Voigtlander Bessa R3A

I recently decided that whenever I travel I want to take a 35mm film camera with me instead of a digital camera. I realized when I have a limited amount of pictures I can take (36 per roll) I tend to take only the shots I really want and not just everything I see. With digital cameras I come back from my trips with hundreds of photos and I spend a lot of time deleting random junk because instead of spending more time taking 1 shot I use that time to take 5 shots of the same thing.

So I decided to stick with film instead of digital. When I went to Munich last year I took my 30 year old Nikon FE and came back with a lot of cool vintage looking shots. [Check here] Thats why I started looking for a new film camera, one that has personality which is something very important for me.

I started first by checking out the Nikon F3, then the Nikon F4, then the Yashica Electro 35 GSN, then the Canon QL17 GIII, then the Konica S2, followed by the Konica S3 until I finally landed on the Voigtlander Bessa R3A which is pictured in this post. Its one of the best looking camera I have ever seen. Its extremely well built and to some people its one of the best rangefinder cameras ever made right behind the Zeiss Ikon. I found one on eBay second hand that came with the fastest 40mm lens ever made, a Voigtlander 40/1.4 Nokton. Bidding was ending at 4:50AM so I set my alarm to 4:40AM and went to bed at 10PM. The maximum I wanted to pay was $500 since brand new the camera and lens were selling for $940. Sadly I didn’t win the bid. Even though I ended up increasing my budget to $600 the auction ended at $606 and the other person bidding looked like he could have taken it even further.

Now I need to decide what to do but I just wanted to share this camera with everyone now that the auction is over. Its such a beautiful camera!

Mar 4, 2009

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43 Comments, add your own...

1. teagirl | March 4th, 2009 at 1:11 pm

The Yashica certainly looks and sounds cuter than the Bessa..
If you know you’re taking too many photos and not paying attention to composition then shouldnt you just spend more time thinking about your photos?

I keep thinking of going back to film too but then I worry I’ll never process it or worse I’ll find I had a light leak…

Buy a fun camera instead:
http://shop.lomography.com/shop/
2. Mhm | March 4th, 2009 at 1:13 pm

“I started first by checking out the Nikon F3, than the Nikon F4, than the ”

its then not than
3. Ali | March 4th, 2009 at 1:33 pm

its gorgeous.
I found this page with all sorts of cameras. There are also a few Voigtlanders as well as some Zeiss models that might interest you.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/6025/35mm_Film_Cameras_Rangefinders.html
4. Dave | March 4th, 2009 at 1:59 pm

Don’t really get your logic for this decision Mark. Just spend a bit more time composing your shots rather than clicking away if that’s the only issue. No film costs, no developing costs, ability to view the shot, easy upload of images, little difference in quality for what you are doing etc. etc. Digital wins hands down for the holiday snap photography you are talking about.
Why not just admit that you are really more interested in posing around with a nice looking camera rather than anything to do with the actual photography? :-D
5. skip town | March 4th, 2009 at 2:07 pm

i strongly recommend an Olympus XA. for the very same reasons i have been using this camera for over 25 years and it’s the best in size, quality of lens and photographs produced. they are available on e-bay all the time and i have 3 right now. one with 400 asa b&w film, one with 100 asa color print film and the 3rd loaded with asa 100 slide film. i also use both flash attachments as needed, the a-11 & the a-16. just an excellent combination. if one jams or breaks i just get another and use the old one for parts. you can spend more but why? & developing the the b&w is fun and easy to do.
6. desertsky | March 4th, 2009 at 2:11 pm

It’s weird how those photos look so vintage.Feels like I’m browsing through an 80’s magazine,yet the some of the architecture and cars are modern.
7. Mark | March 4th, 2009 at 2:13 pm

teagirl already have a Holga
http://www.248am.com/mark/photography/holga-season/

The idea of spending more time composting a shot sounds good in writing but when it comes down to it it doesn’t work. You know if you take this shot and you don’t like it u can see the result instantly and delete the shot or retake the shot again.

Not having the choice gives it greater urgency to double check everything before clicking the button.

Also waiting to see the result of your shot days later after developing is by itself an exciting experience.

Of course as I mentioned earlier camera personality is important. Sadly many digital cameras today lack this personality I am looking for. The few I can think of that have personality are the Leica M8, Ricoh GX100 and sigma Sigma DP-1.
8. Mark | March 4th, 2009 at 2:14 pm

Mhm: ooops fixed!
9. Fattboa | March 4th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Rangefinder eh?
Looking into street photography?
10. Mark | March 4th, 2009 at 2:21 pm

yeah, i walk a lot when i travel and a rangerfinder + 40mm lens would be a great walkaround camera
11. teagirl | March 4th, 2009 at 2:32 pm

Yea I understand what you’re talking about.. its always a big rush to go down and see your new photos..
12. shibu | March 4th, 2009 at 2:38 pm

I still use a film SLR. Anybody know where i can get professional film with high ISO in Kuwait? And Mark, where did you get your film processed?
13. Mark | March 4th, 2009 at 2:51 pm

Shibu my favorite film used to be Fuji Reala and Fuji Velvia. Both were no longer available at the dealer (Boushahri) last time I checked. So now I just buy whatever is available at Kodak or Boushahri and its usually the regular stuff.

For developing I use Kodak Ashraf. I used to use the Salmiya branch but they shut down cuz the building is getting demolished so now I use the branch in Souk Sharq. I have them print my photos on matt paper with a white border around the shots and they also scan the shots for me and put them on cd. These are how my pictures look with the white border:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/miskan/29293996/
14. Dave | March 4th, 2009 at 2:53 pm

Well, if you want personality, then this up coming Olympus looks pretty sweet to my eyes, though obviously I’ve no idea how good the photos will be:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/olympus-micro-four-thirds-camera-launching-this-summer/#comments
15. Mark | March 4th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

that does look really sweet!
16. Shibu | March 4th, 2009 at 3:09 pm

@Mark

Fuji Velvia I love that film!!! I managed to get a few from South Africa while I was there. I too used the services of Kodak Ashraf branch at Salmiya.Will have to find out where the guy at that branch got transfered to. Happy shooting Mark :)
17. Marzouq | March 4th, 2009 at 3:44 pm

The Bessa looks like one mean camera!
18. fahad | March 4th, 2009 at 4:04 pm

I just don’t get it. When we did not have digital camera people cribbed about how one can only take 36 photos and blah blah…and now when we have it..people want to go back to ancient era.

Dude it’s your vision that matters in photography not da damn camera.
19. Mark | March 4th, 2009 at 4:10 pm

Depends how you look at it. For me the experience of taking the photo is as important as the end result. For me using a 1/2kg metal camera with nobs and clickity click sounds and manually focusing the shot is more entertaining then using my D90. Even if the photo doesn’t come out great in the end at least I had fun taking the shot.
20. fahad | March 4th, 2009 at 4:18 pm

Carrying 1/2kg camera for a day with rolls,battery,humongous case is fun? Well hope you just don’t fall short of that last sunset shot which could have made the day..but alas my rolls got over!
21. Mark | March 4th, 2009 at 4:18 pm

lol to each his own
22. fahad | March 4th, 2009 at 4:23 pm

Indeed.
23. Mathai | March 4th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

Thats a sweet camera *sigh*, sometimes its fun to go old school. I still have an FM10 that I use for special occasions.
24. holla | March 4th, 2009 at 5:01 pm

I agree with Dave hahahahahahaha
25. moayad | March 4th, 2009 at 5:37 pm

It is a pretty camera! I loved it.. but it can’t beat the old Leicas though :p

I have 2 Minoltas and I love them so much. I also love the T-Max and Tri-X black and white films, but good luck processing them in Kuwait!

Here are 2 projects I did them:

http://www.moayad.com/photo/kids-being-kids
http://www.moayad.com/photo/a-familiar-journey

If you need a lovely “digital” compact then there is Leica D-Lux 3, but it can’t beat a good rangefinder, and you already have a compact Sony for that.
26. TanGo | March 4th, 2009 at 7:01 pm

I have a Nikon FM2 with 35mm 1:2.5 Nikon Series E and Nikon Zoom 75-150mm 1:3.5,, practically mint condition. Let me know if you’re interested
27. Jens | March 4th, 2009 at 8:31 pm

What about a Leica, M6 or M8?
28. Mark | March 4th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

super expensive
1700kd for the M8 WITHOuT lens. LIke another 1000kd for the lens.
29. Jens | March 4th, 2009 at 8:36 pm

mmh, thats a point, I have started with the Digilux 3 now (because not so expensive), but it’s too big for your purpose. The D-Lux 3 is not bad and in the Panasonic version cheap.
30. helterskelter | March 4th, 2009 at 11:14 pm

Mark, try find an old M5 or M6. I have a M6 with a couple of lenses and it is without a doubt the best rangefinder in the world. The lenses are super sharp with great bokeh.
31. feras | March 4th, 2009 at 11:27 pm

i liked your Munich pics. how do you get that vintage look in those photos?
32. Mark | March 4th, 2009 at 11:44 pm

feras: use a 30 year old camera

helterskelter: Leica’s are much more expensive and according to users and reviews online the R3A is comparable to the M7 but comes at quarter of the price. Another advantage of the R3A is the 1:1 magnification view finder which alone is a huge plus.
33. Farah | March 5th, 2009 at 1:42 am

Hey mark,

please let me know what address shall i write when registering on ebay. kuwait or usa (ushopweship) one?
34. Mark | March 5th, 2009 at 8:33 am

as long as its a US mailbox its fine whichever company you go with
35. Bu Yousef | March 5th, 2009 at 1:39 pm

Mark,

Just use a digital camera more sensibly…

Mhm,

It’s “It’s” not “Its”!
36. Mark | March 5th, 2009 at 1:46 pm

I have a whole bunch of digital cameras I don’t need more… for now :)
Sony F717
Nikon D70
Nikon D90
Sony W300
37. fahad | March 5th, 2009 at 2:25 pm

dude…how about you combine all your digital camera and then try to take pic? am sure then it will be better than your old-school clickty click cameras!!

Unbelievable.
38. Mark | March 5th, 2009 at 2:39 pm

that made absolutely no sense
39. fahad | March 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pm

as if having “4 digital cameras” and still looking for Film Camera does!
40. Mark | March 5th, 2009 at 3:29 pm

So you’ve decided on my behalf that because I have a digital camera I don’t need a film camera?
41. fahad | March 5th, 2009 at 10:21 pm

oops.. no dude..you can go buy bugati veron i wont give a damn. but heck dont justify that you can’t take better photo because you have something so good that you don’t like it and wanna go back to medieval ages!
42. Mark | March 5th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

You think I am getting a 35mm to take better photos? Did you even read my post or any of my comments here?
43. SWOS | March 8th, 2009 at 12:07 am

love it, love the vintage shots, keep it up..

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