Bessa R2a & Nokton 40/1.4

[kully]

Anyone got this combo?

The R2a is coming tomorrow and the tiny little Nokton is sitting here beside me as I type, I've been reading up on baselengths and the like and I'm wondering how difficult it is to focus at f/1.4 with the R2a.

I'm going to be happy with the R2a if I like it or not, just wondered whether I'm getting slightly het-up over nowt.

 

[nico]

Hi,
I got a Bessa R with Nokton 50 and I find a little difficult to focus at the widest aperture but it's such a fun being able to shot in poor light situations that i don't really mind about it. Just because I'm new to rangefinder I also think that maybe it's a matter of practice, so I started shooting in dim light just to get used to focus at f/1.5.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll enjoy your kit. Have fun!
Bye
Nico

 

[Fred]

You should be fine with the 40 but focus with some care wide open at close quarters. CV still produce (at last count) the 50 Nokton 1.5 that was released for use with the Bessa R, again be careful with focus as Nico says above. Focus problems are really with stuff like the 90 F2 Leica crons reading from other posts. Are you going to use the 35 or 50 framelines of the R2a for the 40?

 

[kully]

Cheers Fred and Nico,

I have no idea which frame lines I'll be using at the moment - I'm leaning towards 50 and counting on a little more, but 35 and a little less... Ach, I'll know tomorrow.

 

[kully]

I wear glasses and this was the only reason I chose the R2a over the R3a. But then people started talking of diopter correction lenses and the like.

Looking through the archives:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-3301.html

made me feel a lot better.

 

[nico]

Hi,
is the camera arrived?
how do you feel it?
Let me know,
bye
Nico

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I use a 40mm with 50mm framelines on an R3A and don't worry too much wide open focus in poor light.

The subjects are usually drunk anyway!

 

[nico]

I use a 40mm with 50mm framelines on an R3A and don't worry too much wide open focus in poor light.

The subjects are usually drunk anyway!

or they're sleeping and snoring! 😀

 

[kully]

Hi,
is the camera arrived?
how do you feel it?
Let me know,
bye
Nico

A box arrived today which seemed too light to have a camera inside. I turned out to be wrong, the box had a little box inside and that box contained my shiny new black R2a.

I can't understand people complaining about the heft of the thing, with the 40mm on and a 36 frame roll in it feels just right. I also like the rubber ring around the viewfinder so I don't scratch my glasses any more.

The viewfinder is nice and clear, the shutter noise is less intrusive than I had been lead to believe and the shutter release requires very little force to trigger it.

The film advance lever seemed a little rough at the beggining but after just seven frames it is advancing nicely now (although not as smoothly as you'd expect).

All in all, I'm thrilled with the camera, there are a few bug bears though:

The frame selecter is a little wobbly, the focus ring on the Nokon (although very smooth) requires a little too much force for my liking - my fingers keep coming off the lever and I need to get used to the viewfinder - with glasses on I have to look in at a certain angle to see the illuminated shutter speed it has selected.

It's also a little too small/awkward for my hands, I'll be looking out for a trigger winder in a few months.

The serial number is 0003555 - does that really mean I have only the 3555th one of these? Seems awfully low, I'm pretty sure there have been about the same Zeiss Icons made.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Congrats for getting a young 'un. I've got 0004470.

 

[nico]

Seems you you feel good with the camera and that's nice.
Next point to clear is focusin at f/1.4 with the Nok.40, but i'm sure it won't be a real problem.
Have fun!
Nico

 

[kully]

XP2 Super @ 400, f/1.4, 1/30

This is a nice lens, although the 'bokeh' seems a little 'wrong' in someway, maybe it is just different to what I am used to.

 

[nico]

I'm not a bokeh expert so I can't say if it's right or wrong but I like this kind of "still life"...

 

[kully]

Went for a walk in the evening sun with the local camera club yesterday and got to use the R2a properly for the first time with two rolls of slide film.

Here are my thoughts:

With the T-winder attached the camera is just the right size and weight (without the winder two of my fingers hang off the bottom) and having my hand ready to pull the trigger winder worked as a good balancing aid. But I need to get used to using it, I instinctively take the camera away from my face and use the built-in shutter advance unless I think about it (que some laughter when I tried to show the trigger winder in action but would keep using the built-in one)

The viewfinder is excellent whether into the sun, in the shade and then in the pub later - I had no problems at all. I also brought along an Olympus RC who's viewfinder is painful after looking through the R2a's. An M6 owner also commented on the viewfinder.

There was a niggle when I got to the end of a roll of film, changed it, but then the shutter could not be released or the film wound on and the rewind knobble on the bottom was stuck 'in'. I switched it off and on a few times, got a little frustrated and it worked itself out in the end. Hope this isn't the sign of things to come.

The shutter is loud, it doesn't have the mirror slap you get on either end of an SLR but it is very noticeable. I think this is because I've been spoilt with the GTN and Oly RC with their Copal shutters. I have no real need for quietness so I don't care.

40mm - 35mm/50mm framelines!?!? This is what annoyed me the most and it is not the fault of the camera or lens. I just need to get used to guessing where the 40mm framelines should be.

Now to send off the slides and see the results.

 

[kshapero]

I use a 40mm with 50mm framelines on an R3A and don't worry too much wide open focus in poor light.

Is this because you wear glasses or you just want to see the frame lines?

 

[pvdhaar]

The serial number is 0003555 - does that really mean I have only the 3555th one of these? Seems awfully low, I'm pretty sure there have been about the same Zeiss Icons made.

This caught my eye. These low numbers..

I bought a new T more than a year after Cosina ceased production, and it only had a 3100 or so serial number.

Makes me wonder how large (or rather, small) their production runs of cameras are..

 

[Dougg]

Hmmm... my T is in the 3980's... maybe Cosina recognized this would be a strange model for most, and had relatively small production run. Have not yet used the 40mm Nokton on it, though I have a viewfinder that would work.

 

[leafy]

Hmmm, indicating that the T might become a collectible in the future? I also bought my T a year after it ceased production, must check on the serial to know the details though.

 

[Sparrow]

This caught my eye. These low numbers..

I bought a new T more than a year after Cosina ceased production, and it only had a 3100 or so serial number.

Makes me wonder how large (or rather, small) their production runs of cameras are..

Perhaps they stacked the early ones at the bottom?