Best budget starter lens for R-D1?

[jimbobuk]

I've looked over the great reviews on the camera and lenses at luminouslandscapes.. without that site i'd effectively be blind of anything to do with this camera. I must look through the rest of that site when i can 🙂

Anyways, I think that I probably would like something wider rather than longer, having only just got a really wide lens for my DSLR I've seen the appeal of it, but for starters i want a lens that is rangefinder coupled and one of the standard lengths supported by the camera. To me that means 28 to keep it a little bit wider than the standard eye perspective.

Out of these I'm leaning towards the Voigtlander 28/1.9 lens.. its a bit more expensive, and a bit bigger than i'd perhaps like, I'm trying to push home the portability and discreetness of this new camera next to my 350D (a touch call when that body doesn't have its battery grip on and using the canon 50mm prime lens, its a surprisingly small camera).

Its nice and fast, better with vignetting and sharp to its corners relative to the other 28mm lens.. That its nice in black and white does appeal but i'm just a bit worried that the lower contrast that makes it good for b&w along with giving the range of the sensor a bit more breathing room may take a little bit of punch out of the colour shots I expect to take more of, at least until i get addicted to the output in b&w perhaps.

I know a lot of people on here are fans of this lens, do you think it'd be a suitable starter lens for me?

Oh and i'm used to buying protection filters for my canon lenses, does everyone mostly do this when they can with these lenses.. if so which are the ones best suited to it?

Cheers

Jim

 

[KEH]

Hi Jim - if you were willing to go with a 'standard' field of view, then I can heartily recommend the CV 35 2.5 Classic - cheap and extremely sharp, good flare resistance.

Example here

Cheers,
Kirk

 

[JoshRoot]

The 28/1.9 is a fine lens for the RD1. I have one and use it often, but it isn't a small lens. And there are probably other budget choices.

The 35/2.5 mentioned above is a fine bargin, not to mention compact and light. Another option would be an older Canon 35mm if you could find it. The 35/1.7 is probably a bit more expensive, but is a great lens as well (even though I am likely selling mine). 40/2 summicrons are very sharp, but that's getting a bit long for most people's "normal". The Voigt 25/4 is a great lens and a good price, but can hardly be considered "fast".

 

[saxshooter]

Hi Jim, I'd go with the 28 1.9. You don't have to get an aux vf and you've got a speedy lens. As to protective filters, I used to use them all the time on my SLR glass but the type of photography I do there is sometimes the light source in the frame which can result in "filter flare", so now I go without.

 

[Gid]

The 28 1.9 is a great lens onthe RD-1. The early shots in my gallery are with it. It is a little on the big size, but not huge. However, I used the 35 1.7 more because of the size - most of the later shots in my gallery are with this lens. I have since sold the 28 because it wasn't getting much use - prefer the near 50 FOV from the 35. Also I'm now selling my 35 1.7 (see FS) as I picked up a 35 'cron at a good price - don't really know if it is any better, but couldn't resist a deal.

Good luck in your choice.

Regards

Gid

 

[Sean Reid]

I'm glad the reviews were helpful. The comments above are right in-line with what my recommendations would be. The 28/1.9 is an excellent lens but it isn't compact. The CV 35/2.5 is both excellent and compact. In fact, I keep thinking I should grab one.

Cheers,

Sean