Questions regarding my new Bessa R

[funky1]

I am new to range finder cameras. I just got a Bess R with a 35/2.5 Color Skopar “C” lens.


Having never even picked up a rengefinder before I am not sure how to determine if it is focusing corectly. I have read that some Bessa cameras have had issues with misaligned focusing mirrors. The focusing patch being kind of opaque, I am having trouble determining if the camera is focused properly.


With my unexperienced eye it looks fine but the pictures I have been getting back don't look as sharp as I have been hearing this particular lens should be. So my other question is how likely is it there may be a problem with my lens? What are the odds that my lens may be messed up.


Both the camera and the lens are brand new.


I also have a question about the light meter. When I have the shutter speed at the lowest speeds, in particular 1 & 2 & B it starts telling me that the picture will be underexposed. I can point the camera at whatever subject, lower the shutter speed, it will say that I am overexposing the film until I get to 2, 1, or b where it switches to underexpose. This seems strange to me. The battery's are brand new.


I am getting back into photography after a 5 year hiatus. All of my other experience has been with a Nikon N90S with an Sigma zoom lens. It is a great setup but far to bulky and noisy for the street photography that is my interest at the moment.



Any advise would be a great help.

 

[peterc]

To test the focus, focus on something across a room at a known distance (I use a calendar on a wall at 10 feet). See if the lens scale reads the same as the measured distance.
The light meter issue you mention means you're probably beyond the range the meter can measure. The meter goes a bit strange under such conditions.

Hope this helps,
Peter

 

[pvdhaar]

Don't forget to mount the camera on a tripod if you're checking for focus accuracy. A photo that's blurred because of camera shake doesn't tell the correct story.

 

[mechon]

Funky1,
Here you can find ISO/Shutter Speed Chart for Bessa :
http://www.usfca.edu/~fraley/r2meter.html

Black fields show when your meter is out of range.


cheers
Mechon

 

[brachal]

Funky,

You've got a good kit there. Normally quality contol on Cosina Voigtlanders is very good. It's not impossible, but I'd be surprised if you had new gear that wasn't right. The 35mm Skopar is sharp and very contrasty. Try focusing on a vertical object with a sharp, vertical line, like a pole or a window frame until you get the hang of it -- it's not the same as focusing a SLR!

 

[tedwhite]

Focus on a friend from twelve feet (measure it). Make the two heads become one. Then look at the lens scale. Should read twelve feet.

Now, for fast moving stuff you'll need to zone focus. I'd explain it to you but my cameras are all at the studio. Anyway, the scale is on the lens.

I can't help you with the meter readings as I have never tried to meter at one second in such awful light. Further, if you're trying to take pictures in such dim conditions that may account for being unable to focus sharply. (Of course I may have misunderstood what you wrote).

Ted

 

[funky1]

Thanks for the link Mechon, now I feel confident about the meter. The meter just can’t comprehend 400 speed film using such slow shutter speeds.

I set up my tripod, measured it to 10 feet out than focused the calendar in. The lens read 10 feet exactly so that seems in order. Thanks for the method Peter.

While out today in a local park I noticed that light poles at a far distance never came completely together when focused at infinity. Is this normal? The 3 roles I have shot so far have all been at relatively short distances so I have only noticed this today.

Thanks again for all the healp.