I've been shooting with a Voigtlander Bessa R for a number of years and I've finally decided to make the switch to a Leica. I should be getting this
some time next week:
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New (old) camera...
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 Photojoe4 |
New (old) camera... |
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Posts: 34 03/21/2009 22:01 |
Regards,
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Short Tip |
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Posts: 1020 03/21/2009 22:31 Moderator |
Love it! Always wanted one, had to settle for a few pairs of Leitz binos, and a Panasonic digital with Leica glass (which is very nice....)
Sold my last film cameras, a Rolleiflex, Olympus OM1 and a Nikon FM2, a year or so ago. Now a friend wants to sell me a pile of Alpa bodies and lenses - I'm tempted.... Enjoy your camera! I think Afgantrout also uses one of those. |
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Photojoe4 |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 35 03/22/2009 15:14 |
First thing I'm going to do when it shows up is replace the vulcanite (it's peeled away on the film door) with a kit I ordered from this place:
http://www.cameraleather.com
Then I need to hunt down a decent 35mm lens for it. The Voigt. Pancake is looking good, but I may opt for a nice old Summaron instead.
Regards,
Last Edited By: Photojoe4 03/22/2009 15:26.
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Short Tip |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 1032 03/24/2009 16:08 Moderator |
Nice. Are you getting the lizard skin?
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Photojoe4 |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 36 03/24/2009 19:26 |
I was actually thinking about it, but I settled on the "Levant Black" instead.
Regards,
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Cane Head |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 2207 03/24/2009 22:11 |
I have a Bessa R myself, along with a Yashica GSN, a Yashica Lynx 1000, and for the bigger film, a Mamiya 645 1000. Thinking about a medium formate Fuji
rangefinder or even an older folder. Did have a Canon 7, but I passed it on to someone else. Like the Bessa coupled with a J-8. For tote along, quik pix, I
have a Canon G10.
Cane |
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Photojoe4 |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 37 03/24/2009 22:39 |
Cane, Have you heard about the new Bessa III that Cosina is going to be coming out with? It's a 120 folder..there's mention of it here http://www.cameraquest.com/ How do you like that Jupiter? Some of that Russian glass is really quite good..I owned a couple for my Hasse I used to shoot with and got pretty decent
results:
Regards,
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Photojoe4 |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 38 03/28/2009 13:18 |
Well, I got the camera, as well as the replacement leather kit. Here are the results:
Regards,
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CtKenC |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 321 03/30/2009 13:54 |
Really nice job of recovering it .... now the really fun part begins, the Lenses.
If you do what most of us do, you will acquire the critical 2 or 3 and then add those "special situation" lenses we just have to have and then find out we use "once in a blue moon". Leica lenses just have a special quality, like Hasselblads. Good luck ... you are off to a great start. Ken |
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Photojoe4 |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 39 03/30/2009 17:08 |
Thanks Ken. The lenses I'm using right now are a 75mm Color Skopar, a 50mm J-3 (Russian), a 28mm/6 Orion 15, and I've got a lovely 35mm/3.5 Sumarron on
its way to me. The next one on my "wish list" is a nice 50mm/2.
Regards,
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CtKenC |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 322 03/30/2009 20:45 |
Photojoe4 wrote:Joe, I think you will find that 35mm a TERRIFIC lens, and, you will really like the 50mm as well. I never fell in love with the 90mm but the faster, wider lenses are great. Good luck ,, enjoy. PS: if you win the Lottery look at some of the Noctilux lenses 
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Photojoe4 |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 41 03/30/2009 21:28 |
Yes, those Nocti's are quite lovely. But, at $5-6k they'll probably remain out of my reach for quite some time. If I do find I need a super fast lens,
I'll probably opt for either the 50/.95 that Canon made, or the 35/1.2 by Voigtlander/Cosina. Alhough so far, I haven't really had a need for such a
fast lens.
Regards,
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CtKenC |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 323 03/30/2009 21:38 |
Joe,
there is another alternative to consider ... you can "Rent" a lens from a good shop and try it out, or, try "them" out and see what you like, also, if for only a rare use renting is sometimes the best bet, a lot of Pros do that. Ken |
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findwolfhard |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 323 03/31/2009 10:09 |
HI Ken!
All in all a terrific camera,- BUT, for flyfishing purposes with regard to field action and carrying around alongside a rod, it`s probably the least suited camera to buy. Heavy and too costly to be dipped. The extra external lightmeter needs some handling, too! The Cosina-Voigtländer lenses compare excellently with the Leitz made ones. I can recommend the 1.4/35 or 1.4/40, very compact and terrific in performance when compared to the non-aspheric Leica types. The 1.2/35 Voigtländer again is very special and VERY big and heavy. No need to dream about a Noctilux, it`s as special as fishing for salmon with a 1 weight rod! Good luck with it. Best regards Wolfhard
Last Edited By: findwolfhard 03/31/2009 10:11.
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findwolfhard |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 324 03/31/2009 14:19 |
In my view, carrying it outdoors into the rough, with just one lens, the vintage Leitz Ever-Ready-Cases are a good choice,- doesn`t look very cool, or, maybe,
just so meanwhile,- unbeatable for protection and can be snapped up for ridiculously little money on Ebay, compared to the ridiculously high price, when bought
new in those golden days! Just be sure that fastening screw fits into bottomplate thread,- there were 2 versions, but, I guess, export versions should match.
best Wolfhard |
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Cane Head |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 2208 04/06/2009 00:42 |
Photojoe,
I've read about the Bessa III at rangefinderforum.com - too pricey for my blood. The older Fuji GS645 's are closer to my affordability. The old Soviet Jupiter lenses can be some nice glass for the price. I miss using my J-12, nice lense for the price, but it's large bulbous rear element doesn't work with the Bessa R - will probably spring for a CV 35/2.8 or a nice used 35/1.7. Cane |
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Short Tip |
Another old/new one | #16 | ||
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Posts: 1073 04/17/2009 20:29 Moderator |
It's not a rangefinder, but still pretty cool....... There's another body, and more lenses/accesories, but we haven't found them yet.
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Photojoe4 |
#17 | |||
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Posts: 42 04/18/2009 11:20 |
That's a lovely camera! Nice lenses too- that Schneider in particular. Have you seen the new Alpa's? They've got interchangable backs (I think you
can shoot with anything from 35mm up to 6x9 with everything in between) and they essentially take lenses mounted on lens boards like a large format camera.
They certainly aren't cheap though- last time I looked I think a base model w/one lens and back was something like $10k
Regards,
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Short Tip |
#18 | |||
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Posts: 1084 04/19/2009 21:33 Moderator |
Thanks Joe, I've seen the new Alpa, I think your price estimate is a bit low (!) I think I saw they also had a 33MP digital back available as well!
Based on what I've learned, the Kern 50mm/f1.9 lens mounted on the camera is the real superstar. One site called it "the best standard lens ever available". Kern was later absorbed by Leica. And the 100mm/f2 Kinoptik lens also drew rave reviews, not that the Schneider is any slouch. Sadly, the body has a few minor issues which may be difficult to resolve. Plus, this thing is heavy!! Not sure it will be a user for me, so may sell it on if we can't find the other body. Did you know that there was an adapter made to mount these on a Leica? There was a "throw-in" camera I will definitely take fishing - A Kodak Retina IIIc with a Schneider 50mm/f2. In very nice condition. The Granger of rangefinders? Here's a quick 'n dirty pic: 
Last Edited By: Short Tip 04/19/2009 22:11.
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Photojoe4 |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 43 04/20/2009 22:08 |
I had a couple Kern lenses for an old Bolex 16mm camera I used to shoot with and I remember they were quite good. There are a TON of adapters for the Leica,
and just about every well known camera/lens manufacturer (Canon, Pentax, Minolta, Nikon, Zeiss...) has made a lens to fit it at one point or another. One thing
that really drew me to the camera in the first place was the huge variety of lenses I can find for it, from the uncoated ones made in the 30's to the
modern super sharp super fast lenses coming out nowadays. What sort of body issues does your camera have? Is it mechanical or cosmetic?
Regards,
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Short Tip |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 1089 04/20/2009 23:41 Moderator |
Hi Joe,
Cosmetically, the camera is pretty sharp. There are little foam bars which act as stops for the mirror at each end of it's travel, they've deteriorated and shed all over the inside of the body. Shook most of it out but I'm sure it's going to need a more sophisticated cleaning than I can provide, plus the mirror is rattly when you fire the shutter. Also, the focusing screen won't resolve - probably needs adjustment. Probably nothing a good CLA wouldn't address, but I don't see myself using this camera much due to the weight and size, and I have resolved not to keep old stuff I don't use. The Retina, I'll have some fun with that! If you have interest in the Alpa stuff, I don't have a huge amount invested, send me a PM! |
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