A couple of 15mm heliar questions

[JT2007]

I'm going to buy a wide angle lens for my R-D1. I've got the 35mm and 50mm covered with a Color-Skopar and some Jupiters and now's the time to finally get the essential wide angle to my set.

The 15mm Heliar (22.5mm on the R-D1) would be ideal. I'm not so much into landscape etc. photography and most of my pictures have human subjects. I would greatly appreciate if you could show me some examples of shots taken with the R-D1 and Heliar 15mm combo where there's a person or more people relatively near to the lens (0.3m --> max 2 meters away).

Does anyone have any experience of shooting with R-D1 + Heliar 15mm WITHOUT the auxilliary viewfinder? I mean shooting all you can see from the R-D1 original vf frames + getting some more and maybe cropping later? Or does the strong vignetting make this style not so recommendable?

Also does anyone have a picture or know a link for one where I could see the focusing scale of the 15mm Heliar?

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[victoriapio]

JT2007,

I assume you know that you will have to work close, very close, did I say close? :>) when photographing people with the 15mm/Rd1. A 15mm becomes a 24 more or less on the Rd1. But excellent people shots are of course, possible.

This link will take you to my web site with some shots with the Rd1s and a 50 cron, the 15mm Heliar and the 21mm biogon (which is my preferred lens for people street shots both on the Rd1s (which I sold) and my current M8. http://www.ocgarzaphotography.com/gallery2/v/EpsonRd-1Swork/

Incidentally I loved the 15mm however I left it on a bus in London in July and haven't replaced it... yet. Keep in my the 15mm will vignette on the Rd1.

Hope it helps,

O.C.

 

[kbg32]

It is optimal if you use the 15 + RD-1 with finder. There are no internal framelines in the RD-1 that come close to the coverage of this lens. After a while you can get an idea of what the lens covers without using the finder.

 

[JT2007]

Thanks for the replys!

My basic problem is this. I've got experience of a 28mm wide-angle with a film camera and feel comfortable with it - if I could get a 28mm equivalent wideangle for the R-D1 I'd do it. But my options are 32mm equivalent (21mm) or the 22mm equivalent (15mm). So my dilemma is that which is worse: the reduced angle of view (28mm-->32mm) or the possible extensive distortion of people subjects close to the camera (super-wide heliar).

 

[yavaro]

Hi Jt2007,

For the moment it's my only lens on my new rd1...
I love the vignette and because it's not a RF coupled, you can not focus using the finder and that give you the liberty to make pictures without looking to the finder!!

Also you can put the frame at 28mm to have an idea that what you will get.
You can see some of my (new rangefinder user) pictures with the 15mm SWH on my flickr link.

 

[yavaro]

I don't think there is so much distortion with the SWH.

the people where at 1,5m.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yavaro/2761855061/

 

[yanidel]

You are probably better off with the 21mm. Distortion on the 15MM is very high when shooting people from very close and if you are not close, they will look far. 32mm will ressemble more the 28mm look than 22.5.
Yet I myself prefer the 15mm, it gives you more creative views.
Here are a few links of shots I took with the 15mm + RD1 to give you an idea :
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=89392&ppuser=20969
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=86912&ppuser=20969
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=86259&ppuser=20969
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=86465&ppuser=20969
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=89143&ppuser=20969

 

[drewbarb]

You could go with the Zeiss 18mm f4 Distagon, giving an effective 27mm lens on the RD-1... There was a recent thread here about this lens, and an excellent review by Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz. The review can be found here- http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/reviews 18 zeiss.html

 

[victoriapio]

You could go with the Zeiss 18mm f4 Distagon, giving an effective 27mm lens on the RD-1... There was a recent thread here about this lens, and an excellent review by Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz. The review can be found here- http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/reviews 18 zeiss.html

Yes I have heard good things about this lens too. But keep in mind the difference between a 21mm and an 18mm is 3mm - or 1.5mm on either side of the frame. So a 32mm lens (a 21mm on the Rd1) is only 2mm wider on either side of the frame. A "half-step" back and poof, you have the 28 fov.

O.C.

 

[Leica All Day]

Hello jt2007, first let me apologize because these were taken with an m6 and tri-x, unfortunately I don't have a rd-1....but I hope these pictures will give you an example of what the lens is like for taking portraits with the vc 15mm......

Kathamdu, Nepal

Calcutta, India

cheers, michael

 

[JT2007]

Very nice portait's you have gotten with the Heliar! The Zeiss is out my price range, and as Yanidel said the 21 would work better as a replacement for a 28mm (35mm film) lens but I'll still take a chance with the Heliar. Thanks for your input!