Bessa r2a and 4th gen. 35/2 summicron

[englehartj]

Has anyone noticed or heard of this lens combo having a focusing problem. When focusing at 2.5 feet on the scale, the object doesn't come into focus until 3.5 ft (physical distance). This is also the case for 4, 5, and 6 feet, though it focuses at inifinity fine (on an object 1/4 - 1/2 mile away. On the other hand my 50 summicron is spot on all the way through.

So I am worried that if the viewfinder in the bessa is adjusted to the cam in the 35 that the 50 'cron will than be off.

Any suggestions?

[petebown]

I think I'm right in saying that the Bessa's rangefinder mechanism can't focus closer than 3.5 feet. If a lens is capable of focussing closer than 3.5 feet it will disconnect from the mechanism and give a false reading.

Several of the CV lenses also focus closer than 3.5 feet and also suffer from this problem. At distances from 2.5 to 3.5 feet you will need to guess the distance.

From 3.5 feet to infinity the lens should be fine.

[lawrence]

I have exactly this combination and will take a look at the problem when I get home this evening. One thing I have noticed is that the focussing is rather stiff on the R2a with this lens -- take the lens off the camera and by itself it's much smoother. Is it the same on yours too?

[englehartj]

petebown,

This is not the case because my 50 'cron on the bessa body will actually focus at .7 meters which around 2ft.

The repairman (a former leica repairman) says that it could be the ratio between the focusing arm and the cam, but if he ajusted it for the 35 'cron than the 50'cron would have this same focusing problem.

Diagram of what is happening.

P--------------------| (camera scale reads 2.5ft. and in focus in finder)

/\ /\
| |
(object) (film plane @ 3.5ft)



P--------------| (camera scale reads 2.5ft. and out of focus in finder)

/\ /\
| |
(object) (film plane @ 2.5ft)


Now I haven't yet checked which is correct on actual film because I brought it to my camera repairman right away and he has done those test and is waiting to get the negs back to see for himself which it is.

[englehartj]

lawrence,

I would definately be interesting in what you find. If my repairman doesn't find out what is wrong with the lens and/or lens/body combo, I am going to have my professor try the lens on this m6 ttl to see if he gets close focusing with the lens.

[lawrence]

Have done a test and found that the rangefinder of my R2a is completely accurate at 0.7 metres. In other words, when the film plane is 0.7 metres from the subject the rangefinder indicates that the subject is in focus. Hope this helps.

[englehartj]

lawrence,

one other question. Where is your serial located on the lens and is it a Canadian or German production?

[tetrisattack]

I've been using my R2A with my 35/2 pre-asph (canadian, serial's under the focussing ring) with no problems thus far. The rangefinder on the R2A is supposed to cut off at .7 meters but seems to continue focussing down to .5 or whatever the closest focus is -- it doesn't seem to just disengage like the R. It seems that if the rangefinder were inaccurate when focussing this closely, I'd have noticed it in the dozens and dozens of rolls I've put through this camera... Hmm.

[lawrence]

The serial number is located with the other information round the front of the lens. It's made in Germany.