25mm Snapshot skopar vs 28mm Ultron

[savuti]

OK, I know, these are probably very different lenses. I have the 25 and really like it, but haven´t really tried it much indoors, and am a bit concerned that scale focussing at f4.0 will be risky. Furthermore, I´m photographing at a wedding (my sister´s), and think that a fast, wide, rangefinder coupled lens just might be a good thing for indoor use (but maybe it´s just an excuse to let GAS overcome me; I also have a 40mm Nokton).

Could I possibly use ISO 3200 or 1600 with the 25 and get good results indoors in the evening? In that case I would rather go for the 15mm, which I also want, for other kinds of use, along with a Bessa L.....or T?

By the way, does the superior EBL of the Bessa T make it noticeably easier to focus than the R3x in low light?

thanks, Olav

 

[SergioGuerra]

If you have got steady hands you can always have indoor shots with that lense.

It is not with the 25mm, but I got this shot with the 15mm super-heliar inside a "cafe" with HP5+ pushed to 800. I am not sure of the speed, i should guess 1/15 :

 

[savuti]

Thanks, for some reason I can only see the thumbnail, looks great! I must get that 15mm....

 

[Todd.Hanz]

the 15mm is great, seldom use it anymore but for times when you need it it works well:

Todd

 

[Todd.Hanz]

the 28mm is my go-to street lens, typically using hyperfocal settings, but it doesn't handle flair well...

any lens that is rangefinder coupled will focus more assuredly than using hyperfocal techniques. You know the 25/4 is available in M mount/rangefinder coupled now?

Todd

 

[cigrainger]

Todd, what body is that on? I really love the look of the 28 ultron pictures I've seen, but I feel like an R4 may have too short of a base length for longer lenses.

 

[sockeyed]

As an R4M owner, I'm pretty confident that the body could handle a 28mm f/1.9 wide open. My greater concern would be viewfinder blockage - the Ultron is a beast for an RF lens.

 

[cigrainger]

As an R4M owner, I'm pretty confident that the body could handle a 28mm f/1.9 wide open. My greater concern would be viewfinder blockage - the Ultron is a beast for an RF lens.

I've heard some people estimate 28mm by using the entire frame of the R2... do you think this would be better than the R4 with the 28mm Ultron? I'm probably going to get the 15 Heliar as well, but I figure the body doesn't matter for that.

 

[back alley]

the r4 has the 28 frameline as a solo, so no other framelines to interfere.
the chance of the big 28 blocking that frameline is good, i would bet it would cover the lower right corner quite a bit.
i bought all the slower and smaller lenses for my r4a as having a clear frameline was part of the attraction of using the r4 in the first place.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Todd, what body is that on? I really love the look of the 28 ultron pictures I've seen, but I feel like an R4 may have too short of a base length for longer lenses.

I think it was my M4-P, could've been an M6 though.

Todd

 

[vegatenor]

i prefer to use 28mm.

 

[Bob Michaels]

I have the non-rf coupled CV 25mm and find zone focusing not a problem at all. It's advantage is it's small size and weight. For that you get f4. Every lens is a compromise. But I certainly would not worry about a lens that focal length not being rf-coupled because of the DOF.

I also have a f2.8 21mm Biogon and a 2.8 28mm Biogon to fall back on when I need the speed. Both of those are incredible lenses but only reasonably priced in ContaxG mount. BTW, I always zone focus the 21mm, even at 2.8.

 

[BillBingham2]

Olav,

My carry everywhere camera for years was a Bessa L and a CV 25/4. The other part of my kit was a Bessa T with lenses that needed a rangefinder. In about seven years with this system I shot inside and out and f4 on the 25 was fine to cover my miss guessing of distance even up close inside.

At first I was concerned too that f4 was both too slow and not going to give me enough DOF, I was wrong. The Bessa L and looking for chairs, walls, tables to stedy my shots worked great.

I used ISO 400 film most of the time, so your mileage may vary, but the 25/4 is a world class lens. I have one for my S3-2000 and am equally happy with it inside and out.

B2 (;->

 

[savuti]

Thank you all, and compliments on the fabulous shots!!
I´ll simply get a Bessa L or T and the 15mm, and save a bunch of money.
I´m a bit afraid that the Ultron might become hard to get by; it´s certainly rare on eBay, and even more expensive second hand than new, in some cases. Any indication that a replacement in M mount might turn up from Cosina? Maybe a smaller one, like the 35/40 Noktons (I don´t know if it´s possible to make a fast, small lens at 28mm, physics beat me completely in this respect)

Olav