Bessaflex TM

Chrome Bessaflex TM; prism styled after Topcon image by FreakFilm (Image rights)

Black Bessaflex with pyramid-style prism finder; CZJ Flektogon attached image by Benjamin C (Image rights)

The Bessaflex TM is a retro styled SLR camera body for 35mm film by Cosina Voigtländer manufactured in 2002. In most markets it was priced below $400 USD.

It revived the 42mm screw mount for M42 lenses, providing stop-down TTL metering. This allows enthusiasts to shoot with desirable vintage lenses, on a body that is not itself many decades old (and possibly in need of repair).

The shutter is mechanical with speeds of 1 to 1/2000 sec. plus B with electronic flash sync at 1/125 of a sec. The finder has a split image rangefinder focusing screen that is surrounded by a circular micro-prism. The meter is silicon photo diode based and has speeds of 25 to 1600 ISO in 1/3rd stops. The stop down metering switch is positioned by the lens mount and is easily accessible by using your left thumb to push upwards. The meter is powered by two silver oxide batteries. The camera is also compatible with grips and trigger winders that Cosina introduced for their Bessa rangefinder cameras.

image by Marc Vanstraelen (Image rights)