J-9 85/2

[RML]

After I got a new hood for my J-9 I finally had a chance to test it.

The hood doesn't solve all the flare/ ghosting/ scatter light problems (see this thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...&threadid=1067) but the lens is now working more than adequate.

It turns out to be a very nice lens. Very sharp but not harsh. And while the J-8 50/2 has a certain old-style softness, the J-9 doesn't. The results really feel modern.

The lens is rather big, though not very heavy. I lugged it around almost half a day, screwed on my Bessa R, and dangling from a neck strap, but I had no trouble doing so. It wasn't a burden!

Click stops for f-stops would have been nice.

Both the distance numbering and the f-stop numbering are placed a little ackward on my specimen. Checking them usually means turning the lens about 90 degrees clockwise. Not a real problem but still things could be better.

The lens, icluding its new 4.5 cm long hood, doesn't intrude into the Bessa R's viewfinder.

I'm still wondering whether to use the 75mm or the 90mm framelines on the Bessa R. 90 is closer to 85 than 75 is, but that doesn't say much about the real field of view of both lens or viewfinder. For now I'll stick with the 90mm framelines. As it FOV is narrower I'm more likely to get in the picture what I want, and a little more.

What else? I don't know. If you have any questions, name them, and I'll try to answer them.

[Rich Silfver]

Looks good. High marks on colour, contrast and sharpness.

[Doug]

Looks nice, Remy! Are the bricks on the two sides of the tower actually colored so differently, or is that an effect of the light; direct vs. skylight?

[RML]

Doug, that's a good example of Dutch frugality.

On the front of the tower green tiles are placed as decoration. On the side of the tower the bare brick is visible. The colour of the brick is reddish because of the early morning sunlight.

[BillG]

Last night I took a few more test shots with the Bessa R and J9. Aperture was f2.0 and distances were around 1.5 m to 3 metres. Not developed yet. When I get them scanned I will post them.

Your comments about weight and viewfinder intrusion match my experience. I use the 90 frame for the reasons you state.

[BillG]

Test shots featuring Sylvester the cat are in my gallery here. Minimum distance may be a focusing problem. However 2meters or so, not bad at all. Taken in shade as evening was falling.

[Pherdinand]

brian,. this is wonderful what you posted. The colours and the distance between the foreground and background and ...yes,the "bokeh' ...