bought a bessa r body today ...

Jupiter 8. The Industar 61 l/d is a very sharp lens and it does have detents for the f stops, but it build quality is not as good as the J-8.
 
The Industar 61L/D is very sharp. The optics are better than the lens mount, which is not so well constructed. I adapted mine for the Nikon RF using a Contax Mount. I think highly of the optics.

The Russian lenses are built to the Contax standard, even those in Leica Mount. Many of them (most) need to be shimmed for perfect focus. Including the J-8 that I just disassembled. It was off my 1m at 5m. Added 0.1mm to the shim.

The Canon 50/1.8 is a great lens, and runs around $100~$150. I ended up keeping mine after getting the M8.

The Canon 50/1.8, wide-open:
picture.php


At F4:

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Taken with my Canon Vt. I also use it on my Bessa R2.
 
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I use a black Jupiter 8 on my Bessa R. It matches the camera pretty well and I get good results from it.

I also have a collapsible FED lens but I don't use that with the Bessa R as it is not able to collapse completely. Of course, it works if it isn't collapsed.

The older collapsible LTM Summicron can collapse safely, but costs more money.
 
It's all relative. I sold a Jupiter-3 recently for a good bit more than the Canon, it was a 1953 KMZ J-3 with German glass. Offered both lenses to the buyer. The Canon runs 1/2 to 1/3rd of the Collapsible Summicron. It is roughly equal in performance, and heavier made than the Russian lenses.

A Jupiter-8 is going to run ~$50 or so, with shipping from the FSU. They pop up in the classifieds here. Get one that is shown to work with the Leica standard camera.
 
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paulfish4570 said:
... from an rff member. it is my intent to buy an industar 61 for the first lens. i much favor normal lenses. any other suggestions? would a collapsible elmar-type work properly?
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The only good jup 8 was a 8 M on a contax

the others, LTM on my bessa weren't that good

I when to the color skopar family, first 35 ( a lens to have 😀 ) the 50 2,5 and the 21


The 50mm is quite amazing, the best built lens I ever had 🙂 and so tiny, impressive

Anyway, buying the bessa R was a good idea 😉 good choise 🙂
 
I have an industar 22 that can collapse in the bessa, the metal chamber stop it about 3 or 4 mm before the curtain, no worry about that 🙂 (but I don't use it now that I have the 50 2,5 )
 
The J-8 is fairly easy to shim- but you are likely to have to make the shims. I use aluminum foil for thin ones, and old retaining rings from junk lenses for thick ones. Each J-8 has some shims with it, so they make a good template. The optics module unscrews, shim goes in, screw it back. The aperture ring has to be reset to that it lines up again- three small set screws. Most J-8's need ~0.1mm extra shim to make up for the difference in focus between the FSU 52.4mm standard and the Bessa's 51.6mm stnadrd. The set screws fit outside of the focus mount, so it makes it easier than the J-3. For the latter, you must tap out holes for the set screws to be flush. With the J-8, not as critical.

I shimmed one today, bought on RFF this week. Looks great on the M8.
 
paulfish4570 said:
ok, forget any collapsible. didn't know the jups come with shims, and sounds easy enough. can't find a cv 50/2.5 for sale on google ...
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Try Rich at Photovillage.com. I got my first Bessa from him and have sent people that way from time to time when Stephen is out of stock on stuff and always got good reports. I have very good luck in dealing with him and hear very good things about him. I would recommend him. Also he as a new 50 in stock.

B2 (;->
 
For what it's worth..........

As life is too short to get frustrated by equipment don't walk down the FSU path. You can find a great lens from time to time, lots of great stuff you can fix up. But I would rather spend time taking pictures.

Another great lens to look for is a Nikkor LTM 50/2. Nikon rangefinder glass is wonderful and most comes in LTM.

B2 (;->
 
The R is just a wonderful little camera. Small, light as a feather, sharp as a tack. A simple, reliable, consistent TTL meter - what's not to love? Do yourself a favor and keep looking for a quality lens to put on it. A Jupiter 12 won't work. The Canon RF lenses can still be found for reasonable prices, but it takes a while. The Canon 50/1.8 is my favorite 50 - it took a few weeks of diligent looking to find one for $105. (There's one at KEH for $170 right now - 2/3/10) The Canon 35/2.8 is also really fine lens, it took a month or two to turn one up for $170. I also found a CV 35/2.5, well used, for about the same price. Good luck with it!
 
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BillBingham2 said:
For what it's worth..........

As life is too short to get frustrated by equipment don't walk down the FSU path. You can find a great lens from time to time, lots of great stuff you can fix up. But I would rather spend time taking pictures.

Another great lens to look for is a Nikkor LTM 50/2. Nikon rangefinder glass is wonderful and most comes in LTM.

B2 (;->
Click to expand...

Dear Bill,

Seconded -- though I'm not sure I'd bother with 50+-year-old Nikkor or Canon lenses. Great when they were new, but how have they fared since? Even if they weren't 'repaired' or 'CLA'd'?

Cheers,

R.
 
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