what is a good camera for the CV 90?

Donald Boyd · Oct 10, 2007

Obviously none of the newer Bessa models can handle the 90mm's focusing accurately compared to the Ikon. Thank you everyone for the feedback.

kivis · Oct 15, 2007

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

I have many items from Photo Village. They are top notch. Knowledgeable and honest. Oh yeah, I own a Zeiss Ikon and my next purchase will be the CV 90mm.

Tom Hoskinson · Oct 15, 2007

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

I use my CV 90 on my CV Bessa-T and it works great.

Tom Hoskinson · Oct 15, 2007

On the CV Bessa-T with its 1.5X rangefinder magnification, the effective rangefinder baseline length is about 58mm - long enough to accurately focus even a 135mm lens.

Tom Hoskinson · Oct 16, 2007

Due to its 0.74x viewfinder magnification, my Zeiss Ikon has an effective rangefinder base length of 55.5mm - Thus a bit shorter effective rangefinder base length than my CV Bessa-T. I'm very fond of both cameras.

awaken77 · Jan 30, 2008

Please help me with desicion - to buy this lens or not to buy.
I have Bessa R3A.
I heard that people who got this lens do not use it very often on Bessas - becouse of difficulties with focusing.
but I didn't see any good examples of what this lens is purposed to do - facial portraits.
I need 90mm only for one reason - portraits on BW film. I can use 50mm or "evil DSLR" for all other things.
And it means that posing object will not try to escape, and I'll have time to build a composition thorously.
If somebody can show samples of portraits with CV 90/2.5 - please share it, and maybe it will convince me to
buy this lens (or, not spend money for a useless thing)
I already have 85/1.4 on autofocus SLR... but I want something different (rangefinders are different experience for me)

Tom Hoskinson · Jan 30, 2008

I'm with Ole! I use my 90mm CV Apo-Lanthar on my CV BESSA - T. It has a long rfdr base and works great. I have 2 Bessa T bodies (1 loaded with color film, 1 loaded with Black and White).

awaken77 · Jan 30, 2008

Tom Hoskinson said:
I'm with Ole! I use my 90mm CV Apo-Lanthar on my CV BESSA - T. It has a long rfdr base and works great. I have 2 Bessa T bodies (1 loaded with color film, 1 loaded with Black and White).

but T requires external accessory finder for proper framing.
is it convenient to use one "hole" for focusing and other for framing?

Tom, can you give a link to your shots with 90/3.5 ?

Tom Hoskinson · Jan 30, 2008

The rangefinder magnification is 1.5x on the Bessa T. This translates to an effective Bessa T rangefinder base length of 53.7mm. Thus, the Bessa T can accurately Focus a 135mm focal length lens (and easily focuses the 90mm Apo Lanthar).

Tom Hoskinson · Jan 30, 2008

awaken77 said:
but T requires external accessory finder for proper framing.
is it convenient to use one "hole" for focusing and other for framing?

Tom, can you give a link to your shots with 90/3.5 ?

I have no problem using accessory finders for framing shots (I've been doing it with my M Leicas for years).

I don't have any 35mm RFDR stuff currently posted in my APUG gallery. I'll see if I can dig up and post some of my 90mm Apo Lanthar Black and Whites.

DaveOttawa · Jan 30, 2008

awaken77 said:
...
If somebody can show samples of portraits with CV 90/2.5 - please share it,...

I have my doubts as to how useful screen images are for assessing lenses but there are a couple of CV 90mm shots here:

http://www.pbase.com/mononation/cv_newer

"Guitar Man" & "Guitarist James Cohen" are with the 90.

If found, when I started printing, the sharpness and contrast are quite noticeable compared to the CV 35mm/f2.5 which I also use.

awaken77 · Jan 30, 2008

DaveOttawa said:
I have my doubts as to how useful screen images are for assessing lenses but there are a couple of CV 90mm shots here:

they are useful as "free advertisement" .
Thanks, that's pretty nice shots.
and this is a good example of "bokeh"
http://www.pbase.com/mononation/image/86299607

I think also about used Summicron 90/2

what is a good camera for the CV 90?

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