By someone who just spent 45 minutes unfolding this thing in public
Introduction: When Your Camera Is Also a Fashion Statement
Let’s be honest: most cameras are about as stylish as a pair of Crocs. The Voigtländer Bessa II? It’s the James Bond of folding cameras—sleek, suave, and guaranteed to make bystanders whisper, “What is that thing?”
This isn’t just a camera. It’s a mechanical origami masterpiece, a 6×9 film beast folded into something smaller than your Instagram ego. Want to shoot medium format without looking like you’re carrying a toaster oven? Meet the Bessa II: the camera that says, “I’m here to take photos… and steal your soul with my vintage charm.”
Design: “Is That a Camera or a Luxury Handbag?”
Specs:
- Weight: 900g (or “lightweight” for something made of solid brass and existential dread).
- Materials: Leather stitched by elves, metal forged by dwarves.
- Party Trick: A collapsible leather handle that transforms from “sleek strip” to “I’m-ready-for-my-closeup-Mr.-DeMille” grip.
The Bessa II is what happens when Germans and Austrians collaborate on a steampunk project. Folded, it’s slimmer than a Leica M3 with a Summicron. Unfolded, it’s a bellows-powered time machine that screams, “I shoot film and own a monocle.”
Pro Tip: If your camera doesn’t double as a conversation starter, you’re doing life wrong.
The Unfolding Ritual: A Mechanical Ballet
Press the hidden button on the base. Click. The lens door pops open like a shy mollusk. Gently push the front standard forward. Snap. The bellows expand like a mechanical accordion. Suddenly, you’re holding a 6×9 monstrosity that makes your iPhone look like a Post-it note.
No other camera unfolds with this much drama. It’s like Indiana Jones swapping his whip for a tripod.
The Heliar Lens: Magic in a Brass Tube
Specs:
- Focal Length: 105mm f/3.5 (the “Heliar” version, because obviously).
- Bokeh: Creamier than a Viennese pastry. At f/4, backgrounds melt like butter in a sauna.
The Heliar lens isn’t just optics—it’s alchemy. Shoot portraits, and your subjects will ask, “Why do I look like a Renaissance painting?” (Answer: Because Voigtländer sold their souls to the devil for this glass.)
Alternatives:
- Skopar version: For budget-conscious wizards.
- Apo-Lanthar: Radioactive and ridiculously expensive. Perfect for Bond villains.
The Viewfinder: A Lesson in Humility
The Bessa II’s rangefinder is… quaint. Think “a yellow postage stamp viewed through a keyhole.” It’s dim, tiny, and about as user-friendly as a Rubik’s Cube. Glasses wearers? Good luck.
But here’s the hack: pre-focus before unfolding. Sneakily frame your subject, snap the bellows open, and fire. It’s like photography mixed with espionage.
Street Cred: When the Camera Becomes the Star
Take the Bessa II outdoors, and prepare for attention. Strangers will stop. Old men will reminisce about their “glory days.” Pigeons will pose.
Last week, a Beijing grandpa parked his bike to lecture me on his 1970s darkroom exploits. I got zero photos but gained a life coach.
Street Photography Rule #1: If your camera isn’t attracting more stares than your subjects, upgrade to something louder.
The “6×9 Problem”: Eight Shots, Infinite Patience
Fact: A 120 roll gives you 8 frames. That’s right—eight. In a world where iPhone users shoot 200 selfies before breakfast, the Bessa II is a zen master.
Each click costs $3 and 10 minutes of existential contemplation. Miss the shot? Too bad. The universe whispers, “Git gud, scrub.”
Pro Move: Unfold the Bessa II slowly. The theatrics buy you time to think, “Do I really want to photograph this?”
Bessa II vs. Fuji GF670: A Sibling Rivalry
The Fuji GF670 (aka “Voigtländer Bessa III”) is the Bessa II’s tech-savvy cousin. It’s lighter, has a brighter viewfinder, and won’t embarrass you at a startup meetup. But it’s also… sterile.
GF670 Pros:
- Electronic shutter.
- Sharp enough to cut reality.
GF670 Cons:
- Lacks soul.
- Makes you look like a dentist.
The Bessa II? It’s all analog swagger.
Final Verdict: For People Who Enjoy Difficulty
The Voigtländer Bessa II isn’t a camera. It’s a mechanical flex, a middle finger to convenience. It’s folding-unfolding ballet. It’s eight shots of deliberate genius. It’s the reason your Instagram followers think you’re a time traveler.
Is it practical? No.
Is it perfect? Absolutely not.
Is it the coolest folding camera ever made? Abso-freaking-lutely.
Rating: 5/5 stars (and 5/5 awkward public interactions).
Now go forth and unfold responsibly. Or just carry it as a purse. We don’t care. 📸✨
