First Pix: R & J8, 50/2 !

M

mike goldberg

The Peaceful Pacific
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Well, the Bessa R with side grip, bought right here from an RFF'er
is gorgeous.
The meter seems to lean towards overexposing a bit. That's easy
enough to fix... Once the two lenses I'm waiting for arrive...
run some tests, and adjust film speed accordingly.

A J8, 50/2 screwmount came with the R, and it says 'made in USSR' on the
lens barrel. There are no click stops, and I'd estimate this lens is almost
as old as I am. Ok, ok... not THAT old 😀

All exposures in the roll of Superior 200 were recorded in my mobile phone
for f stops. So, there's 3 Thumbnails to click on below:

- Backlit vase & Geraniums: f5.6

- Bridge sign in stone wall: f5.6

- Stones near Old City wall, Jerusalem: f8

Feedback welcome.
Cheers, mike 🙂
 

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Yeah, the J8 is nice on my R3a. I really like the first pic with the flowers and jug. That's not chinese is it? Looks like it could be an exaggerated form I've seen before with Chinese pottery...

Sherm
 
Hi all, and thanks for your good words.
This is what I've learned from Brian Sweeney and spyderman:

J8's can be iffy with the Bessa R; some back focus or retro-focus.
The Infinity is slightly off with this particular J8, 50/2; we may adjust it
from the rear of the lens... maybe not.

I was in quite close, in both the Jug-Geranium & Bridge sign shots,
and at f5.6 it is, indeed, sharp.

For schow... the jug is Israeli.
My wife likes to keep it near the plant box.
Ciao, mike
 
Mike,
Even with the "limitations" of your J-8, you've shared some good stuff!
I don't think that any of the LTM J-8 lenses had click stops for the aperture--which I think is a good thing on the Bessa. You get a continuously variable aperture.
Rob
 
Thanks guys... good words above.

UK Brian, I think it was you that had pix from Oban, Scotland posted, and
we have been there ;-)

Re: Bessa R: Sure, M-mount is great, and I have an M2 and Bessa T.
The R was a first, and being m39 screwmount [LTM]... it opens many
lens options. Among these options are the FSU J8's. Be careful in
ordering, since there are lots of Kiev/Contax mount J8's as well.

In any exchange of emails with Brian Sweeney, I learned that most J8's
in m39 can be adjusted or 'collimated'... if, not focusing accurately.
NOTE: I've never done it.

What is involved, is loosening the retaining ring over the rear element,
and a "spanner wrench/lens opening tool" is required. I think, the rear
element is carefully removed. Under it, is a variable standoff ring, which
is turned back 1/2 turn. Brian Sweeney says, this procedure gets 80%
of any J8's which are retro-focusing... back into alignment.

Of course, it doesn't make sense to buy specialized tools for adjusting
one or two lenses. The tool described above can probably found at
most jewelers/watchmakers shops.
Once the retaining ring is loosened, we can go from there.

I have another J8 coming, and this was collimated by Brian.

Cheers, mike
 
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Hello everybody. I just joined this website because after many years of shooting with SLR cameras I decided to buy a Bessa R with the Jupiter 8 50mm f/2 lens. I recieved it Friday but I haven't used it yet since I've had the flu all week. At least it feels very nice. Have a nice day everybody.
 
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