The One Lens to Rule them All?

[Visuals]

Sorry about the "Lord of the Rings" intro. 😉 I'll be getting a Bessa R2 soon and I plan on getting just one lens. looking for the best most affordable lens that do the job.

Any suggestions?
Thanks guys

Visuals~

 

[biomed]

I would suggest the CV 35/2.5 Skopar.

 

[aizan]

40/1.4 nokton classic...slight edge to sc.

 

[PlantedTao]

yep

yep

I would suggest the CV 35/2.5 Skopar.

I'd second that...
it was my first lens for the bessa r2 and is the one lens I will not part with.

 

[back alley]

what do you want the lens to do?

 

[kshapero]

either one will do but the 40mm is faster

 

[pmowen]

What's the job? If you're not really sure then start with an inexpensive 50 or 35. Like biomed said the VC 35/2.5 or the VC 50/2.5. Fast enough for outside or indoors if you don't mind pushing your film a couple stops. The VC 28s are what I'm drooling over right now but, unless you know you want a wide then that might be too much if you're only going to have one lens.

 

[andrew]

that's the key question, back alley, but without the answer I'd throw in my third for the 35mm 2.5 - it's a great lens (perhaps the 50 nokton would be a good one, too).

The 75 Heliar looks pretty amazing, too.

I guess we should wait for more details on this one lens.

 

[Steve Litt]

My fav lens for my Bessa R2 is the VC 35mm pancake (original).My first rangefinder was a Bessa R and this was the lens I got for it.I use it with 400 iso B/W film (mostly).

Regards
Steve

 

[ferider]

I've tried all except 12, 25, 50/2, 50/2.5, 30/1.2 and 90.

The 40/1.4 beats them all. Must have been custom-made for KobayashiSan.

Roland.

 

[einolu]

i have lived with a 35mm skopar for more than a year now and i am really used to it. it's a little slow but also very small. i have yet to be tempted into buying another lens, though i might get another one of these.

i love the way it looks around 2.5-4:

edit: oh, and the $400 deal at cameraquest can't really be beat, imo.

 

[kully]

What focal length do you want?

If not:

Before parting money on anything too expensive, I'd plonk down something on a Jupiter-8 and Jupiter-12, both of them toghether will cost you less than a 35/2.5.

Then figure out whether you like one or both.

I say this because I always thought 35mm was for me until I got the 40/1.4, now I know I'd have a 50mm if it were to be me only lens.

 

[photophorous]

I recently got an R2A, 35 PII and 50 Heliar. So far, I've used the 50 more than the 35, but they both produce excellent images. I used a Canonet with a 40mm focal length and I liked that view a lot, but if you get the 40 Nokton you should consider an R3 for the frame lines. If I had to pick just one focal length I would go with the 40, but I'd rather have a 35 and a 50.

 

[dostacos]

the 35mm skopar is a great FIRST lens and after all if you are here GAS will get ya and there will be other lenses, a bit wider or bit bit less wide, faster or just plane different whatever there will be more.

The russian lenses are less expensive, BUT this 35 is so great, if I really could only have one lens...ok if that was the rule, I would change the rule 😀

 

[vol72]

In the land of Solms, where the shadows lie...

 

[tedwhite]

Cosina/Voigtlander Color Skopar 35/2.5. If I had to go with just one lens, this would be it. As I use Tri-X almost exclusively, I don't mind the 2.5 max aperture.

It's tiny, comes with a lens hood and cap, and is a serious bang for the buck.

 

[jja]

The analogy is very fitting. Many of of us go on one search after another, looking for the One. For many, the search is part of the fun, but for others, settling down with one or two lenses that serve their purpose allows them to concentrate on what matters--taking photos.

My first lens was a CV 35/2.5, and I took some wonderful photos with it. For around $200, it's a bargain. You also can't beat its compactness.

If you are needing a 50, the Konica 50/2 M-Hexanon is one of the best 50's you can own regardless of price, and it can be had for around $350 on the used market.

Of course, there are many, many good lenses in these focal lengths, at all price points. I think you should decide your favored focal length first, then narrow down by price range and other needs such as maximum aperture and size.

 

[Avotius]

I also have the skopar 35 f2.5 pancake 2, its a great little lens but I found the max 2.5 to be a hair slow for me shooting in low light, that said it really is a fine lens.

 

[Bryan Lee]

All the replies have been good. As a user of both 35mm and 50mm lenses and having owned or currently owning most of the lenses mentioned I will add this. If I were to only have one lens it would be a 50mm in a speed of 2.0 or faster. The main reason is the distortion of faces at close range which is not a problem with the 50 but impossible with the 35 and I'm guessing the 40 too. I love the 35 and use it often but the 50 is just the go to lens for close environmental portrait work . I would say the 35 2.5 is a great lens as I used one in the past but it is to slow for me, and I lost a few shots because I was trying to save weight by carrying it. In the end I wound up selling it off and just keeping the faster and heavier lenses.


The bottom line is a fastish fifty is the best all around lens, from there it just becomes a budget issue. Currently my main lens is a Zeiss ZM 50 2.0, I highly recommend it if you can get one. The Konica is another possible choice along with the Cosina lenses.

 

[amateriat]

Here's a fifth (sixth?) for the 35mm Skopar pancake, conceptually speaking (I haven't actually used it). Compact, a truly usable focal length (matching the R2's widest frameline...it's nice to keep any guesswork to a bare minimum). Smaller/lighter means a setup you'll carry with you more often, more places. Yes, it's not the fastest in the West, but you'll deal with f/2.5, even if it means the occasional one-stop push (but remember, it's smaller and lighter, giving you an edge here. Unless I end up with a CLE shortly (cross your fingers, everyone), I might consider one of these m'self. (Wait...I might have to consider one if I get the CLE, although it would stay on one of the Hexars, while the 28 M-Hex would go on the CLE.)


- Barrett