Voigtlander Bessa I
Voigtlander has had an incredibly long run in the history of photography and, over those many, many years, they have built just about one of every type of camera. The Bessa I is one of several folding, medium format cameras that Voigtlander produced. The Bessa I entered production in the 1950s and was meant to be a lower budget, viewfinder-only alternative to the higher-end, folding rangefinder Bessa cameras.
When you pick up a Bessa I you will notice a couple of qualities right away. When the camera is folded up it is surprisingly compact. Forty years prior, such cameras were often called "vest pocket" cameras, as they were meant to be tucked away in the pockets of one's vest. While sartorial trends had changed by the 1950s, manufacturers and consumers alike still appreciated cameras that were easily portable. To get a negative as large as 6x9cm out of a camera as compact as the Bessa I is no small feat - pun intended. The other aspect to the Bessa I that will impress most users right away is the camera's intuitive design and the ease of its use. The top plate is very cleanly laid out with only a film advance knob and a shutter button to accompany the accessory shoe. Focusing is done via a knob on the lens, with controls for shutter and aperture right nearby. Small features, such as an indicator that displays when the shutter is armed or fired, and presets for quick snap shooting make the Bessa I easy for both amateur and professional photographers alike. It can also be fitted with a 6x4.5cm mask; there is even a switch that will mask the viewfinder for accurate composition. Setting the Bessa I up in this manner allowed it to record twice as many exposures per roll of film, essentially turning the camera into a medium format "half frame."
The world of 120 folding cameras is filled with a smorgasbord of choices and a photographer in search of such a camera will have some homework to do, but if budget and ease of use are primary concerns, the Bessa I offers a compelling option.
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