Voigtlander Bessa L Review (Cheapest Bessa Camera)
Voigtlander Bessa L review, photos and YouTube video. Comparing the Bessa L to the Bessa T, Bessa R and Leica iii film cameras. Looking for the best 35mm wide angle lens film camera? (Excluding the Xpan!) You may appreciate the Bessa L. I love it!
Review of the Voigtlander Bessa L film camera
I love it! Get one! The end.
The ‘Modern’ Voigtlander Bessa L camera ?
The Voigtlander Bessa L camera is my most modern film camera.. I think. (Actually my Fuji GF670 is my newest film camera, released in 2008 and made until 2014). The Bessa L camera was slightly earlier and was introduced in 1999 and produced until 2003. That makes this camera 60 years newer than the Leica iiia camera I use! Funnily enough it was the Leica iiia camera that lead me to buying the Voigtlander Bessa L!
Voigtlander Bessa L lens mount
Leica iii cameras and the Bessa L have something in common. The Voigtlander Bessa L lens mount is Leica screw mount (L39, LTM) the same as vintage Leica Barnack cameras. The Bessa L shares the same lens mount as the Bessa R. Later models were mostly Leica M mount.
Bessa L vs R
The Voigtlander Bessa L vs R is a common comparison as both are screw mount and both are cheaper than most other Bessa cameras. There is a big difference R vs L. The Bessa R gives you a standard camera viewfinder and rangefinder. The Bessa L doesn’t. I’ll summarise in more detail below.
Buying a Bessa L camera
As with most of my camera purchases the Voigtlander Bessa L camera buy was completely unplanned. It wasn’t until the end of the buying decision when I was deciding between different Voigtlander film camera models that I went for the Bessa L model. I was not on the market to buy another 35mm film camera but when I discovered the Bessa L there was no going back!
Voigtlander Bessa L vs T (or R and variants)
One decision you may have if you look to buy a Voigtlander Bessa film camera is which model to buy. There is the Voigtlander Bessa L, T, R, R2, R3, R4.. I wont list all the camera specs of each version of the Bessa as you can find this information online already. What I will do is just list some of the key features to be aware of – see below. (This is what appeared important to me but your camera specs wish list might be different).
Comparison of Voigtlander Bessa L,T,R, R2,R3
- Bessa L – LTM mount + No rangefinder + No viewfinder
- Bessa T – Leica M mount + Coupled rangefinder + No viewfinder
- Bessa R – LTM mount + Combined coupled rangefinder + Viewfinder
- Bessa R2 – Leica M mount + Combined coupled rangefinder + Viewfinder
- Bessa R2 (M,A,S,C) – Leica M, Nikon S and Contax RF + Combined coupled rangefinder/ VF
- Bessa R3 (M,A) – Leica M mount + Combined coupled rangefinder/ VF
- Bessa R4 (M,A) – Leica M mount + Combined coupled rangefinder/ VF
Key Specs of Voigtlander Bessa L (vs Leica M6!)
The Voigtlander Bessa L has the following features. I compare the Bessa L to my Leica M6 as that is a camera many rangefinder camera fans probably know of.
3 Reasons why I bought the Bessa L camera
(1) Camera Weight
My ‘need’ that related to buying the Voigtlander Bessa L is could I find a lighter version of my beloved Leica iiia camera. The camera had to weigh less than the 410g Leica iiia (which is already around 100g lighter than a Leica M camera).
(2) LTM Mount (Leica thread mount)
The camera also needed to be LTM mount as my smallest lightest lenses are LTM lenses (Leica thread mount). (Review and YouTube video of my LTM lenses soon!). When searching the web for such a camera I somehow stumbled across the Bessa L camera. At first I was tempted by the Leica T camera which has a Leica M mount. Why. Because I have more Leica M mount lenses so it seemed to make better sense. I then realised my sole purpose of this camera purchase was to get the lightest setup. The Voigtlander Bessa L is only 320g(!!!!) making it the lightest Cosina Voigtlander camera as far as I know. The Bessa L is also LTM mount. Tick box.
(3) No built-in rangefinder
The final reason that sold the camera to me was the fact that the Voigtlander Bessa L has no rangefinder. Why is that good? It is good as my Voigtlander Bessa R3A camera rangefinder has nearly always been out of alignment (even after having it repaired at least twice). Cosina Voigtlander rangefinders are not built as well as a Leica rangefinder. Repair guys have said to me “just buy a Leica”, in the days before I had a Leica!
Voigtlander Bessa CLA and repair
If you are looking for a Voigtlander Bessa repair guy try my Leica repair centres directory as those places will probably repair Bessa cameras too.
One reason why you don’t need the Bessa L!
The obvious argument against buying the Bessa L is I could just use the Bessa R3A camera and just zone focus. Wallah! I have the same setup as the Bessa L and I save some money. Yes except the Bessa L is smaller and lighter so that was my argument to buy.
If you are a normal person (and are not trying to save one or two grams like me!) you can use any Leica M or Cosina Voigtlander camera. Get the 15mm Voigtlander lens and zone focus and you have basically the same setup as I am enjoying.
For my ultra running training miles and cycling adventures (previous called Ironman training!) I just prefer to have this lighter camera setup.
Voigtlander Bessa L Portrait
As a portrait photographer I wanted to try the Bessa L for portraits even with the Voigtlander 15mm lens attached. Here was my first attempt! (Cropped as a square).
Bessa L model photography
I then decided to take the Bessa L on a model photography trip for more 15mm portraits!
35mm Panorama Cameras / 35mm Panoramic
Do you remember the APS film cameras of the 1990s? I do. I had one myself (as a non-photographer/ starting to realise I maybe like photos person). It was years later before I got into photography so i’m not even sure what camera I had. Some cheap point and shoot I think. I just remember being able to capture these ‘amazing long photos’ (panoramas / panoramic images).
It wasn’t until very recently that I gave this topic any thought. Did you know that the long impressive APS film images are just a narrow crop of a standard 35mm film negative!? I feel stupid for not realising this sooner but the point I am very slowly trying to get to is I can now do panorama images with my wide lens Voigtlander Bessa L camera setup!
(I may cover this in more detail in a future post if it is something I get into but in very simple terms it gives me a cheap lightweight compact Hasselblad XPan to play with!). (The XPan is of course better but for fun photos I want to experiment with the Bessa L).
Voigtlander Bessa L Panorama Photo
Here is my first attempt of a 35mm panorama photo with the Bessa L
More Voigtlander Bessa L sample photos
If you see the Kentmere 400 film review or Ilford Pan 400 film review you will find more example images using the Bessa L camera. (I will link these reviews once they are written!)
Voigtlander Super Wide Heliar 15mm lens – LTM
As mentioned the Voigtlander Bessa L comes with a 15mm lens attached and it’s own hotshoe mount Voigtlander 15mm viewfinder. The standard lens on the Bessa L camera is the Voigtlander Super Wide Heliar 15mm f4.5 lens which is the LTM mount version. The LTM mount lens is different to the Leica M mount Voigtlander Super Wide Heliar 15mm as it is smaller and can focus to 0.3m vs. 0.5m. A great feature that I will use/ am already using. The LTM lens can be used on a Leica M camera via the Leica M – LTM adapter.
Voigtlander Super Wide Heliar 15mm – Leica M
For Leica M film cameras and Leica M digital cameras I already use the Voigtlander 15mm f4.5 Super Wide Heliar M mount lens. Optically I believe both versions of the lens are the same so you probably don’t need both. I only bought the LTM mount lens (which came on the Bessa L) to use specifically on LTM mount cameras (to get the smaller possible setup).
Voigtlander 15mm purple edges issue (on digital)
If you plan to buy the Voigtlander Bessa L camera partly just for the 15mm Heliar lens you should be aware of the following. The Voigtlander 15mm Heliar Super Wide lens is fine on a film camera body (LTM version or M mount version of the lens), whether a Leica M6, Voigtlander Bessa R3A or a Leica iii camera, as examples. Where you see ‘issues’ is if you use the 15mm lens on a full frame digital camera.
Purple edge Voigtlander 15mm photo
Voigtlander 15mm lens on Leica digital cameras
On my digital Leica M240 and Leica M9 cameras I experience purple edges from the Voigtlander 15mm lens. This is not an issue if you shoot in black and white or on a crop sensor camera body but it’s worth noting. The lens should be fine on the Leica CL or Leica M8 for example.. or even a Lumix GH5.
Voigtlander Bessa L Review – Summary
If this article hasn’t given you an idea of how much I am liking the Bessa L camera then my YouTube video might (below). For those of you looking for a lightweight LTM camera body or a cheaper alternative to a Leica you may like the Bessa L. If you enjoy the Leica i, ii or iii but want a camera that you can use faster (faster film loading, film advance, film rewind) and/ or you want a built in lightmeter then the Voigtlander Bessa L is a camera you may want to consider.
Nice report! I like the bird photo.
If you get a Bessa that works right then it is a bargain. I had one of the latest model a Bessa rangefinders. I had bought it new and film counter broke within a week. Had enough of it and returned it for a refund.
With cameras, all they have to do is keep the film flat and of course have the mechanicals running to spec. Otherwise the lens is where it is at.
When I first started with photography in the 1970’s I used a Nikon F and a Leica M3. Then moved on to a M6. (Actually my first cam after graduating from the families’ Brownie was a 35mm Kodak Retinette 1A). Too bad Fuji does not make a full manual rangefinder M43 mini like the old Olympus Pen half-frame cameras. As well as a Fuji / Leica rangefinder knockoff that is affordable.
Thankd Daniel, sorry to hear about your Bessa experience. Nikon F and M3 is a strong combo. I have the Pen-F half frame too. Great with fine grain film like Provia especially. I’ll be using my Fuji 645 cameras again soon, one was just repaired. Fuji lenses are great for sure. 🙂 Matt
I purchased the Bessa L for about $100. It was used a handful of times. I find the quality of the camera to be excellent. I have a Leica iiif and iiia rangefinders as well as a few clones. The Bessa L feels modern. I have a converted Voigtlander 50mm lens that I use with a cheap rangefinder. I find that the lack of viewfinder is not an issue. When I shoot at 28mm it basically aim and shoot.
It is a great camera for hiking and open landscape photography.
Thanks Marc, yes agree the Beesa L can be a lot of fun with wide lenses and the light meter can be useful to some too. I still have mine even though I own Leicas too.