Cheap wide angle for Bessa-R

[Krzys]

I am looking for a cheap 35mm or 28mm lens that can mount to a Bessa R since the Jupiter 12 seems to be incompatible.

Anything available?

 

[Don Parsons]

Canon 35mm f2.8 are pretty cheap. I have one that I like that I got off our infamous auction site.

 

[Krzys]

Cheapest Canon 35mm M39 I can find one Feebay would total $500aud...

 

[Xmas]

Orion f/6 in LTM... any of the LTM Cosina Voightlanders.

Noel

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

Other 35's as cheap as the Jupiter-12 dont exist except for real bargains, from what I could find - I ended up getting a second hand Cosina Voigtlander 35/1.7 for less than that Canon 35. You could try keh.com, the Australian dollar isnt doing too badly against the US - there's a Dead Link Removed right now.

 

[Xmas]

Or get a Zorki IV body for the J12.

 

[Krzys]

But that defeats the purpose since I already have a J12 on my Kiev.

 

[mikeg]

Try and stretch to a second hand Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm Classic f/2.5. It's, small, light and extremely sharp. A superb lens.

Mike

 

[Xmas]

Or the CV pancake if it comes up first as neither has 40.5mm filter threads. Same optics, filter thread only real difference...

Or use the Kiev as well as Bessa

Noel

 

[Anscojohn]

I am looking for a cheap 35mm or 28mm lens that can mount to a Bessa R since the Jupiter 12 seems to be incompatible.

Anything available?

********
Yes. Contax and Leica M are not compatible. Jupiter 12 in 39mm plus M adapter is a way to go. But with the added cost of the adapter, it might be just as cheap to buy the used CV lenses as suggested.

 

[Xmas]

The J12 (in general) is not compatible with a wide range of LTM cameras... like the OP one

 

[Anscojohn]

The J12 (in general) is not compatible with a wide range of LTM cameras... like the OP one

******* I'm in over my head here as I do not know the Bessa at all. I ASS u Me d it was the Leica M mount. I just saw a J12 in 39mm for 149 USD. Is there a problem with the LTM J12 not being useable with M adapters? Or am I just out in the ozone about what lens mount the Bessa uses?
Ahhh, I see now. Imagine what a little Googling can do. I see that the Bessa is 39mm. Now I understand. I am told that many of the Soviet/Ukrainian 39mm lens mounts suffer from quality control issues which make them not always useable on other similar mount cameras without the attentions of a good repair person. Pardon my prior ignorant advice about M adapters, please. I should lukitup first.

 

[mudman]

The Bessar R is a LTM 39mm camera. http://www.cameraquest.com/voigrf.htm

 

[Xmas]

The problem is not the mount or register but the penetration of the lens.

e.g.
i) many Canon LTMs have baffles and the J12 rear optic barrel will foul these.
ii) the double shutter curtains of some of the LTM/M Bessas are too far away from the film and will rub on the rear optic coated lens surface on the last turn of the screw...

Noel

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

That's my understanding of the problem - the Jupiter-12's rear lens element simply protrudes into the body of the Bessa too far. You risk damage to the lens or, more expensively, ruining the shutter. The original Zeiss Biogon has the same problem.

The shutter of the Bessa has two sets of blades because it was originally intended for use in SLRs, where the mirror blocks a lot of the light. The second set of blades make the shutter 100% light tight, but also interferes with a handful of lenses. I've not tried it myself, but popular opinion seems to be that the Jupiter-12 and Voigtlander Bessas are not compatible.

 

[Xmas]

The Orion 28mm f/6 in LTM is an ok lens if you dont need fast, mine was 80 GBP, bit sad mech and optically but is ok.

Noel

 

[lns]

Try and stretch to a second hand Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm Classic f/2.5. It's, small, light and extremely sharp. A superb lens.

Mike

I can recommend the 28mm Color Skopar. It also is small, light and sharp. It's particularly nice with black and white film.

-Laura

 

[gmolzahn]

I concur with Mike. I use the 35mm Color-Skopar all the time with my Bessa R. Absolutely love it. You can pick up one used for around 200 US. Cameraquest.com sells them new for 299. Of course, I don't know if these prices are considered cheap, but the lens is certainly a great value.

 

[jon koss]

That's my understanding as well, though I wonder if anyone herein assembled absolutely knows this to be a fact. Is there anyone amongst us who has the J12 in one hand and the Bessa-R in another, and can confirm this issue for sure? I would sleep better just knowing that this is not an urban legend.

Jon

That's my understanding of the problem - the Jupiter-12's rear lens element simply protrudes into the body of the Bessa too far. You risk damage to the lens or, more expensively, ruining the shutter. The original Zeiss Biogon has the same problem.

The shutter of the Bessa has two sets of blades because it was originally intended for use in SLRs, where the mirror blocks a lot of the light. The second set of blades make the shutter 100% light tight, but also interferes with a handful of lenses. I've not tried it myself, but popular opinion seems to be that the Jupiter-12 and Voigtlander Bessas are not compatible.

 

[Krzys]

What about the Mir-1 2.8/37 Its not 'really' wide but it is close enough to satisfy me for now. Thoughts?

The Mir-10 is also a 28mm...

Wait wait these m39 mount lenses are for the Zenit...does that mean it is not designed for rangefinder coupling - ahhh lack of information!

Found an answer (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Xmas]

That's my understanding as well, though I wonder if anyone herein assembled absolutely knows this to be a fact. Is there anyone amongst us who has the J12 in one hand and the Bessa-R in another, and can confirm this issue for sure? I would sleep better just knowing that this is not an urban legend.

Jon

Ok I tried a J12 with various LTM bodies and it (mine) was near to the cloth shutters of these, donno how you would check for sure with a double metal shutter one mistake and repair bill. I used a cocktail stick across the shutter inner track, locking the shuter on B...
Ditto with Canon P and Canon VI some J12 might clear the interior light baffles of these but neither of mine did with my late J12 and would have needed movement of the baffles to clear -i.e. more then black paint.
The J12 was a real good performer and I was sad to let it go.
If you have a Kiev or ContaxII it is best to check with the back off and the shutter open with a new Kiev mount J12, some dont clear by much at all, sad to damage a good lens...
Noel

 

[Gerry M]

Maybe this? Dead Link Removed
No affiliation to seller, just a possibility. I have the chrome 35/2.8 and it is a superb lens.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

What about the Mir-1 2.8/37 Its not 'really' wide but it is close enough to satisfy me for now. Thoughts?

The Mir-10 is also a 28mm...

Wait wait these m39 mount lenses are for the Zenit...does that mean it is not designed for rangefinder coupling - ahhh lack of information!

Found an answer (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Yes, for the Zenit, no rangefinder coupling and a different (what's it called?) flange to film distance.
Unusable on a RF without adapters.