Voigtländer Bessa R2C/ Bessa R2S

Voigtlander Bessa R2C/ Bessa R2S

The Voigtlander Bessa R2C and Bessa R2S represent one of the most niche manufacturing decisions in modern camera history. Built by Cosina on the robust Bessa R2 platform, these cameras do not use the standard Leica M-mount. Instead, they are engineered to revive two distinct, incompatible historical lens mounts from the 1950s:

• Bessa R2C: Compatible with Classic Contax RF mount lenses (Zeiss Sonnar, Jupiter-8, etc.).
• Bessa R2S: Compatible with Nikon S mount lenses (Nikkor-S, Nikkor-H, etc.).

While the Contax and Nikon S mounts look physically identical (both use a bayonet system), they operate on slightly different helical pitches (focus throw rates). A Nikon lens mounted on a Contax body will focus correctly at infinity but will back-focus significantly at close distances (and vice versa). Cosina respected this optical reality by releasing two separate, calibrated bodies rather than a single "universal" compromise.

Crucially, these cameras lack the "focusing wheel" found on original Contax IIa or Nikon SP bodies. On the original cameras, 50mm lenses were focused using a serrated wheel on the camera body, not the lens. Because the Bessa R2C/S lacks this wheel, focusing standard 50mm "internal bayonet" lenses can be awkward, requiring the user to grip the rotating front bezel of the lens itself. To solve this, Cosina released a line of modern Voigtlander SC lenses (like the Nokton 50mm f/1.5) that featured built-in focusing barrels specifically for these bodies.

Despite the ergonomic quirk with 50mm lenses, these cameras offered what vintage shooters desperately wanted: a bright, parallax-corrected viewfinder with selectable framelines (35mm, 50mm, 85mm), a TTL light meter with LED readout, and a reliable 1/2000s vertical metal shutter.

History

The R2C and R2S were passion projects driven by Cosina's CEO, Hirofumi Kobayashi, a noted collector of classic rangefinders.

Reviving the Rangefinder Wars (2002-2003) In the 1950s, the "Nikon vs. Contax" rivalry was fierce. By the 2000s, both systems were dead, leaving thousands of high-quality lenses (like the legendary Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 or Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5) sitting on shelves, unusable on modern bodies without expensive adapters.

• The R2S (2002): Launched first to capitalize on the cult following of the Nikon S3 and SP.
• The R2C (2003): Launched shortly after for Zeiss enthusiasts.

The "Pitch" Problem Kobayashi insisted on accuracy. The focal length standard for Contax is nominally 52.4mm, while for Nikon S it is 51.6mm. This tiny difference accumulates as you focus closer. By producing two distinct bodies with calibrated rangefinder cams, Cosina ensured that vintage lenses could be shot wide open at f/1.5 at minimum focus distance (0.9m) without error. This attention to detail earned Cosina immense respect in the collector community [1].

Legacy Production was limited and ended around 2005. Today, the Bessa R2S and R2C are highly sought after because they remain the only cameras ever made that combine these vintage mounts with a built-in TTL meter and a modern swing-open back door (original Nikon/Contax cameras required removing the entire bottom/back to load film) [2].

Sources

• [1] CameraQuest. Voigtlander Bessa R2S & R2C Profile. https://www.cameraquest.com
• [2] Japan Camera Hunter. Camera Geekery: The Nikon S Mount Bessa R2S. https://www.japancamerahunter.com
• [3] 35mmc. Voigtlander Bessa R2S Review. https://www.35mmc.com
• [4] Ken Rockwell. Nikon Rangefinder System Review. https://www.kenrockwell.com
• [5] Stephen Gandy. The Nikon S and Contax RF Mount Dilemma. https://www.cameraquest.com