21mm vs 24/25mm vs 28mm coverage

[DerrickC]

I'm trying to figure out which wide angle focal length to get for my RD1. On my film camera my favorite focal length is 35mm.

• Does anyone have comparison photos on how much the 21mm, 24/25mm and the 28mm on the RD1 covers?
• Also for those using the 21mm and the 24/25mm lenses on the RD1, is the accessory viewfinder troublesome to use?
• The 24/25mm lenses cannot use the outside of the 28mm framelines to frame accurately right?

Thanks, any comments/advice/experiences are appreciated.

Derrick

 

[pfogle]

Derrick... sorry no photos, tho' I'm not sure you can tell that much from them. The experience of using the wider lenses on the R-D1 is so different from film cameras you really need to try them out.

The closest convenient solution to the 35mm framing would be the 28mm - translates to approx 42mm in the digital format. Plus you've got the built in viewfinder. Personally, I tend to keep the 21mm on most of the time, which translates to 32mm approx, but is less convenient as you have to deal with the auxilliary v/f and I often forget to focus!

As far as using the 24mm with the built in finder, I guess you'd get used to it with practice, but I just don't expect the same level of accuracy of framing with the R-D1 as with Leica bodies. Your experience may well be different, depending on how much time the lens spends on the camera. For a while I used a 40mm, which was supposed to be closer to the 35mm v/f than using a 35mm lens, but to be honest, I never felt comfortable with it, probably because I was having to interpret the frame lines differently depending on which lens I was using. At least, sticking to the standard focal lengths (28, 35, 50) the slack in the finder is more or less consistent.

Hope this helps
Phil

 

[DerrickC]

Thanks for the reply Phil.

I don't wear spectacles and tried looking through the viewfinder of the RD1 with the 28mm framelins. Trying to look outside the framelines is really difficult. Found myself squinting through the finder and moving my eye around alot.

Are there any magnifiers/reducers(?) that can be screwed onto the viewfinder which reduces the magnification of the RD1 from 1x to maybe .85x? Maybe this plus a cutout screen protector with a drawn frameline matching what a 24/25mm lens covers would work?

Thanks,

Derrick

 

[pfogle]

Hi Derrick,

I find the 28mm framelines are fine to use IF you keep both eyes open - it seems that the peripheral vision works better using both eyes. Plus there's the advantage of the life size v/f image. I wouldn't want to try using the whole v/f window as a rough 24mm guide though. I don't think there are any accessories that change the v/f magnification, except the nikon magnifier, which works on the centre.

As I mentioned earlier, my favourite lens is the 21mm, and I'm happy with the CV 21D viewfinder - just have to remember to check the focus. The main drawback is that you tend to worry a bit more about knocking it (the viewfinder, that is).

Do you have a 28? If not, you can't really go wrong with the Ultron - it's a cost-effective way to stick a 28mm on and try it for a while, without compromising on the quality too much.

cheers
Phil

 

[DerrickC]

I use my left eye as my focusing eye so keeping both eyes open do not really help since my right eye is hidden behind the camera. 🙂 Will take my time to decide. Thanks!

Derrick