Voigtlander Bessa Medium Format Folder Camera

The Voigtlander Bessa has a reputation as one of the better choices among folder cameras for a lower cost, folder camera. Unlike the Zeiss Ikonta and related collectible folders, the Bessa tend to be much for reasonable buys. Be sure to check for intact bellows without light leaks, and also a sturdy lens standard when fully extended. The lenses provided good picture taking quality, with a variety of types and format versions.

Date: Mon, 25 May 1998
From: "John R. Millard" [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Voigtlander Bessa--any thoughts on lens/shutter?

I just purchased a Voigtlander Bessa in excellent condition. It has a Voigtlander 25-75 shutter and a Voigtlander Anastigmat Voigtar 1:7.7 10.5cm lens. The only lens/shutter combo that I really know anything about it the Skopar/Compur setup. Any comments on the combo that I have?

I discovered your web page at random. a few years ago at a flea market I purchased a Bessa folder in nice cosmetic shape. everything works except for the black metal tab on the outside of the folding cover which I presume would extend and hinge out to support the standard when the camera is open and placed on a flat surface. This device, of black painted steel, as such, is frozen. It is located near the tripod boss on the lid of the camera.

My Bessa has an "Anastigmat Voigtar f:6.3 10.5 cm" lens. The shutter ranges from 1/25 - 1/125 plus t and b Camera appears identical to that illustrated. Very happy indeed to find your article!

Bessa Rangefinder Folder Camera
Special thanks to Harold M. Merklinger for sharing this photo!

[Ed. note: special thanks to Harold M. Merklinger for sharing these notes, photos, and observations...] Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 From: "Harold M. Merklinger" [email protected] To: Robert Monaghan [email protected] Subject: Ricohflex VII (35) and Bessas Bob, I have a Ricohflex VII set up for 35 mm film. I didn't see this option mentioned in any of your references. When I purchased this camera I thought it must have been made specifically for 35mm. The points that made me think this were: the leather case says "For 35 mm FILM", the wind knob has the necessary 35 mm exposure counter, the focusing hood has an (eyelevel) frame line for the 35mm format, the ground glass is marked for the 35mm format, and there's no typical (for many cameras - don't know about the Ricoh line) sticker saying to use 120 film. Closer inspection and consultation of your references suggests, however, that this camera could easily be converted back to 120 with the appropriate insert. I believe the wind knob would serve the purpose - the 35mm wind stop is in the insert. And I see the 35mm frame line in the hood is standard. One curious observation is that there is no factory-provided index marker on the body itself for the exposure counter, although there is on the leather case. A previous owner has scratched one on the edge of the back, though it's not in the same place as the index mark on the case. I'll probably put this on my "Unusual cameras" page, but I would welcome any comments before I do - I'm not all that familiar with the Ricoh line. I'll attach a composite photo of the camera, as well as photos of 2 Bessa IIs, (a Heliar and an Apo-Lanthar) a Bessa RF and a Perkeo E. There are 4 files: "BessaII.jpg", "BessaRF.jpg", "PerkeoE.jpg" and "RicohVII-35.jpg". (I know I'm not helping with your new 35 MB limit!) Regards! - Harold -- Harold M. Merklinger [email protected] Home phone: 902-461-1873 http://www.trenholm.org/hmmerk/

From: "Roland" [email protected] Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Voigtlander Bessa 6*9 Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 "Jani" [email protected] wrote > "Roland" [email protected] wrote > > Your camera is pre-WW2. So 1938 would be a good guess. You have a wheel at > > the back that you can turn to cover over the red window. You should keep it > There is no wheel on the back for covering the red windows and it seems that > there never has been one?? Then your camera was not the latest version of that design. 1937 would be a better guess as to the date. If you use this camera you will have to put a piece of insulating tape over the window and peel it back when you want to reveal the frame numbers. But you should put a piece of paper over the window the same size as it so that the sticky stuff does not get directly on the red window. If it does then it will go opaque over time as the solvents in the glue affect the plastic.

From: "Roland" [email protected] Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Bessa I and light leaking. Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 Use ISO 100 only for outdoors work. If you have no cover for the red window then make one. Use a piece of insulating tape and keep it over that window unless you are winding on. And when you do wind on make sure you do so in subdued light. SHADOW or darker. Then cover it again. These cameras were designed at a time when film was black and white and not red-sensitive.It has all changed now so follow the above precautions. "Max" [email protected] wrote > I have a very nice Bessa I with Color Skopar lens and I'm very happy > with the lens performance. Mine also has a very rigid standard. But I > have problems with stray light that seems to get to the film creeping > around the pressure plate. This happens mostly in open sun > situations, and appears to be a glitch inherent to the design of the > camera. The best I could do, that almost eliminated the problem is > place an "L" shaped thick felt piece surrounding the lower and outer > sides of the 6x9 red window, under the pressure plate. Still there's > in some pictures an almost unnoticeable spot near this window that > still receives some leaking (I guess only in direct sunlight again). > I just wanted to know if someone has designed a standard way to keep > the light out, probably adjusting the shape of pieces of felt to do > the job. I have a Zeiss Nettar camera that uses a piece of felt with a > round hole to do this, but the window closing mechanism on the bessa > makes that impossible. I know sometimes the camera is on a tripod and > I'm not careful enough to shield it against light when winding the > film. Any ideas? > One nice thing to try with this folder: shoot Agfa Scala (ISO 200) at > ISO 800, the contrast is incredible, but retaining a smooth variation > in tonality, and depth of field is much easier to work with. Grain, on > the other hand, should increase, but not a concern in this neg size. > The 6x9 B&W slides are something worth seeing. > Another question that also keeps going around: when you close the > Skopar's aperture setting all the way, it appears to get to something > like f/45, can someone confirm this? I remember getting well exposed > slides using it as f/45, but it would be nice to know for sure. > Thanks in advance

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