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Bessa R
May 15, 2007 19:50:59 GMT -5
Post by GeneW on May 15, 2007 19:50:59 GMT -5
A new acquisition: used Bessa R that came with two CV lenses: 35/2.5 Skopar Classic and 75/2.5 Heliar. I realized my kit that day -- Moleskine notebook, fountain pen, rangefinder camera with film, and iPod Nano -- spanned three centuries of technological development. Gene
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Bessa R
May 15, 2007 20:40:31 GMT -5
Post by herron on May 15, 2007 20:40:31 GMT -5
Now I am jealous! I love that Bessa R...I've just spent too much on other things already to get one...can't even afford to get the 21-28mm lenses for the Bessa L that I already have!
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Bessa R
May 15, 2007 20:58:48 GMT -5
Post by byuphoto on May 15, 2007 20:58:48 GMT -5
I should have never gotten rid of mine. I still regret it.
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casualcollector
Lifetime Member
In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Bessa R
May 16, 2007 21:19:27 GMT -5
Post by casualcollector on May 16, 2007 21:19:27 GMT -5
I picked up a Bessa R and 25/4 Skopar while in Singapore in '01. The images the 25 make really peel the corneas back!
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Bessa R
May 16, 2007 23:58:25 GMT -5
Post by herron on May 16, 2007 23:58:25 GMT -5
That 25/4 is supposed to be one sweet lens. Would love to get it. This conversation made me take another look at Stephen Gandy's site...just to drool over the lenses! Unfortunately, the weather is getting nicer, and I've been spending any extra cash getting my 'Vette ready to roll again!
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Bessa R
May 17, 2007 7:29:56 GMT -5
Post by Rachel on May 17, 2007 7:29:56 GMT -5
I'd love one of these but I just can't afford one right now. My local camera dealer has for sale a used one but with Jupiter lens for £199 which seems a rather high price to me.
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Bessa R
May 17, 2007 9:13:39 GMT -5
Post by herron on May 17, 2007 9:13:39 GMT -5
Rachel: I've heard good things about the Russian Jupiter lenses, and my own experience is positive...but I've also heard they might not focus to infinity properly on the Bessa. Hearsay, I know...but perhaps someone here can speak to it.
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Bessa R
May 17, 2007 10:01:51 GMT -5
Post by GeneW on May 17, 2007 10:01:51 GMT -5
I've used a Jupiter 8 and Industar 61 on my Bessa R and mine focus to infinity with no issues. I think the issue they can have is at the other end: close focus, wide open. There is a slight difference between the LTM mount of the Russian bodies and the Leica/Bessa bodies that can result in a slight misfocus say at 3ft and f/2. I've not had this problem myself, but folks who do careful measurements say it's true.
I owned the CV 25/4 for some time and it's a cracker. I traded it in on a CV 21/4 -- I wanted to get a bit wider. It too is a great lens. I've had consistently good luck with all the CV lenses I've owned.
Gene
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Bessa R
May 17, 2007 10:23:43 GMT -5
Post by kiev4a on May 17, 2007 10:23:43 GMT -5
Seems like I read somewhere that the Bessa backfocus isn't precisely 28.8mm which could cause problems wide open up close. In fact nearly all the modern bodies that take LTM lenses have LTF distances that are a little off 28.8 one way or the other. The differences would show up more on longer lenses at large apertures.
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Bessa R
May 17, 2007 15:03:43 GMT -5
Post by Rachel on May 17, 2007 15:03:43 GMT -5
I may have mentioned before that I have a Jupiter 50mm lens that doesn't focus properly. It needs some extra shims to pad out the register of the lens assembly in the focussing mount but I haven't attempted it yet. Seems a very fiddly job to me to cut out the fine shims needed.
I have heard stories about the register of the mount on the Konica Leica-M mount camera and that it is not the same as that on the Leica M series cameras but then there are so many conflicting opinions .
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Bessa R
Jul 14, 2007 15:25:34 GMT -5
Post by GeneW on Jul 14, 2007 15:25:34 GMT -5
A new shot of my Bessa R alongside a Mochaccino in the resort town of Sauble Beach, Ontario Gene
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Bessa R
Jan 6, 2008 11:23:06 GMT -5
Post by mongo141 on Jan 6, 2008 11:23:06 GMT -5
Seems like I read somewhere that the Bessa backfocus isn't precisely 28.8mm which could cause problems wide open up close. In fact nearly all the modern bodies that take LTM lenses have LTF distances that are a little off 28.8 one way or the other. The differences would show up more on longer lenses at large apertures. This is true, My R, which was purchased used, not only had crooked (tilted) frame lines but the flange registration distance was 28.72mm. It should have been been 28.8 +/- .02mm (LTM standard) luckily it was under and not over so the problem was corrected with a paper shim. It wouldn't have been a problem with a W/A lens but with the 90mm up close it was a problem. The tilted frame lines was a bit more of a challenge requiring some major disassembly and the re-machining of a very small part. I wouldn't want to do this again but it worked out well and works fine with just about every FSU lens I have tried. The Jupiter 12 blocks off the metering and the I 22/50 or FED 50 will cause some internal damage unless you are very careful. Dave
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Bessa R
Jan 20, 2008 11:46:42 GMT -5
Post by daveinpasadena on Jan 20, 2008 11:46:42 GMT -5
The J-12 will not work on a Bessa R (intereferences with internal structures). In fact the LTM J-12 will not work with many other bodies, but does happily work on most old bottom loaders like the Leica II/III series (and similar Japanese clones from Canon, Leotax, etc.). Most Bessa R's are in pretty good shape these days since they are fairly new, but there are the occasional problem cameras -- often due to heavy use.
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