Best walkaround lens for R-D1?

[Durr3]

I have decided to keep the R-D1. I had the RF adjusted and it works fine now. I would like some advise on a walkaround lens for it. I have a 35 Cron and a 50 Lux, but I think a wider view would be better. What do you all think?

Thanks for any advise.

Durr

 

[erikhaugsby]

The CV 28/3.5 is another great lens, but it does get kind of long on the RD-1.

Have you looked at user pictures from the Zeiss 25/2.8? That's one incredible lens, right there. Unfortunately, it does cost nearly $1k. 🙁

 

[Revolucion Artistico]

I just picked up an RD-1 this weekend at the Carson,CA camera show and spent all day yesterday and today trying all my lenses and seeing what I like best. So far it's the CV 28 3.5 and my Canon 50 1.2. I prefer my 28 over my 21 due to the built in frame lines, the speed differance is almost non-existent so far though. The 28 turning into roughly a 40 is no big deal to me, still plenty wide for most indoor shots.

 

[akptc]

I really like the form factor of the 28mm Ultron on the RD1. It allows me to hold the camera by the lens in my left hand, very comfy.

 

[bellyface]

I really like the form factor of the 28mm Ultron on the RD1. It allows me to hold the camera by the lens in my left hand, very comfy.

Yes, it is well balanced and I think it adds a certain trademark look to the image... not the bokeh, just it's shallow focus I guess. Stellar performer... my other fave is the 40 1.4 nokton...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanaguiar/page2/

 

[RichC]

I've got a Canon Serenar 28/3.5 for when I want a wide-ish walkaround lens - it's cheaper and vignettes less than the CV 28/3.5. As this tiny (19 mm thick) lens was designed not to use a hood, having a recessed front element, it's really compact.

It's relatively common so not too expensive, and seems pretty sharp to me, holding its own against my modern CV lens (albeit lower in contrast - which I like as I get more shadow detail).

See http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Canon_Wideangles.html

 

[Kent]

Anything that performs well and offers an 35mm equivalent... 😉

 

[Gid]

I usually stick a 35 on - I like the 50mm FL on 35 mm - either a CV 35 2.5 or a Hexanon 35 2.0 and use the 2 foot zoom. The next most used is a 50.

 

[georgef]

Yes, it is well balanced and I think it adds a certain trademark look to the image... not the bokeh, just it's shallow focus I guess. Stellar performer... my other fave is the 40 1.4 nokton...

Exacto mondo! The 28 ultron has become my std lens (i like the field of view and size) and the 40 nokton my second (mainly for very low light).

I bought the EPSON for the purpose of shooting available light streetscapes, so at 1.9 and 1.4 respectively these lenses are perfect for me.

 

[Steve Litt]

I have my 40mm Cron on most of the time and if I had a 35mm cron would probably stick with that.Second lens 50 cron 3rd 28 3.5 VC.One day I may try a VC 21 but it would only be occasional for me.

Regards
Steve

 

[Terao]

Zeiss 25mm Biogon, no contest in my opinion. The only time it leaves my R-D1 is when I need something faster.

If you can't stretch to it financially go for the new Voigtlander 25/4 P

 

[boilerdoc2]

Notice the adjustable frame lines for 28-35-50. There is one lens that perfectly matches these.....Leica TriElmar. Don't leave home without it.
Cheers!
Steve

 

[tomasis]

As Gid said, 35mm'd be best single walkaround lens. I see 35lux as the best candidate IMHO.

for durr who has already 35mm, so 21/4 CV might be good due relatively small size

 

[AhShun]

walkaround with a Canon 28/2.8
28 Ultron with purpose

 

[LCT]

...I have a 35 Cron and a 50 Lux, but I think a wider view would be better. What do you all think?...

If you have 'asph' lenses and like them, you should like the Summicron 28/2 and the Elmarit 28/2.8 asph very much as well.
The Summicron is a bit less contrasty and its bokeh is smoother but it is bigger and more expensive of course.
If i had to keep one 28 only it would be certainly the Summicron but i would miss the small size of the Elmarit for travelling light and street photography mainly.

 

[Didier]

Durr,

I'd use a 25 or 28 as third lens on the R-D1. I've tried to walk around with the 21mm and 28/35 minifinder, but external finders and everyday-walkaround did not work out for me.

The CV 25 and 28 Skopars are small and affordable, but slower, the CV 28 Ultron faster and still affordable, but bigger, the Biogon 2.8/25mm being probably the sharpest knife on the block but on a higher level as well for price and size. If this does not matter for you then go for it.

Didier

 

[RichC]

😀 Good: got my Canon 28/3.5 today - what a nice-looking and performing, and well-built, lens!

😡 Bad: got gouged £20 by customs (fair enough) plus £20 "administration" by the courier - that's £40 ($80) = one-third of what the lens cost me!

 

[jvr]

If you like the 35mm FOV on a film camera, I would go with a 24/25 (you can almost use the whole VF as "framelines". The new 25/4 CV Skopar is a good choice for a slower, more compact lens, the only issue on the Epson will be a bit of vignetting (but that's to expect). I bought one for try it and that's the "walkaround" lens of the moment, it plays the role of my 35 Summaron on my M3. If you need more speed (and may pay the price), I would go with the Zeiss 25 (I have the 21/2.8 and the 25 must be as good, at least... 🙂.

If you lean to the 28mm look on your film cameras, then there is no clear choice: a 21 is not enough, and a 15 wider than you would probably like.

As a personal note, I bought the 21/2.8 Biogon to use as my walkaround lens but (in spite of very, very good image quality) I'm using it less and less, especially for 3 factors:

1) Too bulky - and I don't need 2.8 90% of the time when "walking around"
2) External VF mandatory - extra logistics
3) Too wide, but not enough... 🙂

So... I usually "walkaround" with the 25/4 on the camera and the 15mm on the pocket: if I'm going to use an external VF, at least let's go really wide... 🙂

If I need more speed, that's another story. At night, my walkround lens would be the 28 Ultron (now replaced by a 28 Summicron ASPH - I'll post on that) or the 40/1.4 Nokton (or if I'm into weight lifting, the 35/1.2 Nokton. Really.).