differences between heliar 15 and 12?

[John Robertson]

Enjoy the R , Morgan, they are nice cameras, I had mine for 4 years with no trouble, I got the R2 because it let me use the lenses I had for the Leica CL in M mount. The metering system looks too simple to be good, but I've grown to rely on it completely, and have had very very few failures even shooting slide film as I do most of the time. The J3 is one of the very few FSU lenses I have never used so I can't comment on its performance, I know that a good J8 can be really excellent. I also have found Camera Quest good to deal with, even all the way to Scotland!! Enjoy!!
BTW I keep a half case on my R2 as I did on the R, it just gives it a bit extra protection against accidental knocks.

 

[morgan]

Thanks John, I got my bessa-r from Cameraquest. I ordered on saturday, it was here monday, and I got the vintagey looking brown case for $1.

Since I'm on a budget (or at least I was) I went with the r and the ltm mount so I could use my industar-61 with it, and the other inexpensive russian glass is enticing.

 

[John Robertson]

Wee word of warning Morgan, two russian lenses will NOT fit the R
20mm Russar.
35mm Jupiter12.
Don't even try!! you will probably damage the shutter if you do.
Despite what Camera Quest site says, the 28mm Orion 15 does fit. Super lens but hard to find and expensive when you do!

 

[morgan]

Thanks for the heads up John! I appreciate it.

 

[AusDLK]

I have the 12mm lens and use it both on a Leica and on an R-D1.

It is a cool little lens.

However, it flares pretty badly if you even look at it crossed-eyed (that is to say if the sun is any place but behind the camera).

This is a R-D1 image taken with the lens where the effective focal length is 18mm.

 

[rvaubel]

It's not really that it "flares pretty bady" as its almost impossible NOT to have the sun in the frame with a 12mm lens unless it is behind you.

Rex

 

[morgan]

Thanks for the tips Rex. I'm sure that just saved me many wasted frames. i'm looking forward to getting to know the 15. It should be here tomorrow I hope.

 

[John Robertson]

Honestly never found flare much of a problem with the 15, but as I said before exploit the huge depth of field and the exagerated perspective. See att you'll see what I mean.
The blue picture is of a sculpture taken with the Bessa R2 on Fomapan100 developed in T-Max
The colored one is taken with Leica CL on Ektachrome100SW dev in TetenalE6 kit.😱

 

[palabras]

morgan, is the 15mm arrived? how does it work? i'm interested in that lens, so if you let me see something...

and a question: which is the minimum focusing distance?

 

[morgan]

It did arrive and it's great. Take a look in my gallery for a few test shots. I'll have to check what the minimum distance is, I forget offhand.

 

[physiognomy]

Nice shots with your 15mm morgan... I have recently bought one as well and find it to be a great lens!

Here are a couple of shots from my gallery (click links):

Church courtyard

Reflection of Mary Reed

Peter

 

[morgan]

Thanks peter, that Mary Reed shot is cool.

It's a neat lens that will definitely have its applications. I just have to be careful not to overdo it, I think it could end up being special effecty. But I can't wait for those exact moments when it will be perfect.

 

[Ronald M]

I have more than 3 toolboxes and I can`t lift any of them. Talk about GAS!

Anyway, I tried the 12 and 15 at a CV demo when they first came out. Went home, developed the film, called Central Camera and bought the two I tested.

The 15 is a better lens as it has more peak performance stops than the 12 and less vignetting. The difference in view is like the difference between a 35 and 28, not a whole lot, but significant.

The rotation can fixed as it is a function of thread start position. Remove the mount and rotate it to the next hole to the right and put the screws back. Problem solved. BTW, Leicas are supposed to be that way.

The vignetting can be solved on the computer with a radial gradiant. In a darkroom by printing 20% of the exposure thru a 6 in hole in a board. Aim it so all four corners get dodged at one time. A little practice and it is undetectable.

If you have money for only one, get the 15.

 

[John Robertson]

Closest focus is 300mm, about 12 inches.

 

[mac_wt]

...One of my J-11s is, I believe unusual, in that it is a black one...

I would love to see a pic of that black J11. I have never seen one or even read about black J11's. Would you mind producing some camera porn for an addict?

Wim

 

[John Robertson]

I would love to see a pic of that black J11. I have never seen one or even read about black J11's. Would you mind producing some camera porn for an addict?

Wim

anything to oblige, a couple of very quick shots with the digithing!
I bought the lens new in 1970, to rplace the silver one I had thought lost. It turned up at a friends house a year later, hence the reason i have the two lenses. As far as I know, only the Orion-15, is in silver only, all the other non-colapsible lenses came in both flavours.
John:angel:

 

[mac_wt]

Thank you. It looks very nice. I honestly tought a J11 in black didn't exist.
I like my J11 a lot; it's an excellent lens.

Wim

 

[John Robertson]

I have to agree Wim, at one point I owned two other 135,s a Hektor, and a Canonf3.5 which I still have. I always got the best results with the J11, sorry if that annoys lovers of the other two, but I can only speak from experience. (and BTW the other two lenses were near mint!!)

 

[RdEoSg]

is it just me or does Gatsby have a look on his face that says: "If you come any closer I am going to eat that new camera."

 

[morgan]

is it just me or does Gatsby have a look on his face that says: "If you come any closer I am going to eat that new camera."

LOL...usually he just looks guilty, like he just did eat that new camera. 😀