Russian lenses on Bessa R

[jeremy031671]

<p>Hello everybody! Happy lunar new year!<br>

I am planning to buy a Bessa R to use as my main street photography camera (my life camera is Pentax Me Super :) ) As a high school student, I can't afford expensive m39 Leica lenses and Voigtlander lenses. It costs more than the body which is about 250 bucks on eBay. I have a industar 61 l/d and Im'm kind of curios if the Russian lenses fit into the flange back of Besaa. So will the industar 61 l/d (which is on my fed3) fit well and the light meter and focus will work well with no problem? Also I want to buy some 28 or 25mm lenses after I use 50mm for few months. If I can use about 200 to 300 bucks, what will be the most efficient lens?? Thank you for looking at my question and I can't wait for my first well working range finder!! </p>

[jeremy031671]

<p>Here are some photos you can enjoy!!</p><div></div>

[Alan Johnson]

<p>There is this:<br>

http://www.photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/008xIq</p>

[Brian1664876441]

You might have to adjust the I-61L/D for the Bessa, this is not hard to do.The thing to do is get the camera, try the lens on it and take a picture of a ruler at 1m. Usually Russian lenses focus behind what the RF indicates. This means the optics need to be moved out a little. <p>

 

<img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/664/21578074854_84199fb23a_o.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="Fall 2015"> <p>

 

Not hard to do yourself.<p>

[mukul_dube]

<p>The I-61 L/D will fit the Bessa R but, as Brian Sweeney says, may not give good focus specially at near distance and open aperture. The widest USSR made lens that is easy to find is the Jupiter 12, 35mm f/2.8. However, it has a bulbous rear and I do not know if it can screw into the Bessa R.</p>

[jeremy031671]

<p>Thank you for answering!! So it means I need a adjustment after getting the camera. Also, it may be hard to use jupiter 12 on bessa. I am looking for a black body in eBay, but it is too hard to find for a good condition. I'm just planning to buy a sliver body!</p>

[jeremy031671]

<p>If so, will jupiter 8 work fine on the camera with no adjustment?</p>

 

[mukul_dube]

<p>The Jupiter 8 will give the same focus problems. Lenses made in the USSR were built to the Zeiss standard, which differs from the Leitz standard. As has been said, they can be modified to focus correctly on Leica type bodies.</p>

[Uhooru]

<p>Probably a better, and natural choice for the Bessa is one of the Voigtlander 35 2.5 color skopar lenses. Should be able to get a good one for under $300, check K & H, be careful its not an SC version built for the Nilon F mounts. They may be discontinued but you should be able to round one up. These lenses are screw mount (LTM) and was the original lens that sold with the Bessa R. Good luck!</p>

[jeremy031671]

<p>Thanks for good advice!!</p>

[Aoresteen]

<p>I have the Industar 55mm f/2.8 and it was in bad shape when I got it. I had it repaired for proper focus and once adjusted it works very well.<br>

<br /> https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103300<br>

<br /> It's a safe assumption that FSU lenses will need service. If yours works as-is consider yourself lucky. Try to borrow a camera to try your lens out on and do the 1m test as Brian mentioned.</p>

<p>If your lens needs service consider spending the money on a Voigtlander lens instead. Later on when you have some extra funds then get it repaired.</p>

[Brian1664876441]

Test the lens on the new camera. I know where you can get it adjusted with the "High School Student using a rangefinder

Special Deal". I just gave an adjusted/Lubed I61L/D away.

[jeremy031671]

<p>I actually managed to get some more money (since it was lunar new year! I live in Korea(south)) so I could buy a nice Bessa r and a color skopar 35mm. This are the links below, and are this good deal?? Thanks for viewing my question!!<br>

http://www.ebay.com/itm/172093600920?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT</p>

<p>http://www.ebay.com/itm/151975467052?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT</p>

[Brian1664876441]

Good price on the Skopar, abd on the Bessa R. I see Bessa's coming up at this price on Ebay. Prices on the Canon P are

way down, I've seen them at $100.

[glen_h]

<p>Why are the Canon P prices going down?</p>

<p>I bought a Canon P with 50/1.4 lens for $274, which I thought was a good price mostly because I wanted the lens, but it seems that the prices are down. I think it is still good, but not as good as I thought.</p>

 

[Brian1664876441]

10 years ago a Canon p with 50/1.4 would have been $500. Prices are down for camera bodies due to Digital, prices are up

for manual focus SLR lenses because of Digital. Prices had soared for RF lenses with the M8 and M9, have been coming

back down to Earth lately.