Existential System Reshuffling (Bessa R4 users, please chime in)

[oscroft]

I've had an R4a for a while now, and I've taken it around Asia a couple of times, mainly with a CV 21/4 on it. I love it.

I haven't had any film-registration problems.

The 21 frame will probably prove tricky for spec-wearers.

I don't much like using a 50 on it, but other people find it fine (I also don't like using a 90 on my Ms, and I think that might be a reasonable way to check - if you can happily use a 90 with a 0.72x VF or thereabouts, my guess is that you'd be fine with a 50 on an R4).

I mostly use CV 21/4 and 28/3.5 on it - they're small and don't block the VF much. I tried the CV hood on the 21, but it blocks so much of the VF that I found it unusable (but the little 21 is quite resistant to flare). I really want a coupled 25/4 too. I had the uncoupled version, which is great, but found it unusable on the R4A, not because of focus, but because without an RF cam the perspective-corrected VF frame is stuck at the close end of the focus range and is really inaccurate for infinity.

Some shots taken with R4a and CV 21/4...
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=93252
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=93251
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=93253
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=93250
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=74204
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=74201

That's about all I can think of (except that I have an R3a waiting for me in the UK when I get back, so my next trip out here might be with an R3a/R4a combo).

Not getting rid of my OM2 though (or my OM1). I also had the Sigma 21-35 for a while, and it's a surprisingly good lens - I really didn't expect a super-wide SLR zoom to be that good. I let it go though, because it's much bigger and bulkier than RF wide primes, and I've shifted my w/a photography almost completely to RFs now (In fact, the 21-35 and my Zuiko 21/3.5 were both sold as fund-raising for the R4a).

Hope my rambling was of some use 🙂

 

[amateriat]

Hope my rambling was of some use 🙂

Oh, it was, Alan, very much so. Thanks!


- Barrett

 

[jan normandale]

I'd confirm Alan's comments on the 50mm lens with the R4a. However I use it in a jam when I don't have the R3a. Still, it's possible with the R4a, and thats one base covered for my style of shooting.

I'd also concur with his comment regarding the CV uncoupled 25mm lens. I'm going to have to get the coupled version for the reason he has stated. I usually use the Orion FSU 28mm in it's place. Perhaps I should really go for the 21mm with this set up however the 25mm has such good performance and the handling of distortion is better than I expected from a 25mm.