I'm new to M39 thread cameras, and recently bought a Voigtlander Bessa. I reckon 90% of what I do could be covered by a 35mm lens, but which to choose? Will Russian glass fit the bill, if so which model should I look for? I intend shooting black and white exclusively on the Bessa.
35mm lens for screw thread camera
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Russian glass can be good, but quality control in Russia was definitely Job 2, with "meet the production quota" being Job 1. I've read of folks who had to go through two or three of those Russian things before finding the one built on Wednesday (no hangovers, nobody drunk).
If you are serious, Cosina/Voigtlander lenses are excellent. Vintage Canon glass is also very, very good, as is Leica, of course.
If you are serious, Cosina/Voigtlander lenses are excellent. Vintage Canon glass is also very, very good, as is Leica, of course.
What's your budget?
Any opinions on the 3.5 Industar? I saw good results from one, is that typical or should I avoid? Duh, it's a 50....!
There are a lot of posts on the forums that say the Jupiter 12 rear element will hit the shutter on the Voigtlander RF's and there just not a way to rectify the problem. I can use mine on a Canon 7 but the interference potential is at the top baffle and very edge of the rear element such that the baffle can be tweaked just a bit to allow for use without contact.
OK, my sample size is essentially none. But, I have a 1961 Arsenal built Jupiter 12 that is just lovely. From mid 50s to mid 60s, that is during the Kruschev years, a good deal of pride was taken in the quality of manufactured goods. Also, Arsenal had one of the better reputations for QC.
Unfortunately, my J-12 is Contax mount - Arsenal didn't make any 39mm screwmount lenses AFIK - and anyway a J-12 won't mount on a Bessa.
Flexible, within reason. I'm looking for a point and shoot, zone focus, f8 and tweak the shutter, black and white Tri-X at 800ISO, lens. Good resolution, stellar optics I can live without, same for wide apertures. f2.8 to f4 max. Going a little wider, will the Industar 28mm 2.8 fit the Bessa? Is that a half frame lens? You can see my knowledge level on screw threads lenses.
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Yes, although it is often flogged as otherwise. It was the standard lens for the Chaika half frame.
Like how much?
The vintage Canon/Serenar 35 f2.8 is a good lens affordably priced.
The less expensive Jupiter 12 is very good, but the big rear element is said to interfere with the Bessa shutter.
At around $300, the leitz Summaron 35 f3.5 is very nice.
The less expensive Jupiter 12 is very good, but the big rear element is said to interfere with the Bessa shutter.
At around $300, the leitz Summaron 35 f3.5 is very nice.
From Cameraquest site:
https://www.cameraquest.com/ltmlens.htm
35 mm
35/1.5 Canon The fastest lens for the 35 LTM. not the sharpest. black only
35/1.7 Voigtlander Ultron: announced June 1999, available 8/1/99. Modern design, 6 groups in 8 elements, with one aspherical surface. 10 diaphragm blades, rangefinder coupled. One of the best LTM lenses ever made. Made by Cosina for their Voigtlander Bessa L.
35/1.8 Nikkor: This lens is rare and fast, and the most plentiful of the super speed LTM 35's faster than f/2. A good shooter, but hard to find. black/chrome only
35/2 Leitz Summicron ASPH August 1999 Amazingly Leica is releasing a limited production screw mount just for the Japanese market, chrome only. These are sure to become instant collector's items, and are doubtless the sharpest 35's ever made in LTM mount. Alas, inexpensive they are not.
35/2 Canon Black: the last and best of Canon's 35mm lenses
35/2 Leitz Summicron(1958-1962) : a very rare and expensive classic lens for the collector, most made in M mount. chrome only. Watch out for fogging and cleaning scratches.
35/2.5 "Compact" and "Pancake" Voigtlanders introduced in 2000, optics the same in both. The compact version is built in the small 25/4 barrel, with a convenient focusing lever. The pancake version is misnamed in my eyes, a conventional focusing barrel but too big to be a true pancake lens.
35/2.5 Nikkor: in chrome or the later black versions. A very sharp lens. chrome and black/chrome versions
35/2.8 or 3.5 Canon: or Serenar. OK but not great reputations, chrome or black versions
35/2.8 Russian: a copy of the pre-war Zeiss Biogon. Low priced but spotty quality control.
35/3.5 Leitz Elmar(1930-1950) : Prewar versions uncoated, coated postwar. See above comments on the delights of uncoated lenses. Earliest lenses Nickel, most chrome. Watch out for fogging and cleaning scratches.
35/3.5 Nikkor: in chrome or the later black. the most numerous 35 LTM Nikkor
35/3.5 Leitz Summaron (1949-1960): OK but not outstanding. Watch out for fogging and cleaning scratches.
https://www.cameraquest.com/ltmlens.htm
35 mm
35/1.5 Canon The fastest lens for the 35 LTM. not the sharpest. black only
35/1.7 Voigtlander Ultron: announced June 1999, available 8/1/99. Modern design, 6 groups in 8 elements, with one aspherical surface. 10 diaphragm blades, rangefinder coupled. One of the best LTM lenses ever made. Made by Cosina for their Voigtlander Bessa L.
35/1.8 Nikkor: This lens is rare and fast, and the most plentiful of the super speed LTM 35's faster than f/2. A good shooter, but hard to find. black/chrome only
35/2 Leitz Summicron ASPH August 1999 Amazingly Leica is releasing a limited production screw mount just for the Japanese market, chrome only. These are sure to become instant collector's items, and are doubtless the sharpest 35's ever made in LTM mount. Alas, inexpensive they are not.
35/2 Canon Black: the last and best of Canon's 35mm lenses
35/2 Leitz Summicron(1958-1962) : a very rare and expensive classic lens for the collector, most made in M mount. chrome only. Watch out for fogging and cleaning scratches.
35/2.5 "Compact" and "Pancake" Voigtlanders introduced in 2000, optics the same in both. The compact version is built in the small 25/4 barrel, with a convenient focusing lever. The pancake version is misnamed in my eyes, a conventional focusing barrel but too big to be a true pancake lens.
35/2.5 Nikkor: in chrome or the later black versions. A very sharp lens. chrome and black/chrome versions
35/2.8 or 3.5 Canon: or Serenar. OK but not great reputations, chrome or black versions
35/2.8 Russian: a copy of the pre-war Zeiss Biogon. Low priced but spotty quality control.
35/3.5 Leitz Elmar(1930-1950) : Prewar versions uncoated, coated postwar. See above comments on the delights of uncoated lenses. Earliest lenses Nickel, most chrome. Watch out for fogging and cleaning scratches.
35/3.5 Nikkor: in chrome or the later black. the most numerous 35 LTM Nikkor
35/3.5 Leitz Summaron (1949-1960): OK but not outstanding. Watch out for fogging and cleaning scratches.
Jupiter 12 will not work with a Bessa R - I have a 12 listed here in the classifieds and it does not work with my R. The Summaron 35/3.5 is a nice lens if you can find one without haze - that's what Im using on my M3. From my testing, I didnt see much if any difference between the Jupiter and the Summaron, especially around f8.
Dan
Dan
At f/8 I don't think you see any significant difference of any of the lenses above...
About £250 used.
Yes, the Voigtländer 35/2.5 is a great lens. I am using the M version (same optics as the ltm). Here is a thread with a lot photographs (sorry, another forum): http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97500
Leica made the ltm Summaron 35 f/3.5 to do what you want to do, zone focus or hyperfocal at f/11, flat field, and they advertised it that way in '54. I got a nice BGN one and a hood from KEH this year for the cost you're considering.
Thanks for all the info folks. Plenty to chew on.
One more not mentioned that I currently have mounted on my IIIf is the 35/3.5 W. Acall Kyoei lens. A good lens with very nice performance and character. Not always easy to find but they're out there. More expensive if sold with the sometimes included hood and viewfinder:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hewlbane/sets/72157635830006554/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hewlbane/sets/72157635830006554/
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