Bessa-T

History Comes To Life

Announced in the Spring of 2001, and just becoming available in some markets several months later, theBessa-Tis the third rangefinder camera fromVoigtlnder. Voigtlnder is a venerable but reborn brand name, being used now byCosina, heretofore a Japanese custom OEM manufacturer.Voigtlnder was one of the popular European brands from the pre-WW2 era, though the 1950's.
Over a couple of years prior to the introduction of the Bessa-T, Cosina have made available two other rangefinder cameras as well as a wide selection of Leica-compatible screw-mount lenses.Please see my articleRangefinder Renaissancefor a bit more on this fascinating camera line and for links to other sources of relevant information.
Since I already own aLeica M6, I bought the Bessa, and specifically the Bessa-T, almost exclusively for a use with the12mm Voigtlnder f/5.6 Heliarultrawide angle lens. I also bought it as an emergency backup for the M6. Unlike the other two Bessa models the T takes Le...