28mm lens on RD-1

[Frankie]

I am thinking of buying an RD1 for travel use and keen to make the package small. I like the size of the Leica Elmarit 28mm f2.8 ASPH, protruding a mere 30mm from the flange.

Does anyone have experience using this lens on the RD-1...making it at 42mm equivalent, just like my CV 40mm/1.4 on my ZM?

 

[kshapero]

no experience, but it sounds really nice.

 

[payasam]

Sounds good. You'll get the depth of field of a 28mm, though.

 

[kuvvy]

Can't help regarding the Elmart I'm afraid Frankie. But sure yoou'll get some good advice from users here. Myself I just got a copule of days ago, a CV 28/2 ultron for my RD1 and although I've only had chance to shoot a handful of shots the 42mm it gives seems okay. This lens may be a tad bigger than the Elmarit, I'm not sure. I have until now been using a CV 25mm which gives around 37.5mm and this to has given good results and may be a little nearer the Elmarit in size. Although slower, being f4 it is the coupled version and is very compact on the RD1 and makes a very small pakage. Currently I'm unsure if I'll keep both as the focal lengths are too similar so the CV25 may have to go but unless you want the slightly faster 2.8 it may be worth a look.

 

[phototektour]

... to make the package small. ...

I´m very, very happy with my Tri-Elmar 28/35/50. Fits perfect with the R-D1. (So I´m thinking to get rid of my cron M35 or Nokton1,5/50). Of course, the Tri is not that fast, but in fact you don´t have to change the lens, it keeps the chip clean and it works fine with the framelines. The E55´s are not so expensive looking for a good used one.

Regards
Rainer

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

You might find it too large for your purposes, but I have settled on the ZM 28 Biogon for the R-D1. It looks and feels great, the images are superb, and the lens now pretty much lives on the camera. I can't say enough good things about this combination.

 

[f16sunshine]

+1 for the Mabelsound Combo. Love the Biogons although for me, it's a 2.8/25 2/35 combo.

 

[Frankie]

Thanks everyone for fast input.

I have surveyed all available 28mm and have concluded the Elmarit the smallest, followed by an older LTM CV 28mm/f3.5...often used to illustrate the RD-1. The new CV 28mm f2 is definitely much bigger.

Elsewhere illustrated in Reid Report, lens vignetting in various 28mm lens is observable wide open, but can be processed away. Unfortunately that report did not include the Elmarit nor the Zeiss.

My ZM is a one lens outfit with the CV 40mm/f1.4 (modifed to bring up the 35mm frame line with 95%+ tight framing). I have since grown to like the 40mm look.

 

[sirius]

I have the 28mm Zeiss ZM. It has given good results: not small, but not blocking the VF, nice colour leaning towards saturation and the cool/natural. I have always found the Leica Elmarit 28mm f2.8 ASPH to be a bit contrasty for may taste. I do not know about the Voightlander lenses except that the f1.9 was too large for what I wanted.

 

[nickdando]

I'd hazard a guess and say that the smallest has to be the f6.3 Hektor.

Have a look at this link to see just how small it is.

http://www.auspiciousdragon.net/photowords/?p=1038

Not the easiest lens to use as the flare can be very bad. But it can still take a good picture.

Nick

 

[sirius]

Here are a couple of photos from it (ZM 28 f2.8) on the RD-1. I can't tell you if I adjusted the colour or not on these, it was a while ago.

I hear the Minolta/Rokkor 40mm lenses are really nice on the RD-1. I find the framelines not accurate and restrictive using a 35mm 'cron focusing at 7-10 feet.

Have fun picking your lens, good luck and good light.

Ian

 

[LCT]

Never used the Zeiss 28 so far and the CV 28/2 only once but i could not focus it properly due to focus shift problems i've been told.
My 28s in M mount are the Summicron-M 28/2, Elmarit-M 28/2.8asph and M-Rokkor 28/2.8.
The Summicron 28/2 is certainly the best 28 i've ever used but it is not that small a lens even with shorter hoods than the (ugly) original one.
The Elmarit 28/2.8 asph is the sharpest 28 i've ever used, slightly more so than the Summicron maybe, but beware of blown highlights with it as it is a very contrasty lens. Also its bokeh is rather sharp like that of the Summicron 35/2 asph or the Summilux 50/1.4 asph if you know those lenses.
The Rokkor-M 28/2.8 is smoother and matches well Leica lenses from the seventies like the Summicron 35/2 IV, the Summicron-C 40/2 or the Summicron 50/2 with tab. I wonder if the Rokkor is not the smallest 28/2.8 ever made BTW. But beware of white spots on the glass with the latter.
FWIW.

 

[Krosya]

I like M-Hexanon 28/2.8 on any camera - film or digital. Here are a couple from Rd1s:

 

[Krosya]

And another one - I posted it some place before, I think:

 

[back alley]

28 = 43 on the rd1
some say that 43 mm is the ideal fov for 35mm.

i use the zm 28 and love this combo.
if you want smallest and great quality try the cv 28/3.5, that lens is tiny and sharp.

heck flickr rd1 group for shots with various lenses.

 

[back alley]

rd1 + zm 28

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/3496237646_659f44dbd1_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/3652355405_8c70f1f2e1_b.jpg

 

[back alley]

that's odd, i cannot insert the actual image...

 

[Frankie]

......The Elmarit 28/2.8 asph is the sharpest 28 i've ever used, slightly more so than the Summicron maybe, but beware of blown highlights with it as it is a very contrasty lens. Also its bokeh is rather sharp like that of the Summicron 35/2 asph or the Summilux 50/1.4 asph if you know those lenses.
The Rokkor-M 28/2.8 is smoother and matches well Leica lenses from the seventies like the Summicron 35/2 IV, the Summicron-C 40/2 or the Summicron 50/2 with tab. I wonder if the Rokkor is not the smallest 28/2.8 ever made BTW. But beware of white spots on the glass with the latter.
FWIW.

I have totally forgotten the CL and CLE lenses...and I had a CLE [must be old age]. I do now recall the Rokkor 28mm/2.8 was small...or small enough. I just don't want the lens to tip the balance of the camera and protrude into the frame too much.

Worth a look at the Bay...eBay.🙂

Meanwhile, the Elmarit can be bought at ~$1400 mint/new...cheap for Leica glass.

 

[back alley]

 

[kermaier]

I have surveyed all available 28mm and have concluded the Elmarit the smallest, followed by an older LTM CV 28mm/f3.5...often used to illustrate the RD-1. The new CV 28mm f2 is definitely much bigger.

The CV 28/3.5 LTM is *much* smaller than the Elmarit. I use one on my R-D1, and it's among the smallest RF lenses I've ever seen, apart from the Canon 28/3.5 or the Elmar 35/3.5, and it's sharp, well-made, ergonomically pleasing and inexpensive. If compactness is a priority, and you can afford to give up the extra half-stop of speed, the CV 28/3.5 is a great choice.

::Ari