New BLACK Voigtlander Bessa R3A Leica USA w/ Case

 NEW Black Voigtlander Bessa R3A (Leica M mount) Rangefinder Body $570 with Voigtlander Black Case  

Leica M mount Aperture Priority Rangefinder, 1:1 Life Size Finder, 40/50/75/90 Framelines,  close focus .7 meter

IN STOCK:  ONE Year USA Cosina Voigtlander WARRANTY 

See the R3A article in the May 2005 Popular Photography - Page 58

"it's remarkable how many M7 features the Bessa R2A and R3A duplicate"

"The Leica M7 with 50/1.4 Summilux costs $5,300.  A similarly equipped Bessa R2A or R3A will cost you a fifth of that amount"

"We found the R2A and R3A to be excellent-handling, fun-to-use cameras"

See Frances Schultz' R3A article in the July 2005 Black & White Photography (UK) Page 72

"When you first pick up the R3A, it feels 'right."  The controls are all where you would expect them to be"

"The wonderfully bright 1:1 finder is doubly useful: it makes it easier to shoot with both eyes open"

This auction is for a NEW Boxed Voigtlander Bessa R3A body ONLY with Voigtlander Black Case,  WITHOUT LENS,  including standard strap, batteries, body cap, and instruction booklet.  

Leica M mount Aperture Priority Rangefinder with 1:1 Finder, 40/50/75/90 Framelines, pictured above mounting the new  Voigtlander 40/1.4  M mount lens (not included in this auction).   Leica M mount Aperture Priority Rangefinder with .7 Finder, 35/50/75/90 Framelines

Cologne Germany, Photokina 2004:  Cosina's President Mr. Kobayashi  introduced his  new Voigtlander Bessa R3A.   The R3A has a 1:1 finder with 40/50/75/90 framelines.   The Bessa 3A is the first Leica M mount film camera with a life size 1:1 finder!    The life size view finder  allows photogs to shoot comfortably and effectively with both eyes open at the same time!  The M mount was first introduced with the Leica M3 in 1953.  It only took half a century and Mr. K (Mr. Rangefinder), to bring a 1:1 life size finder to the M mount world.  As always, it was fascinating to meet with Mr. K and his staff to discuss the new cameras, and new ideas for future cameras.

What's aperture priority exposure?  The photog sets the lens aperture, the camera sets the shutter speed.  These cameras join a short list of only 3 previous Leica M mount AE film cameras: Minolta CLE, Konica Hexar and the current $2500 Leica M7.  Metered manual exposure is also possible.  Many photogs find AE exposure gives them faster shooting and more pics in fast changing situations, such as events and street shooting.

The R3A offers  Metered Manual or Aperture Priority exposure, with plus/minus two stops exposure compensation.   The exposure lock button is on the back of the top plate, allowing the photog to meter whey they like, lock the AE exposure, and then re-compose for the proper framing.      Red LED's at the bottom of the finder  indicate shutter speed read out: 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000.   On AE, the closest to the set speed lights up.  On manual, the suggested speed is brightest, while the over/under speed is next brightest. 

Voigtlander Bessa R3A Specs

• Electronic Shutter, 1-1/2000 plus B manually selected speeds,  8-1/2000 on AE

• Framelines: 40/50/75/90 in 1:1 LIFE-SIZE finder

• This Shutter is quieter than the mechanical R2, but not whisper quiet.

• Like most electronic shutters, there is  no manual speed back up if the batteries die

• Centerweighted TTL Metering for ambient light

• Metering in Manual or AE with AE Exposure Lock

• EV1-19(ISO 100, F4, 1 sec.-F16, 1/2000 sec), ISO 25-3200

• Shutter Speed LED readout from 1 to 2000 at the bottom of the finder.   On manual exposure, the suggested shutter speed is brightest.   Yes, unlike the Minolta CLE, the new Bessas have metered manual exposure. 

• Exposure Compensation +/- 2 f/stops on AE

• AE Exposure Lock button on back of top plate near film advance

• Manually set Film Speed, not DX

• Electronic Flash sync 1/125th

• Close Focus .7 meter

• Manually selected framelines, like the R/R2

• Racheting film advance, 45 degree standoff and 120 degree advance stroke

• Rotating shutter lock on shutter release

• 135.5(W) x 81(H)x 33.5(D)mm, 430 grams

• Takes standard Bessa Trigger Winder or Bessa Grips

• Two 1.5V Alkaline batteries(LR44) or Silver batteries(SR44).  I like the R3A electronic shutters powered by only two small easy to find LR44 batteries, not the often hard to find  Lithium batteries used by some camera manufacturers.

• Low Batteries are indicated by blinking LEDs at the farthest ends of the shutter speed readout.

• Rewind knob much heavier duty than the R/R2

• Film Back release at base of rewind knob
   

Keeping the same 37mm rangefinder base length as R/R2, the R3A's increased magnification to 1:1 means an EBL or Effective Base Length of 37 mm.   That is not as much as the Leica .58 finder at 40.16 mm, but it is a substantial improvement over the R/R2/R2A at 25.16 mm.   

If you are new to rangefinders, or have never tried a 1:1 RF finder, you might not realize what a BIG deal the R3A 1:1 finder is.  In practical terms the 1:1 finder just makes shooting and composing tremendously easier and faster because you can always keep both eyes open.    Again, the R3A is the only M mount film camera EVER with a 1:1 finder!  Yay Mr. K!  

No previous Leica M film camera left the factory with a 1:1 finder, whether made by Leica, Konica, Minolta, or Cosina, although the .92 magnification Leica M3 was close.  The R3A turns out to be the first 35mm film camera with projected parallax corrected brightlines in a 1:1 finder.   There are comparatively few quality interchangeable lens 35mm RF's with 1:1 finders.   No other Leica made M film camera, or M clone from Minolta, Konica, or even Cosina Voigtlander has a 1:1 finder.    Classic Nikon rangefinder fans are lucky enough to have 1:1 finders in the S2, S3, and S4  but they don't have the luxury of projected bright lines or parallax correction.   No classic Zeiss Contax had a 1:1 finder.  Classic Leica mount Canon fans enjoyed a 1:1 finder with the  Canon P  with parallax corrected framelines, but with a mediocre flare prone finder.  

Manually selected speeds from 1 to 1/2000th plus B, Aperture Priority AE 8 seconds to 1/2000th, plus/minus 2 stops compensation on AE, film speed manually set on shutter speed dial, flash sync at 1/125th

The shutter lock rotates around the shutter release.  The rewind lever is larger and stronger than the previous Bessas.   The lever at the bottom of the rewind knob is the back door release catch, to be pushed before pulling the rewind lever up for reloading.   

IN STOCK READY TO SHIP

Buyer agrees to pay by Paypal immediately with Buy It Now. 

$15 shipping / insurance within the US, $40 Express Mail shipping internationally with tracking.  Sales tax applies to California sales. 

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