WTB: Russar 20mm

Those are rather rare, and seldom go for cheap. Your best bet in a budget 20mm, would be the Voigtlander, which is a tack sharp lens of excellent quality.
 
phototone said:
Those are rather rare, and seldom go for cheap. Your best bet in a budget 20mm, would be the Voigtlander, which is a tack sharp lens of excellent quality.
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Thanks, but $329 plus shipping plus import tax is a tad over my budget at the moment (though doubtlessly it's an excellent deal). And there don't seem to be any used ones on the market.
 
Well, I doubt you will be able to get a 20mm Russar and Viewfinder for the new price of a Voigtlander 20mm and Viewfinder, but I was not just suggesting a new one, as used ones show up from time to time for less, and the Vogtlander is a better lens overall. The Russar is considered somewhat of a collectable.
 
Keep your eyes open for a used CV 21, often at or below $250 US. I think phototone is right that the cost of the Russar is not going to be less than that.
 
I have the 20mm finder for that lens and I think it cost $85! The Russars are rare and relatively expensive. I think a used CV is an excellent idea.

 
Last I saw the 20mm+finder on ebay, the price was $350 for the pair, so that's more expensive than a new 21mm.

Scott
 
Thanks, guys. I probably wouldn't be buying the finder, as I have ordered an Ikodot multi-purpose finder (21/35/50). Still, if the Russar never does go away for less than the C/V (heck, imagine if the Jupiter lenses were this pricy!), I guess I'll have to pass up on it.
 
Also, I'm not sure whether the Russar would mount on the CL you're thinking about at the moment (it is either the Russar or the Orion, that, along with the J-12, don't work on CLs, Bessas and M5s...)

Roman
 
Roman - good advice, but I decided not to get a CL after all.

Rover - thanks, but I've pretty much got my mind set on a 20 or 21 after looking at some photos I took with a 20mm Nikkor (SLR) lens last year, and wanting to return to that kind of photography. With these short lengths, there is a significant difference between 20/21 and 25.
 
I have used my Russar for almost 10 years. While it's a decent lens, very tiny and light, I think you should buy the newer Voigtlander lens instead. It's really slow (5.6) and has its stepless aperture ring right in front of the lens element (making it almost impossible to change quickly, so it will probably stay on 5.6). Also, it recedes very far into the camera body, making the meter on my M6 useless, and possibly not mounting at all on other bodies (this may be a problem on a digital body as well). I think the finder is beautifully made, but is cloudy and inferior to the newer ones.
 
I just sold my CV 21/4 for $250US to another RFF member. They are out there, and they're great wides. If you want a used one, try a WTB post here or on photo.net.
 
Roman said:
Also, I'm not sure whether the Russar would mount on the CL you're thinking about at the moment (it is either the Russar or the Orion, that, along with the J-12, don't work on CLs, Bessas and M5s...)

Roman
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I can categorically state that the 28mm Orion should work on all LTM cameras (or "M" cameras with adaptor), as it does not protrude into the camera body hardly at all. Certainly no more than the Voigtlander current model 28mm lenses. It is a sharp lens, but sure is slow at f8.
 
Also of note regarding the Orion -- it's often said that it isn't RF-coupled. Well, the Kiev version is not RF-coupled, but the LTM version is coupled (although at F6 it doesn't matter that much)

Scott
 
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