A standard lens for Bessa R3A

[Alexz]

Alexz, to avoid flare, it would be advisable to use an efficient lens shade with any of these 50mm lenses (and with other lenses as well) .

Sure Tom, hood is always aimed on all of my lenses when shooting, still yet there are many situations where lens flare-resistance counts...

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Sure Tom, hood is always aimed on all of my lenses when shooting, still yet there are many situations where lens flare-resistance counts...

Coaing and Multi Coating the Lens can help to control/reduce flare, but a properly designed lens hood is still very jmportant in dealing with flare prone situations - as is a camera body that was specifically designed to reduce/control flare. The modern Fuji and Mamiya MF rangefinder cameras are good examples of in-camera flare suppression - and their optics are multi-coated as well.

 

[mtbbrian]

What about a wider/faster combo?

Like you, I am considering this camera too, as well as the R4A.
I am thinking of a wider lens combination.
I am thinking of a 25 and 35 mm combo.
Is there a good 25mm that is faster than f/4?
Thanks!
Brian

 

[ajuk]

is there a 45mm lens?

 

[Alexz]

As far as I'm learning about Voigtlander lens lineup, the closest to 45mm is 40mm or 50mm Noktons (or Zeiss ZM Planar 50mm/2).

R4A according to CameraQuest will only appear somewhen in April 2007 which takes another 5 months to wait...surely not for me. Besides, I "virtually" hooked to 1:1 finder and the new R4A will apparently have smaller magnification (something like 0.7x..)

 

[Lee L]

Besides, I "virtually" hooked to 1:1 finder and the new R4A will apparently have smaller magnification (something like 0.7x..)

R4A/M finders are 0.52 magnification, about half life size.

C/V doesn't make a 45mm lens. Their fastest lens near 25mm is the 28mm f:1.9. Read (way) down this page: http://cameraquest.com/VCBessaT.htm for a very positive review from a working journalist.

Lee

 

[ljsegil]

40mm Rollei Planar

I shoot the R3a almost exclusively with the Rollei 40mm Planar lens, originally built for the Rollei RF but now available at discounted prices. The images are superb, both in color and B&W, tack sharp, center to edge. I wear thick eyeglasses and can just handle the 40mm frame lines on the R3a. I'm looking forward to the R4 for wider work.
Best regards,
LJ Segil

 

[Ole]

As far as I can see, it is the same apart from the fact that the viewfinder has 0.52x magnification and the frames go from 21 to 50 mm (previously, no rangefinder camera has had frames for wider than 28 mm).

I'm hoping that lots of "gearheads" will suddenly discover this, and flood the market with not-really-used R4's. My favorite LTM lenses are the 15 and 21mm CV's, and I've got a Bessa-T for the 50, 58, 80, 90 and 135mm lenses.

 

[ljsegil]

I shoot the R3a almost exclusively with the Rollei 40mm Planar lens, originally built for the Rollei RF but now available at discounted prices. The images are superb, both in color and B&W, tack sharp, center to edge. I wear thick eyeglasses and can just handle the 40mm frame lines on the R3a. I'm looking forward to the R4 for wider work.
Best regards,
LJ Segil

Please pardon my error. The lens is a Sonnar, not a Planar. But excellent by either name.
LJ Segil

 

[f1.4]

I have the Bessa R2A, the Bessa R3A and the Leica M6. (And I am vaiting for the Bessa R4A to arrive.) I also have both the Nocton 50mm f/1.4 SC and the Leica Summicron 50mm f/2. I appears that the Summicron runs rings around the Nocton for sharpness and bokeh on the largest apertures. So IMNO, I would spend most of the money on the lanses and buy the camera as cheap as possible. Today that seems to be the Bessas.

 

[Alexz]

Thanks.
Lots of contemplation but at last ran into a good deal on latest Summicron 50mm/2 (used but Mint) for ony slightly more then new ZM Planar - decided to go with Summicron. Just paid for it, hopefully will hold it in my hands next week.
BTW, how do you find your R3A ? I'm targeting one to be pruchased as soon as my Canon 28-70/2.8L will get sold...

 

[dxphoto]

Nokton 50/1.5 on R.

 

[Alexz]

Well, I accept your heartly congratulations (some envy is also tolerated to a rational degree ): I manage to win a really Mint M6 on Ebay for just under 1k$, took over a month to arrive from US due to Xmas and New Year holidays but was well worth the wait - the most robust yet simple photographic tool I held ever in my hands, in particular coupled to my Summicron 50mm/2 (latest version) - the combo feels lige mest mates to each other..., the trouble is that I can hardly put one off my hands to take care of my children...

 

[nocrop]

In a few reviews/tests of this Nokton, it is mentioned it somewhat flare-prone.

I owned the Nokton 50/1.5. I did not find it particularly flare-prone, and I love aiming cameras towards high-intensity light sources.