I'm glad to see all the recent posts about the Elmar 50/3.5, my favorite lens. Has anyone used one on a Bessa-R? Does it collapse without crunching anything? Feel free to flame Cosina plasic cameras.

-- John Fleetwood (johnfleetwood@hotmail.com), June 03, 2001

Answers

One of my friends used it fine on a Bessa L with a 50mm finder, so I don't see why it wouldn't work on the R. I was just thinking what a great combination of old and new that set up would be-should fit right in a coat pocket. If I already didn't have a few more cameras than I need, I'd be tempted to pick up a second hand Bessa R just to use it with the old Elmar. As far as plastic goes, I'd be more than happy if Cosina started making a nice light weight, cheap, plastic M mount camera just like the Bessa R.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), June 03, 2001.

By the way, I was surprised to find out the 50 Elmar will go all the way in on my CLE without any interference. Now that's a compact package. It looks a bit funny though-this old fashioned lens on a fairly high tech looking body. Off the film metering and TTL flash through a 50 year old Elmar-I love it.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), June 03, 2001.

Thanks, Andrew, for your input. Does anyone have first-hand experience with an elmar on a Bessa-R? I'm a little reluctant to go to the dealer and maybe break his camera with my lens (I'm pretty sure the lens would beat the Voigtlander in a fight).

-- John Fleetwood (johnfleetwood@hotmail.com), June 04, 2001.

The L and R are identical in the lens mounting and shutter design. You can always hold the shutter open on B and open the back door of the camera and watch for clearance

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), June 04, 2001.

If anyone is interested, I went down to the dealer and mounted my elmar on a Bessa-R (while the saleslady played with my IIf). It definately did not collapse all the way; I was very carefull. Like my daddy used to say, "if you want something done right, do it yourself" (does that apply to $$$$$ Leica gear?). Thanks for the input, anyway, guys.

-- John Fleetwood (johnfleetwood@hotmail.com), June 18, 2001.