OT: Bessaflex opinions?

[Dougg]

Throwbacks to the film era, eh? 😀 And none of my Pentaxes are new enough to even have electrical contacts on the lens mount.

Thanks for the kind comment; I think I know the one you mean...
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=23441&cat=500&ppuser=77

 

[GeneW]

Apparently I must drive to Canada to find a Bessaflex? Stephen Gandy is out of the black TM, and all he's got left is the Topcon-styled models at $279.

Ted

Ted, you'd be welcomed in style if you did! We'd get the whole Toronto RFF contingent out to greet you. And don't let anyone kid you -- most of them are closet SLR shooters 🙂

Like you I prefer black camera bodies, but had to go with the silver Topcon-styled model. A good friend of mine from bygone years owned a new Topcon D and it was a neat camera (loud though!) I'll think of him when I shoot the B'Flex.

Gene

 

[GeneW]

Oh, you don't waste time, Gene. Just one day and you sold color scopar and bought bessaflex. Thank you, sure a pint of beer sounds good. On week days around 5 clock I'm taking route 19 from Queensway to Lakeshore (or around 8 am in opposite direction, but it's too early for a pint, me thinks but is not quite sure 😱)) - I guess I'm passing by your place. On weekends it's even easier to arrange. Waiting for PM or e-mail from you. I hope you'll enjoy bessaflex and it's a very good camera indeed.
Eduard.

I don't think even I would fancy a Guinness at 8am, though I might want to experiment 🙂

Sure thing, Eduard. As soon as it arrives, we'll annoint it with a little focusing fluid, either in Port Credit or downtown TO.

Gene

 

[ed1k]

I heard that not all lenses could be mounted on silver body - that's major difference between silver and black bessaflex. Some long tele won't mount, I forgot which one. I'll check diameter of my 135/2.5 Takumar; I'm pretty sure my 135/4 has the same diameter as 50. Have to take off, buy now.
Eduard.

 

[Trius]

Gene & Eduard: I'm probably headed to GTA either the weekend of 11/4 or 11/11. If you are getting together either of those weekends, let me know, I'd be glad to get my paws on the Bessaflex for aminute. Also, Eduard, I've never actually handled a Contax/Kiev, and have a Mozilla tab open to Fedka as we speak. :bang:

Edit: I'll bring an OM rig to get in the SLR spirit and to remind Gene of the error of his ways...

 

[GeneW]

Earl, with luck the Bessaflex should be here by then -- sooner I hope. Got an itch for a Contax or Kiev eh? Check with PeterC -- I think he may be selling his Kiev gear to thin his collection a bit.

Ah, you know I love OM's. From a distance... 🙂

Gene

 

[Trius]

Gene: I sorta have the itch for a couple of reasons, the biggest one being older Zeiss/Zeiss copy glass. But I think I'll resist for now. Mainly I'd just like to handle one for the feel, how the focusing works, etc. Not that it would tempt me any more, mind you. 😉

 

[GeneW]

The silver Bessaflex arrived yesterday! Thanks to everyone for advice and encouragement. It's a very pretty cam -- nicer than it looks in the pics. Fairly basic Cosina design. Very bright viewfinder. Relatively quiet for an SLR. I bought mine from cameraquest and Stephen kindly let me pick up the special $1 Bessa case so I could use it on my Bessa L. The top doesn't fit the Bessaflex, but the bottom half does. Couldn't resist putting it on the Flex. Looks like a poor-man's Luigi 🙂

I'm off today to test it out with a Super Takumar 55/1.8, CZJ 135/3.5, and Montgomery Ward 28/2.8. On Monday I'll be adding a Jupiter 9 85/2.

The body is quite lightweight. With the relatively heavy M42 lenses, it balances nicely. Should be fun. Of course I'll tuck a little RF in the bag too 🙂

Gene

 

[BillBingham2]

Gene, congrats on the new friend! There are a lot of us here who shoot SLR too. Life is too short not to have a great 180/2.8.

B2 (;->

 

[Trius]

We want a C&C shot NOW!!!!

 

[tedwhite]

Gene:

Congratulations. How about a shot of your new silver friend?

Ted (feel serious GAS attack coming on)

 

[GeneW]

Thanks Ted. I'll try to get a C&C shot soon!

Gene

 

[Trius]

Update on Gene's behalf: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdnphoto/300040745/in/photostream?#comment72157594381406523

Super!

 

[tedwhite]

Wow! How'd you get that from colour to B/W? Very top job. And that J9 is clearly a keeper.

Very clean and crisp. Perhaps it's the air in Port Credit?

Ted

 

[GeneW]

Wow! How'd you get that from colour to B/W? Very top job. And that J9 is clearly a keeper.

Very clean and crisp. Perhaps it's the air in Port Credit?

Ted

Earl, thanks for putting up the link.

Ted, straight use of Photoshop's Channel Mixer, using mostly the Blue channel. It gave me the best tonality for this particular image. Then a little warm toning using Color Balance. And a touch of burning at the corners and edges.

The J9 that I bought from Kin Lau seems very, very crisp. I really like it.

Gene

 

[tedwhite]

I guess there are J9's and then there are J9's. I had one a couple of years ago and used it for a time on Spotmatic SP bodies, but it was nowhere near as sharp as the one you've got, so I sold it.

I'm trying to learn how to do that Photoshop stuff, poco a poco.

Ted