Fast Lenses on R-D1

mfs said:
Any results yet with the 75 mm f 1.4???

What finder will (or did you use)????

Martin
Click to expand...

Hi Martin,

The 75/1.4 *can* be focused accurately by the R-D1. I don't know what it's batting average will be yet but the combination can hit the focus mark. I'm not using any special finder with it right now - just guestimating inside the 50mm frame lines.

Sean
 
I've done some more focus tests with the 75/1.4 and basically my conclusion is that if the photographer can focus the rangefinder image exactly, the lens will focus properly. Does the R-D1 base length allow this? Yes...one just has to be very careful and be sure that one's eye is centered exactly over the RF patch. So...if you can do it, it can do it.

The OOF areas with this lens are quite beautiful.


Cheers,

Sean
 
Both the Leica 35/1.4 and 50/1.4 are razor sharp wide open. They're my favorite lenses in the test so far.

Sean
 
Huck,

You're very welcome.

Aizan,

Thanks very much but I'm swimming in lenses now so I better stop where I am.

Cheers,

Sean
 
Sean, are you testing the Leica 50/1.4 pre-ASPH or the ASPH? The ASPH is running quite rare these days since Leica seems behind on their production...
 
I am testing the 50/1.4 ASPH and based on what I'm seeing, it's no wonder they're in demand.

Sean
 
Thanks. I had heard that the pre-ASPH was a little weak wide-open, but I'm glad to hear that the ASPH has remedied that -- and then some, from the sound of it. :D
 
Sean:

I really enjoyed your LL reviews. When do you think your fast lens review will be available and where will it be published? (Sorry if you mentioned this somewhere earlier and I just missed it.)

Thanks.
 
Welcome to RFF. This is definitely the "R-D1 Central" forum. Thanks for your comments on the articles. The new one will be published on LL and I hope to have it ready by mid-April.

Cheers,

Sean
 
Sean Reid said:
Hi Martin,

The 75/1.4 *can* be focused accurately by the R-D1. I don't know what it's batting average will be yet but the combination can hit the focus mark.
Sean
Click to expand...

I have the same experience ... after initial difficulties the lens is growing fast on me. The nr of hits (wide open -- close-up) is growing with use. I went from 1 out of five the 1st day to about 3 out of 5 at the moment. That' s quite acceptable i think for somebody who never used a rangefinder before and wears glasses.
You have to focus it realy carefull .......very little room for driving error!

Han
 
Hi Han,

You do indeed to be careful. I don't wear glasses and have been using rangefinders for 20 years. I can still miss with the 75/1.4 from time to time, largely because of the R-D1's short baselength. It's easy to be a little ahead or behind of the intended focus distance even when the rangefinder patch looks good. Mostly...however, they've been in focus.

Cheers,

Sean
 
I've had much the same experience with my 85mm Sonnar. My success rate at f/2 was initially mediocre, but then I adapted to the R-D1's RF behavior and things improved dramatically. I've been using the lens far more than I'd expected to and have become pretty good at accurately framing inside the 50mm framelines.

-Dave-
 
Sean Reid said:
Welcome to RFF. This is definitely the "R-D1 Central" forum. Thanks for your comments on the articles. The new one will be published on LL and I hope to have it ready by mid-April.

Cheers,

Sean
Click to expand...

Thanks Sean.

I am a long-time photography enthusiast (about 30 years, starting with a TLR) and recent digital (Canon SLR) and film RF (contax G2) enthusiast -- to me, using both film and digital is really fun and provides a totally different experience.

Am thinking about going the M-mount route, either with a Leica or Zeiss-Ikon (waiting to see what it's like) film body but would like to also have the digital option down the road. Another option is the R-D1 only without a film M-mount body, but I *really* like the M7!

You're reviews will greatly help me with my decision.

Have you written on film RFs?
 
There is something about a properly adjusted R-D1 rangefinder which I have never noticed with a Leica (SM or M) or with other RF cameras. Despite the short RF base, when the RF is on target the fused images "clarify" in a notiiceable way. This is unlike the "snapping ito focus" which an M will do, and it's hard to find the words to describe it. It's actually like the effect with an autofocus SLR when focus is attained. I think it is due to the adjustable field lens array in the RF path which "sharpens" the RF patch when the images are correctly placed / fused.

In any case, has someone else noticed this effect? I didn't recognize it initially, and tried to use the rangefinder as with an M--with only fair results on fast lenses wide open. My vision is not that good, I'm very nearsighted and in addition my left eye (which I prefer) had surgery a few years ago, so I rely on my right eye. Nonetheless I can trust my remaining vision to focus the 75/1.4 or the 50/1 really easily.

Ed
 
I've noticed that effect when trying to focus on ruler markings for the close-distance-focusing-accuracy "ruler test."

I had assumed that it was simply a side effect of the short RF base length: with a longer base length, you'd be able to perceive a displacement in the RF patch with a slight misfocus, but with the R-D 1 the displacement is below the eye's threshold of sensitivity -- the RF image simply looks blurry, instead of displaced. Once you get it right, though, the blurriness disappears very abruptly, just as you describe.

Not sure which explanation makes more sense, as I'm not positive I understand the effect of the adjustable field lens. I'm hoping the Japanese R-D 1 book of which I just ordered a copy from Mike has a nice diagram of the RF mechanism that will help make things clear (no pun intended!)
 
Ed, what you've described is what I see too. There's a zone within which the two finder images appear to coincide, but within that there's a distinct point where the combined image pops. Once I realized this my success rate with longer lenses, and even shorter lenses at close range, went way up.

-Dave-
 
I agree about this effect as well, which seems more pronounced if you make use of the 1:1 viewfinder and keep both eyes open. I find that using the "clarifying" effect is the best way to achieve accurate focus using the camera in this way.
 
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