12mm on the R-D1 samples

[pfogle]

Hi, I've started an album in my gallery of 12mm samples taken over the past 6 months since I got the lens.

I can only upload 5 pictures a day, so I'll be adding some each day for the next few days.

cheers
Phil

 

[pfogle]

More pix

More pix

After some technical hiccups, there are now some more pix in my 12mm samples folder in the gallery.

 

[Nachkebia]

nice, images from espon look quet nice.. I wonender if M8 will be much better 🙂 I need second RF body 🙂

 

[Aurelius]

Nice & dramatic result!

 

[zuikologist]

Very nice, especially the first one. The crop factor does not seem to cramp this lens much.

 

[pfogle]

nice, images from espon look quet nice.. I wonender if M8 will be much better 🙂 I need second RF body 🙂

...well, it will certainly be quite a bit wider 😀

 

[Mark Norton]

Interesting results!

How much vignetting are you seeing from this lens on the RD-1? Are you fixing it in PS?

The lens comes with a dedicated finder, are you using the "D" finder for the R-D1? That takes it to a shade over 18mm equivalent angle of view on the R-D1 and 16mm for the M8. Looks like the 15mm finder for film would be pretty good for use on the M8.

 

[pfogle]

Interesting results!

How much vignetting are you seeing from this lens on the RD-1? Are you fixing it in PS?

The lens comes with a dedicated finder, are you using the "D" finder for the R-D1? That takes it to a shade over 18mm equivalent angle of view on the R-D1 and 16mm for the M8. Looks like the 15mm finder for film would be pretty good for use on the M8.

Mark - I use the standard finder that came with the lens. It has no bright line frame, so I just used masking tape over the front element (!) to crop the frame. There's a description in post #7 in this thread (link). I didn't have any qualms about putting the tape on the VF as I got the lens at a good discount because the finder was already a bit marked. Luckily, the marks are outside the cropped frame, so make no difference anyway. If you like, I can post a pic tonight.

The advantage of taping the VF is that you can make at as exact as you like. The framing on the 12 is now better than with the 21 using the D finder. However, if you still use film, then getting another finder would be preferable.

The pix in the gallery have no post-processing, except the IR shot of the tower, which has had color balance and levels. I haven't corrected for vignetting. It's there, but to a degree that I think enhances the photo, rather than detracting.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what this lens does on the M8 (drool!)

 

[Mark Norton]

Thanks for the hints on the viewfinder masking, certainly makes sense to be able to frame it exactly.

The vignetting seems much less than I was expecting.

With this lens and the 15mm costing what they do, it's going to be tough to justify the big spend on the expected Leica ultra-wide and this 12mm of course goes wider still.

I feel one of those itchy credit card moments coming on...

 

[rvaubel]

AS good as the 12mm and 15mm Heliars are, its hard to understand what the fuss is about the M8 not being a full frame camera. Compleints aboute not having available utra wides are not true. Granted, they are not the fastest lenses but with ultrawides, shutter speeds of 1/15 or even 1/8 are usefull. Anyway, I love my 15mm and don't bemoan a ultrawide "gap" with my RD1.

Rex

 

[Mark Norton]

Yes, I think they are bemoaning the lack of Leica utra-wides, but it's clear these are viable and cost effective alternatives. I think Leica's contribution is going to be over the top in terms of weight, size and especially price. Zeiss have set a benchmark for all three...

 

[pfogle]

But isn't it great; we only have to get the body to get future-proofed - the lenses I've got now will be good enough as far as I can see 😀