Wanna watch? Bessa L repair?

[Paul Goutiere]

Plastic will never feel better than metal and will never gain a patina of age!
I've taken on the challenge of working on a number of different cameras over the years. I actually enjoy it, for the most part. I did not enjoy the Bessa. I do not believe it was built to be repaired but to be replaced. (which I did)

I agree that modern materials, like plastics are excellent, but in this case I see that these materials were used as a facade to hide quite inferior construction. If you examine the film advance lever pics and the wiring to the flash you should see what I mean. I'm a little appalled by this thing. Is this what we've come down to?

When I put the innards of the Bessa L against the innards of a basic camera like the Olympus 35RC, Canonet QL17, etc.(yes, from another era) it seems that we have not come very far.


Interesting thread. I now have a new appreciation of my [working] all-metal Zorki.
I have not had the pleasure of working on a Zorki, but I have worked on two Kievs 4as and a five Moskvas. The FSU stuff can certainly be crude, by modern standards, but they work and they are tough...very tough. The Bessa L, I worked on, was not up to the standard of these older cameras.

I think we must look at the Pentax Spotmatics, Nikon F2s, F3s, FMs, FEs, et al, The Leica Ms and early Rs (and all the stuff from this era) to really appreciate what a well made camera really is.

[Chris Nielsen]

One of my other (recent) interests, besides film cameras, is typewriters. I was given a 1980's Casio electronic model and it's just so flimsy and terribly cheap feeling I'm afraid it will break just using it. Makes all sorts of disturbing noises too. My 1951 Remington Portable on the other hand is solid, metal, is still going strong now and probably will in 50 years. Not quite as easy to carry as the Casio but infinitely better constructed. If I want a portable I've got a nice 1960's Olivetti that is pretty light and also well constructed. Oh, did I mention the Casio only prints 30 pages on a (now unobtainable) ribbon and uses 4 x D batteries whereas the other machines just need (cheap and readily available) ribbons and paper. Sort of reminds me of APS in a way, the 'advanced' modern solution is just about unobtainable but the old machines keep chugging along and consumables are easy to find, typewriters and cameras alike

[clayne]

I think we must look at the Pentax Spotmatics, Nikon F2s, F3s, FMs, FEs, et al, The Leica Ms and early Rs (and all the stuff from this era) to really appreciate what a well made camera really is.

Agreed brother, but today's manufacturers do NOT want you owning a product that will last. It's absolutely sad and what's even more sad is that consumers put up with it.

[Paul Goutiere]

One of my other (recent) interests, besides film cameras, is typewriters. -- My 1951 Remington Portable on the other hand is solid, metal, is still going strong now and probably will in 50 years. -- Sort of reminds me of APS in a way, the 'advanced' modern solution is just about unobtainable but the old machines keep chugging along and consumables are easy to find, typewriters and cameras alike
I like typewriters.

In my closet is a fine Corona portable typewriter easily 65 years old. In the basement, sitting on a desk, just in case; is a Underwood #5 which should be close to 100 years old. The platens, now, are as hard as glass and the old Underwood is missing a foot but they both work. I don't use them often, but it is nice to know they still work..and that they are still there.

In the sixties I worked as a typewriter repairman for Olivetti Underwood in Kitchener Ontario for two years. After that I worked on the AM Varityper
composing machines patterned after the Hammond typewriter.

The skill sets I acquired during that time has allowed me to work on some cameras to a certain level. The knowledge I've gained by working on the few cameras I have worked on is by no way conclusive and I have a great respect for the people who do professional camera repair.

To the extent I have been inside cameras I've been impressed mostly by the Nikon F2 and the Leica M2. The Nikon F2 even more than the M2.

Look at the eyelets for the neck strap on a F2. There is a hard metal insert to prevent wear from the strap rings. If you should wear out or damage the eyelets they can be replaced by undoing a screw and simply installing a new eyelet. It is a camera built to be repaired even though neither of my F2s have needed extensive repair. The eyelets on the Leica M2 are riveted in and will have to be drilled out to be replaced!!

The Pentax Spotmatic, can be bought now for as little as $25.00 in pretty good shape is made just as well. I think most cameras from this era were made to last for a long time. The stuff we get now.......??

[Prest_400]

Ever since they figured out how to pump out mass plastic in the 80s and really took off with injection molding in the 80s-90s, everything has gone to shit. I'm not even an old curmudgeon and I notice the distinct shift. Modern consumer-level manufacturing for the most part, sucks!

Indeed.
I'm not sure about this, but I guess that an early-mid Olympus trip 35 has more metal than the bessa. Never opened up one of these, though. The trip also evolved from metal to plastic innards.
Well. Modern compacts, be it 35mm or digi are much nastier than the earlier 70's type. Lots more of plastic that feels cheap.

I'm happy with my OM-1. Very little plastic.

[wclark5179]

I replaced the leather on an early Mamiyaflex from 1955-58 vintage. This is the one with one focusing knob located on the right side. Everything was metal underneath as well as on top! No wonder why these cameras last so long!

The leather was a match to the old and fit perfectly.

Here is a source for cameras and I highly recommend them:

http://www.cameraleather.com/

[Mark Fisher]

It is interesting to compare the Bessa R to a FED2....both of which I have. The Bessas probably work reasonably well out of the factory and wear out quickly. Mine is fairly new and a pleasure to use. My FED is an indestructable, 40 year old, somewhat crude beast.......and also a pleasure to use, but very different. Looking at the pressure plateon the FED, it also looks like it's had thousands of rolls of film through it. I paid about $100 to get a good FED (took 2 or 3 tries) and about $175 on the Bessa. Which is the better camera today...the Bessa. Which will be the better camera in 10 years...the FED. Now if I spent $500 I could have the best of both worlds with an M2!

[Paul Goutiere]

Now if I spent $500 I could have the best of both worlds with an M2!

The M2 is a nice camera. I'm very fond of mine and have used it quite a bit recently. If I hadn't bought the lenses so long ago, I don't think I could afford it now.

[Paul Goutiere]

I replaced the leather on an early Mamiyaflex from 1955-58 vintage. This is the one with one focusing knob located on the right side. Everything was metal underneath as well as on top! No wonder why these cameras last so long!

The leather was a match to the old and fit perfectly.

Here is a source for cameras and I highly recommend them:

http://www.cameraleather.com/

I reskinned a Rolleiflex Automat with a covering from Camera Leather. Perfect!!
I recommend them too.

[goodfood]

I have 1956 M3. Three years ago, I give it a full clean, lube, adjust and change a new curtain. The repair shop said this can use another 50 years. That mean that camera can have 100 years life. He said early M3 with DS is more durable than later SS. May be cheaper parts on late model ?

[livemoa]

I have a Bessa R2. It is a pile of crap. Rangefinder is always needing adjustment, rewind handle keeps falling off, back cover has started to fall apart twice and the leatherette, well, I think they were doing a save the glue program when mine went through the factory. That and the shutter speeds get erratic fast. My camera repair guy says they are worse than some of the older Chinese (Seagull etc.) cameras he works on. The Cosina glass is a different story.

How can the same company turn out one good, maybe even great product, and another that is almost an insult to camera buyers. If you only intend to put maybe 5 - 10 rolls a year through one it might be ok for a few years, as long as you don't bump it and upset the rangefinder .........

I almost gave mine away to somebody recently, but I liked them too much.............

[Paul Goutiere]

I have a Bessa R2. It is a pile of crap. The Cosina glass is a different story.


"The Cosina glass is a different story." Yes, it appears to be quite good. I have the "Voigtlander" 15mm Heliar screw mount and so far it looks all right.

I must say that I'm a little jumpy about the whole product line. I was considering the Bessa 6x7 folder but I'm going to wait a few years until the whole story comes out.

[Chris Nielsen]

I like typewriters.

In my closet is a fine Corona portable typewriter easily 65 years old. In the basement, sitting on a desk, just in case; is a Underwood #5 which should be close to 100 years old. The platens, now, are as hard as glass and the old Underwood is missing a foot but they both work. I don't use them often, but it is nice to know they still work..and that they are still there.

In the sixties I worked as a typewriter repairman for Olivetti Underwood in Kitchener Ontario for two years. After that I worked on the AM Varityper
composing machines patterned after the Hammond typewriter.

The skill sets I acquired during that time has allowed me to work on some cameras to a certain level. The knowledge I've gained by working on the few cameras I have worked on is by no way conclusive and I have a great respect for the people who do professional camera repair.



Cool, so you would be the man to see about my Olivetti issues, I guess??

P.S. I'm pretty sure replacement platens are available if you feel like making those machines like new again...

[Snapper]

I don't think the Bessa L was ever designed to compete with a Leica. It was a very early Bessa and things have definitely moved on. I bought my L NEW for £60, so I wasn't expecting much. But it works well, and is fun to use with a c/v 21mm or 15mm. I use it occassionally and have never had a problem.

I use an Bessa R2a mostly, and the build quality is excellent, no complaints there. But it's in no way a cheap 'n' cheerful camera - I don't call £650 cheap!

[Paul Goutiere]

Cool, so you would be the man to see about my Olivetti issues, I guess??

Alas I had not been trained on the Olivetti line of typewriters or calculators. Just the manual Underwood typewriters and the Olivetti photocopiers.



P.S. I'm pretty sure replacement platens are available if you feel like making those machines like new again...
I almost had the platens recovered on both machines but it's not like I use typewriters a lot.

[Paul Goutiere]

I don't think the Bessa L was ever designed to compete with a Leica. It was a very early Bessa and things have definitely moved on. I bought my L NEW for £60, so I wasn't expecting much. But it works well, and is fun to use with a c/v 21mm or 15mm. I use it occassionally and have never had a problem.

I use an Bessa R2a mostly, and the build quality is excellent, no complaints there. But it's in no way a cheap 'n' cheerful camera - I don't call £650 cheap!
My experience is only with the Bessa L. I have never seen a Bessa R2a, other than pictures on the net. I cannot comment.
My understanding,now, is that other cameras like the R2A are very good.

[Paul Goutiere]

So I bit the bullet and adopted a nice little Leica IIIf. Wrenched on the Voigtlander 15mm Heliar.....(no they don't fit out of the box do they?) and so far have taken about 15 test shots.

The IIIf looks better, feels better, sounds better, focuses better, repairs better but is a bit more complicated to load. Not bad!

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa19/literiter/iiif15mm.jpg

[mhcfires]

I have a IIIa, IIIf and an M2. They are wonderful cameras. I love the heft of the camera body and the quiet snap of the shutter. My Nikon D80 is nice, but it will never compare to any of the leicas or to the old Nikon F's. Sorry that you had to relegate your Bessa to the scrap heap.:(