Is the hood on 25/4 good enough?

[Alan]

I have the 25/4 lens and it has a tiny circular lens hood. I'm wondering if it is good enough to prevent flares when shooting in a sunny day. Summer is coming and I'm thinking about buying the rectangle hood from cameraquest for 45 dollars, it sounds like a good attachment except you can't fit a lens cap on it. Anyone else has this hood and what do you think of it? also I'm thinking about the mini soft release but it seems pointless to me. have anyone tried this and is it worth the 15 dollars?

 

[RML]

The hood is indeed more than enough. I've been using the CV 25/4 for a few years now and find it really very difficult to get any flare at all.

The soft release is a very nifty and useful addition to your camera. Whether it's worth $15 is up to you but I have one for both my Bessa R and my Minolta CL (and being too lazy to order another one, I often switch it with the Leica M2).

 

[Sonnar2]

with my experience, neither the 4/25 nor the 4.5/15 are prone to flare even with the sun in the picture. I don't have any LEICA glass yet, but I was really amazed what I can do with these lenses in backlight.

This is not to say the hood of Mr.Gandy wouldn't improve it. But there are other lenses in my bag which needs sunshades more to carry them, and I really like the way fitting the caps on the lenses.

cheers, Frank

 

[KEH]

I like the mini soft release on my RD1 - it positions the finger at a better height and gives a more positive feel to the shutter release.

Cheers,
Kirk

 

[Alan]

does anyone of you know if there's rangefinder of anytype avaible that will help me with the use of my Bessa L? I'm not very good on my guestimation and most of the time I just stop my lens down to f16 just to make sure my subject is in focus.

 

[RML]

Alan, tere are a few russian external rangefinders available. The name "Blik" comes to mind.

 

[Theo-Prof]

Alan, I am new to this forum and therefore I do not know much about you or your photo background. So, plesae forgive me if this question is a little elementary: have you used the depth of field scale as an aid to focusing/geting sharp images? I have been scale focusing my wide angle SLR lenses for years (I am new to rangefinders). Since I am usually interested in the most depth of field possible, I usually set the infinity mark on the lens opposite the mark for the aperture I am using. For my kind of shooting I never use the infinity setting because depth of field "beyond" infinity is impossible. Were I trying to achieve an out of focus background, however, I may in fact have the same problem you are having. Are you going for maximum depth of field or are you trying to limit depth of field with the Bessa-L an 25/4?

Kevin

 

[John Robertson]

The soft release is nice, Nikon also supply one cost in UK about £5. But the first time you unscrew it to use a cable release, you'll either drop it into long grass or otherwise loose it. I have!! twice!!

 

[Alan]

i'm planning on buying the hood and the leather case for my L since it does feel like it's easy to break. about the depth of field, I've been shooting at f16 and sometimes f4 if i know the distance between my lens and the subject. most of the time I'm good with my guestimation but I just want to be sure when i'm shooting with the lens wide open.

 

[RML]

With the CV 25/4 you'd be hard-pressed to get anything out of focus, even at f4.
What I usually do in a crowd/on the street/inside a house is set aperture to f5.6, set distance to 3 meters and change shutter speed according to what is needed for a particular shot. It'll have to be a very tough shot if these settings won't cover it.

.

 

[RML]

The L really does benefit from the case, at least the bottom half. It adds a bit of bulk to the camera without increasing the weight much, and it protects from bumps and scratches. I also like the grip of the case, preferring it over the bare body.

 

[Alan]

I'm going to attach the bessa L to my backpack with a quick release clip, instead of using a strap. and make myself a lens cap also attacked to the back pack so as soon as I take the camera off to use, the lens cap will come off.

 

[pvdhaar]

I have the 25/4 lens and it has a tiny circular lens hood. I'm wondering if it is good enough to prevent flares when shooting in a sunny day.

I think the small hood is pushing it. Especially when the sun is only just outside the image I get ghosts. Check the left side of the roof of the house in the atteched image. I guess a larger hood would do better..

 

[Bertram2]

I have the 25/4 lens and it has a tiny circular lens hood. I'm wondering if it is good enough to prevent flares when shooting in a sunny day.

Alan,
I use this lens since three years and my experience is very different from what was said by others here: This lens is VERY prone to flare !
You cannot use it against the light without flare and even if the light comes from 90° left or right at high noon you can have problems so bad that the pic is messed.
I use a level and so it is proven that flare happens even if the camera is leveled horizontal, you don't need to point up to the sky to have a problem.

The original hood is not suited at all to prevent flare under such conditions, the rectangular is a MUST tho not beeing perfect, it is calculated to fit the 21mm too !.
To avoid disappointments, buy it anyway!
Best,
Bertram

 

[Bertram2]

does anyone of you know if there's rangefinder of anytype avaible that will help me with the use of my Bessa L? I'm not very good on my guestimation and most of the time I just stop my lens down to f16 just to make sure my subject is in focus.

Alan,
that 's the best way to spoil the special fun you can have with a L and a non coupled 4/25 !
As long as there is enuff light just set the stop at a value which allows you to shoot at 1/125 and then turn the infinity Brezel on this stop.
f 8 and 1/125 sec at ISO 200 is a bright but not completely sunny day.
At f8 DOF goes from 4,5ft to infinity . When light is changing adjust the time only.

This is a standard setup good as long as there aren't details or persons very close to you which must be sharp. For that adjust the stop to f11 or f16 and take the necessary minimum distance as your point of orienation, deciding also how much of the background must be sharp.It must not be at infinity all the times.

The big advantage of this preset DOF shooting is that it makes the camera faster than a AF ever could be.

So don't bother yourself with a set on top RF on a L body and a 4/25. You are missing the thrill of shooting with a preset focus.

After a day out with the L I find it always annoying to focus with the RF of my R 😉
The first 2 or 3 frames often are messed because I simply forgot to focus !!!
Best,
Bertram

 

[sockeyed]

Here's a shot I took of a neighbourhood cat using my Bessa L and 25/4, on Tri-X at 400. I find this lens very easy to zone focus, even closed down. I love this combo.

 

[Theo-Prof]

Speaking of flair, how bad is the flair with the 15/4.5? I have read that some of the cv lenses are prone to flair. With a lens as wide as the 15 this might be a real problem. I am asking becasue I found one used at a really good price and it will be here Thursday! I can't wait to try it out.

Kevin

 

[Bertram2]

Here's a shot I took of a neighbourhood cat using my Bessa L and 25/4, on Tri-X at 400. I find this lens very easy to zone focus, even closed down. I love this combo.

Brilliant example !! 😀
Bertram

 

[John Robertson]

I assume Theo you mean FLARE, 😉 I have the 15, and I find mine very flare resistant, Ive even shot with the sun in the frame without much problem.
Whether my pictures have FLAIR thats quite another matter! :angel:

 

[Theo-Prof]

Sorry for the typo John, I'm glad you have a sense of humor. I have another question about the 15/4.5. In the photos I have seen of the 15mm I notice that there are two engraved marks on either side of the focus point mark. Are these the depth of field marks for f4.5? If they are they seem to be rather far from the numerals. I am asking because since I ordered a used lens, I assume there will be no instruction manual. If you do not know are you aware of a web site somewhere where I might find a manual for the lens?

Kevin