ferider
Veteran
Hi Mike,
two comments:
- on your first post you mentioned RF misalignment. The reports that you usually read are about the R3*; most R and R2* users are very happy. (I have used R, R2, R3a and T and only had alignment issues with the R3a myself).
- if you don't mind external finders so much, consider the Bessa T as well. It is M mount, more robust and quiet than the R, and your 25 comes with an external finder and could be the primary lens. It usually costs about as much as a Bessa R, you will not need adapters, but you will need finders. Maybe the Helios 35/85 finder will work for the beginning. The T also has enough EBL to focus a faster 90mm.
Good luck,
Roland.
two comments:
- on your first post you mentioned RF misalignment. The reports that you usually read are about the R3*; most R and R2* users are very happy. (I have used R, R2, R3a and T and only had alignment issues with the R3a myself).
- if you don't mind external finders so much, consider the Bessa T as well. It is M mount, more robust and quiet than the R, and your 25 comes with an external finder and could be the primary lens. It usually costs about as much as a Bessa R, you will not need adapters, but you will need finders. Maybe the Helios 35/85 finder will work for the beginning. The T also has enough EBL to focus a faster 90mm.
Good luck,
Roland.
T
tedwhite
Guest
My friend just got his new R3a yesterday, and a peep inside my R and his R3a reveal identical vertical shutters, however the metering eye/sensor is on top in the R3a and on the bottom on my R. Otherwise couldn't see any internal difference.
As he has no lens yet, he borrowed my Jupiter 8 yesterday and now he's borrowed my 35/2.5 Color Skopar and rushed off again to take pictures. Thankfully, I've got Frank S.'s Canon 50/1.8 to fall back on.
I very much like my R and it has given me no trouble. As for quiet, after a lifetime with SLR cameras, these cameras are in comparison very quiet.
Then again, there's the Yashica GSN...
Ted
As he has no lens yet, he borrowed my Jupiter 8 yesterday and now he's borrowed my 35/2.5 Color Skopar and rushed off again to take pictures. Thankfully, I've got Frank S.'s Canon 50/1.8 to fall back on.
I very much like my R and it has given me no trouble. As for quiet, after a lifetime with SLR cameras, these cameras are in comparison very quiet.
Then again, there's the Yashica GSN...
Ted
mike goldberg
The Peaceful Pacific
Changing LTM lenses...
Changing LTM lenses...
Good morning all. I love the Networking and the input of new info.
Let's send Stephanie Brim Healing; she had a miscarriage.
Some months ago, I bought a Kiev 4a and J8m 53/2 from Fedka.
Both are excellent. I just checked his site, and he's got
LTM Jupiter 50/2's in the $60- range.
I'm totally unfamiliar with LTM, and I must say that a Bessa R appeals
to me more than the T.
That being said, is changing screw thread lenses a pain in the butt?
Here's how it could look with a Bessa R:
- Get a Jupiter 50/2...
- Use the new CV 25/4...
In my M2, BOTH the lenses above, can be used with the LTM to M Adapter,
also ordered from CQ... if I want to.
I'm kind of used to the M-2 with the 35 & 90. Further, a Bessa R with the
CV 25/4 and a J8M 50/2... gives me a new 'kit' so to speak, at relatively low cost.
You guys have been great.
Comments & feedback welcome.
mike
Changing LTM lenses...
Good morning all. I love the Networking and the input of new info.
Let's send Stephanie Brim Healing; she had a miscarriage.
Some months ago, I bought a Kiev 4a and J8m 53/2 from Fedka.
Both are excellent. I just checked his site, and he's got
LTM Jupiter 50/2's in the $60- range.
I'm totally unfamiliar with LTM, and I must say that a Bessa R appeals
to me more than the T.
That being said, is changing screw thread lenses a pain in the butt?
Here's how it could look with a Bessa R:
- Get a Jupiter 50/2...
- Use the new CV 25/4...
In my M2, BOTH the lenses above, can be used with the LTM to M Adapter,
also ordered from CQ... if I want to.
I'm kind of used to the M-2 with the 35 & 90. Further, a Bessa R with the
CV 25/4 and a J8M 50/2... gives me a new 'kit' so to speak, at relatively low cost.
You guys have been great.
Comments & feedback welcome.
mike
no_doubt_kit
Member
CV Notkon Classic 40mm/f1.4 S.C. is the kit lens of my Bessa R2.
That's no point for you to step down from leica to voigtlander.
That's no point for you to step down from leica to voigtlander.
mike goldberg
The Peaceful Pacific
One at home; one for the road...
One at home; one for the road...
Hi no_doubt_kit... are you in the far east?
The CV Notkon Classic 40mm/f1.4 S.C. is a great lens.
Having the CV 25/4 Skopar [ordered] and a J8M 50/2
with a Bessa R, will enable me to leave the M2 & two
Leitz lenses at home during my jaunts around town.
In the past few days, I've learned that the M2+35+90mm
are worth easily $2,000-.
Let's do some arithmetic for the new equation:
Bessa R+shipping... approx $240-
Jupiter 50/2+shipping approx 80-
CV 25/4+shipping+insurance... ordered and paid for... 280-
[CQ order includes LTM to M Adapter+soft release]
That's $600- TOTAL
Thus, except for special occasions the M2 stays at home!
Further, the excellent Jupiter 9, 85/2 LTM can be added later
for approx $100-.
Does this make sense? You will not be able to tell the difference
between the two kits, in the quality of the pix I post. Of great
importance: my comfort and how the camera & lenses feel
in my hands.
Let's keep the dialogue going; for sure it's useful to others.
Ciao, mike
One at home; one for the road...
Hi no_doubt_kit... are you in the far east?
The CV Notkon Classic 40mm/f1.4 S.C. is a great lens.
Having the CV 25/4 Skopar [ordered] and a J8M 50/2
with a Bessa R, will enable me to leave the M2 & two
Leitz lenses at home during my jaunts around town.
In the past few days, I've learned that the M2+35+90mm
are worth easily $2,000-.
Let's do some arithmetic for the new equation:
Bessa R+shipping... approx $240-
Jupiter 50/2+shipping approx 80-
CV 25/4+shipping+insurance... ordered and paid for... 280-
[CQ order includes LTM to M Adapter+soft release]
That's $600- TOTAL
Thus, except for special occasions the M2 stays at home!
Further, the excellent Jupiter 9, 85/2 LTM can be added later
for approx $100-.
Does this make sense? You will not be able to tell the difference
between the two kits, in the quality of the pix I post. Of great
importance: my comfort and how the camera & lenses feel
in my hands.
Let's keep the dialogue going; for sure it's useful to others.
Ciao, mike
bobbytuck
Newbie
I've had an M6 TTL .72 as a street shooter for several years now. Three weeks ago -- on a whim -- I ordered a Bessa-L, a Bessa-R, a 25/4, and a 15/4.5.
Mainly, I wanted to add a couple of wide angles to my standard 35/50 kit -- but I decided to finally try out the Bessa-L and Bessa-R.
Very impressed with both the L and R. Are they Leicas? No, of course not. But I happen to like the fact that R is screw mount -- makes using the CV lenses a bit easier and is nice for all my Jup's -- and I like the fact that both the Bessa-R iand L are extremely light.
The M6 is great -- don't get me wrong -- but if I attach a 25 and a viewfinder to the R or 15 and finder to the L -- I've got a pair of easy to lug cameras.
If I'm lugging around gear, lightness matters more to me now than it once did. And frankly -- as someone alludes to above -- it's the lenses that matter, not the bodies for casual shooting. My R and L pix are indistinguishable form anything I've taken with the M6 -- and my back appreciates the difference in weight.
I plan to get a R4M when they're released in the spring. I'd still like to get either an M2 or an M4 -- but after trying the L and R (especially the wonderful L) the R4 seems pretty nifty.
I've never used any digital or electronic cameras -- so I figure it's pointless to tie myself to a pair of batteries. I've thought about it, but after using a Holga for many years -- and for two weeks lugging around a large format pinhole camera at times in downtown Chicago -- I realized I have no need for aperture priority or anything automated and want as light as I can possibly get.
Mainly, I wanted to add a couple of wide angles to my standard 35/50 kit -- but I decided to finally try out the Bessa-L and Bessa-R.
Very impressed with both the L and R. Are they Leicas? No, of course not. But I happen to like the fact that R is screw mount -- makes using the CV lenses a bit easier and is nice for all my Jup's -- and I like the fact that both the Bessa-R iand L are extremely light.
The M6 is great -- don't get me wrong -- but if I attach a 25 and a viewfinder to the R or 15 and finder to the L -- I've got a pair of easy to lug cameras.
If I'm lugging around gear, lightness matters more to me now than it once did. And frankly -- as someone alludes to above -- it's the lenses that matter, not the bodies for casual shooting. My R and L pix are indistinguishable form anything I've taken with the M6 -- and my back appreciates the difference in weight.
I plan to get a R4M when they're released in the spring. I'd still like to get either an M2 or an M4 -- but after trying the L and R (especially the wonderful L) the R4 seems pretty nifty.
I've never used any digital or electronic cameras -- so I figure it's pointless to tie myself to a pair of batteries. I've thought about it, but after using a Holga for many years -- and for two weeks lugging around a large format pinhole camera at times in downtown Chicago -- I realized I have no need for aperture priority or anything automated and want as light as I can possibly get.
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mike goldberg
The Peaceful Pacific
Hi bobbytuck & All...
Great to hear from you.
What is it about the L that you like?
Correct me if I'm wrong:
You've got, no RF, 2 little windows, and you need a viewer for each lens?!?
No-no-no... I'm not knocking your Bessa L; I'm just trying to understand.
The Bessa R appeals to me. I like the way it looks. The fact that it's LTM screw mount opens a whole range of low cost glass possibilities, such as the J8M 50/2.
VERY IMPORTANT:
Except for a Pentax long ago, I've never seen or handled an LTM camera+lens.
Per favore... please tell me what this feels like.
Super thanks,
mike
Great to hear from you.
What is it about the L that you like?
Correct me if I'm wrong:
You've got, no RF, 2 little windows, and you need a viewer for each lens?!?
No-no-no... I'm not knocking your Bessa L; I'm just trying to understand.
The Bessa R appeals to me. I like the way it looks. The fact that it's LTM screw mount opens a whole range of low cost glass possibilities, such as the J8M 50/2.
VERY IMPORTANT:
Except for a Pentax long ago, I've never seen or handled an LTM camera+lens.
Per favore... please tell me what this feels like.
Super thanks,
mike
bobbytuck
Newbie
What I like about the Bessa-L is that it's essentially a rear cap for a wide lens.
Plus, as I say, it's light -- super light. It's screwmount, has a shutter lock, and can be found as low as $69 online.
Can't beat that.
Sure, you need a viewfinder. And, yeah, you gotta scale focus. But once you "get" scale focusing, you'll realize that the Bessa-L is essentially a super-light point-and-shoot. I haven't used it for long, but right now it's my favorite camera. There's no rangefinder to knock of alignment, either.
If I end up getting the CV 21, I'll get a second Bessa-L (assuming they're still in stock and available!).
Plus, as I say, it's light -- super light. It's screwmount, has a shutter lock, and can be found as low as $69 online.
Can't beat that.
Sure, you need a viewfinder. And, yeah, you gotta scale focus. But once you "get" scale focusing, you'll realize that the Bessa-L is essentially a super-light point-and-shoot. I haven't used it for long, but right now it's my favorite camera. There's no rangefinder to knock of alignment, either.
If I end up getting the CV 21, I'll get a second Bessa-L (assuming they're still in stock and available!).
kshapero
South Florida Man
Best place to answer these questions? www.cameraquest.com
Hiyawaan
Particular Individual
Hi Mike,
I got a R3A a couple of months back w/ the 40 and I couldn't have been happier, that is until I got my 15mm then I was ecstatic. About the feel of the camera, it's not a brick/tank like the Leica's but is less expensive (new w/ warranty) and lighter (so while you camera is lighter your wallet is heavier). I don't know what kind of situation most people shoot in but I'm not worried about the build quality of the bessa R3. I treat it like any other camera I own and its doing fine: translation- "I toss it around carelessly". I haven't had any VF alignment problems. My only problem is that I have to work and can't spend my days walking around shooting as much as I'd like.
Alex
I got a R3A a couple of months back w/ the 40 and I couldn't have been happier, that is until I got my 15mm then I was ecstatic. About the feel of the camera, it's not a brick/tank like the Leica's but is less expensive (new w/ warranty) and lighter (so while you camera is lighter your wallet is heavier). I don't know what kind of situation most people shoot in but I'm not worried about the build quality of the bessa R3. I treat it like any other camera I own and its doing fine: translation- "I toss it around carelessly". I haven't had any VF alignment problems. My only problem is that I have to work and can't spend my days walking around shooting as much as I'd like.
Alex