First post, first time, first question

[DaveSee]

Hi folks,

I have attempted to prepare this intro with pics in the RFF gallery, etc. Dunno why,
but perhaps to provide some perspective on this person 😉

I have made pictures for a while: photos, etchings and watercolors. I have less time for
all of these--and cannot manage an 8 ton press in my home--so I've made the choice to
use the camera more.

Having used an SLR, 10 years ago I invested in a Leica M6. Not a collector's investment!
It has been a true pal, and taught me a lot about making pictures.

Now I am a very proud owner of a Bessa T, with 25/4 Skopar and 40/1.4 Nokton too.
What a sweet kit! (Will post pics as they come in).

My first question is: have any of you Bessa T folk had difficulty using a Summicron 35
with this body? Mr. Gandy's site--and an email reply--states that later generations of this
lens "won't mount correctly."

Thanks for such a swell place to share the experience!

rgds,
Dave

 

[FrankS]

Sorry I can't answer your question about the Bessa T, but welcome anyway!

 

[Doug]

Welcome, Dave! I don't know what it is that causes later Summicrons to not "mount correctly," but I've seen that comment too. I bought my 35 'cron new in 1967, it's a "first generation", so the comment isn't applicable to it anyway... But it mounts and works fine on my Bessa-T.

So, hey, there's your logical justification to get a 35 Summilux ASPH instead! 😀 Or maybe one of the new Zeiss 35mm f/2 Biogon ZM just coming on the market now... that should be a sweetie. But with the 40 Nokton, aren't you pretty well set up now in that focal length range?

 

[DaveSee]

Hi, and thanks for the welcome... especially with all my mumbling about Leica--oops, sorry!

Actually, I won't justify the ASPH 35 Summilux at the moment... this 40 Nokton has me busy.
I have the 35 Summicron, and wanted to compare it to the 40 on the same body, same roll.

So why the narrow tolerance btw 35 and 40? It's both the 40 reportedly measured near 50
and it's size/weight that interested me... oh, and the odd pics I've seen, albeit JPEGs in a
browser. I've also been running a few rolls using hyperfocal (and that's why I'm not too
concerned about the "odd" Bessa T and it's view and rangefinder set up for quick shots)...
Also, something about the softness of the 40 when opened(I got the S.C.) appeals to me.
But I must spend some time with the first few rolls' images to be sure what really works.


Longer lenses--and I've shot with Leica 90mm, and Nikon 105mm--are planned, but for now
I'm working out "intimacy issues." 🙂 Sure, the 21 or 15 would prolly rid me of *all* such issues,
but I'm not yet ready to get that far into the picture!

 

[DaveSee]

Found out why it's said the later 35/2 Summicrons "won't mount correctly:" lens *will* mount,
but focus is limited to 4m max because the Bessa-T innards and lens meet at about this point.
Luckily not the shutter!

Back to the 40mm, and waiting on developed pics.

rgds,
Dave

 

[Doug]

Well, interesting, and thanks for the info!

 

[JohnM]

I think us Bessa T folks are going to have develop a secret handshake or something - we have a nice little crowd starting.

 

[DaveSee]

Hi JohnM,

Let's not keep it too much a secret! I had a devil of a time tracking down info on this
model. Most CV folk who post/blog/make websites use the L or R models, or so it seems.

The first Bessa I actually saw was an R, slung oversome fella's shoulder... but the T(elemetro)
attracted me more. Why? Haven't really figured that out yet 🙂, but a sub USD 200.00 price
and M-mount capability did make me stop and say "Hmmm..."

rgds,
davidc