40mm lenses - am I missing something?

M

Matus

Well-known
Local time
12:40 AM
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
1,836
Location
Frankfurt, DE
View My Gallery
Hi, I am on my way (persuading my lovely wife) to get a R3A. I have already ordered an Jupiter-3 (and keep my fingers crossed it will work fine) for portraits, but I know (after my experience with Olympus Xa) that I will need a 35 or 40 for traveling and daily shooting.

Now - the decision for the R3A over the R2A is based on the 1:1 viewfinder of the R3A, what means larger framelines for 50/75 mm lenses and also better focusing accuracy - yes I would like to get the Healiar 75/2.5 later too. Truth to be told - I only had the R3A in hand once for a few minutes and never the R2A.

As the R3A has 40mm framelines I will be looking for a 40mm lens. The question is - are there other lenses than the CV Noton 40/1.4 and the Rokkor/Summicron 40/2? I know there is The Rollei Sonnar 40/2.8 bot it is slower and rare. On top of this there the Rokkor/Summicron are supposed to have some "non standard (anyone to explain?)" filter thread.

So - would you consider getting the R2A over the R3A just to have an access to larger lens choice (35 versus 40) even if you consider getting the 75/2.5?

If you ask - and what is wrong with the Nokton ..? - well, nothing - but from the pictures I have seen it leaves me a bit ... cold - the bokeh seems a bit 'structured' (browsed the flickr for a while). Though it does remain as a candidate.
 
hmm...
How about R-D1+28mm?

Pay more attention to the Rollei Sonnar, it's a fantastic lens
 
40 mm

40 mm

I think the best choice is the Summicron c 2/40 created for the Leica Cl. I use it on my Leica Cl, Minolta Cle and of course most of the time my Epson R-D1.
 
What about the mechanical R3M ?
Matus said:
Hi, I am on my way (persuading my lovely wife) to get a R3A. I have already ordered an Jupiter-3 (and keep my fingers crossed it will work fine) for portraits, but I know (after my experience with Olympus Xa) that I will need a 35 or 40 for traveling and daily shooting.

Now - the decision for the R3A over the R2A is based on the 1:1 viewfinder of the R3A, what means larger framelines for 50/75 mm lenses and also better focusing accuracy - yes I would like to get the Healiar 75/2.5 later too. Truth to be told - I only had the R3A in hand once for a few minutes and never the R2A.

As the R3A has 40mm framelines I will be looking for a 40mm lens. The question is - are there other lenses than the CV Noton 40/1.4 and the Rokkor/Summicron 40/2? I know there is The Rollei Sonnar 40/2.8 bot it is slower and rare. On top of this there the Rokkor/Summicron are supposed to have some "non standard (anyone to explain?)" filter thread.

So - would you consider getting the R2A over the R3A just to have an access to larger lens choice (35 versus 40) even if you consider getting the 75/2.5?

If you ask - and what is wrong with the Nokton ..? - well, nothing - but from the pictures I have seen it leaves me a bit ... cold - the bokeh seems a bit 'structured' (browsed the flickr for a while). Though it does remain as a candidate.
Click to expand...
 
no, the RD-1 is not an option - I definitely want to go for a film camera. If the funds would allow my choice would be the Ikon ZI.

The R3M is not considered currently as the AE option is important for me and, after all, it has no impact on the lens choice.

To the Sonnar - what is the closest focus distance? Is the M bayonet or LTM mount? It is not easy to find example photos on Flickr as they mix with the Rollei 35 ones ...
 
Matus said:
On top of this there the Rokkor/Summicron are supposed to have some "non standard (anyone to explain?)" filter thread.

.
Click to expand...

The Rokkor uses standard filters. FYI The original Rokkor made for the Leitz - Minolta CL is single coated. The later version made for the Minolta CLE is multi-coated. Both versions use 40.5 standard filters. The Summicron uses a non standard filter.
 
Last edited:
If I were you, I would look at R2A or even R4A for the frames ranging from 21 to 50 mm, and I would get one of the low priced but sound SLR's and a decent 85 mm lens for the longer lens option. Contrrary to what the RF manufacturers wanted people to believe, the RF cameras are no good beyond 50mm, and there is no benefit whatsoever in using the 75 Heliar on an RF as against slr. The R3A is basically good for the 50 and 75mm, the 40mm is a stretch, especially if you wear glasses.
 
I agree on the Rollei Sonnar. Yes, it's slower, and yes it's difficult to find, but if you look at Jari's stuff on flickr, and other photographers, you may be convinced. RFs are good at longer shutter speeds ... if it were me (and I had no worrie$!) I would get the Rollei and a fast 50 for when speed is of the essence. But we all got budgets, eh? 😉
 
About 40mm Nokton:


I went for it as my all around lens because of its speed / size... Yet I'm amazed at such a fast and small lens.


It works very well wide open -sharp, not soft- both for b&w and color, and I use my multicoated version constantly at f/1.4 without any problem.


I find its 1.4 bokeh pleasant in 95% of the shots. When focusing very close, wide open, and with intense highlights in the background, I use f/1.8 or f/2, and get great bokeh. For dedicated portrait sessions I got the old, big and heavy 90 f/2 Leica.



The 40mm Nokton is outstanding in my opinion for collecting all this... It's really an all around lens. You can shoot sharp landscapes at f/8 and wonderful portraits at f/1.4 and f/2... Other things are more or less important in a lens, but for an all around lens, being f/1.4 can sometimes be the difference between having the shot or not...


I would recommend the R3M instead of the R3A... It's “almost” automatic... Takes just one second more, but you're in charge always, and the camera never decides its blind light promedy for you... This way you become really automatic because you compensate in metered manual when scenes are too dark or too clear... With less electronics, it's tough, and lasts if beaten, apart from all speeds working without batteries... Even without any metering in camera or in hand, in emergency cases you will be able to make enough shots to get a perfectly exposed one... Always.

With AE, more than half your frames will lack proper exposure: it's a promedy... Just works when thanks God, the scene's light promedy was exactly equal to what a middle gray card would reflect placed into that scene... That means... Almost never!


When not on my Bessa-Ts, I use my 40 on my R4M and focus / compose easily too... Of course R3s' 1:1 viewfinder must be a joy...



Cheers.
 
Last edited:
Matus said:
To the Sonnar - what is the closest focus distance? Is the M bayonet or LTM mount? It is not easy to find example photos on Flickr as they mix with the Rollei 35 ones ...
Click to expand...

The Rollei 40mm Sonnar focuses to .7m (just under 2.5') and is a LTM supplied with an bayonet mount. It is a stunningly nice lens, and (IMHO) well worth tracking down!

Jim Couch
 
Have no fear, the 40/1.4 Nokton is a stunning lens. The bokeh is as good or better than the 35/2 "Bokeh King" at f2. No surprise, since the optical design is very similar. Ignore the internet critiques, all lenses can generate harsh bokeh occasionally, depending on background.

The R3* is very nice with 75mm due to isolated framelines. The 1:1 finder is great, but 40mm framelines are difficult to see with glasses.

The Summicron 40/2 uses hard to get series 5.5 filters. The CL and CLE Rokkor easy to get 40.5mm. Both focus down to 0.8m. The Nokton focuses down to 0.7m.

There is also the Pentax 43/1.9, a great lens, BTW.

Roland.
 
Last edited:
While mfogiel is correct about long lenses with RF cameras, I must second what Roland says. If I were starting out, I'd probably go for an R3[A/M] with a 40/1.4 and a 75mm Heliar.
 
ferider said:
The Summicron 40/2 uses hard to get series 5.5 filters. The CL and CLE Rokkor easy to get 40.5mm. Both focus down to 0.8m. The Nokton focuses down to 0.7m.

There is also the Pentax 43/1.9, a great lens, BTW.

Roland.
Click to expand...


I never use filters on RF lenses, so filter size is unimportant to me. If you plan to use filters for B&W photography, picking a lens with a standard filter size would be better for you.

As Roland has said above, the Pentax Limited 43mm 1.9 LTM lens is a wonderful lens. It has some qualities to it that make images look 3D and absolutely beautiful for portraits.

I once compared such a lens against the Summicron-C, and I was surprised how similar the images looked for the two lenses. It could be that for enlraged prints the Pentax will have the edge, but the Summicron-C holds up against the Pentax.
 
The R3M/A has the best framelines for the 75mm. They are solitary - no mixup with the 50 as with the M6/MP's etc. I tend to use the R3A/M for either the 75mm or 50 set up and the 40's are usually on a M2 (filed down claw to give me the 35 frame).
I have had no problem with focussing the R3 with either the 75f1.4 or the 90f2 (and the 50f1.1). Some people complain about the "short" rangefinder base - but I suspect that this is user-error rather than a function of the cameras!
 
A vote for the Rokkor-M 40mm, seems to be the best all-around lens I've used to date. Could it be faster? Yeah, but it has a real nice character and is tiny. 🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

kxl
I WANT (not need) another 35mm lens.
2
Replies
27
Views
927
38Deardorff
38Deardorff
aoresteen
FujiFilm Caps for 40mm filter Size Lenses
Replies
0
Views
104
aoresteen
aoresteen
jaredangle
Calibrating the Voigtlander Bessa R-series rangefinder mechanism
Replies
2
Views
535
monopix
monopix
R
Wide angle lens on M3?
Replies
19
Views
1K
ellisson
ellisson
I
Nikon Rangefinder compartment case. What am I missing?
Replies
14
Views
798
Imakebadphotos
I
Back
Top Bottom