Looking for Help

[iChrix]

The assignments are all 8x10s. 8 are bw and 2 are color. Will I be able to produce nice 8x10s with any of the FSUs?

At first glanced it looked like a great deal, but I don't know if I want to get a camera that needs to be fixed all the time when I have a grade depending on it.

 

[wlewisiii]

Stick to the Bessa body - it will be reliable and do the job well for your class. Now, the russian lenses are a different story. The quality control can be spotty, but the ones to look for are:
Industar 22 50/3.5 collapsible
Industar 61 L/D 50/2.8
Jupiter 8 50/2
Jupiter 3 50/1.5 - will need to be adjusted to focus correctly wide open but well worth it to have it done.
Jupiter 9 85/2 - will need to be checked and possibly adjusted (they are easy to misassemble) but even still a very good lens.

William

 

[JoeFriday]

iChrix, there are two basic camps regarding FSU gear, split up by lens mount.. the Kiev uses the Contax bayonet, while the FED, Zorki, and most others use the old Leica screwmount (LTM).. if you were looking at picking up a Kiev, your lens options would be to use lenses made specifically with the Contax mount.. generally Jupiter lenses, altho some Contax and Nikon lenses would also apply

fortunately, there are some great options in the Jupiter lineup.. the Jupiter 8 is an excellent 50/2 Sonnar clone.. the Jupiter 12 is an equally good 35mm lens.. and there are 90mm and 135mm models that are no slouches.. all priced fairly economically

one caveat..FSU quality control was hit or miss.. you have an equal chance of getting a good lens or body as getting something problematic.. but when you find something good, it's a great setup

 

[David Murphy]

Chris I think your selection is good, although you can save a little money by buying the Voigtlander gear used. Used Voigtlander is pretty reliable having often seen little use.

I've used Russian (FSU = Former Soviet Union) cameras and lenses and would not recommend them for beginners -- maybe later as you get experience. I also own a Bessa R and it is a very fine and practical camera -- one of my favorites. The Voigtlander lenses are also all quite good.

 

[iChrix]

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't really made a decision yet, nor do I need to. So I'll keep doing my homework 🙂

 

[rbiemer]

Chris,
By the photos you've put up on you site, I think any learning curve is going to be the gear more than photography in general.
And I see from another thread, that you are starting the slide into FSU fun.
Not necessarily a bad thing but:

The syllabus just says, "Suitable 35mm adjustable camera and lens(es)."

Is the class a "photo 101" or some more advanced level?
Does the syllabus list the assignments?
Is there any way you can talk to the teacher of this course and find out just what "suitable..." is?
I ask because typically the cameras specified for "photo 101" type classes are manual SLRs.
If a rangefinder camera will suit the class/instructor, I'd echo the suggestions of the Bessa R.
Otherwise, since it seems you have already been shooting Nikon DSLRs, how about something like the FM-10 or the N65?
Rob
Edit: And Russian is one of your majors, you say?...Gee, you might be able to earn some beer--BOOK, I meant to type BOOK--money translating FSU camera manuals for us language deficient FSU camera geeks😀

 

[iChrix]

Chris,
By the photos you've put up on you site, I think any learning curve is going to be the gear more than photography in general.
And I see from another thread, that you are starting the slide into FSU fun.
Not necessarily a bad thing but:

Is the class a "photo 101" or some more advanced level?
Does the syllabus list the assignments?
Is there any way you can talk to the teacher of this course and find out just what "suitable..." is?
I ask because typically the cameras specified for "photo 101" type classes are manual SLRs.
If a rangefinder camera will suit the class/instructor, I'd echo the suggestions of the Bessa R.
Otherwise, since it seems you have already been shooting Nikon DSLRs, how about something like the FM-10 or the N65?
Rob
Edit: And Russian is one of your majors, you say?...Gee, you might be able to earn some beer--BOOK, I meant to type BOOK--money translating FSU camera manuals for us language deficient FSU camera geeks😀

lol, I don't know how much fun translating a camera manual would be...:bang: hah. It's the first photojournalism class you take as a photoj major. They required ten 8x10s throughout the year. 8 are b&w, and 2 are color. It doesn't say anything about SLRs, but I guess I can ask. I'm actually leaning away from the FSU cameras now because of the unreliability, I'll come back to them later when I have some spare change.

The Bessa R seems to do the trick with the hot shoe, ttl, etc... I might just stick with that. I really wish I would've been here when that last one was sold on the classified area for $275 w/35 f/2.5 🙁 That combo goes for $499 on bh.com and $400 on ebay.

Ah, but what can you do?

 

[rbiemer]

Well, check out Cameraquest--a sponsor here and who I bought mine from. He's got the Bessa R and 35mm/f2.5 combined for $399.
As for the FSU gear, I love it but photography is merely my hobby so I rarely have anything depending on my gear/photos other than my own enjoyment.
Rob

 

[BudGreen]

The syllabus just says, "Suitable 35mm adjustable camera and lens(es)."

Most likely what they mean is a camera in which the shutter speed and aperture can be set manually, as opposed to on a point & shoot. As for the lens, I would go for the f1.7 over the slower alternatives. Besides the advantages in low light, it will also provide a shorter depth of field when you want that affect

 

[John]

I also posted in your Kiev 2a thread. I think the FSU cameras are good after repair and servicing. They are the budget choice. I would stick to the most reputable dealers like Fedka. You can get cheaper stuff but it ends up costing more and working less after you send it all over for repair. 🙂

 

[iChrix]

I also posted in your Kiev 2a thread. I think the FSU cameras are good after repair and servicing. They are the budget choice. I would stick to the most reputable dealers like Fedka. You can get cheaper stuff but it ends up costing more and working less after you send it all over for repair. 🙂

Thanks again, John. This Zorki looks enticing. I must do my homework!

-Chris

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

1. You may learn some more about FSU cameras at Fedka, and he sells through his own online store and on eBay.

2. Is there a school noitice board where past students may have posted 'For Sale' ads for stuff they bought for the class?

 

[ampguy]

nah

nah

I'd think twice about getting into FSU's. You don't want to be in the middle of a project, and forget to cock the shutter before changing the shutter speed and have to wait 3 months for some guy in Siberia to fix it.

Get something a tad more reliable, and faster loading, plus, a Japan made flip back camera will always give you 2 more shots per roll, if you know what you're doing.

Wow, I was just looking at some of the images created by a Kiev-2A. It's MUCH cheaper, I might just have to get one of those based on the price alone! What type of restrictions (lens) are on a camera like this?

I'm sort of a neophyte at this stuff. I'm used to Nikon dSLR and using Nikon glass only, so this whole "3rd party" glass stuff is new to me.

EDIT: I'm going to keep looking into these Russian Rangefinders. These things look interesting. They also hold my attention as Russian is one of my majors 🙂

 

[fgianni]

I think your best bet is to get the Bessa with the 35 and the 75 lenses as per your original plan, and then for $50 or so add a Fed 5 with the Industar 61 l/d
(standard lens on the fed 5), so you have a spare body, and an excellent 50mm lens as well.