Standard lens on a R-D1

[Waterman100]

I am thinking of buying a R-D1 as my first RF camera. I intend to take street action / documentary shots in available light, and in the past I have enjoyed using standard 50 mm and wider lenses on my old school Nikon FE2. I also own a Leica Digilux 2.

So I am thinking of getting a standard lens, which will probably be my only lens for a long time. And given R-D1's 1.53 correction factor, my understanding is that I'd need a 35mm lens to approximate an effective 50mm focal length (am I correct?).

What do you guys think of the Zeiss 35/2.0 Biogon lens? Do I need any adapters to use this lens on the Epson? Does it work well with RD1's rangefinder patch? (I'm still learning how the camera, RF lens, and RF patch work together)

Do you have other lens recommendation for getting an effective 50mm focal length?

Thanks a bundle for the help/advice.

Wai

 

[pagpow]

+1 on the tight frames and preference for a 40mm with 35mm frames. I have a Nokton 40/1.4 that has found its way onto the RD1 and is hard to dislodge.

I, too, was largely a 50mm lenser -- don't find the 10mm extra equivalent a problem.

And I have 35 and 50mm lenses galore.

 

[Frankie]

Given the EBL of the R-D1 is short, I selected a CV 25/4 as my standard lens, it becomes a 38/4 equivalent, closest to my FF standard of CV 40/1.4.

I use the R-D1 28mm frameline, if composed right to the line edges, allows a print margin of ~7% all round. [The 15% loose 28mm is a real 32mm frameline.] If you need better eye relief, use the 35mm frameline [really a tight 40mm] and composing right to the frame edge will allow a looser print margin of ~15% all round.

And one day, you might get into a FF RF camera...so think ahead.

I therefore bought also a CV 50/2.5, making a 2 lens R-D1 outfit of 38/75.

As if one day CV makes a newer 75mm, and a FF RF to my liking becomes available, then I would expand into a 3 lens outfit...25/40/75, or use a 50 solo.

 

[djonesii]

I have a 25mm F4, and a 40mm F1.4 .... I really think of them as the widest and longest of what I would consider "normal" respectively.

That said, the 40 is on there much more than the 25.

It's really poor planning if I ever go FF rangefinder, but with the prices and the way M8's are holding value, it may be quite a few years before that becomes a reality!

Dave

 

[ped]

I only have one lens, a CV 28mm f1.9 and though it is on the large side, it suits the camera perfectly. It gives an effective length of 42mm and is very fast, letting me use the camera in low light. Though I am tempted to but a 50mm lens at some point, I fear I will use it much less as the 28mm really suits my style and seems to caputre what I see with my own eyes. I'll probably buy a cheapo Russian lens to try out the 50mm focal length.