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Voigtlander Bessa Telemetro $339 ORDER HERE
inexpensive M mount retro rangefinder for modern shooters
In March 2001 Cosina Voigtlander upset the rangefinder apple cart by
introducing a VERY different sort of Leica M mount rangefinder. The T
is so different many photogs take a look at the specs and are sure they won't like it ...
until they see it for themselves. The Bessa T is Voigtlander's 1st M
bayonet camera. Yes, the T mounts Leica M lenses, joining an elite group
of Leica M's and the Konica Hexar RF with this legendary mount. The Bessa T is the least expensive M mount camera ever made, as well as
one the most unusual M mount cameras. The Bessa T makes for an
ideal low cost 2nd M body, or a low cost entry into the not so inexpensive
Leica M system. See that thing mounted to the bottom of the camera ?
That's a trigger winder -- a bottom mounted trigger wind advance for quick
shooting. With practice, a trigger winder is faster than the regular lever
advance at about 2-3 fps(frames per second).
The top shot shows black and silver Bessa T's, mounting
trigger winders and Voigtlander 28/1.9 and 35/1.7 lenses.
If you are new to rangefinders, don't be confused with the T mounting screw mount Voigtlander lenses. A standard adapter allows screw mount lenses to be used on the M bayonet mount --- easily and perfectly with full rangefinder coupling. If you are used to the venerable Leica M body cap, seeing a M cap with a "V" on it takes a bit of getting used to.
The T mounting the world's widest production rectilinear lens, the Voigtlander 12/5.6, and a trigger winder.
The Voigtlander Bessa T's design is unique amongst today's rangefinder cameras. The 1.5x rangefinder is built into the body while all view finders are interchanged separately. In other words, the body has no built in view finder. Strange huh ? Well, only until you get used to it. This system does offer some advantages. Separate viewfinders usually offer a better view of a particular frameline than combination frames built into camera bodies.
Notice the extra strap lugs on the trigger winder which allow the camera to be hung vertically -- like the old Leica M5 or CL. Personally, vertical carrying of the cameras was always a favorite of mine, but you will find more people who prefer horizontal. No right answer here, just choose the method you prefer.
The rangefinder is especially interesting. With a 1.5x magnification, the Bessa T rangefinder has a longer effective baselength than Leica's fabled .72 M6 (53.7 Vs 49.86). The RF patch is large, ROUND, contrasty, and the two images have a slightly different color to make focusing that much easier. Eyeballing it, imagining a horizontal rectangle to 35mm format proportions, the view thru the RF is ABOUT 300mm. The Bessa T is the 1st non Leica made M mount capable of accurately focusing the 75/1.4 or 135/3.4 throughout the focusing range! Of course the separate viewfinder and rangefinder will take some getting used to. The separate viewfinder and rangefinder make for a slightly slower working camera -- you will be switching from rangefinder to the viewfinder as you shoot. Not everyone will like it, but some people will love it because of the larger viewfinder and rangefinder images. It's going to take a split second longer to focus with the rangefinder and switch to the viewfinder, but the 1.5x rangefinder can accurately focus any rangefinder coupled M or screw mount lens. The T won't be the best choice for moving action, but the big bright Voigtlander accessory finders generally offer as good, or better view than other rangefinders with built in finders. The separate viewfinder and rangefinder is a tradeoff in the battle to give photogs more bang for the buck. Is the trade off worth it? I think so. Where else are you going to get an inexpensive new M mount camera capable of accurately focusing the 50/1 Noctilux ?
The top plate layout is simple and effective.
The silver Bessa T's are all of the handsome "Panda" variety
with a mixture of silver and black fittings. Panda you ask ? When Leica
ran out of chrome M6 fittings for the chrome M6 a few years back, they started shipping
them with black dials and advances. These became known as the "Panda" M6
in the US, in part due to much real Panda press coverage at the time.
Some Leica collectors are foolish enough to pay extra for them, to the amusement and
delight of saner Leica shooters. While I sell silver Bessa T's at the normal rate, I
will bow to market demand and sell "Panda" Bessa T's at only a 50% premium with
a special Arizona Desert ocean front real estate package. Did you
notice there are NO flash contacts in the T's accessory shoe? That's
because the only flash connection is via the side mounted PC connection.
Most specs are identical to the Bessa R or L: Vertically traveling Mechanical Copal Shutter with outer light shield, 1-1/2000 speed range, 1/125th flash sync, Silicon centerweighted TTL meter, no TTL flash, same body casting, same easy film loading.
The Bessa T's meter readout is on the back edge of the top plate, near the adjustable diopter rangefinder eyepiece. This is a better location than in the rangefinder, where a LED readout would be very distracting. The silicon metering cell is in the top of the film chamber, angled downward towards the gray outer shutter.
FLASH: The Voigtlander Bessa T (and Bessa L) are a bit of a problem with flash, since the finder occupies the same accessory shoe that would normally hold the flash. I think the best flash solution are professional "potato masher" handle flash units with a built in flash sensor. For the Bessa T or Bessa L, most photogs mount their flash on a side flash bracket. Unfortunately, the bulk of the small flash with a flash bracket is about the same as the larger, more powerful potato masher flashes. To me, it just makes more sense to use the larger flashes with the Bessa T and Bessa L, since you are going to be stuck with the extra weight and bulk of a flash bracket anyway, and get the extra power of the larger flash. My personal favorite "potato masher" flashes with self contained battery packs and a built in sensor include the Ascor 1600, Rollei 36RE, the various Metz 45 series, and the Sunpak 522 or 544.
The T with the 21/4 (top) and 25/4 (bottom)
Improvements over the Bessa R:
M bayonet mount capable to taking M lenses, or screw mount lenses with adapter
Optional trigger winder advance
Apparently stronger top plate compared to the Bessa R or L. All three use polycarbonate top and bottom plates with a cast metal inner body.
Stronger reinforced back door
Ratcheted film advance
Slightly Quieter -- at least to my ears
WILL take the Abrahamsson Soft Release, like the Bessa L but unlike the Bessa R
Differences between the Bessa T and Bessa R
M bayonet mount instead of Screw Mount
No built in view finder: 35.8mm baselength, 1.5x magnification rangefinder with an effective Rangefinder baselength of 53.7 mm -- LONGER than a .72 M6, long enough to accurately focus any Leica M lens. The high magnification rangefinder / separate viewfinder concept was introduced by Leica in their classic 1933 Leica III and continued in use till the IIIg. It was developed further along the lines used by the Bessa T with the 1946 Nikon One, by mounting the separate 35-135 finder with high magnification RF cap attachment. See Bessa T or IIIF page.
Factory trigger winder capability.
While the bodies are made in either silver or black, trigger winders are made
in black only. The metal
bodied trigger winder is an
especially nice feature which experienced shooters are likely to appreciate, but newbies
may dismiss as not needed. Today the T rapid winder is the ONLY factory
trigger winder available for interchangeable lens RF cameras. It sells for
less than half of what the admittedly better made Abrahamsson Rapidwinder for Leica M's
sells for, while the Rapidwinder sells for less than Leica could produce it for (a
real bargain in its own right). With practice you can shoot about 2 to 3
frames per second with it, or faster than you can with a top mounted lever advance.
Also, if you happen to be "left eyed," the trigger winder keeps you from
being jabbed in the eye by the advance lever. It's a bargain, do yourself a
favor. If you buy a T, buy the trigger winder too, and learn how to use it.
The trigger winder also features a built in side grip with 3 lug
carrying straps which allow vertical carrying of the camera, and a tripod socket.
You can load the Bessa T without removing the trigger winder, whether or not
it is tripod mounted.
The trigger winder thankfully attaches WITHOUT having to remove any bottom plate covers, which almost always get lost. Yes, the rapidwinder body is metal.
LED meter read out moved to the back of the top plate, like the Bessa L. EV 1-19, ASA 25 to 1600
Built in diopter adjustment for Rangefinder eyepiece. This seems like a small thing, but it is actually a BIG deal. NO Leica M rangefinder has ever every left the factory with an adjustable eyepiece. The T is the ONLY interchangeable lens RF with this feature. Frankly, I am not sure if the Contax G1/G2 has this feature or not, but to me the G1/G2 are autofocus interchangeable lens Point & Shoots, not rangefinders.
So what do we have here?
A low priced M camera that can focus even fast telephoto Leica M or Screw mount lenses accurately, even the 50/1, the 75/1.4, or the 135/3.4. The Bessa T is a great low cost entry into the M system, or a great low cost 2nd M body
The T with the Voigtlander 28/1.9 and 35/1.7
What does it mean ?
Voigtlander is alone in the entry level M camera market, with the lowest cost M camera and lowest cost quality Leica compatible lens lineup -- a market Leica has ignored since it discontinued the Leica CL a quarter of a century ago. With incredible creativity and an amazing ability to turn out new lenses and cameras quickly, a new star is rising in the rangefinder world.
What the Bessa T isn't
If you were hoping for a new advanced M camera to go head to head with the M6, this isn't it, nor was it designed to be. Instead the Bessa T aims to open up an entire new territory to the M photographer, the LOW COST ENTRY M MARKET, succeeding admirably.
The T with the Voigtlander 50/1.5 and 75/2.5.
T with Voigtlander 90/3.5 APO.
What Lenses DON'T fit to a T
Due primarily to the possibility of hitting the Bessa T's outer shutter, these lenses are NOT recommended:
Leica Hologon 15mm F8
Leica Super Angulon 21mm F3.4
Leica Super Angulon 21mm F4
Leica Elmarit 28mm F2.8 (first model)
Leica Summicron 35mm F2 (7 elements type, serial #2974251 or later)
* 6 or 8 elements type and aspherical type OK
Leica Summilux 35mm F1.4
* Aspherical type can be used
Leica Dual range Summicron 50mm F2 -- it won't mount properly on the bodyThe collapsible 50/2 Summicron fits fine on the T, and is able to collapse fully. The collapsible 50/2.8 Elmar will collapse, but not fully -- so don't push it that extra 3/32" or so. There are many collapsible lenses, and I have not tried all of them on the T, so be careful when collapsing a lens least you damage the shutter or meter.
I would also be very careful mounting any wide angle with deeply set rear elements, such as the 20, 28, or 35mm Russian lenses in Leica screw mount.
Bessa T with Visoflex
Surprisingly, the T will mount either the Visoflex II, IIa or III WITHOUT any modification of the release arm. All you have to do is use the Abrahamsson Soft Release to take up the difference in clearance between the arm and the Bessa T's shutter release. What's a Visoflex ? It's a Leica made reflex housing that was designed to turn Leica M rangefinders into an SLR. While extending the M's versatility, it is not as convenient as a regular SLR. Viso 3's were only made in M mount. If you have a Viso II or IIa in screw mount, just add the screw mount to bayonet mount adapter to mount it on the Bessa T.
Join the Cosina Voigtlander User Mailing List
Hmm. So who would buy a such a very different kind of retro rangefinder camera like the Bessa T?
Well, at least one famous internationally award winning photo journalist named Bill Pierce.
(digital shot taken with Nikon Coolpix 950)
Revised: November 26, 2003 . Copyright © 1998-2002 Stephen Gandy. All rights reserved. This means you may NOT copy and re-use the text or the pictures in ANY other internet or printed publication of ANY kind. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.
