Bessa R3A with 35mm lens? Is it "possible"?

[tomperson]

I have a Bessa R3A with a 50mm Nokton. I know the R3A is fine tuned to go with a 40mm lens, but I've been recently offered a 3rd version 35mm summicron f2 at a steal.

I wonder if it's possible to reasonably use the R3A with a 35mm lens without some sort of accesory viewfinder. Maybe the whole viewfinder window (outside 40mm framelines) is close to 35mm field of view?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks

 

[ferider]

Look at the 50mm framelines. The long/horizontal side is the same size as the short/vertical side of 35mm framelines. Then you can decide yourself.

The Summicron v3 is an excellent lens.

 

[tomperson]

Thanks for replying ferider, I'll check what you say (i don't have the camera with me now). I wonder if you have used it with a 35mm lens?

 

[ferider]

I used it with 40 and 28 back when I had it. And for 28 I used an external VF. I'm quite picky about framelines and such, helps me composing. So no, I wouldn't use it with 35 myself, but everybody is different.

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[wlewisiii]

Get the lens and try it using the whole built in finder. Like it? You're good to go. Don't like it? Then buy one of the VC mini-finders and be happy.

For the record, I used to use a 28mm on a CL by using the whole finder rather than an external PITA VF. A 35mm on the R3A should be quite simple to visualize.

William

 

[Tom A]

Rangefinder frame-lines are not an "exact science" at the best of times. The 35's will cover what you see out to the edges of a R3 finder. I have glasses so the 40 frames are my limit - but even so, I would not hesitate to use a 35 on the R3. As a guide - use the outside of the 40 frame lines for the 35. You will get a bit more on the negative than this shows - but it is easier to crop than to add!!
The 35f2 Viii is a very good lens lens - small and compact and in many ways better than the "over-hyped" version IV.

 

[oscroft]

I'm happy using a 35mm lens on my R3A. As you get a bit more than the 40mm frame, I basically just shoot as if I had the 40 on, but I frame a bit more tightly (kind of as if I was framing with an SLR)

 

[payasam]

More tightly, Alan, or less tightly?

 

[oscroft]

More tightly, Alan, or less tightly?

More tightly against the frame lines, because I know there's extra frame space outside the lines.

 

[payasam]

Sorry, Alan. You're right, of course. Can't say exactly what made me stand on my head.