35mm (or wider) for Bessa R?

[itf]

I just got hold of a Bessa R, very pleased with it. I'm using a Jupiter 8 with it now, but would like something wide too. A Jupiter 12 would be ideal (low low budget), but I hear it unfortunately won't work with the R. Are there any other cheap possibilities, or is it possible that there is some variance between J-12's that would allow some to work (I don't mind if it will prevent metering)?

Cheers.

 

[oscroft]

A Jupiter 12 would be ideal (low low budget), but I hear it unfortunately won't work with the R. Are there any other cheap possibilities, or is it possible that there is some variance between J-12's that would allow some to work (I don't mind if it will prevent metering)?

My J-12 definitely won't fit my Bessa-R by a long way - it would foul part of the inside of the camera, and would hit the shutter when focused towards infinity. For a J-12 to fit, I think it would have to be very different - I'd doubt that any small variation in tolerance would be enough.

 

[Richard Black]

Budget may drive your choice. I love the Color Skopar 28 f3.5. Sharp and contrasty, great color saturation. Some complain about its speed but that can be handled with faster film, imho. I love the perspective and I do have a J12 for the Mir I have.

 

[brachal]

I've seen a couple of posts claiming that certain J12's will fit and focus on the R. I wouldn't take the chance. The Soviet 28mm Orion-15 can be found for under $200. It delivers good results, but is as slow as dirt -- f/6. The CV 28mm and 35mm Skopars are both very nice lenses and go for, I think, $350 and $250 respectively. If I could only have two lenses, they would be my Jupiter-3 and the 28mm Skopar.

 

[ferider]

Another vote for the 28/3.5, 28mm works well on the Bessa.

If you have to save some money and don't mind the speed loss, the Orion is a good
lens, too.

On the 35 side, probably a Canon 35/2.8 is your best bet. Or a Color Skopar.

Roland.

 

[itf]

Hmmm, I've just been searching through old threads and its very tempting to try a J12. I'm not really used to 35mm so it's hard to know if I'll like it or not, I've used lenses either side of it (28mm on an SLR, 40mm on QL17). The 40 opens things up slightly, which I quite like sometimes, and the 28 substantially; I find I either love it or loathe it.

Is it right that the outside edge of the R's finder gives a good idea of 28mm?


Sorry to go on, I'm just trying to decide without actually trying a 35. Maybe I'll go and walk around with the Bessa's 35 frames up to get a feel!

 

[brachal]

If you get a J12, buy a Fed2, 3 or 5 to go with it -- that way you can still use the lens if it doesn't fit on the R -- which is by far the most likely outcome. I wouldn't risk damaging my shutter. I am a fan of the J12 (I have one for my Kiev), but it's very flare prone. Price aside, the CV 35mm Skopar is, in my opinion, a superior lens.

The outside edge of the R viewfinder is a pretty good take on 28mm, but don't rely on it for important stuff. I shot about 3 rolls of the Napali coast of Kauai a few weeks ago with the 28mm Skopar, using that method, and wound up with way too many shots with the boat's rails in them. I was pretty upset because I had a finder in my bag, just didn't bother to use it. It's a little odd looking, but I like to recommend the Soviet universal turret finder.

 

[itf]

wound up with way too many shots with the boat's rails in them

So 28mm is a little wider than the built in finder?

 

[ferider]

So 28mm is a little wider than the built in finder?

It's hard to define the finder borders. Use the 90mm lines for composition and you will be
fine. The 35mm lines are 40mm lines down to 3m or so.

Roland.

 

[brachal]

So 28mm is a little wider than the built in finder?

I would say yes.

 

[oscroft]

So 28mm is a little wider than the built in finder?

The other thing is that the outside edge of the Bessa viewfinder obviously doesn't adjust for parallax the way the brightline frames do, so you're more likely to get foreground stuff wrong.