View Full Version : New R2
Finally took the plunge into an interchangeable lens rangefinder - after using a variety of Olympus, Canonet, Konica and even Petri fixed lens compacts over the years, I sprung for a Bessa R2 and the Color Skopar C 35/2.5.
I went with the R2 over the R in part because of the extra weight - I don't mind polycarbonate, but I'm just more comfortable with a larger (3mm) and heavier camera in hand.
First impressions...
With the lens on, it feels very similar in size and weight to the Olympus SP and in feel to a Fujica SLR body, both of which I have always found to be very comfortable. Even so, I think I would be more comfortable with a soft-release to raise the shutter release. The body is covered with a very grippy rubberized surface - all in all, a very nice camera in hand - even large, clumsy ones like mine.
Ratcheting film advance is nice. Not sure if I'll ever use it, but it's there. The shutter advance is not particularly quiet and it has a weird change in motion towards the end of the stroke. Will take getting used to.
1/125th flash sync - handy.
The shutter is not quiet, but not obtrusive. Then again, I'm used to the Copal Square.
I bought the fitted case for it. It'll protect a camera which is my first concern and the half-case adds a little bulk, but it is a strange fitting piece of work. Not sure it's built for the long haul, but we'll see.
The revelation for me was the viewfinder - it's twice the size and twice as bright as anything I've used before. Just wow. I've never looked through a Leica, but if it's better than the Bessa, I am impressed already.
I'm looking forward to getting out for a walk with it. I'll miss the old compacts that I've grown attached to, but I'm looking forward to something new!
Rich Silfver
08-18-2004, 21:16
John,
congratulations on your new purchase!
As always - be sure to post some photos here when you get them back! :)
Designer
08-18-2004, 21:24
Congratulations!
back alley
08-18-2004, 21:35
good for you john, i'm happy for ya!
don't get rid of those other rf cams just yet as you might want to take them for a walk still.
i've started to carry my bessa r w/75 mm and one of my oly 35 rc cams w/ i think 42mm lens. it's a good set up and easier than changing lenses.
plus i like the reaction i get when using the oly.
i think you will find the 35 a very capable performer and yes, we want some pics.
joe
Thanks, all.
I can officially say that this place has now cost me money! I feel like I've finally mastered the secret handshake. (Take out wallet...shake out money?!)
Joe - not sure what to do with the Olys. I like the challenge of having old cameras pay for new purchases so I suspect most if not all of them will be heading for parts unknown. I might hold onto an SPn that's in need of some work in case I get the compact bug back again! Plus, I'm hanging onto a Konica S1.6 that I hardly ever use, but can't bear to part with.
Next up on the hit parade...a film scanner?
Welcome to the R2 user fraternity! You know what? You will start buying accessories for the R2 and the CV lenses will start waving at you from the Cosina online catalogue!
back alley
08-19-2004, 05:23
john, if you're going to sell off part of your collection, please list here also so we can have a look and maybe make a purchase or two.
joe
Todd.Hanz
08-19-2004, 06:17
Congrats,
They are nice cameras with sharp lenses, I have always been partial to the olive version with winder, now lets see some pics!
Todd
John, looking forward to seeing what you do with your new R2 rig; I'm sure you'l enjoy it!
Congrats John ! :)
Another vote for the CV 35/2.5 here, sure you'll like it.
John, congratulations! I'm using a CV 21/4 and a CV 90/3.5 and really enjoying them. Love that Voigtlander stuff!
Looking forward to your posts in the Gallery!
Gene
back alley
08-19-2004, 12:49
hey gene,
when r you getting your r/r2 or r you waiting for the r3?
joe
Originally posted by backalley photo
hey gene,
when r you getting your r/r2 or r you waiting for the r3?
joe
Joe, I'll definitely be tracking the R3 announcement and subsequent owner reaction. The R2 is also very tempting. No rush though -- I'll have my 'new' Zorki to use until the dust of Photokina settles :)
Sadly, I doubt I will ever be able to afford an M6 or M7 ...
Gene
Originally posted by Peter
...You will start buying accessories for the R2 and the CV lenses will start waving at you from the Cosina online catalogue!
LOL. Speaking from experience eh Peter? Be careful John. Soon you will be wanting a 75/2.5 and maybe later on either the 21mm or the 25mm or even the 15mm.
Crazy idea: anyone in Oz want to trade their Color-Skopar 50/2.5 with my Nokton 50/1.5? I think I love the compactness of 2.5 lenses after using this PII.
Originally posted by Kris
LOL. Speaking from experience eh Peter? Be careful John. Soon you will be wanting a 75/2.5 and maybe later on either the 21mm or the 25mm or even the 15mm.
Crazy idea: anyone in Oz want to trade their Color-Skopar 50/2.5 with my Nokton 50/1.5? I think I love the compactness of 2.5 lenses after using this PII.
Kris, please do not trade the Nokton with Color Skopar 50mm. It is an unequal trade as you have one of the better lenses in the CV inventory. I had a Skopar 50mm, it is not what you want as the optical performance is mediocre and not to mention the pin-cushion effect inherent in that lens.
unfocuzed
08-19-2004, 17:13
I'm envious of all the people on here. After being referred here and seeing all you leica and bessa owners i hate you with a passion :p
I know some lucky punk has 2 leicas and can lend me on :)
Congrats on the purchase wish i had a regular slr system and could get a bessa r2 as my secondary.
back alley
08-19-2004, 17:20
many here can't afford one leica let alone 2.
save the pennies and keep your eyee open for good deals.
many here are also very generous with trades and sales and generally being quite fair to deal with.
joe
The Bessa people are for the most part warm, giving and loving people. They're kind to old people and puppies. Angels on earth, if you will.
It's the damned Leica owners who cause all of the trouble!
Originally posted by JohnM
The Bessa people are for the most part warm, giving and loving people. They're kind to old people and puppies. Angels on earth, if you will.
It's the damned Leica owners who cause all of the trouble!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :D :D :D :D :D
Originally posted by Peter
Kris, please do not trade the Nokton with Color Skopar 50mm. It is an unequal trade as you have one of the better lenses in the CV inventory. I had a Skopar 50mm, it is not what you want as the optical performance is mediocre and not to mention the pin-cushion effect inherent in that lens. As one of those warm, giving and loving people, I have recently adopted a poor homeless Voigtlander 50mm f/2.5 Color Skopar. I gave it a ride on my Leica to see how they got along. They cooperated nicely!
I've heard a lot of praise for the 50 Nokton, and some criticism for being on the harsh side, perhaps inevitable given its excellent sharpness and well-corrected optics.
I've also heard a lot of criticism of the 50 Skopar for being "soft (but not unsharp)," and some praise for having a gentle nature. It's also said to be constructed extremely well. And compact like the 21/4, 28/3.5, & 35/2.5 with nice focus tab.
Ok, I found a deal on a used 50 Skopar I could hardly turn down, so my curiosity demanded I give it a try. I rather suspected it might be like an older Leitz Summitar or (hopefully) Summicron, and the slight pincushion distortion I'd seen in some published samples was my greatest reservation.
So how sharp/soft/gentle IS it, and is the pincushion distortion bearable? I've uploaded 9 images to the Gallery, so you can help me answer these questions! Starts with: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/2179
back alley
08-19-2004, 21:35
always hard to tell from net pics but that lens looks damn sharp to me.
and you have to squint to see any distortion.
bottom line- most people (non photographer types) would be very happy with the results from that lens.
what do you think doug?
joe
True, Joe; it's hard to assess sharpness online, but hopefully those three 100% crops from 3000x2000 scans will give some idea. The nature of the bokeh, and the magnitude of distortion should be visible even on the smaller scale pics. I hope some other aspects of the lens's nature will show up too...
I'd like to hear what others have to say...
Ehm I think I'll stick to my Nokton 50/1.5 and forget the idea of trading it with the smaller Skopar.
Doug, your Skopar will most likely outperform NPZ film in term of resolution. Any shot on ISO100 film? Looking at your samples at the moment, I will say the Nokton at f/2 is already a few miles ahead of the Skopar at f/2.8. But what do I know?! I'm just a newbie using my camera to perve nice girls. :p
Originally posted by Kris
I'm just a newbie using my camera to perve nice girls. :p
:D
Now you guys know how bad I really am.
AAAARGGH ! I can't compete with that !!! :bang:
I guess I just won the title "RFF Pervert No. 1"
;)
Cool shots, Oscar & Kris, fellow perverts! :-)
I wouldn't doubt the Nokton may well be sharper than the Skopar. But the Skopar looks pretty sharp, seems to have a pleasant character, and is very compact. I don't often need fast lenses.
I've had a change of attitude about the smaller film formats since I got that honkin' big Pentax 6x7, years ago. Before, I was trying everything to achieve sharpest results in 35mm... optimum apertures, sharp lenses, films like Pan-F and Agfa Isopan FF, Leitz enlarging lens on aligned enlarger, etc etc.
But, in resolution the 6x7 (and the 645 rangefinders too) can simply exceed anything 35mm can do. So I'm not so much persuing sharpness in the 35's, and more interested in other factors. The main role now for my 35 gear is to be more compact and lighter, and fun/different to use.
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