differences between heliar 15 and 12?

[morgan]

I'm really interested in one of these lenses to go with my Fed5. Is the 12 worth the price difference over the 15? The shots I've seen from the 12 have been incredible...

 

[Ergo]

My view...neither is great but price is.

 

[John Robertson]

Warning!!!! the 15mm might not line up correctly on the Fed 5, I.E. the focus cursor will not be at the 12 o'clock position. the built in hood then may cause vignetting. Mine will not line up on either my Fed 3 or Fed Zarya. Its ok on the Fed2!! I mainly use it however on my Bessa R2. its a super lens!!

 

[Todd.Hanz]

My view...neither is great but price is.

both are great lenses, extreme depth of field and sharpness, the 15 is a bit easier to handle compared to the 12 but both work well. I have the 15 and can't imagine needing anything wider.

todd

 

[SteveM(PA)]

Here's a 12 shot that I really dig, I want one:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=7262

 

[morgan]

Langdon auger - nice simpsons reference! that shot is what I'm after...

If it doesn't work on my fed5, that's probably the excuse I need to get a bessa. 🙂

 

[SteveM(PA)]

Langdon auger - nice simpsons reference!

Yeah man! They need to put him in an episode, so the reference will be a little less obscure🙂

 

[John Robertson]

I have even used my 15 for Infra Red work using a Cokin digital compact filter holder. (see att) My first ultra wide was a Tamron 17mm on my Pentax LX, but the CV is a far better lens!!!
The 12 mm would more challenging to use, but I would still like one, will have to save up!!!🙄

 

[Sparrow]

I've not used the 15, these are from the 12, great fun to use!

 

[morgan]

Just an update. I bought a 15 off of flea bay and a bessa-r from cameraquest. Should be here by the end of the week. Wow...in two months I've gone from a fed 5 to way too much stuff! I'm completely addicted. I have such a ways to go in my shots and skills, but at least my toolbox is filling up.

 

[John Robertson]

Its all downhill from now Morgan, soon you'll have a "toolbox" which you can't even lift🙄
Learn to use the exagerated perspective of the 15 for best effects.😎

 

[morgan]

Yeah, I can't wait to my hands on it. I've already spotted some great locations in philly.

As for my toolbox, I'm probably adding a some kind of telephoto (j-9 or j-11 probably) but I'm not going hog wild after that. I need to learn the gear I've got. On any given roll, I get my 2 or 3 shots that are semi-decent. The rest seems like crap.

 

[dcsang]

I've never shot the 12 but I like my 15. I get great shots with it and should try to take it out more often - this past weekend I was shooting the 21 more though.

The 12, if I remember correctly is larger (of course) than the 15 so if size is an issue, you may want to consider that as well.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[John Robertson]

Yeah, I can't wait to my hands on it. I've already spotted some great locations in philly.

As for my toolbox, I'm probably adding a some kind of telephoto (j-9 or j-11 probably) but I'm not going hog wild after that. I need to learn the gear I've got. On any given roll, I get my 2 or 3 shots that are semi-decent. The rest seems like crap.

I was taught by my uncle, a professional photographer. His method was to send me out with one camera and one lens, to look for suitable subjects for that particular set up. He would expect 20 out of 36!!!!
Going out with a range of lenses, I would spend too much time farting about changing lenses trying to decide which to use, to get good shots. The same with a zoom, I watch people using these, they look like they are playing trombones most of the time.
A survey a few years ago in the Amateur Photographer magazine found that people with zooms shot 90% of their pictures with the two extreme ends of their zooms range, and only 10% with the "bit in the middle"

 

[morgan]

That's good advice and I think my natural inclination is take one camera and one lens and work with that. I'm not a fan of doing a lot fiddling around, nor do I want to lug a giant bag full of stuff. I think I just need to learn when not to take shots, and be a bit more selective given what setup I have with me at the time.

I know the 135 isn't the smallest lens around, but I think I could definitely use it. And a j-11 isn't a huge investment.

 

[John Robertson]

As 135's go Morgan the J-11 is quite compact. I have three 135's two J-11's and a f3.5 Canon. The J-11s are the better lenses, my Canon is near mint but it flares quite badly, and because the front , on which the aperture scale is mounted, rotates as you focus, metering with the Bessa is a real pain in the you know where!!! Everytime you adjust the aperture you have to refocus!!!
One of my J-11s is, I believe unusual, in that it is a black one, I have not seen many of these. The other is the usual silver. both are very sharp, I do prefer to use them with the BessaT for more accurate focussing, but if you stop down a little with the Bessa R you will be OK. Try to pick up a cheap pocket tripod, you will be amazed at how useful it is with the 135, propped against a wall or a tree for extra support. Just go out and enjoy yourself, thats what it is all about.😉

 

[morgan]

Thanks John. I've got one of those little tripods, it's great! I use it a lot for night shots with my digital camera. And it is fun, that's for sure.

 

[BillBingham2]

Morgan,

I find that carrying wide ranges of lenses keeps me from constantly reaching into the bag. I carry a 15/4.5, 40/1.4 and a 105/2.5 for a Bessa T.

I carry a Bessa L & 25/4 with me most of the time and it often becomes my second camera for the set.

B2 (;->

 

[morgan]

Well, the bessa actually showed up today! I just ordered it saturday morning. Cameraquest gets full props for that. The body feels pretty nice, not as cheap feeling as I expected and seems to feel solid. Fit and finish is pretty tight. I slapped on the industar-61 from my fed5 and I'll get out in a few hours for some shooting. Thanks for everyone's help. Between the bessa (and a few lenses) and my GSN, I may be set (I do have a kiev4 coming as well).

 

[morgan]

The madness continues, I ordered what looks to be a sweet example of a j-3 from fedka...all that's left is a j-11 for now 🙂

I took the bessa out today for a trial run. It's a great camera. I love the framelines, and the ease of use. As much as I like my fed and lust for some older iron, the modern conveniences and (hopeful) reliability are so nice.