Frank, I own the Bessa L (no rangefinder/needs an lens-specific viewfinder) with the Snapshot Skopar 25mm f4. True, the body is plasticky, but the lens is worth the price of the whole kit. I'll get the 15mm eventually. In terms of shutter noise, I don't think the camera was ever intended on being Leica-like, only Leica-ready. My ME Super is probably as quiet, maybe more so. But it is a funky camera, good for a conversation whenever it goes out, and not "threatening" as an SLR might be (as it is just plain goofy looking to the general population).
I got mine from B&H when they were having a "special", selling them for US$129.00 (body only). Best regards, Chris Frank thanked the respondents: Thanks for your responses. I surfed around the web a bit last night, and much of what you three said was confirmed in various reviews. Turns out the body's plastic (a camera shop selling them steered me wrong). They also seem to have variable quality from sample to sample, as some have found them quite noisy for a rangefinder, while others haven't. And the lenses have been almost universally praised (plus, I guess, you can stick old Leica screwmounts on them if you want/can afford to). - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
