Bessa R and Russian Lens?

[atelier7]

hi all,

i'm really getting into rangefinders. have a hi-matic 7s and petri 7s. something about the number seven!

I would now like to get something modern, fairly light and silent.
by silent i don't mean i need "leica silent".

(hey, everything's quiet when u've heard the whirling noise of a petri 7s advance lever.)

most importantly, it must be reliable.

I'm thinking the bessa R seems like a good fit. however, my budget doesn't extend to buying the whole kit, even though it really does seem like a good deal.

what do u say to using old russian optics with the bessa R? What have you tried, and what should i look out for?

Thanks!

 

[GeneW]

I use a Jupiter 8 on my Bessa R and it's fine. There are some threads here on RFF that caution about critical close focusing issues due to slight differences in the thickness of the Leica LTM vs FSU LTM lens mount, but I've not had any noticeable issues. I really like the Jupiter 8 optics.

Gene

 

[JamesW]

I must agree with Gene. I've only put three or four rolls thorough my new Bessa and Jupiter-8, but I really like it, and haven't noticed any close focus issues. There are some samples from my first roll in my gallery.

 

[Alex v T]

I bought a black Jupter 8 for my Bessa R and it did not focus to infinity. I used a file to grind the lens, bringing it about 0.5 milimeters closer to the body, and it was fine.

To my disapointment but financial delight, everyone who saw the samples prefered the pictures from the Jupiter-8 compared to my optically perfect and much more expensive 1954 Summicron. The Summicron images were sharper but the Jupiter-8 produced a warm pleasant look to it with nice bokeh.

My current kit also contains the CV 35/2.5 which is reasonably priced. That lens produces very sharp colourful (walk into the picture and pick the flowers) pictures.

Alex

Update - May 15: The part of the lens that I ground away was the base of the barrel that contacts the mount. Around the threads there was a ridge which I ground down to be flush with the rest of the base. I used a file that was smooth on the side to prevent grinding away the threads. I "should" have used masking tape to protect the rest of the lens against the small metal particals. It was a real hack job, but it worked.

An alternative would have been to extend the ring that makes contact with the focusing cam by using a metal tape or similar item as a shim.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Which part of the lens are you refering to? I know it wouldn't be the glass, but exactly which part would be the appropriate candidate?

 

[MikeLeFevre]

I routinely use the 50/2 Jupiter 8 and 50/2.8 Industar 61 on my Bessa R, and have not had any problems whatsoever. I've had 2 bad 50/1.5 Jupiter 3's recently though. So I'm sceptical of the focusing ability at f1.5 of a Russian lens (and the overall build quality of the J3), but at f2 or f2.8 the other lenses seem fine. You can't use the 35mm J12, and the 85mm J9 often has issues. The 135mm J11 is good. With some of these you'd have to get an accessory viewfinder, of which the Russian turret one is reasonably priced and nice and bright to look through. A lot of your questions may also be answered on the Russian Rangefinder portion of this site, or on the Beststuff Russian Rangefinder forum- the premier site on the net for knowledgeable people on this topic.
Bob- Alex will be talking about grinding that tube on the lens that interacts with the rangefinder cam on the camera body. Another fix someone told me here for the opposite problem is to stick copper tape on it to build it up a few mm.
M.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Got it! Thanks.

 

[Latecomer]

Does anyone have any comment about other Jupiters? I am particularly interested in the J9, f2/85 mm as a portrait lens for the Bessa R..

I should add Hi All. This being my first post to the forum.

 

[rover]

There has been discussions and praises for the Jupiter 9. Infact, one thread contains a number of excellent samples if I remember correctly. The J9 is prone to focusing difficulty with non FSU LTM cameras due to backfocus issues. This is a correctible fault though and the directions of how to "reshim" the mount are also floating around here somewhere.

 

[phototone]

Jupiter 9 example

Jupiter 9 example

I have a few Jupiter 9's that I use. The particular example shot linked below is with a black Jupiter 9 LTM on my Leica M4-2, using an "M" adaptor ring.

Shot at about f/2.8, 1 sec. time exposure with my buddy setting off a battery powered flash he was holding way back to the right outside the frame during the exposure. It was almost dark, thus the 1 second time exposure with flash for modeling.

Here is the link:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=9919&cat=4198&page=1

 

[Theo-Prof]

I have read quite a few threads about these FSU lenses. However, I have found very little about where I could buy one for my Bessa-R. Could any of you FSU users direct me to where I can purchase, say, a Jupiter-8 as well as give me any hints as to what I should look for/avoid as far as year of manufacture and so forth?

Kevin

 

[pshinkaw]

You might want to start your research here:

http://www.geocities.com/fzorkis/index.html

A good place to buy the lenses and bodies are here:

http://www.fedka.com/Frames/Main_Frame.htm

Unless you are a gambling man (or woman) and want to start where many of us did, here:

http://www.ebay.com

You also might want to clear some shelf space at home since once you get started it may be a while before you stop.

-Paul

 

[pshinkaw]

Oops, Kevin. sorry. I just saw the signature line as I scrolled down. You would be the gambling man.

-Paul

 

[kiev4a]

check with alex-photo on ebay, too. He is reliable and sells reliable stuff, as does Oleg at
http://www.okvintagecamera.com/

 

[nwcanonman]

While someone told me you have to go through 10 J-8's to find a good one, I must have gotten lucky. The J-8 that came with my Zorki 4K is VERY sharp on the Bessa R too. While I can't use the "too long" J-12 on the Bessa, the Industar-50 that came free with it is super sharp.
I've only taken a few shots so far with the J-9, it looks to be a great portrait lens too. I have nothing but praise (for the price) of the FSU lenses I've tried. 🙂

 

[Theo-Prof]

I'm not much for gambling, but thanks for the info on the web sites.

Kevin

 

[pshinkaw]

The success rate on finding good Jupiter-8's is pretty good. I have 8 of the LTM variety and 5 of the Kiev variety. They all make excellent photographs, but two of them had stripped set-screws which made them difficult to clean and lube.

The issues are usually with the camera bodies which have many more moving parts.

If you watch e-Bay regularly you should be able to find an LTM Jupiter-8 for anywhere from $25-$35. I prefer the silver (aluminum actually) ones. The black ones are newer and the entire lens rotates as you focus.

As you can see, this Zorki-4 has a shutter problem, but the Jupiter-8 lens is excellent.

-Paul

 

[Theo-Prof]

While someone told me you have to go through 10 J-8's to find a good one, I must have gotten lucky.

I had read a few threads (in RFF and elsewhere) about spotty quality with some of the FSU lenses. This is what I was worried about. However, others had reported nothing but positive results (at least with the J-8). The Jupiter 8 is the lens in which I am most interested.

_________

Paul,

If you have so many J-8s and you do not register any complaints about any of them, then maybe the "spotty quality" does not apply to this particular lens.

_________

I am also a little confused about some of the information I have read about the difference between the FSU and Leica back-focus? If I buy a Jupiter 8 will I have to worry about the difference in infinity focus or close focus?

Kevin

 

[cbass]

My .02: the Industar-26M makes very nice images, rivaling those from the Jupiter-8, IMO. I've got both lenses and I think the I-26M is way underrated. There are some pics taken with each lens in my gallery if you want to look. If you can find a cheap I-26M, go for it.

 

[gabrielelopez]

Hi to everyone...

I still like the J-8 look, even more than some Leica 50 lens, way more softy and warm..

What about those collapsible 50 3,5 lenses? there are problem on Bessas? I just happen to have one but I am afraid it would hit the shutter blades...on my Bessa L..any information?

thanks

Thanks