i'm a bessa ower too!

[atelier7]

Hello all,
I just became a Bessa R owner 🙂 and will be using a J8 with it.
I am thinking of getting a wider angle lens down the track and would like to know what you would recommend to compliment the J8?

 

[chug]

Congrats and Welcome to the Bessa Clan 🙂 You have several choices for wide angle lenses. From 12mm to 28mm. It all depends on how wide you want it 🙂

 

[atelier7]

What is the difference between the 25/4 and the 28/3.5?
Which perspective is more useful?
I've also got a bessa L which has no lens yet.
How difficult is it to zone focus since the 25/4 is not rangefinder coupled?
And how do fellow bessa owners carry your cameras? with the standard strap or do you get the case?

 

[rover]

My Bessa R spent qute a bit of her time in the bottom half of her case. It is a very light sure camera, you will enjoy.

Well, it you have an L, then the 25 would be a great partner for that. The DOF for a lens this wide is so generous that focusing is relatively easy. At average apertures you can usually set the infinity mark on the far side of the DOF scale of the lens and just shoot.

If you pop a 25 on the L and have a 50 for the R you may be all set.

 

[RML]

For me the CV 25/4 is more useful than the 28. It's wider. 🙂 Zone focussing is a breeze. Even at f4 the DOF is already enormous. And it's price is very nice.

 

[cbass]

You're going to love your new R. I shot a test roll yesterday in a driving rain & windstorm (a typical Massachusetts spring day) and I took the neck strap from my digital camera. I simply zipped my rain jacket over the camera when I wasn't shooting. The camera & lens also fit nicely in my jacket pocket. However, I'll probably buy a nice wrist strap to use during fair-weather walkabouts.

I'll second Rover's suggestion of the 25/4 to go with the L body. If you've already got an R body with the J-8 50/2, the 25/4 makes sense as a companion focal length. You could buy a 75mm lens during your next GAS attack to complete your Bessa system.

Have fun using your new R body. It's a really nice peice of equipment.

 

[RML]

About the strap/case... I use the lower half of the Voigtländer case at all time. It adds a little bulk (though hardly any weight) and it protects the camera from bruising.

I use Op/Tech straps for all of my cameras, the slim type strap. I can't stand those tiny straps they give you with every new camera. These straps just cut into my neck and don't distribute the weight properly, causing me to have neck aches (and than head ache). Especially when you're going to carry a camera around your neck for more than just a few minutes IMO you should go for a "pro" strap.

 

[Jon Perry]

The CV cases are actually quite good. I would recommend them, even if you just use the bottom half, like a lot of folks here do.

Definitely get the case for the Bessa L. Especially if you have a viewfinder attached. It stops it getting banged about when your just walking along with it over your shoulder.

Jon.

 

[nwcanonman]

I like the CV 35mm Skopar C, small, inexpensive and very sharp. For a case I use a neoprene Zing case. Fits on a belt or use with the straps, medium size just right for the Bessa R.

 

[sf]

Bessas are great

Bessas are great

It is good to know that others like them too. I just got my new one, an R3A, and it is perfect. Viewfinder is perfect, lens is perfect, body is perfect. Very happy shooter.