Will donor Bessa-T work with Barnack?

[stillshunter]

Just about to seal the deal on a Voigtlander Bessa-T 101 Year w/ 50mm f/3.5 Heliar (Olive), with the intent of cannabalising the lens and finder for my IIIf.

Before I do I'm hoping to confirm that the lens and finder will (or can) fit and work on the IIIf?

Doubts have arisen from reading the bartender's article.
Based on these sections my question then is:

a) Lens: is it essentially LTM mount?
"At only 150 grams, the new 50/3.5 Heliar may be the smallest, lightest multi-coated 50mm lens ever made in Leica screw mount. Included is the chrome hood and a screw mount to M bayonet adapter to mount it on the M mount Bessa T. "

b) finder: can I coax it onto a IIIF?
"The new design brightline 50 viewfinder has the ideal full size 1:1 image size. It seems intended primarily for the Bessa T, since the new finder will not fit classic screw mount Leica bodies."
I've looked at a few images and am baffled as to how the finder would not fit an IIIf. And if not does anyone know what stops it and/or whether it can be gotten around?

Hope you can help.

Mark

 

[FrankS]

No problem with fitment of lens and finder. This opinion is not based on experience, just logic. The Bessa T's accessory finder is the same as others.
Hopefully Stephen Gandy will post and clear this up and fix his article.

The accessory shoe on my Bessa L, R, and R2 were all standard.

And the lens is a ltm like your lllf.

 

[stillshunter]

No problem with fitment of lens and finder.

yes I'm curious as to why Steve said:
"the new finder will not fit classic screw mount Leica bodies"

Also be keen to confirm that the lens fits the Bessa-T body because of an adapter only, as I have little use for an M-mount lens.

 

[FrankS]

"The new design brightline 50 viewfinder has the ideal full size 1:1 image size. It seems intended primarily for the Bessa T, since the new finder will not fit classic screw mount Leica bodies."

"Unfortunately the 101 50mm finder does not have the ample eye relief of the regular 50mm brightline. If you wear glasses, the standard 50mm brightline is a better choice."

New finder won't fit classic body, but classic finder will fit new T body. Does not compute.


But it clearly states that the lens is ltm.

 

[02Pilot]

I have the finder that goes with the Heliar 50/3.5 - it fits my IIIa, IIIc, and IIIg just fine. It's a little taller than the SBOOI, and there is less eye relief, but it definitely fits.

 

[stillshunter]

The new design brightline 50 viewfinder has the ideal full size 1:1 image size. It seems intended primarily for the Bessa T, since the new finder will not fit classic screw mount Leica bodies.

Unfortunately the 101 50mm finder does not have the ample eye relief of the regular 50mm brightline. If you wear glasses, the standard 50mm brightline is a better choice.

New finder won't fit classic body, but classic finder will fit new T body. Does not compute.

You see my quandary mate. 😕

Was all fist-pumping late last night having found the set, and having solved the riddles:
- what lens for my incoming IIIf, and,
- where can I find another finder (previous life had an SBOOI on the IIIf).
...within my limited budget.

Then the doubt crept in, the light went on, more re-reading and then sleep came very, very slowly indeed.

 

[stillshunter]

I have the finder that goes with the Heliar 50/3.5 - it fits my IIIa, IIIc, and IIIg just fine. It's a little taller than the SBOOI, and there is less eye relief, but it definitely fits.

Thanks 02Pilot!
Still usable though mate?

 

[Mark Schretlen]

Just wanted to add another data point - I have the 101 anniversary kit (and it's olive, too). The finder and lens fit my IIIc perfectly. The finder has a machined corner cut off of the foot (presumably a modification for the production run of the kit) which allows it to fit nicely on a barnack. As noted earlier in the thread, eyeglass wearers will notice the lack of eye-relief on the CV finder.

 

[Steve M.]

If you run into eye relief issues (I wear glasses), these inexpensive Yashica Tele Wide finders are the bomb. They're at about the viewpoint of a 35mm and a 70mm combined, and my experience is that the 35mm is pretty close in actuality to a 50. One look into your Leica peephole and a glance into the Tele Wide will show you how they relate. These work well on all sorts of rangefinders, especially the Retina Ia that has a peep hole that makes your Leica screw mount look downright panoramic.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/172421833522?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

 

[stillshunter]

A huge thanks to every single one of you guys. I very much appreciate your timely advice. I really do!

Accordingly I have paid up on the 101-anno kit - and even paid a little extra to have it here Express. Fingers-crossed both it, and the IIIf, will arrive over the next few days. Once they do you have my commitment to post photos of the Heliar 50/3.5 and VF mounted to the IIIf for future reference. I'm sure they'll be another RF adventurer who asks the same/similar question.

Love this place!

 

[stillshunter]

Big thanks again to everyone for their assistance. Well as of an hour or so ago I am the proud owner of both a Bessa-T Heliar 101-Anniversary kit as well as a IIIf (BD). And I can confirm that the advice on here is 100% accurate.
1. Although the Bessa-T is an M-mount body the limited edition Heliar lens in this kit is, in fact, a Leica screw mount (LTM).
2. Although some portions of the write-up on the Bessa-T might have you doubting if the Voigtlander 50mm brightline finder in this kit will fit the old screw mount bodies. It is not an issue.

Here she is i her hybrid glory:

...and here are the Bessa-T and Leica IIIf side-by-side for comparative purposes.

 

[FrankS]

congrats! enjoy!

 

[stillshunter]

congrats! enjoy!

Thanks Frank....film feeding time!

 

[traveler_101]

Just about to seal the deal on a Voigtlander Bessa-T 101 Year w/ 50mm f/3.5 Heliar (Olive), with the intent of cannabalising the lens and finder for my IIIf.

Before I do I'm hoping to confirm that the lens and finder will (or can) fit and work on the IIIf?

Smart thinking! Glad it worked out. Now what do intend to do with the Bessa?

 

[stillshunter]

Smart thinking! Glad it worked out. Now what do intend to do with the Bessa?

Already sold the body. Just doesn't have the right feel.
Will sell the VF once my "new" one arrives - I missed the SBOOI too much so just sourced another.
Will keep the LTM-M adapter and, of course, the Heliar.

BTW: the Heliar sits very nicely on the IIIf