5 frames with a Voigtländer BESSA L

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

Thanks for the nice comment, Oliver. I don’t know him from that time. I exposed the XP-2 at 400 ASA in consultation with a photo lab in Bonn, developed it using the C41 standard process, and had it scanned there at a resolution of 3578x2433 in JPEG. As mentioned in the article, I only edited the files slightly in LrC (gradation). According to the histogram, all the photos were well exposed. Other labs sometimes recommend 250 ISO for best results. But that always depends on the lab’s specific workflow, which is why I always ask in advance. Unlike conventional black-and-white films, the XP-2 uses ICE technology during the scanning process with a specialised scanner. All the best!

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

Thanks for the kind comment, Michael. Cosina/Japan released the Bessa-L primarily for use with the 15mm f/4.5 Super Wide Heliar and the Snapshot Skopar 25mm f/4, which I used for my shots. It features a zone focusing mechanism with tactile click stops at 1 m, 1.5 m and 3 m, which means you can preset the focus, stop down to f/8 and shoot all day without touching the focus ring. It turns your camera into a wide-angle compact with rangefinder optics. Perfect for travel, street photography or those moments. The ideal complement here was the Ilford XP-2 Super, which I exposed at 400 ISO. I have the matching clip-on viewfinder for both lenses and it works quite well. I managed to buy the Bessa-L very cheaply a good 10 years ago; the built-in light meter is okay, it sits comfortably in the hand and it’s fun to take photos with. I only use it with those two lenses. I use my longer VL focal lengths with the Bessa-R or Bessa-R3M, which have a built-in viewfinder with a framing guide. As I said, the Bessa-L body costs next to nothing. Actually ideal for the purpose. All the best, Michael.

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

As I explained in my reply to Michael, the Bessa-L was designed primarily for UWW lenses. I also place great importance on maximum depth of field and work using the hyperfocal method. Here, with the 25mm lens, apart from the interior shot, the distance was set to 3m and, at f/8 or f/11 (400 ISO), I had a depth of field ranging from 1.2m/1.5m to beyond infinity. I haven’t checked exactly where ‘beyond infinity’ is. I only use the L with these two lenses and prioritise the earliest possible sharpness, depending on the subject, of course. Thanks for your interest and comment, Fred.

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

Thanks for the comment, Gary. I’m glad you like the photos. You don’t necessarily need a Bessa L either; it was my first camera – bought second-hand – that had a VL lens with an LTM mount. I used it on my NEX-6 and the rather unusual Ricoh GXR. It wasn’t long before I started experimenting with the Bessa L, and I added more VL LTM/M lenses, as well as a Bessa R and a Bessa R3M. Cosina began manufacturing cameras and lenses for third-party manufacturers at an early stage. They also built the Zeiss Ikon ZM and various Sony lenses, and with the acquisition of the Voigtländer brand rights and the production of the Bessa-R models, they took the step towards becoming a reputable, recognised manufacturer that continues to surprise with new, high-quality products. All the best, Gary

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

Thanks for your comment, David. The XP-2 actually produces the best results even with EL320 and EL250. I’ve used EL400 here after consulting with my new lab. They recommended box speed for their workflow. The Bessa-L is just gathering dust here, but I enjoy taking photos with it and the 15mm or 25mm Voigtländer lenses I have for it. I can picture your favourite photo of your father right now and it reminds me of my old Kodachrome days. All the best, David!

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

Thanks for your comment, Russ. The Bessa-L does indeed have a built-in light meter. Nevertheless, I still use my little Sekonic L-208 Twinmate with an Invercone and take two preliminary readings (highlight/shadow). This way, when used with the 15mm or 25mm lens set to hyperfocal distance, I’m quicker and more discreet than any rangefinder. All the best, Russ!

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

Thank you for your kind comment, Reinhold. The Ilford XP-2 Super was developed and scanned by Foto Brell in Bonn. It’s a standard photo lab in a specialist photography shop, the sort you’ll find in any major city. I’m not from Bonn, but Brell can also develop and scan high-quality black-and-white film in 35mm and 120 roll formats at reasonable prices.

Reinhold Graf replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

Hallo Walter, vielen Dank!

Ibraar Hussain replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

Worth getting a zone/scale focus cam, or put a 35mm on your camera, set f8 - f11 - set distance to 6ft and snap away, it is all quite liberating and faster than any AF

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

In 1999, the Bessa-L was part of the double whammy that caused quite a stir in the photography world at the time and jolted the folks at Leica out of their slumber – and it fully deserves its illustrious reputation! -- The second part was the lens, an affordable 15mm super-wide-angle with a 110° angle of view, corresponding to 11 times the image area of a 50mm ‘standard lens’ or five times that of a 35mm wide-angle. With an f/4.5 aperture, it wasn’t particularly fast, but at 102g – despite its metal body and high-quality build – it is by far the lightest on the market. Together with the camera, the combo weighs 462g. A rangefinder isn’t strictly necessary at this focal length, though a viewfinder could be attached. It’s more suited to landscape photographers or for experimenting with street photography. That was just the start; more Bessas and lenses followed. These photos were taken with the 25mm Snapshot Skopar, which I use quite often, including for street photography. I don’t do much of that, though, because it’s not as feasible in Germany as it is in New York. You don’t need a new camera, but rather a suitable viewfinder, a lens with a scale, and the intention to consistently avoid using the built-in viewfinder. The approach is truly liberating. As early as the late 1970s, I spent whole nights at parties taking photos with the Nikon FM2 + 35mm/2 without changing my settings, naturally using a manually reduced Metz flash. With the settings I chose, I achieved a depth of field ranging from 2m to 5m; anything more wasn't necessary at all. Thanks for your comment, Scott.

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

You’re absolutely right, Ibraar. I do sometimes adjust the ‘6 feet’ setting when I want maximum depth of field and align the lens’s ‘infinity’ mark with the corresponding aperture setting (f8–f11) on the scale. The Skopar snapshot used here even has fixed stops for 1m, 1.5m and 3m. You don’t even have to keep an eye on it if you’ve changed your mind at the last minute.

Ibraar Hussain replied:

Comment posted: 30/05/2026

Yes, you can 'shoot from the hip'

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 31/05/2026

Hello Ibraar! I’ve had the Bessa-L with the 15mm Heliar and clip-on viewfinder for a good 10 years now; they were widely available at the time and quite cheap. When it first came out, it was a ‘must-have’, but then it ended up in the cupboard because of the focal length – and why? Because I hadn’t got to grips with the scale/zone focusing. Today it probably costs more; the body alone goes for €150–200. But with the right lens, you can do that with any camera. There’s also a digital alternative: an Olympus PEN P2 or P3 with an Oly Body Cap Lens 9mm or 15mm with a fixed f/8 aperture and no autofocus. Glad you like the photos and the camera. I intend to keep using the Ilford XP-2. All the best!

Ibraar Hussain replied:

Comment posted: 31/05/2026

Thanks again. I have a small collection of Voigtlanders, German ones. I tend to use them (and my Zeiss Ikons) as scale focus

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 31/05/2026

I’m particularly pleased to hear your comment, Tony. Cosina had, of course, already been manufacturing cameras and lenses for well-known brands. The ‘Cosina’ brand used to be something of a laughing stock. But with the Zeiss Ikon ZM, the Bessas and, today, the Voigtländer lenses for various mounts, they’ve built up a good reputation. Taking photos with this combination is really fun; the Ilford XP-2 produces good results and scans very well. All the best, Tony

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 31/05/2026

I’m particularly pleased to hear your comments, Jeffery. Please don’t mind that I wrote the same thing to Tony. I see the Bessa-L’s main use as being in landscape photography with the two super-wide-angle lenses – the 12mm and 15mm focal lengths. With the 25mm Snapshot Scopar used here, which has three clips for distance settings (1m, 1.5m and 3m), I see things a bit differently. But that’s no reason to question your tried-and-tested approach. All the best! Thanks, Jeffery!