R4a and 28 Skopar

[rover]

First of all, it is a hell of a boost to one's ego when the tech who processed your photos makes comment about how good they are. She looked around and when she saw no one was listening she said "most of the time half of a roll of film is so poorly exposed I can't do anything to help it." Well, she wanted to know what camera I was using and complimented me on my photography and the quality of the images I had taken. So, that makes a day much brighter.

Then I got home and was not so impressed, but I have a fan and that is cool.

So, I am loving my R4a. Shooting a lot with it, haven't taken the 28 Skopar off it yet and just feeling really comfortable with it. Yesterday I attended a parade and took these shots. In general I am really happy with the AE on the 4. Most of the parade shots were taken into a high sun so the colors are not as saturated as they could be, but I don't see any ugly flare problems. In 2 rolls I did catch some finger in 3 frames. I am going to have to be very conscious of that when I finally get around to screwing on the 21 Skopar.

So my impression so far about the R4a, it is an A+. It feels great in hand, comfortable and fast handling, the AE has proven very accurate so far, I am happy. Ahhh, the highest compliment. Last night when I got home I took off the Domke Gripper which is a very nice strap for RFs I find, and put on a Luigi. You know a camera has earned your respect when you lace a Luigi strap on it.

 

[rover]

And a few more

 

[rover]

Three more back at my parent's house.

 

[back alley]

a man with a fan!!
very nice.

i am also loving my r4.
it seems so much smaller and lighter than the zi, almost streamlined.

joe

 

[peter_n]

Great stuff Ralph! I too am mightily impressed with my R4A. Big mistake changing the strap though - Domke Gripper is King! 😀

 

[jan normandale]

I'm waiting for a cheque or two and I've been considering the R4A since it was announced. I like the R3A but being a "wide" user I'm thinking this is the best RF news and I want to be an owner.

I'm not surprised by these comments because they could be said for the R3A , the difference being the frame lines.

I've got one question, anyone care to comment on another person's observation that the wide frames ie the 21 & 25 mm frames are partly obscured by the lens.

What about it? Is this real or conjecture and how significant is it if you have a lens hood on these 21 & 25mm lenses?

 

[back alley]

the 21 with the small hood is fine.
that's why i went with all the smaller, slower cv lenses with the normal hoods. if the finder gets blocked it is only a very small amount.
with the zm lenses and hoods the blockage is significant, though some seem not to mind at all.

i hope to order the new m mount 25 very soon.

joe

 

[peter_n]

I've got one question, anyone care to comment on another person's observation that the wide frames ie the 21 & 25 mm frames are partly obscured by the lens.

What about it? Is this real or conjecture and how significant is it if you have a lens hood on these 21 & 25mm lenses?

Jan it depends both upon the lens and the person, but it is real. I don't have a 21mm lens but I'm awaiting with interest the reports on the Zeiss 21/4.5 when it comes out. I would conjecture that this lens might not block the framelines, in any case it looks like a really good lens (on paper).

I am using a Leica 24/2.8 on my R4. You can see the size of this lens and it's hood in the picture below. This lens blocks just a bit more than about 20% of the VF, and I am personally OK with that, but YMMV. CV makes a new pancake-type 25mm lens which was presumably designed for this body if you are concerned with occlusion of the VF.

 

[JoeFriday]

great shots, Ralph.. that lens is really sharp.. but I'm very interested in the bokeh, as I'm thinking of getting the 28mm Ultron for low light indoors.. any experience with that, anyone?

 

[jan normandale]

Joe.. slow isn't an issue for me I either go higher ISO or tripod.. so the lens issue sounds manageable. Thanks

 

[ferider]

great shots, Ralph.. that lens is really sharp.. but I'm very interested in the bokeh, as I'm thinking of getting the 28mm Ultron for low light indoors.. any experience with that, anyone?

The Ultron has great bokeh, Brett.

Here is a good example: http://ferider.smugmug.com/photos/53320365-L.jpg

Ralph used the Color Skopar I believe. Nice photos,
Ralph, seems like a great street combo.

Roland.