A Bessa is not just simply a Bessa. During a period of 28 years from 1929 to 1957, Voigtländer produced a number of models and variations that all carried the Bessa name. It is estimated, that more than 1 million Bessa's were manufactured in total, making it one of Voigtländers greatest successes. The many models and versions/variations doesn't make it very easy for a newcomer to choose the right camera, but if I should pass on a piece of advice I would say, that if you are a user and looking for a Bessa, you should focus on the lenses and the shutters, and simply go for the best lens/shutter combination you can find, and spend a little more money than you maybe expected. You should always prefer a Skopar, Color Skopar, Heliar, Color Heliar or Apo Lanthar lens. Some Bessa models like the post-war Bessa II rangefinder and the pre-war Bessa "E-Messer" are very popular among collectors, and prices are high, and get higher all the time. A Bessa with a desirable lens/shutter combination and in good condition is an investment, and there will always be a buyer for such a working Bessa. Of course you should be careful, and make sure that the bellows doesn't leak light, and that the struts and lens-fixture etc are OK. Unfortunately the production quality of the Bessa's weren't totally consistent during the 28 years of production, and finally as it is the case with all old classic cameras; not all of these ladies have aged with equally the same grace.

Personally I like the classic Bessa a lot, but I am still looking for "my" Bessa with just the right lens and shutter combination. Unfortunately you don't meet a beautiful and classy Bessa by hanging around on bars. I haven't got a wife but IF i had, and we had children I would name the boy Vito and the girl Bessa, but of course only if I had met the right kind of "Vitessa-girl" to marry ;-).  

Most of the Bessa's were 6 x 6 or 6 x 9 medium format folders, but Voigtländer also made 4,5 x 6 and twin-format folders like the ones below. I think you should also visit the following websites for more informations about the Bessa:

Cinci's Voigtländer page

Classic Camera Reference about the Bessa's    

This old Bessa was in a truly appauling condition when I found it on a fleamarket. The leatherette is still rather worn, but after a good cleaning, the shutter sprung back to life. I still have to dismantle the lens and give it a good cleaning too, but it's not too bad. This Bessa is an example of one of the early Bessa's, and the distance setting has got the "landscape - group - portrait" scale settings. Just below the chrome strut, you can see the shutter release button that comes out through the front cover.

If you can find one of these "zweiformat" Bessa in good condition, it is actually a very useable camera. It's got a reasonably fast shutter and a Skopar lens, so it can't go all wrong. It is basically the same body as the earlier model but with a modified folding viewfinder with a spring operated pop-up cover. By inserting a mask, it is possible to convert it to 6 x 6 format, and it is provided with a depth-op-field table on the camera back (see photo below). I think that this particular Bessa model, represents the "minimum demands" that you should have if you a looking for a useable Bessa. When checking a Bessa before buying it, you should check, that the small plastic/bakelite button on the back that opens and closes the red frame windows are intact and works ! (B on picture below). In many cases they are broken and/or damaged. The Bessa "zweiformat" is a really nice camera that I can recommend.  

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A: Film advance knob B: Frame window cover knob C: Front cover release button
 

Bessa "E-Messer" (1936) RF
Format:  6 x 9  or 4,5 x 6 (mask) on 120 rollfilm
Optics:  Helomar 1:3,5  105mm
Shutter: Compur Rapid T +  B + 1 => 1/400 sec.
Misc.: Coupled rangefinder, sliding bed type

In my opinion the "E-Messer" Bessa are the most beautiful of them all. Not only are the exterior design extremely beautiful and stylish, but also when it comes to the mechanical design I find it very interesting. The most prominent feature on the top cover are the big focusing knob with the engraved depth-of-field scale. Focusing are done by viewing through the separate rangefinder window, and turning the knob. It's a very useable coincident rangerfinder, and on this particular camera it's crystal clear and accurate. When turning the focusing knob, the entire lens base and bellows moves forth and back on the sliding bed. The release button are the typical Bessa release lever-type, that protrudes through the front cover. Allthough being a linkage-system it works very well. The small knob on the far right of the topcover, opposite the focusing knob, engages the 4,5 x 5 mask in the viewfinder. This feels however a little awkward. The pre-war Bessa "E's" all have the hinged filter holder in front of the lens whereas the post war versions didn't. In many cases the filter has been lost, or the entire holder has been broken of.  It IS a very vulnarable part of the camera, and as long as the filter holder is present, you can always find a filter, or even have one made to measure.  The Bessa "E" are very sought after by collectors, but for some strange reason not as much as the later Bessa II.  The camera in my collection are fitted with the 3 element Helomar, but can also be found with the very attractive Heliar lens, but both the Helomar and the Heliar are known to produce very pleasant negatives, and very sharp too. Personally I can only recommend the Bessa "E" very much indeed, and I hope you find it just as attractive and beautiful as I do. Be prepared to pay from 120,- to 200,- Euro for a nice example, but I really think it's worth evry Cent, and in addtion you get to own a classic and stylish design, and allthough the Bessa "E" is 70 years old it's still very much a useable and capable medium format camera.  

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

 

If anyone tries to argue, or convince you, that medium format cameras are big and un-handy, just pull out the rabbit from your hat, and mention the Bessa 66, also known as the "Baby Bessa". The Bessa 66 are an extermely compact 6 x 6 folder no larger than most 24 x 36 cameras. The sleek body will fit in any pocket, and just as small as it is, just as impressive are the specifications. It's got a Compur Rapid shutter that reaches 1/500 sec, and the wonderful Voigtländer Skopar lens. The shutter release button (well it's actually a shutter release lever), protrudes through the front cover. An unique feature are the locking lever at the bottom, which locks the release knobs for the hinged back, and doubles as a support foot/tab when the camera is placed on a horisontal surface. The folding viewfinder are very useable, and on the top you'll find a wonderful depth of field scale.

The Bessa 66 came in 3 different versions as far as I know. The first model looks very much like the one in my collection, except for the wind-knob, which on the early version were a folding handle. The middle version is the one you see here, and the final version with a totally redesigned top-cover with intergrated viewfinder on the far right. This last Bessa 66 model in fact became the Perkeo. The "Baby Bessa" came with Voigtar, Skopar or Heliar lenses and different shutters. As it is the case with the other Bessa's, you'll have to spot the version that suit your needs and taste. When you have found "your" personal Bessa 66, you'll enjoy the pure pleasure of owning a very fine and compact medium format folder, that folds away for hikes, travelling or on the stroll through the city. I can highly recommend this Baby ;-)

I really think the Bessa I are a very beautiful medium format folder. I know that the Bessa II with rangefinder are much more sougth after and popular among collectors, but if you're used to scale focusing or have an add-on rangefinder you can actually make a very good deal on a good condition Bessa I. You should of course make sure, that the mask for 4,5 x 6 format are included as well. The Skopar lens are more desirable than this Vaskar if you have a choice. The camera body are quite different from the older Bessa's, and it has got an optical viewfinder with a 4 position switch that masks the viewfinder between 4,5 x 6 and 6 x 9 format, each with 2 parallax correction settings. The Bessa I offers double exposure prevention, a large wind knob on the top cover and an accessory shoe. On the top cover you'll also find the shutter release button and a small indicator window that shows wheter the film has been advanced or not. Actually the Bessa I reminds me quite a bit about the Adox Sport, just with a much nicer finish.