rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
Gary,
I have and use an R with several FSU lenses, it makes a lovely combination for me!
As mentioned upthread, the J-12 most likely will not work with your R; the J-12 may fit--there was some variation in the lens during its life--but it will block the meter.
The FSU 50mm lenses will fit and ought to work just fine--some of the very early lenses had to be matched to a specific body but there are several options to consider if you want to replace what ever lens came with your R:
Industar made at least 5 lenses over the years appropriate for the R: models 22, 26, 50--either rigid or collapsible, 61, and 61l/d. There was and Industar 10 as well but that is one lens that might not work well on the R (see above).
The I-22 and I-50 are f3.5 lenses and the I-50 came in two versions, a collapsible and rigid lens. The I-22 might have also but I've only seen a collapsible lens. If you get a collapsible lens--whether FSU or an Elmar--be very cautious and don't retract if completely as you will likely hit the shutter with the back of the lens. Other wise, they should be fine on the R. Hoods and/or filters for these are not too tough to find but not that common either.
They use ""a36" push fit size. Except for the rigid I-50, it uses a 33mm thread for hoods and filters. That size is a pain to find.
The I-26 is an under appreciated lens, I think. Not the fastest but at f2.8 is plenty use able. This one uses 40.5mm threaded filters/hoods. Pretty easy to find. The I-61 and I-61 l/d are later refinements of the I-26, probably better coatings and newer manufacture. Other wise very similar. The "l/d" designation refers to Lanthanum glass used in the lens but my understanding is that both the I-61 and the I-61l/d had that glass but the latter was marked "l/d" for marketing. The 61 is also the only leica thread mount FSU 50 with click stopped aperture settings as far as I know. They may be marked with slightly different focal lengths, too; the one I currently have is marked 52mm/f2.8 I've seen them marked "50", "53", and "55".
The Jupiter lens I own is my main 50, I have a J-8 and it is 50mm/f2. Same 40.5mm filter thread. This lens was made for a long time--40 years or a bit longer and so there are a bunch of different styles but that is mainly cosmetic. The Jupiter 8M was made for the Kiev cameras and won't work on the R.
The Jupiter-3 is another 50mm lens. Fast with f1.5 max aperture and can be very good. It shares the 40.5mm thread size too. This is a lens with a wide sample variation, some are very good indeed and some are unusable.
With the f1.5 they will show poor assembly or mistreatment very quickly.
I had several before I got a good one and realized I preferred the J-8 so I traded it.
The Jupiter-9 is 85m/f2 and can be a bit of a gamble whether it will work on an R or not; the variation in tolerances and QC plus what may have been done to it since new by way of "repairs" can lead to a lens that will not focus correctly on any camera. But if the lens is well adjusted--or you are lucky and find one in spec and not messed with since-- it can be a joy to use. 49mm filter threads so that is easy to deal with. No click stops and it is heavy. I'm not giving mine up, I like it too well!
I do use my J-11 on my Bessas, not quickly but if I'm careful, I get good photos from it. It uses 40.5mm filters/hoods so I can share filters with my 50mm lenses. I did spend some time searching for a 40.5mm tele hood, they aren't too common but are available.
Actually, The J-12 also shares that 40.5mm thread size too. And ought to work on the IIf if you got that camera.
There are lots of 35mm LTM lenses that will be fine on the R it will be a question of whether you want modern/new or vintage and how much or little you can spend. For myself, I use the Voigtlander Color-Skopar and find it fast enough (f2.5) for me and it was not too pricey.
Going wider, the choices are more limited but I think the Voigtlander lenses are hard to beat for quality and price. I have the 21mm and like it a lot.
Good luck!
Rob
I have and use an R with several FSU lenses, it makes a lovely combination for me!
As mentioned upthread, the J-12 most likely will not work with your R; the J-12 may fit--there was some variation in the lens during its life--but it will block the meter.
The FSU 50mm lenses will fit and ought to work just fine--some of the very early lenses had to be matched to a specific body but there are several options to consider if you want to replace what ever lens came with your R:
Industar made at least 5 lenses over the years appropriate for the R: models 22, 26, 50--either rigid or collapsible, 61, and 61l/d. There was and Industar 10 as well but that is one lens that might not work well on the R (see above).
The I-22 and I-50 are f3.5 lenses and the I-50 came in two versions, a collapsible and rigid lens. The I-22 might have also but I've only seen a collapsible lens. If you get a collapsible lens--whether FSU or an Elmar--be very cautious and don't retract if completely as you will likely hit the shutter with the back of the lens. Other wise, they should be fine on the R. Hoods and/or filters for these are not too tough to find but not that common either.
They use ""a36" push fit size. Except for the rigid I-50, it uses a 33mm thread for hoods and filters. That size is a pain to find.
The I-26 is an under appreciated lens, I think. Not the fastest but at f2.8 is plenty use able. This one uses 40.5mm threaded filters/hoods. Pretty easy to find. The I-61 and I-61 l/d are later refinements of the I-26, probably better coatings and newer manufacture. Other wise very similar. The "l/d" designation refers to Lanthanum glass used in the lens but my understanding is that both the I-61 and the I-61l/d had that glass but the latter was marked "l/d" for marketing. The 61 is also the only leica thread mount FSU 50 with click stopped aperture settings as far as I know. They may be marked with slightly different focal lengths, too; the one I currently have is marked 52mm/f2.8 I've seen them marked "50", "53", and "55".
The Jupiter lens I own is my main 50, I have a J-8 and it is 50mm/f2. Same 40.5mm filter thread. This lens was made for a long time--40 years or a bit longer and so there are a bunch of different styles but that is mainly cosmetic. The Jupiter 8M was made for the Kiev cameras and won't work on the R.
The Jupiter-3 is another 50mm lens. Fast with f1.5 max aperture and can be very good. It shares the 40.5mm thread size too. This is a lens with a wide sample variation, some are very good indeed and some are unusable.
With the f1.5 they will show poor assembly or mistreatment very quickly.
I had several before I got a good one and realized I preferred the J-8 so I traded it.
The Jupiter-9 is 85m/f2 and can be a bit of a gamble whether it will work on an R or not; the variation in tolerances and QC plus what may have been done to it since new by way of "repairs" can lead to a lens that will not focus correctly on any camera. But if the lens is well adjusted--or you are lucky and find one in spec and not messed with since-- it can be a joy to use. 49mm filter threads so that is easy to deal with. No click stops and it is heavy. I'm not giving mine up, I like it too well!
I do use my J-11 on my Bessas, not quickly but if I'm careful, I get good photos from it. It uses 40.5mm filters/hoods so I can share filters with my 50mm lenses. I did spend some time searching for a 40.5mm tele hood, they aren't too common but are available.
Actually, The J-12 also shares that 40.5mm thread size too. And ought to work on the IIf if you got that camera.
There are lots of 35mm LTM lenses that will be fine on the R it will be a question of whether you want modern/new or vintage and how much or little you can spend. For myself, I use the Voigtlander Color-Skopar and find it fast enough (f2.5) for me and it was not too pricey.
Going wider, the choices are more limited but I think the Voigtlander lenses are hard to beat for quality and price. I have the 21mm and like it a lot.
Good luck!
Rob
Gazzah
RF newbie
Thanks Rob - good info to be going on with...
The R came with a J8, I have an I61 lurking in a drawer and have just got a komura 35.
Im not that interested in going longer than the 50s, but might think about a 25 at some stage.
So I think Im now covered for lenses - if I could just stop myself looking at 2nd hand Ms..
Gary H
The R came with a J8, I have an I61 lurking in a drawer and have just got a komura 35.
Im not that interested in going longer than the 50s, but might think about a 25 at some stage.
So I think Im now covered for lenses - if I could just stop myself looking at 2nd hand Ms..
Gary H
filmfan
Well-known
I also just bought a Bessa R.
Gazzah
RF newbie
Just got my first few films back - I am impressed wi the camera and J8. The lens does need a good clean, looks like its been sitting face up in a dusty room for a while.
What do you guys use to clean the front element? Eclipse?
I was also using an old IIf along side, same film and settings, the Elmar lens does seem to be a lot more contrasty than the jupiter, or maybe is the gunge on the front element....
If I can get my old scanner to work I will post some pics...
Gary H
What do you guys use to clean the front element? Eclipse?
I was also using an old IIf along side, same film and settings, the Elmar lens does seem to be a lot more contrasty than the jupiter, or maybe is the gunge on the front element....
If I can get my old scanner to work I will post some pics...
Gary H
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