lens for Bessa R

[labjt]

I just bought a Bessa-R. I am still very new to the rangefinder world. If I had to get just one lens and had about $200-250 ro spend on it, what would you guys recommend. Thanks for any help.

 

[ZeissFan]

I would get the older Color-Skopar, either the Pancake or Classic. Either is a nice all-around lens.

 

[Spider67]

Second to that the color skopar 35/2.5 is a very good lens.
Another choice would be the Canon 1,8 50mm Serenar (a bit heavy but very good!)

 

[BillBingham2]

CV 35/1.7 Aspherical Ultron used would be my choice. Either of the color skopars would be fine but I loved the speed when I had the 35/1.7.

B2 (;->

 

[f16sunshine]

CV 2.5/35 classic 🙂

 

[MaxElmar]

Yes indeed, it would be pretty hard to beat a 35/2.5 Color-Skopar. You want the "classic" model. Even a brand new one wouldn't stretch your budget much. Adorama has them for $289. Alternately there are a few older 50mm lenses that make beautiful images - the Canon 50/1.8 comes to mind. I got a nice example for $100.

 

[BillBingham2]

I'd start with a 35, but that's me. On the 50mm side you might look at a Nikkor 50/2 also, a fine option in budget. Harder to find in that price range but not too much more might be a Nikkor 50/1.4.

B2 (;->

 

[Tom A]

I would recommend the 1 st version of the 35f2.5 Color-Skopar. It is a large diameter lens (52mm filter) but quite shallow. I like it because it has the "fastest" focus throw on any Rf lens I know. You can spin it from closest focus to infinity.
Optically it is the same as the M-mount version II.

 

[labjt]

I would recommend the 1 st version of the 35f2.5 Color-Skopar. It is a large diameter lens (52mm filter) but quite shallow. I like it because it has the "fastest" focus throw on any Rf lens I know. You can spin it from closest focus to infinity.
Optically it is the same as the M-mount version II.

Tom, how do I tidentify a first version? Do you know where I might be able to find one? Thanks.

 

[januaryman]

I have the Skopar and used it extensively on my Bessa and many other cameras. Good lens, a bit light, very small. I like slightly bigger lenses, as my fingers are not small.

 

[payasam]

Once you have decided between 35 and 50, there are several good lenses available in both focal lengths. In my view, maximum aperture is an important consideration.

 

[nico]

If you're on the 50 side I'd recommend the old nokton 50/1,5; the photos in my gallery here on rff or on my blog are - at 80% - took with that lens.
With some patience you can find used samples at fair price here on rff classifieds.
ciao

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

With a 50mm only, you'll soon feel your vision is too closed...

Thinking of just one lens, it should be one that you can use for landscapes and portraits, as for street... It can be done, and a 35mm lens or a 40mm lens, are better options than a 50mm lens...

The 35 2.5 is what I'd go for, because it's light and small and very sharp...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Jason Sprenger]

One lens? $200-$250?

Like others have said, a Voigtlander 35/2.5 Color Skopar Classic is a good way to go.

The next biggest bang for the buck is a 50/1.5 Nokton Aspherical. It's big for an RF lens, but not heavy and short of a Leica 50/1.4 Summilux Aspherical costing 10 times more, nothing else combines fast and sharp the way the Nokton does.

Using the frame-lines in the Bessa R body, determine which the focal length offers the field of view you want to use.

 

[gb hill]

Get the 35/2.5 color skopar. It's an excellent lens. I have this lens for my Bessa R. It makes a great kit. For a 50 I use a Russian I-61/LD & a Jupiter 8 which is a 50/2 ltm lens. Both are good, sharp, & best of all cheap.

 

[PMCC]

I'll second the CV35mm/2.5 LTM 1st version (aka "Pancake I"). Same good neutral modern optics (don't look for distinctive signature) as the CV Color Skopar Classic, but, for me, preferable form and ergo factor. The barrel has a larger diameter for an easier grip without focusing tab, and as noted above, the short focus throw makes for fast handling. This is valuable for candids and street photography, where speed of use may outweigh precise focus. But close focus is .9m, while the smaller Classic focuses to .7m.

 

[chris00nj]

While the CV 35/2.5 is a good lens, I felt it to be a little slow.

One nice thing about a lens that is at least f/2.0, you can shoot under normal indoor light with 400 speed film at 1/30. This is enough to handle hold and expose properly without a flash.

If you prefer to photograph people, I would go for a 50mm first. Otherwise, 35 is a great focal length.

Here's an Ultron 35/1.7 for sale and another one as well.

If you want a 50mm lens, the Nokton 50/1.5 is great. The Canon 50/1.8 is great value and the Nikkor 50/2 is another good find.

 

[Rogrund]

I would recommend the 1 st version of the 35f2.5 Color-Skopar. It is a large diameter lens (52mm filter) but quite shallow. I like it because it has the "fastest" focus throw on any Rf lens I know. You can spin it from closest focus to infinity.
Optically it is the same as the M-mount version II.

Is this a rare lens? I've only seen one single of these on ebay. Not that I've been looking for one, since I already have the 35/2.5 Classic...