Ordered my R3A Today

[Frank K]

Hi all,

I ordered my Bessa R3A today from CameraQuest. I got tired of the digital madness.

 

[James Brannan]

Hi all,

I ordered my Bessa R3A today from CameraQuest. I got tired of the digital madness.

1. Welcome to the forum.
2. Congratulations on your purchase! I just recently got (today in the mail) a Bessa R and 35 2.5. In the future I've still got in my mind an R3A and 40mm 1.4.
3. Which digital madness? Just curious. 😀

 

[aizan]

goodbye digital madness, hello analog madness.

 

[morgan]

Yeah, they're just different kinds of madness really. I love the size and flexibility of my digital p&s (pana fx01) and it's great for certain things. But I've fallen in love with film again.

My bessa-r showed up today as well. I love it. I've got a heliar 15 and a jupiter-3 inbound to go with it. 🙂

Congrats on the R3A, it looks a great rig.

 

[stnicholas81]

I just ordered the R2M recently too! hurray.

15mm in the waiting list. =)

was also wondering are there any good russian lens to get in the meantime.

Cheers to all.

 

[`gsi]

bought mine (r3a+40/1.4) 3 days ago. only shot two rolls of trix+2 so far... have to develop them pretty soon. im really excited about the results

had to take my bessa back to the shop today, i had a problem focusing because of the rangefinder... horizontal lines were not tottaly overlapping when focused.
the leica shop clerk told me that this is a commen issue with all leica m modells newer than m3 (except the new mp) and bessas. its caused by agitation. he was quite fast by fixing it... now im home and im still not too pleased with the result. i mean its good but its this little, tiny ounce lacking perfection.
- does anyone have experience with this?

 

[Frank K]

Thanx all for the welcome. I had previously sold my rangefinders and lenses and went digital several years ago. I still have one digital camera - a nice Oly 8080 but everytime I check out the characteristics of newer models, I still read about problems with "noise" and chromatic abberation. So back to the real world of film.

 

[dcsang]

Welcome aboard Frank.

I hope you enjoy your R3A as much I did mine and, I believe, another Frank (FrankG) did his.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Dougg]

I ordered my Bessa R3A today from CameraQuest. I got tired of the digital madness.

Look at poor Frank, and let him serve as a warning to others! 😀 Welcome to RFF madness, Frank! What do you plan to do with a fresh new RF body with a hole where the lens should be?

 

[Frank K]

I am starting out with the 40/1.4 Classic Nokton and the 75/2.5 ColorHeliar. After that I intend to add a wide angle - which one though I don't know. I will be checking here to see others' experiences with wide angles to help me decide.

 

[dcsang]

I'll tell you this Frank, you're going to love the 40 1.4 - sure people complain about the bokeh at 1.4 but really.. it's a SOLID lens 🙂

Cheers
Dave

 

[Frank K]

Good to hear. Is bokeh only an issue at 1.4?

 

[dcsang]

Good to hear. Is bokeh only an issue at 1.4?

Depends on who you talk to - my opinion is that bokeh is subjective but there are a ton of folks out there that say it's not subjective - but that's another discussion in and of itself 😀

I personally didn't find it all that harsh (sure at 1.4 it was a bit speckly) and it was very sharp. It's a good little lens 🙂

Dave

 

[Dougg]

Frank, sorry to rag you a little, there, just enjoying your signature line! Also, nice choices for first lenses too, both very excellent ones. I can't say I use the 75mm much because (for me) it requires an accessory viewfinder. The 40 Nokton is getting quite a lot of use in the brief months I've had it, though, and it's a natural on the Minolta CLE. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I.

Here are some Nokton shots... The first is about f/4 I think, but the other two are wide open or nearly so. Some challenging backgrounds for bokeh study... 🙂

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I like the results from my Nokton 40mm SC, but still find the focus a bit stiff after six months. Perhaps not exactly 'stiff' but very well damped certainly.

Other people have commented on this too.

I already tend to Sunny f16 exposure, and this lens is making me tend to zone focus.

I guess I've got the ultimate point and shoot setup.

 

[pcfranchina]

R3a

R3a

An R3a with the 40/1.4 Nokton and the 75/2.5 Color Heliar is a great small kit to walk around town with. I also have an Industar 61 but it doesnt get as much use as the CV lenses. It usually stays in the bag with my Zorki 4K.

Enjoy your R3a!

 

[Fred]

Welcome Frank K.

The CV75 would partner the 40 very well indeed. Although I do not have a 40 I use the 75 lens with a 35 on my Bessa R.

 

[BJ Bignell]

I am starting out with the 40/1.4 Classic Nokton and the 75/2.5 ColorHeliar. After that I intend to add a wide angle - which one though I don't know. I will be checking here to see others' experiences with wide angles to help me decide.

My vote is for the CV21, but that's because
(a) I have it, and
(b) I can't afford the ZI 21 or 25, or anything else more expensive than CV.

It's a great little lens (emphasis on little, I wish I had a 50 that was the same size) and for me, wide enough without getting bizarre. Of course, YMMV.

Enjoy your new camera!
BJ

 

[Dougg]

As to a wider lens choice to go with the 40 and 75, I'd suggest 25 or 28 would be very useful.

 

[Fred]

My vote is for the CV21, but that's because
(a) I have it, and
(b) I can't afford the ZI 21 or 25, or anything else more expensive than CV.

It's a great little lens (emphasis on little, I wish I had a 50 that was the same size) and for me, wide enough without getting bizarre. Of course, YMMV.

Enjoy your new camera!
BJ

This is a very sound argument. I also have the 21 and really like it. I also use the 28 skopar f3.5 that is also very contrasty but vignetts less at wider settings than my 21. Just need a 50 for my R and that will be it.