what is a good camera for the CV 90?

Donald Boyd · Sep 20, 2007

I was thinking used Ikon.

Alan9940 · Sep 20, 2007

You don't mention a budget range, but the Bessa R3 (A or M) would probably allow fairly accurate focus. In general, for 90mm focal length on a rangefinder the longer the base focal length, the better (more accurate) your ability to focus. If money is no object, how 'bout a .85 Leica M or a used Leica M3?

Good luck.

Roger Hicks · Sep 20, 2007

Never had a problem with any Voigtländer, so a fortiori, any other camera will be fine except perhaps the R4/R4A.

Ole · Sep 20, 2007

What about a Bessa-T? Mine does great with a Jupiter-9 85mm f:2 - perfect focus wide open.

Andy K · Sep 20, 2007

I use the Apo Lanthar 90mm on my R3M quite a lot and get very good results:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/Minitar1/ColourFilm/CostaDelSouthend.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/Minitar1/ColourFilm/Beachcomber.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/Minitar1/ColourFilm/010507R3MSW.jpg

Marcust101 · Sep 21, 2007

I use one on an old and bashed M3, they fit well together, the high magnification rangefinder helps too

Jersey Vic · Sep 21, 2007

Another vote for the Bessa (R2)

Alexz · Sep 22, 2007

For any longer then 50mm lenses M3 is probably the King. Focusing is so much easier and snappy then in any lower magnification cameras and that is the real asset for long lens wide open. I found my 90mm Elmarit is joy to focus on M3, much faster and clearer then on x0.72 M6. Having said that, x0.72 M6 aslo works fine and allows precise focusing even wide open with 90mm lens, albeit with probably some more effort on you eye during focusing.

Donald Boyd · Sep 24, 2007

Andy, do you have any R3M examples which aren't shot at infinity? The problem is with focusing this lens on Bessas.

Andy K · Sep 24, 2007

Donald, shot from about four feet or so.

Donald Boyd · Sep 25, 2007

Thanks for the picture of the strange looking cat. So focusing this lens with a bessa isn't an issue as people claim?

Palantiri7 · Sep 26, 2007

Never had a problem focusing the 90 on an original R Bessa.

Andy K · Sep 26, 2007

Donald Boyd said:
Thanks for the picture of the strange looking cat. So focusing this lens with a bessa isn't an issue as people claim?

I've never had a problem focusing the 90. (or the 40 Nokton or the 50 Heliar)

Donald Boyd · Sep 26, 2007

The R2 will be able to handle this lens? $315 is a good price for the lens? Photo Village is to be trusted?

Andy K · Sep 26, 2007

I got mine from Robert White. I have not used Photo Village.

The R2 (and all subsequent Bessas) has a Leica M mount. The 90mm Apo-Lanthar is a Leica screw mount. You will need a Voigtlander 28/90mm Screw to M adapter. Easily available.

Donald Boyd · Sep 26, 2007

Thank you. Have you read this review? Dead Link Removed Brian, an expert, says it's no good with focusing with the R2. What do you make of that? Should I buy it anyway and upgrade to an Ikon?

Andy K · Sep 26, 2007

Donald Boyd said:
Thank you. Have you read this review? Dead Link Removed Brian, an expert, says it's no good with focusing with the R2. What do you make of that? Should I buy it anyway and upgrade to an Ikon?

From the review:
Good: As with most (if not all) CV glass, a fair price for good quality brass & glass. Sharpness, including edge sharpness, is excellent and consistent throughout the aperture range. It's also the longest of the CV rangefinder lineup.

I agree.

Bad: Too long to look "cool" on a rangefinder. Also rather slow at f3.5. This leaves low light photography out unless you're into Delta 3200.

'Looking cool' is a bloody stupid way to rate a lens. 'Slow' is up to the photographer and what they require the lens for.

Ugly: Difficult to focus visually on rangefinders with a low magnification, such as the .6x viewfinder on my R2a. Also, focusing is inaccurate on RFs with a short baselength...like my R2a.

I use mine on an R3M with a 1:1 finder with no focusing problems.

So what kid of 'expert' rates a lens by how 'cool' it looks?

Donald Boyd · Sep 28, 2007

So what kid of 'expert' rates a lens by how 'cool' it looks?

Good point. I'll have to stay away from that place and get my info here. That place is down half the time anyway.

Does it matter if I use the R2 instead of the R3M for this lens?

Andy K · Sep 28, 2007

I don't think it matters, the R2 has the 90mm frameline. You will still need a screw to M adapter though.

Donald Boyd · Sep 28, 2007

I have the screw.

Andy, you seem to know a lot and you are very helpful. Thanks. One more question. B&H sells the Ikon for $879.00. Would you say this camera is worth it at that price or should I just stick with my Bessa R2.

Andy K · Sep 28, 2007

Donald, as far as knowing a lot goes, that is debatable! I can only speak about the R3M and 90mm Apo-Lanthar as I own both, never having owned or used the Zeiss Ikon I could not advise about that camera.

DaveOttawa · Sep 28, 2007

Donald Boyd said:
I was thinking used Ikon.

I use the CV 90 with CV Bessa R2; wide open & close I sometimes miss the focus especially if the subject is not static, because the lens is very sharp it can be quite obvious when it happens if you make an enlargement. I can't say if it's the best or if I'd have more success with another camera because I haven't tried any other bodies. But it is certainly usable, just posted a close/open image in my APUG gallery as an example.
FWIW I have had good experience with several purchases from Cameraquest for CV stuff but I'm not saying there aren't other good dealers as well.

PS, re Coolness, I think mine looks arctic cool, it's silver chrome and I have the green R2, I like it and it looks different, needless to say (but I will anyway) this is a matter of taste...

Ben 4 · Oct 1, 2007

Check That Price Again

Donald,

The price you cite for the Ikon is for the superwide model, which entirely lacks a rangefinder. Probably not what you want for a 90!

Donald Boyd · Oct 3, 2007

It didn't know that price was for the super wide body. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

BrianPhotog · Oct 9, 2007

Andy K said:
From the review:
Good: As with most (if not all) CV glass, a fair price for good quality brass & glass. Sharpness, including edge sharpness, is excellent and consistent throughout the aperture range. It's also the longest of the CV rangefinder lineup.

I agree.

I'm glad.

Andy K said:
Bad: Too long to look "cool" on a rangefinder. Also rather slow at f3.5. This leaves low light photography out unless you're into Delta 3200.

'Looking cool' is a bloody stupid way to rate a lens. 'Slow' is up to the photographer and what they require the lens for.

Notice the word was in quotes? Guess the sarcasm was lost. Yes, 'slow' is up to the photographer. And yes, "slow" depends on what the photographer requires. In the first paragraph of the review I clearly state that the review is based on my personal usage of the lens. 1/8s-1/15s shutter speed in average indoor lighting using slightly pulled Tri-X at 90mm is "slow" for me. :rolleyes:

Andy K said:
Ugly: Difficult to focus visually on rangefinders with a low magnification, such as the .6x viewfinder on my R2a. Also, focusing is inaccurate on RFs with a short baselength...like my R2a.

I use mine on an R3M with a 1:1 finder with no focusing problems.

The R3A/M has a greater magnification and is slightly easier to focus then the lower-magnification R2A/M. I never said it was impossible, just difficult.

Andy K said:
So what kid of 'expert' rates a lens by how 'cool' it looks?

Are you using quotes to indicate sacracm? BTW, where did I ever say I was an expert? I'm an elementary ESL teacher. I just put a lot of film through my kit and like to share my experiences. I also have a few Dead Link Removed there...but I'm not a repair expert, either. I just tinker and shoot and share the results hoping that others will find them useful. That's the whole community point of places like there and here at APUG, right? There is no need for those that don't to shout "bloody stupid".

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