Bessaflex Shots

[GeneW]

I've had some Bessaflex rolls developed & scanned to CD so I now have some samples. The camera fits my way of working quite well. Big, bright VF and a nice fit in the hand. Balances well with M42 lenses. Metering is just like Pentax Spotmatic.

Flowers in a Window - first test shot of Jupiter 9 85/2


Willow Leaves - Super Tak 55/1.8


Reflections on Pond - CZJ Sonnar 135/3.5


Leaf & Grasses - unconverted col shot, CZJ Sonnar 135/3.5


Morning at the Harbour - Jupiter 9 85/2


Randy, I have a 28mm sample in the next roll I'll be working on.

Bessaflex TM, Fuji Superia 400, Lab processed & scanned to CD

Gene

[GeneW]

Thanks Brian. The J9 is turning out to be a serious bargain lens. You'd have fun with one.

Meant to include this additional J9 sample:



Gene

[doubs43]

Gene, that J-9 will open some eyes to the optical quality of that particular FSU lens. The Soviets did a great job of copying the Sonnar formula and you've got a keeper. Obviously, you also like the Bessaflex and it seems with good reason. Those are all fine shots.

I'd like to see more of the CZJ 135mm Sonnar with more color in the images. The two pictures you show are sharp enough but I'd like to see how it handles colors. I have the CZJ Sonnar in Exakta mount and a MC Pentacon in M42 but haven't really done much with either. The Pentacon is very sharp but like most German glass is not as contrasty as Japanese lenses.

Walker

[John Parry]

Excellent Gene.

People tend to put down the Jupiters, but I'm led to believe they were Dresden glass and design irrespective of where they were assembled.

The headland in the last of your first set is especially thought-provoking. But they are all great.

Regards - John

[GeneW]

kamera said:

Gene,

Golly...you sure can have no complaints with the results these shots show!! Just great!!!

Is the Bessaflex body polycarbonate??

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

Ron, definitely not polycarbonate. It appears to be all metal, though it's considerably lighter than a 60's Pentax.

No complaints at all. I'm quite delighted with it.

Gene

[GeneW]

doubs43 said:

I'd like to see more of the CZJ 135mm Sonnar with more color in the images. The two pictures you show are sharp enough but I'd like to see how it handles colors. I have the CZJ Sonnar in Exakta mount and a MC Pentacon in M42 but haven't really done much with either. The Pentacon is very sharp but like most German glass is not as contrasty as Japanese lenses.

Walker

Thanks Walker. I'm a Jupiter fan from my FSU RF experience. This J9 is awfully sharp. So much so I've discovered I need to downsize with Photoshops 'Bicubic Smoother' or I get sharpening artefacts without doing any sharpening when I prep images for posting.

Here's one I meant to include. It shows the CZJ Sonnar with more colour. I think it's a good colour-shooting lens:

Rose Leaves


I actually desaturated this image slightly. The original looked like a Velvia shot.

Gene

[GeneW]

johnrparry said:

Excellent Gene.

People tend to put down the Jupiters, but I'm led to believe they were Dresden glass and design irrespective of where they were assembled.

The headland in the last of your first set is especially thought-provoking. But they are all great.

Regards - John

Thanks John,

I don't know why anyone would put down Jupiters. My J8's on my Zorki's and Fed's have been excellent. Not Summicrons, but definitely not duds. I'm really liking what I see in this J9, especially for the price!

Gene

[Randy]

Very nice Gene, I'll be watching. ;D

[doubs43]

Gene, your Rose Leaves shot with the Sonnar really shows off the quality of that lens. The color is outstanding..... perfect Fall colors and the OOF background is like a mat! Thanks for posting it.

Walker

[Peter S.]

Hi Gene,

I like Your pictures very much. They are indeed dangerous. I might indeed be tempted, to open
up a second front on my collection (since I got all that Minolta stuff, that is readily available, and
a few more). Thanks for showing them.

Best regards
Peter

(just need to google for some of the abbreviations...

[GeneW]

Peter, thanks kindly. Opening a second front is painless once you start

I added M42 to my gear after winning the lovely Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135/3.5 here on CC. Needed a body, and one body will never do, right? Then got thinking about the Bessaflex and how much I've enjoyed all the modern Bessa's I've owned. It seemed a bit extravagent to buy one, but no regrets now that I've used it. It's competing hard against my Nikons for my affections

Gene

[GeneW]

Randy, here are two test shots I took using the Montgomery Ward 28/2.8 on the Bessaflex. Superia 400 film.





On the second one I wanted to see what the {banned word} looked like with the aperture wide open.

Looks like another keeper of a lens, Randy!

Gene

[John Parry]

Nice follow-ups Gene!

Only question is - which plonker coiled the line for that lifebelt?? Somebody coul drown ' 'cause of that!

Nice colours and nice DOF.

Regards - John

[doubs43]

Gene, those shots with the Monkey Wards' 28mm are impressive. I've read that Wards, Sears and Penneys all sold original manufacturer's lenses that were re-branded with their own name. I know that Sears sold a lot of M42 Rikenon lenses with Sears' name on them.

Is there any indication of who made your Wards' lens?

Walker

[GeneW]

Thanks John. If I find out who coiled the line I'll help him wrap his neck in it

Walker, I bought this lens from Randy. He identified it as probably Cosina. It looks good to me -- don't see any need to look further for a 28.

Brian, I have Peter W to thank for the CZJ. He may have some ideas on where to find another.

Gene