which wide? RF or SLR?

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valdas

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I'm considering to "widen" my photographic style and try wider angle (my current widest is Distagon 28mm on Contax SLR). Because I use both RF and SLR, I'm not sure for which system wide is user friendlier. Using external viewfinders and maybe uncoupled lenses- is it a big inconvienience? I was thinking about 15, 16, or 18mm, something not too expensive (500-600$). SLR systems I use are Contax and Olympus, both have some choice in 16-18mm range. I also use Leica M system (Bessa R2A and M6), so there is a choice for those cameras as well... Any thoughs, what should I take into account? Is it possibe at all to find a decent wide lens with that budget?
 
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It's really a matter of taste and how comfortable you feel using the different systems and visualizing. But I would suggest trying a ~20-21mm wide before jumping to the ~15mm.

Voigtlander's 21mm RF lens is lovely, tiny, and very usable. (So is the 15mm but you may find it disturbingly wide - it really is a huge jump from 28mm).

For OM system, I find the 24mm excellent, but don't have anything wider.
 
scale focusing is no problem at all with anything 28mm or wider, however even with an external view finder having the rf to assist focus makes it much much easier to get critical focus with a range finder camera relative to an slr. The quality of wide angle optics for rangefinders is also better and the size much smaller vs slr lenses.

The voigtlander wides are really nice and well within your budget.
 
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I agree that the 15mm SWH is a good lens, particularly for the price. I picked up one awhile back, and I'm surprised at how often it comes in handy. You'll probably find than the 21mm and wider Zuiko lenses are outside your budget, as they are rather scarce.
 
Depending on what you shoot, I second 15 Heliar. Great lens great value... not so great because I can't use filters on it.

I use my Nikkor 17-35 when I need to use filters and for landscape.
 
IMHO, a rangefinder or a camera without a rangefinder is best for very wide angle lenses except when close focusing is necessary. Fewer design compromises need be made for a non-SLR lens. Note that some early very wide lenses for SLRs required mirror lock-up in order to work around SLR compromises.

The 15mm already recommended is a good lens, and a very good buy. I use it.

After using it for awhile, you learn to anticipate the frame, and the external viewfinder becomes second-nature. In fact, I've come to terms with a wire-frame finder by experience.

(I also use a Hasselblad SWC, Plaubel Veriwide, and my home-built 4X5 super-wides, each with a separate finder. The only camera I use regularly that is difficult to preview is the Horseman 6x12 with 35mm lens. It's almost too wide, and the ground-glass back is useless.)
 
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Put it this way: I have a 14 (Sigma) for the Nikons and a 15 (Voigtländer) for the Leicas. The Voigtländer sees much more use. But then, so do the Leicas. In any case, personal preference is VERY important. I like 15 and 21. My wife much prefers 18. We'd buy a WATE (16-18-21) if we could afford it. In fact, we'd buy two, one each!

Cheers,

R.
 
When it comes to wide, I've got a 20 for the SLR and a 25 for the RF. I find the SLR/20 the easier combo to work with when I need accurate framing and composition. That is because of the aux finder on the RF, which suffers from parallax and barrel distortion. The RF/25 is good for travelling light and snap-shooting people doing things..
 
I have the 15mm Heliar, and it could be my favourite lens, despite it's "specialist" focal length. It's razor sharp, very nicely built (Feels better than my Nokton or Summicron, but the Summicron is ancient), and it's tiny.

The non-coupled natuire of this lens concerned me too until I used it, and you realize that it really only needs two focus settings "close" and "far away", especially at f/8. I'm a newbie at range finders and photogaphy in general, but I find it very easy to focus and use.

The external finder is a little bit of a pain, and I'd consider trading it for a R4A and 21mm, but other than that, the 15mm Heliar is a superb lens and just extraordinary value for money. The new coupled version is more expensive, but has a filter thread, which I'm in two minds whether I need that or not, probably not.
 
I use the Nikkor 20 and the Voigtländer 15 (coupled, M).

I use the 15 on my R4M: it's an "SLR" vision... I see in the finder most of the frame... With the finder's external limits, plus 28 framelines, controlling verticals is easy as a breeze, although usually I don't control them at all...

If you consider the lens' small size, high sharpness, huge DOF, 52 filter thread, RF coupling for close focus, and add such unique superwide internal viewfinder, and a tough metered RF with 1/2000 and back door loading, the R4M+15 is the most amazing ultrawide experience available from any brand at any price... If you like wide shooting, get them soon...

Cheers,

Juan
 
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Well, now that I have narrowed down my search to 21mm, I'm considering two options - one in RF (CV 21mm f4) and one in SLR (Zuiko 21mm f3.5). Which one you'd go with?
 
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