C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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rangefinder-35mm
The Voigtländer Bessa-R (1999–2007) is a Leica Thread Mount (M39/L39) 35mm rangefinder produced by Cosina in Japan under the historic Voigtländer brand name. It was the first in Cosina's Bessa line — a series that ultimately grew to include the Bessa-T (body without finder), Bessa-R2 (improved RF + M-mount option), Bessa-R3A/M (0.9× finder for accurate 50mm use), and Bessa-R4A (0.52× wide-angle finder).
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
The camera that brought the film rangefinder back. Launched in 1999 by Cosina under the Voigtländer name, the Bessa-R offered a new, affordable Leica-thread-mount rangefinder at a moment when film photography was supposedly dying — and kicked off a modern-vintage renaissance.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | L39 / LTM (Leica screw mount) |
| Years | 1999–2007 |
| Shutter | 1s – 1/2000s + B, mechanical horizontal cloth |
| Flash sync | 1/125s (X sync) |
| Meter | Center-weighted TTL, aperture-priority AE |
| ISO range | 25–3200 |
| Weight | ~340 g |
| Battery | 2× LR44 / SR44 |
Cosina president Hirofumi Kobayashi launched the Bessa-R in 1999 as part of a bold bet that a market existed for new, affordable rangefinder film cameras. The Leica M6 retailed for around $1,700 at the time; the Bessa-R entered at $299. Cosina simultaneously introduced a range of new Voigtländer-branded lenses (Color-Skopar 25/4, Nokton 35/1.2, Heliar 75/2.5 Classic) to give buyers a complete system.
The Bessa-R succeeded commercially and critically, triggering a succession of refined models. The R2 (2002) improved the rangefinder coupling and offered an M-mount variant. The R3A (2004) introduced a 1:1 viewfinder optimized for 50mm. The R4A (2006) addressed the opposite end with a 0.52× finder for 21–35mm lenses. Cosina also used the Bessa platform for the Carl Zeiss–branded Zeiss Ikon (2004), which became one of the finest 35mm rangefinders ever made.
The Bessa-R proved that film rangefinder photography still had an audience — and that "affordable" didn't have to mean "bad." It democratized access to the LTM lens ecosystem for a generation of photographers who couldn't afford Leica. It directly inspired the Zeiss Ikon and Leica MP, influenced Epson's R-D1 digital rangefinder, and gave the Voigtländer Nokton 35/1.2 and Color-Skopar lenses their commercial debut.
Many film photographers today use a Bessa-R or Bessa-R2 as their primary rangefinder — it shoots the same LTM lenses as a Leica IIIf at a fraction of the price, with the ergonomic advantage of a modern shutter and meter.
L39/LTM mount (M39×1 pitch). Compatible with all Leica screw-mount lenses (1930s–1960s Elmar, Summicron, Summitar, Summaron, Nikkor LTM, Canon LTM) and Cosina-Voigtländer L39 lenses (Color-Skopar 21/4, 25/4, 28/3.5, 35/2.5; Nokton 35/1.2; Heliar 75/2.5 Classic; Apo-Lanthar 90/3.5). An L39-to-M adapter allows using Leica M lenses. Viewfinder frame lines: 35mm and 90mm (external accessory finders needed for other focal lengths).
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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