Voigtländer Bessa

The first Bessa model was presented in 1929, and since then there has been a number of cameras sharing that nomenclature. Even after Voigtländer's bankrupcy, Bessa's name has been in use.

Voigtländer produced the Bessa until 1955, with more than 1.100.000 cameras made. The factory in charge of production, that in Brunswick, made several modifications during that time.

The original model from 1929 is a classic medium format folding camera. The pictures in this article are possibly from this model, although the shutter release in the front door, as can be seen in documents and brochures from that time, is not present. This model was designed for making 6x9 negatives on 120 film (hence the presence of a single ruby window in the rear door). Something actually more characteristic of this model - and, generally speaking, all folding cameras from that age - is the presence of a small "leg" aimed to act as a tripod when the camera is opened out. In this camera, the lens is a Voigtar, either f/6.3 or f/7.7

In 1932 a new model was introduced, including an accessory mask allowing for taking pictures in size either 6x4.5 or 6x9. This mask is not attached to the camera body in any way, so it is pretty easy that this mask gets lost as years pass by, most probable when buying second hand. So, watch out. The highest model of this version included a rangefinder. By the end of the 30s and also of the production of this model, a shutter release button was placed on the top cover. This model can have either a Voigtar or a Skopar lens.

After the War, new models are introduced, known as Bessa I and Bessa II.

Bessa I:

The Bessa I featured also the double format compatibility again by means of an accessory mask. This model does not have a rangefinder, but the optical viewfinder is quite brillant. Lenses are always 105mm in focal length, and they can be Vaskar (a triplet with maximum aperture of f/4.5) or Color-Skopar (a Tessar-like design and maximum aperture of f/3.5). Shutter tends to be Prontor/-S/-SV/-SVS or Compur Rapid, sometimes with Synchro-Compur. It was manufactured between 1951 and 1955, with a chromed top cover.

Bessa RF or Bessa IIE:

First RF variant of this model, with around 60.000 units made between 1936 and 1951, basically as an improvement of 1935 model. All units have a Compur-Rapid shutter with top speed of 1/400, available lenses were Helomar, Skopar or Heliar.

Bessa II:

The Bessa II is, according to owners, one of the best 6x9 folders ever made. It included a non-coupled rangefinder, and the units made during the first stages of production doesn not have flash shoe. It seems that, by the end of the production, the possibility of adding a mask for 6x4.5 pictures was included. It usually has Color-Skopar or Color-Heliar lenses, 105/3.5, and the Apo-Lanthar was also used although it is pretty uncommon and second hand can reach 1500-2000 Euro easily.

In any case, Bessa's glass is indeed quite capable, being it the 3-element Vaskar or Helomar, the 4-element Color-Skopar, the 5-element Color-Heliar or the 6-element Apo-Lanthar. Shutters, Prontor or Compur, were mounted mainly depending upon the lens the camera was about to receive. The top speed of the Compur Rapid in this camera is 1/400 while the Synchro-Compur goes up to 1/500. Another difference is that in the latter there is a switch for flash synchronization, while the former was synchronized automatically regardless of the flash used.

For a camera providing negatives that size, it is surprisingly small, with an approximate weight of 500 grams and dimensions of 170x90x40mm (closed).

<< Back