Excellent 1939 6x9 Voigtlander Bessa Rangefinder, Freshly Serviced, CLA'd.

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use!

This is a Bessa 6x9 rangefinder camera. It was built in Germany in circa 1939 Voigtlander. This Bessa is also capable of producing 6x4.5 images if you have a reduction mask in your collection. (Mask not included.) It uses 120 film which is readily available.  

With its black lacquered finish and a hint of art deco styling, these Bessa cameras rate high on my personal favorites list of 1930’s cameras. I also appreciate how easily the Bessa fold open and close, the excellent handling and especially the shutter release lever that folds automatically out from the lens door. This shutter release is very smooth and requires very little pressure. This really adds to the joy of shooting and also helps reduce camera shake at slow shutter speeds. Because of its excellent handling and performance, many of these cameras were used by war correspondents and photographers during WWII.

The Bessa RF has a built in coupled rangefinder that never leaves you guessing about the distance or the focus. The camera also has an additional advantage that it can close focus down to one meter. The ability to get in close with its 105mm lens is of course convenient for tighter portrait work. The reason the Bessa can get this close is because the Bessa’s lens and shutter moves together as a unit when focusing. Another nice feature is that you can actually pre-focus the camera without opening it, via the distance scale on the large silver knob. It’s an ideal camera for a photographer with historical interest who wants to work with a vintage camera regularly.

This Bessa has been carefully serviced and is ready for immediate use. It’s been cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. The rangefinder is easy to see, easy to use and works well. The bellows are supple and light tight. The quality Compur-Rapid shutter works very well and all speeds (T,B & 1 sec- 1/400^th) are appropriate. The slow speeds buzz along smoothly and the fast speeds are clean and snappy

The lens is a 3.5/105mm Skopar (a four lens element design that’s nearly identical in design and performance to the Zeiss Tessar.) The lens is exceptionally clean and clear. There is no haze, separated elements, crystallization or other problems. There are no scratches or polishing marks and it’s capable of producing lovely photo with modern color and B&W films.

 It comes complete with a brown leather case.

All in all, a wonderful classic camera. Load it with your favorite film and keep it handy for that perfect shot you’ve been looking for. You know the one... the one with the perfect Ansel Adams light breaking through the dark storm clouds that leaves you wishing you had a classic 6x9 camera with you.