Voigtländer 667 ( Bessa III ) in this week's BJP

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Jonathan Eastland writes about the Bessa III in this week's BJP, 18/11/2009.
And, surprise, surprise it's available on-line.

Voigtländer 667

I'd love to have one, but I doubt I'll decide it's affordable at its current price, which I think is around £1,800-£2,000. It's a pity that the folding strut mechanism is described as delicate viz: "damage to the delicate lever arm mechanism and bellows will normally be avoided." I thought this aspect of folders had been sorted by the 50s! Patents? Surely not...

[taxor]

Has a lot of appeal, especially in the weight stakes. It's no fun luggin' an RB67 with assorted lenses and kit up a mountain.

[Still_Togging_Along]

I suspect the "damage to the delicate lever arm mechanism and bellows will normally be avoided." rider is there because some people who have never used these cameras in the past, need to be made aware of what to others, is a blindingly obvious precondition of usage. Some people may take this as being a rather patronising statement, but whilst people are potentially a lot more knowlegeable than individuals were say, 50 years ago, the percentage of the population that are as thick as two bricks, regarding quite obvious things, is probably still about the same!

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Now I'm completely confused - but all was resolved in the review linked below....

I've just found this on the BJP website.

I quote from the text: "The portable folding bellows camera was jointly developed by Fujilfim and Cosina. The camera's most unusual feature is a mechanism for switching between two different film formats - 6x7cm and 6x6cm. It is also fitted with a Fujinon EBC 80mm f/3.5 fixed focal length lens..."

The Bessa, made by Cosina, has a Heliar lens. Can we infer that the Heliar is made by Fujinon, or is the Fujinon EBC made by Cosina? And, I suppose are any of us good enough with darkroom skills these days to spot the differences, if any!

Here's a review of the Fujinon GF670 I do like the early shots of his wife.

Let's hope that the UK pricing is lower than that for the Bessa, but if VAT increases, we may not be able to take advantage of it for long. (£1699.)