Bessa R and Russian Lens?

[cinematix]

Hi, I think it's my first posting here...

I have J-3(50/1.5)-zeiss sonnar copy on my M3. I'm lucky to have brand new J-3 and it works great. I like it more than my summicron 40/2.0. Here are some of my test shots.

 

[tedwhite]

GABRIELE: I've got a bessa R but I'm afraid to try my FED 50/2 collapsible with it. Maybe someone else has tried the combination.

As for the Jupiter-8 lenses, I have two in LTM and one in Contax (Kiev mount) and they all work fine. But you absolutely positively need a lens hood for outdoor sunny work.

AS for the Jupiter 9, I have it only in M42 mount for my Pentax Spotmatic cameras. It is quite good for portraiture; wide open it creates that softness that mitigates wrinkles from older faces. To my surprise, stopped down it is a very sharp lens.

But for the Bessa R the 35/2.5 cv Color Skopar sets the standard. It's pricey, but if you buy the Bessa R with it from CameraQuest, for $440 for the two what's not to like?

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

I do not recommend using a FSU collapsible lens with the Bessas. When closed it will scratch the Copal shutter.

You won't like the results.

 

[sleepyhead]

Collapsible lens on Bessas

Collapsible lens on Bessas

Hi Everyone. I have Bessa L and an old (but great IMO) collapsible 50mm elmar 3.5 from 1933. Anyway, I put the Bessa L on "B", opened up the back and carefully screwed on the lens un-collapsed. Then I carefully collapsed it while checked through the back of the camera what was happening with the shutter open. The lens collapsed say 90% of the way before hitting a light baffle near the light metering cell. BUT, if I'm careful with collapsing, I can't see any problem (except of course, that I have no rangefinder on the "L" to focus the darn lens with!).

I DON'T HAVE A BESSA R, R2, or R2a/R3a : DOES ANYONE KNOW, if the collapsible 50mm elmar 3.5 will work with any of those cameras?

Thanks, sleepyhead

 

[atelier7]

But for the Bessa R the 35/2.5 cv Color Skopar sets the standard. It's pricey, but if you buy the Bessa R with it from CameraQuest, for $440 for the two what's not to like?

Just so you know, CameraQuest has run out of the Black 35/2.5 cv 🙁
So if you ordered a Black Bessa R like I did, you'll have to contend with a chrome lens.

 

[Kim Coxon]

I think Robert White (one of the other sponsers of this site) still has the lens in black and the prices would be similiar unless you have to pay the dreaded VAT.

Kim

Just so you know, CameraQuest has run out of the Black 35/2.5 cv 🙁
So if you ordered a Black Bessa R like I did, you'll have to contend with a chrome lens.

 

[Richard Black]

I have two black lenses for my Bessa R and one chrome. I like the variation. The chrome Jupiter 3 looks quite stiking on the all black R. I remember a camera once referred to as a zebra because of the use of black and chrome. Use a chrome soft release and a chrome lens for your own variation. 😀

 

[atelier7]

Richard,

How do you rate the J3?

 

[Richard Black]

I rate the J3 behind the J8 in overall utility. The J8 is so sweet wide open; its out of focus area is smooth and creamy. The J3 is just a tak softer. Again this is my impression based on real photographs. The J3 is sharp stopped down. The J8 has greater contrast due to its coatings. The J3 looks to be single coated where the J8 is multi coated. I'll try to take some pics of both side by side for comparisons. But I do like them both. The J3 weighs a bit more and helps keep the Bessa R from tilting back as much.

See below the combinations. I apologize for the bad photos, you know digital! :bang:

 

[michaelallen]

I have a number of FSU lenses, all bought on eBay. The bottom line for me is that sometimes I might drop $25 on a loser lens, but I often end up with a decent user for the price of taking my kids to McDonald's, and once in a while (my Jupiter 3 50/1.5) the stars align and I end up with a killer. Remembering the remark about clearing room on your shelf, I find the best way around the problem is to buy tons of them! (^_^)

Mike

 

[Solinar]

If it works for you, it works

If it works for you, it works

I read this thread a couple of a weeks ago and just for grins I tried out my collapsible Industar 50 on a Leica IIIf. As far as I can tell, there were no focusing errors down to f/4 from a distance of just under 6 ft. The photos were gorgeous with good color rendition, too.

Granted the Bessa R has a shorter effective RF base, but for general daylight use the Soviet lenses are doable.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Don't use the 35/2.8. It fits but doesn't appear to meter reliably (the rear cell blocks too much of the dark chamber).

Oh, yes. Old Leica-recommended trick (from the days of the M5 and CL): use a bit of Dymo tape around the barrel to stop collapsible lenses collapsing too far.

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

 

[Solinar]

Don't use the 35/2.8. It fits but doesn't appear to meter reliably (the rear cell blocks too much of the dark chamber).

The Jupiter 12 is definitely a no go on a Bessa R. I'm surprised it fit.