was also pretty hard to find then. More importantly, it’s a surprisingly fun camera to use especially when you consider the 6 x 9 form factor.
This lens (Color Heliar with violet multicoated treatment)
have a superb image rendition, hypernatural, unique....
Thank you for the video.
The one with the apo-lanthar is the one with the best optical equipment (and the most expensive).
$5500 holy shi...
Great review!
Nice video! I just found one of these inside a drawer in my grandma’s house. I can’t wait to see if it works!
Wow that’s a nice find!
For sure a great camera I have 2
Nice. I like the Mamiya Six folder also.
@atomicfro Yes. The Mamiya 6 uses a solidly fixed front standard to hold the lens rigidly in place, unlike most folders. It focuses by moving the film itself forward and back inside the camera. However, nothing good comes without penalty. The mechanical movement of the film plane itself adds a lot of extra weight to the camera, which is a truly heavy little beast for its format size. Also, you have a fussy system where you have to remove and reinstall a film holding plate, which is not otherwise required. Weight aside, this would have been a sweet modification to the Bessa design, as the historical weakness of the camera is the design of the front standard, which is prone to getting knocked out of alignment much more so than other, similar cameras.
I've watched several of your videos and they are great. Full of good information, everything from the Leica M3 to scanning film to this one lots of good info, interesting and nicely done. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes!
Thanks so much. Hope you subbed. More to come.
yup I did! thanks
Thanks so much. I’m glad to hear that.
Egads. It looks new!
I have the voigtländer perkeo which is a very nice camera too but in 6x6 format (very tiny for a medium format). Mine has a color skopar, a beautiful lens.
Very nice. I also have an Agfa Super Isolette which I like very much as well. Folding cameras are awesome!
Thanks! Great video. I'm on the hunt for a good Bessa II.
Glad I could help!
I have owned (and lightly used) a Bessa II for 20 years; I agree with all of the superlatives in the video. Mine is also the Color-Skopar lens version, as are about 80% of all Bessa II cameras. I always wanted to get one of the lens upscale models, particularly the Heliar version, but price always exceeded my will to pay. I also wanted the Lanthar version but few were made and many of those were broken down for their lens to use in in view cameras. Given the size of the negative and the performance of the Skopar, there isn't much reason to pay for the Heliar ($1,000) or Lanthar ($3,000+) except as collection goods. One minor clarification and one warning for the potential buyer: Clarification: There is no auto film stop when winding on the film; you have to watch the red window, which is a bit surprising for the vintage (early to later 1950s) and cost of the camera. Also, the viewfinder is truly tiny and hard to view by modern standards; it was common then and a larger finder would upset the styling of the top plate.(Voigtlander always designed to look good as well as work well.) Caution: When opened, the front standard (the panel which holds the lens) if hit, it is easier to knock out of alignment than most cameras, a potential problem on all folders, but particularly so on the Bessa II. If you buy a Bessa II, check the front standard carefully - not loose, no bends, and works smoothly when closing. Mine is not for sale.
Once again great information. My Bessa II is also never going to be for sale. Jurgen at certo6.com (he CLA'd it) recently replaced the bellows (he mentioned that they're out of production now) and adjusted the rangefinder after my Bessa II took a nasty fall on to the pavement. The focusing is now critically accurate after the adjustment; even better than before the fall. It was folded closed when it fell (flew) off of my car trunk or I'm sure the damage would've been much worse. It works perfectly now thankfully.
Thank you for the review - it reinforced my wish to get one - with Synchro Compur shutter and Color Skopar lens - which has just arrived together with its 6x6 sibling (Voigtländer Perkeo II with Color Skopar glass) and an Agfa Record III with the same shutter and the 105mm Solinar lens. Now all I need is some decent weather... I'm really curious as to what these cameras can do!
Hi John, I really enjoy my Bessa II and folding cameras in general. I was hooked from the first frame taken with my Agfa Super Isolette (my first folder). The photos from these cameras are more reminiscent of a painting more so than a photograph.
Nice one., . . 😎📸
Thanks
THis was my first camera, After some time I found it was too bulky for going hiking so I 'swapped' it for a Voigtlander Vito IIa 35mm folder I have been able to replace most of the cameras I have owned but am still looking for these two for my collection.
I’ve read great things about the Vito series of folding cameras but never owned one. Certo6.com is a great seller of folders if you don’t already know. Thanks.
Nice review, I really want one! I just picker up a 1930's Bessa, way more basic than this and focus is hit n miss! Gonna keep an eye out for one, yours looks minty!
Check out the Bessa I also. It costs less than half with the same color-skopar lens. No rangefinder for focusing but you can always add a shoe mounted one which you use to determine the focusing distance and then you manually adjust the lens. They're the same camera otherwise.
Film Photography Channel I have a Voigtländer cold shoe rangefinder that I use. I’m about to develop my second roll from this Bessa. The lens is quite soft in contrast but nothing a grade five filter won’t fix in printing! I’m from UK but live in Austria so there’s a ton of these German made folders around, I’m always on the look out! Take care man!
Great and thorough review. You might want to consider getting a high quality microphone, I think you are a little quiet compared to a lot of other videos but I can tell you are speaking clearly.
Thanks so much. I’m actually awaiting delivery of a Shure SM7B mic as we speak. I want a consistent and more professional sound on my videos. Thanks for the feedback.
Thanks for the great review!
Question - should you set the shutter speed to 250-500 BEFORE cocking it to avoid excessive tension on the springs etc?
Thanks!
Yes! Definitely Don’t change the shutter speed after arming the shutter. That grinds the gears while under tension. If you forget to do so just cover the lens and release the shutter before changing the shutter speed.
good review of the camera, 'colour' is how we spell color in the UK
Yes, but he is not in the UK, so you are out of order.
They show it as "colour" brcause it's in English English, not US English. Great review.
Thanks so much
I got this camera from my dad. It’s in good shape but missing the film advance dial
I would look into getting it fixed since it’s a pretty valuable camera. Have Jurgen at Certo6.com give you an estimate for the film advance dial (if he has the parts) and you’ll have a $500 plus camera. I personally would keep it but it’s good to have that option. You’ll be amazed at how beautiful the photos are from this camera; something to see.
When you advance to next frame you have to remove that little window to make it show the second number? Or does the camera space it itself
It's completely manual and you have to place the number in the center of the red window.
Nice video! I got one very recently - wish I'd watched your video because I forgot to wind on for the first three shots! Question: mine was recently serviced but the focus numbers don't match the slit image. Is the focus number distance from the lens or the film plane? Anyway, about to find out as I take my first roll in tomorrow. Thanks again, sir. Peter Chelsom.
Thank you for watching. Focus distance is measured from the film plane also called the focal plan, not any part of the lens.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel Well, got the film back from the lab. I can say for sure that the rangefinder coupler works perfectly - it's just it doesn't correspond to the numbers on the dial! Better that way round, I suppose. I will now use the split image system with confidence. One thing I did notice - light leaks whenever I didn't close the red window. Lesson learned. All good.
Hi. I Just got my Bessa II at camera market at a very Good price. My copy is a skopar lens as Well and hopefully it will be a Good chance for me to try 120 film. BTW, Do you know any performance difference between skopar, heliar and lanthur? Thanks in advanced.
I really don't think it's worth the money to buy a Heliar when the Skopar is so good. There are people that swear by even the basic 3-element Vaskars! The Heliar has a 5 element lens so it may be better corrected optically but I don't think you'll see a difference.
I'll offer some advice to get the best results. If you're scanning the negatives at home, make sure they are perfectly flat on the scanner since they're so big it's easy for them to bow up or down. It's worth it to let them dry for 3-4 hours because some film stocks flatten out pretty well with the extra time. If you don't get perfectly sharp images at your point of focus, your focus may need adjustment. The reason that I mention all this is because I don't want you to think that if you aren't getting sharp results that it's the len's fault. The Skopar is a sharp lens so check these other things first. Congrats on getting a Bessa II and thanks for tuning in to my channel!
The cold shoe is "for" on camera flashes. I use mine to hold an electronic off camera flash trigger. Go Strobist
If you use "sunny 16" and pre focus the lens, you can get a "snap shot off" pretty fast.
Heliar is not worth the extra money. The Skopar lens, in fact a Tessar type 4 lentils in three groups is sufficient. Besides, the Heliar can be soft in the corners at f8 in some circumstances. Over the Heliar and Skopar of the Bessa II, I prefer grands down the Sagittar of the Telka III.
Do you know that its focusing system can be interchanged with other voigtlander process ii or vito iii series? My BESSA2 focusing system is broken.
Oh I have no idea. I’m sorry but I don’t work on cameras at all. Try certo6.com. He’s an expert
Thank you for making these videos, I like to watch them. I have a small tip: try not to look at the screen of your camera when you talk to us, but at the lens. Then it seems as if you are talking to us instead of talking to someone who is standing or sitting behind the camera in your room.
Thats a great tip! Thanks for that. I noticed it too but didn't realize why it was happening.
where you replaced the bellow and how much did it cost? just curious
I did replace the bellows when I sent it in to repair the damage. Jurgen told me that OEM bellows will no longer available so I paid $85.00 or so to have them replaced.
I'm just wondering about iso/asa? I have an older model but there is no setting for iso so I'm not sure how to balance my exposure.
There's no meter in this camera so an iso/asa dial would serve only as a reminder. I use a handheld meter sometimes but more often than not, I use the "Sunny 16" rule.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel thank you sir! Subscribed to your channel. I'll be using a light meter on my phone. Realizing how spoiled I've been with modern film cameras. Also the model I have doesn't have the focus window, rather a chart on the back. It's a bit intimidating.
@@ELHipnacio Yes it's definitely a challenging experience. I find that most of the photos taken with this my Bessa II are landscapes and are taken at infinity. That being said, what I find fun about using these older cameras is that I learn how things were done in the past. It's really fun and enlightening.
I have a Voigtlander Synchro - Compur Color Heliar 1:3.5/105 Bessa II 8 camera and I haven't used it since 1969 Iam missing one spool. Question where can I get a spare spool and film 120 -8 and where can you get it developed,Have manual all so and leather case and the hotshoe.Gill
That is certainly a fine camera with wonderful Voigtlander optics. I would try eBay or preferably a local camera shop to find the spare spool. Maybe even Adorama or BH photo? For developing your film there are plenty of great options. “Reformed Film Lab” seems reasonable in terms of pricing. I’ve never used them since I develop my own film but here’s a link: reformedfilmlab.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0IHDvt-w-AIVKeCGCh08LAmEEAAYASAAEgLoaPD_BwE
@@FilmPhotographyChannel Thank you.Gill
Is it suitable for portraits? I mean, 3,5 feet (roughly 1 meter) kinda long for portrait imo
It should be fine for portraits I think. Remember the large negatives from this camera are pretty high resolution and allow for lots of cropping if you want to get really close. Let’s call it “zooming with your scanner”, lol.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel thanks!
Can you mount ND filters on the lens?
Yes the lens has filter threads. I believe the filter size is 35.5mm but please confirm before buying. You also have the option of a slip on filter that pushes on instead of screwing in. That would be an S37 size (“S” I guess stands for slip on?). Again please check first because it’s been a while since I looked into this topic. Also, This info is about the Color-Skopar.
What is your best point and shoot camera
Wow tough question! For tiny p&s, i like the olympus XA with the Minox 35 a close second. For classic rangefinder p&s, I really like the Minolta Himatic 7SII w/ the Canonet GIII QL17 a very close second. Wow it’s hard to choose!
@@FilmPhotographyChannel thanks so much for your fast reply
You’re quite welcome.
Recently been passed down through family, how do I tell if it has the APO Lanthar?
It’ll say it on the lens. Also it’s a 105mm f4.5 vs a 105mm F3.5 like the color Skopar on mine.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel Thanks! Just to be certain, f4.5 has APO Lanthar and f3.5 does not? I have a 3.5 also
Yep on the innermost black ring at the front of the lens it has the name of the lens with max f-stop. F4.5 is APO-Lanthar and F3.5 is color-skopar.
there’s vaskar lenses too
Good catch!
syarifah sadiyah vaskar just in bessa I
Good day! Is it a heavy one? Can You measure weight of this camera?
Hello it’s doesn’t feel heavy at all for it’s size. I can carry it all day with no problem. It weighs 1lb 15oz or 879 grams.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel I'm thinking about this one versus Bessa 46 with Skopar. Now I'm using Moskva-4 6x9 with russian coated Tessar 105mm as a portable camera. It is difficult to decide ))) My C220 is 1270 and too heavy for every day. Moskva is solid, portable, but tessar is not a best lens for me. What will You recomend in this case?
I think the color Skopar is a great lens. The Bessa II has gotten expensive lately. Even so I recommend it. It has a very durable bellows which can be a big problem with this type of camera. You should know that the bellows are becoming very hard to find. My Bessa II has been very durable and problem free. Even after I dropped it on the pavement!
@@FilmPhotographyChannel thank You mutch! My Moskva-4 is working for 26 of 28 years that I work as a photographer, and Bessa is better i think. I will try to find a good variant for buying.
The bellows don’t move when I’m focusing mine :-/
Are you saying it’s broken?
@@FilmPhotographyChannel I’ve been able to focus and shoot with it but I didn’t realize the bellows are supposed to move. I purchased it on eBay sometime last year and now looking to learn more about it. I suppose it may be broken in a sense.
Is it a Bessa II? Is there a focus knob at the top plate or do you focus with a lens ring? If the bellows don’t move then the focusing wouldn’t work.
let me know if you sell
I don't think I ever will. I've wanted this camera for years and finally found one at a good price in good shape, but anything is possible.
It’s a Fujifilm.
Nope. You're probably thinking of the Bessa III which was a Fujifilm GF670. This is the Bessa II.
No, it's definitely not the best camera :
The best 6x9 folder EVER, and by far, is the TELKA III (Demaria-Lapierre) with its amazing Sagittar 95mm lens, very bright and quite large coupled view finder, double exposure prevention, geniune leather cover, rigid lens maintain, easy focusing on the lens... all these (and other things) are not on the bessa II, would it be with the Skopar or Heliar lens. I KNOW what I'm talking about, I have CLA'ed and sold some 5 or 6 Bessa II, mainly to China, cause chinese people just raaave about the bessa !.
Not only the Telka III is much better than the Bessa II to make beautiful images with its far better coupled range finder and superb razor SHARP - Edge to Edge, YES !- 95mm lens (vs 105mm for the Bessa) , but it's also a beautiful Camera. Buy one, you won't regret it and want to sell your bessa II right away and even save money !
It’s a beautiful French folder for sure. I like the shiny finish and overall look. I am concerned that the 1/250th or 1/300 max shutter speed would limit its usability a little. That being said I would love to get my hands on one to use for a week or so 😀. It would be interesting to compare the Bessa II vs the Telka III. I don’t think I could swing the $650 for a camera at the moment. I just bought 3 cameras this week and I’m putting them through their paces to prep for a review (if I like them). Thanks for weighing in! I’ve never even heard of this camera and found its history very interesting.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel The very last versions of the Telka III went up to 1/300 but that doesn't change much from 1/250. I never feel limited with that speed to use the lens at its peak sharpness and set it to f8 or f11 on a typical bright or sunny day.
Going down to f3. 5 under the same lighting conditions would require 2.5 extra speed for the TIII that is 1/1500, and 1.5 extra speed for the Bessa II also limited to f3. 5 for max apperture. With negative colour film, that's not a problem, it supports +4 stops of overexposure, but for reversal film, in either case - Bessa and Telka- the image is bleached, not exploitable. I only do reversal film with the Telka III because I like those positive images of the size of a smart phone screen. I never do portraits with it, but if I wanted to, I would push on the lens a ND filter or why not a polarizer. I've already done tests with a polarizer filter in front of the lens at max apperture, and I did not saw unpleasant color change on the positive image, the result is quite neutral.
Hi Mat, I just got a Telka III. It’s a beautiful camera. Have you compared it to Besasa II’s heliar lens? Which one is shaper?
@@zhaosun500 Hi !
I definitely have compared both, and with either the Skopar and Heliar lens. But before doing that one must verify if the coupled range finder is very accurately adjusted. This precise operation is done with a ground glass and big magnifier in order to see the smallest variation in focus. Most of the time this crucial operation is forgotten or ignored, and it simply cannot be because otherwise no serious comparison can be done.
To eventually simplify things one can temporarely forget about the proper alignment of the rangefinder and just use the ground glass to focus at a far away object on both cameras, and fix the focus there with, for example, aluminium tape so that the focus does not move with manipulation of the camera. Same thing with close objects, keeping in mind the distance between the camera and object must be precisely kept the same for both cameras.
Long story short after this essential technical introduction, the comparison between the bessa II (Heliar or Skopar) and the Telka III at f8 does not show any difference in the centre an corners, checked with an X8 magnifier. But I'd say the Telka III has the advantage over the bessa II thanks to its shorter focal of 95mm (equivalent to some 40mm in full frame/ 35mm format) giving it more depth of field. Besides, the tessar type lens of the Telka and bessa II with Skopar does not show any chromatic abberation, whereas the Heliar lens does. Maybe the Heliar has the edge at wide apperture, but I've never checked that. Overall the Saggitar 95mm is a much desirable lens, but once again, the alignment of the rangefinder must be precisely done or you won't appreciate the great sharpness of this lens.
Attenction, Color Heliar (with violet coated treatment, not the blue...) haven't best sharpening, or best contrast, or best bokeh,etc. Simply, this lens have a best image rendition, irrealistic naturality, impressive like a pair of eyes. In my ecperience,this isn't a best camera but a best lens , with many defects but with best image rendition....