Buying stuff from Cameraquest

[nightbreed]

Hello everyone,

There have been a few pple wanting to sell their Bessa R in this forum but I would like to buy a new one. Seems like Cameraquest (http://www.cameraquest.com/inventor.htm) has got the lowest price for this RF and I was wondering if anyone's got any experience with this shop. It accepts Paypal and is there anything I should take note of when paying in this way?

Also, I'm new to RFs so I would like to know if there are any lenses that you can recommend. At the moment I am eyeing the Voigtlander 21/4 RF Coupled, 50/2.5 Color Skopar and quite possibly the 35/2.5 Classic.


Thank you.

[sfhuang]

The 50/2.5 Color Skopar is one of the sharpest in the range. Highly recommend it.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by nightbreed Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone's got any experience with this shop. It accepts Paypal and is there anything I should take note of when paying in this way? Thank you.

Steve Gandy the owner of Cameraquest is a highly respected and honest individual. You won't have any problems in dealing with him.

Ian

[nightbreed]

Ian wrote:

"Steve Gandy the owner of Cameraquest is a highly respected and honest individual. You won't have any problems in dealing with him."

Thank you! That's all I need to hear.

[nightbreed]

OK. Now this happens: Cameraquest is offering the Bessa R + 35/2.5 as a package (going for abt S$750, almost same as what Anthony's is selling the BODY for).

Originally intended to get the 50/2.5 (I have a 50/1.8 for my SLR) and the body. But this is something like S$940.

To me, the 35 is neither here nor there, not wide angle, not close to a standard lens. But I save almost S$200. But at Anthony's, I suddenly gian the 28/3.5. I see that the pple who sell their Bessas on this forum have both 35 and 50. Is this any indication of what I shld get?

I originally intended to get the 21/4, the 50/2.5 and the 75/2.5. But I think the 21 will see little usage.

So these are my choices:

1. Body and 35/2.5 package (and buy other lenses later)
2. Body and 28/3.5 separate (I don't have a 28 prime for my SLR)
3. Body and 50/2.5 separate (I have a 50/1.8 for my SLRs)

Any advice?

Thank you!

[pipefish]

Personally, I like the 35/50 combos as the presentation they give is more natural without the WA distortion. For the type of photography that RFs are used for (documentary, street), you will seldom use a 21. IMO The 28 is too close to the 35 to show a big difference.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by nightbreed OK. Now this happens: Cameraquest is offering the Bessa R + 35/2.5 as a package (going for abt S$750, almost same as what Anthony's is selling the BODY for). Originally intended to get the 50/2.5 (I have a 50/1.8 for my SLR) and the body. But this is something like S$940. To me, the 35 is neither here nor there, not wide angle, not close to a standard lens. But I save almost S$200. But at Anthony's, I suddenly gian the 28/3.5. I see that the pple who sell their Bessas on this forum have both 35 and 50. Is this any indication of what I shld get? I originally intended to get the 21/4, the 50/2.5 and the 75/2.5. But I think the 21 will see little usage. So these are my choices: 1. Body and 35/2.5 package (and buy other lenses later) 2. Body and 28/3.5 separate (I don't have a 28 prime for my SLR) 3. Body and 50/2.5 separate (I have a 50/1.8 for my SLRs) Any advice? Thank you!

[surge]

caution!! if you are going to a local shop to get your bessa stuff. do check that what you have is in stock and DONT trust that the stocks are coming in and put deposit etc. there is one shop that does that all the time but i can tell you that voigtlander no longer keen to supply things to him yet he always promises stock coming.


there is also a shop at chinatown there. they sell a lot of besa stuff too.

[kingpin]

Hey nightbreed. Try fotografix - they do stock bessa bodies and lenses. U will find wat u need there. Bargain with Mr Wong, he is a nice fella though he seldom smile. Tell him wat u can get over the net. I find fotografix much better (price wise) than Anthony's. Wong won't try to "talk" u into buying other stuff.

[nightbreed]

Thank you for your advice and recommendations, pipefish, surge and kingpin.

After sleeping on it, I have decided to get the 35/2.5 package. The 50 and 75 will have to wait.

Will check out fotografix. Surge, what is the name of the shop in Chinatown and where is it located? Thank you!

[Keltzar]

I got my Bessa-R from Cameraquest, as well as the Bessa-L that came before that. No problem.

I bought my 15/4.5 from a distributor in the netherlands, because he could offer it to me at S$550 inclusive of shipping for a new-in-box piece. It's my favourite lens.

This is what I use now, and it's my travel kit:

Bessa-R
Bessa-L + 15/4.5 as a "wide angle" camera with superslow film
Orion 28/6.3
Skopar 35/2.5
Jupiter-3, 50/1.5
Elmar 9cm f4.0

[oteonghn]

HI
I have bought an adapter from him. Very reliable at least for this small purchase. From what I gather from users of other Forums, including Clubsnap, Stephen Gandy is an honest guy.

Rgds
ONG TH

[nightbreed]

Thank you for your feedback. I have decided to get a 75/2.5 from him. FYI I bought a Bessa R and a 28/3.5 from Anthony...at a slightly higher price than what Stephen offers on his web.

[Plutonite]

hi! where is this shop located?
and anyone noes how good is bessa r2 compared to it's predecessor bessa r?

thanks!

[Plutonite]

hi! where is this shop fotografix located? heard it sells lots of voigtlander stuff..
and anyone noes how good is bessa r2 compared to it's predecessor bessa r?

thanks!

[XXX Boy]

Originally Posted by Plutonite hi! where is this shop fotografix located? heard it sells lots of voigtlander stuff.. and anyone noes how good is bessa r2 compared to it's predecessor bessa r? thanks!

The Bessa R2 has a better built metal body. There isn't much changes actually.