Anyone using a Ultron 28/1.9 day to day with an R-D1?

I got one. Nice for B&W pictures most of all due to low contrast. Easy to use as the full finder area is a better match then the framelines to the actual picture size. IMO, a little bit soft wide at 2 and 2.8, don't know if this is my sample.
I use it mainly as my low light wide angle when I need 2.0. During daylight, I prefer the CV21 or 35 PII. Much smaller and lighter.
All in all, I have not experienced that much with it because, as said, I find it a bit too bulky for a normal day of shooting.
 
I really like the 28 Ultron and it does serve as my "normal" lens on my RD-1. A bit bulky but compared to some of the "four-thirds" lenses I have it's just fine.
Skopar 21 with external viewfinder makes a great walk around lens too.
 
I opted for the "P" version of the Skopar so no free finder. It would have been nice because I still have a Bessa T. The "D" finder with the Skopar has worked well for me with RD-1. The Ultron 28 still remains a favorite of mine.
 
35 best option on RD-1, IMHO

35 best option on RD-1, IMHO

I could almost answer yes, except that I don't use the RD-1 day-to-day, hahaha! But the ZM 28/2.8 and the RD-1 make a very, very nice combo, indeed! In fact, I compared and preferred it to the CV 28/1.9 and 28/3.5, though it's a tradeoff anyway you choose.

A note on personal preference: On RF cameras with integral VF/RF, I prefer the framelines that give more peripheral "outside-the-frame" view, without being too small. On a camera like the Zeiss Ikon, that means the 35 and 50. On the Rd-1, that means especially the 35. For me, the RD-1 works best with a 35 lens. There are a lot of great 35s to choose from, including the 35 Ultron you already have, but I've settled on ZM lenses. I think I'll really like the new C Biogon! Since you already have the 35 Ultron but still want to move to a 28, I guess that you are really set on using the 28 framelines! But maybe after usage you will come back to a 35?!

More food for thought: When I go wider, I usually step down to a 25 rather than the 28. The 28 lines are usually so crammed anyway that using the whole VF for a 25 just isn't that much of a sacrifice. My choice is finally determined by what I want from my other body (I almost always use the RD-1 in combo with a film body), and in theory I switch lenses between the two. So a 25 and 50 works well, giving me FLs of 25, 37, 50 and 75. Given the lenses you already have, I'll make the bold slightly OT suggestion of going for a Zeiss 25 Biogon. It would make a nice step between the 35 and the 21 you already have, and would work well on both film and digital bodies.
 
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i used to use the 28mm ultron as my "daily lens" for a while, until good fate gave me a 25mm biogon. i quickly found out that i do not need both, and sold the ultron.

both are about the same size - and that would be the only reason for me to wish for the 28mm biogon instead. beside that, the 25mm biogon works very well on the R-D1, and even it's size is not really an issue.

the biogon 2.0/35mm is a very nice choice, too, but on R-D1 i actually prefer the 25mm.


cheers,
sebastian
 
I use the Biogon ZM 28mm f/2.8

I use the Biogon ZM 28mm f/2.8

New question: is anyone using a Zeiss ZM 28/2.8 day to day?

I use it as my normal lens on the R-d1s.... indoors, I usually 'crank' it up to ISO 800... the f/2.8 is OK, but would love for it to be an f/2 🙂
 
I used the 28/1.9 Ultron on my R-D1 regularly, until the R-D1 was relegated to backup for the M8 & I got the 28/2 Summicron ASPH from Leica as part of the initial user/tester lens discount. Never had a problem w/the Ultron, though it is low in contrast wide-open (same goes to some extent w/the Summicron, which is not as contrasty wide-open as the 35/2 Summicron ASPH or 35/1.4 Summilux ASPH). It's definitely a great bargain compared to the Summicron.
 
The summicron 28 is a prize lens.

Here's a photo taken today with the Biogon 28
2564738274_eafd29dbc6_b.jpg
 
I really like the 28 Ultron and it does serve as my "normal" lens on my RD-1. A bit bulky but compared to some of the "four-thirds" lenses I have it's just fine.
Skopar 21 with external viewfinder makes a great walk around lens too.

ditto, exactly!🙂
 
I could almost answer yes, except that I don't use the RD-1 day-to-day, hahaha! But the ZM 28/2.8 and the RD-1 make a very, very nice combo, indeed! In fact, I compared and preferred it to the CV 28/1.9 and 28/3.5, though it's a tradeoff anyway you choose.

A note on personal preference: On RF cameras with integral VF/RF, I prefer the framelines that give more peripheral "outside-the-frame" view, without being too small. On a camera like the Zeiss Ikon, that means the 35 and 50. On the Rd-1, that means especially the 35. For me, the RD-1 works best with a 35 lens. There are a lot of great 35s to choose from, including the 35 Ultron you already have, but I've settled on ZM lenses. I think I'll really like the new C Biogon! Since you already have the 35 Ultron but still want to move to a 28, I guess that you are really set on using the 28 framelines! But maybe after usage you will come back to a 35?!

More food for thought: When I go wider, I usually step down to a 25 rather than the 28. The 28 lines are usually so crammed anyway that using the whole VF for a 25 just isn't that much of a sacrifice. My choice is finally determined by what I want from my other body (I almost always use the RD-1 in combo with a film body), and in theory I switch lenses between the two. So a 25 and 50 works well, giving me FLs of 25, 37, 50 and 75. Given the lenses you already have, I'll make the bold slightly OT suggestion of going for a Zeiss 25 Biogon. It would make a nice step between the 35 and the 21 you already have, and would work well on both film and digital bodies.
Good stuff and food for thought.
 
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