Fast Lenses on R-D1

S

Sean Reid

Guest
For those who are interested, I just got the green light from my editor to do an article on fast lenses for the R-D1. I've requested the following:
From Leica: 35/1.4, 50/1.4, 50/1.0 Noct, 50/2.0, 75/1.4
From CV: 40/1.4, 35/1.2, 50/1.5

Did I miss any? The Leica 28/2 and 35/2 have already been tested as have the CV 28/1.9 and 35/1.7.

I have a feeling I'll want to buy some of these lenses after the review is done and that may, at the moment, require winning the lottery. If you read the article and like it, please feel free to send me a lottery ticket. <G>

Cheers,

Sean
 
Sean, if you're going to include the 50 Summicron, wouldn't it also make sense to include the Zeiss 50/2 Planar? My understanding is that Hasselblad has had it for a few weeks now.
Their most recent plan was also for the distributor to have the 25/2.8, 28/2.8, & 35/2 by the end of February as well. So, why not include the 35 Biogon if they can have a sample of that in your hands as well by the time you do the review. We're in the last week of February as we speak.

I hope you can work something out. I'm looking forward to the article & am going out now to buy the lottery ticket. ;)
 
Huck makes a good point. The rumor on the larger diameter of the Zeiss lenses is that they are really designed for a digital ZI camera. It would be very interesting to see them tested against the best of the currently available crop. :)
 
I'll contact them and see if they'll send the lenses. Thanks for the suggestions.

Sean
 
Zeiss is on the ball. In less than two hours my Zeiss contact called back from PMA in Florida and I should have the 25, 28, 35 and 50 to test soon.

Cheers,

Sean
 
Wow, that's quite a scoop! Too bad that all the film people will need to test the Zeiss lenses for themselves. :D

Looking forward to seeing if this "designed for digital" thing is just marketing or if it's real.
 
Wow! Way to go, Sean! :eek: I'm excited that you'll be getting these lenses - not only because thye will be included in your review, but because this means that it souldn't be long that they are also available to us! :D

BTW, is Hasselblad-USA your Zeiss contact ot were you speaking with someone from Carl Zeiss itself?

Best of luck with the new project, Sean. :)
 
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Designed for digital, per se, is legit (if it's done properly). A good lens for a digital RF needs to present the light to the sensor almost straight on. See my last lens review article for details if curious. Without new RF lens designs a FF RF would be impossible save for a major technological breakthrough - vignetting would be too strong with existing (known) sensors and microlens assemblies.

So, how well did Zeiss do? We'll find out. The real test would be to put the lenses on a FF digital RF but that isn't possible. yet

Sean

Huck,

Thanks, the 50s are already in the USA and most of the others are expected in about two weeks. I don't know when they'll be for sale. I'm speaking with Hassy.

Sean
 
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Hi Chris,

That test might have to come from someone else I'm afraid. 75mm is about the longest lens I'd consider using on the R-D1. Someone else up for a long lens test? I use SLRs for macro and telephoto work (I rarely do much of either) because those distances aren't an RF's forte, even when a long BL allows for focusing.

Cheers,

Sean
 
How about including the Konica M-Hexanon 35mm f/2 and 50mm f/2 lenses? In fact, I'd be interested in learning how any of the M-Hexanon lenses perform on an R-D1.
 
Perhaps....this is starting to look like a huge test. I'll think about the Konica idea, thanks.

Cheers,

Sean
 
Zeiss is up for it...

Zeiss is up for it...

Sean Reid said:
Zeiss is on the ball. In less than two hours my Zeiss contact called back from PMA in Florida and I should have the 25, 28, 35 and 50 to test soon.
Click to expand...
To me that means they are very confident about a comparison test... Interesting! :cool:
 
Sean Reid said:
That test might have to come from someone else I'm afraid. 75mm is about the longest lens I'd consider using on the R-D1. Someone else up for a long lens test?
Click to expand...

It's not really a 'test,' but during dress rehearsals last week for a ballet production of Romeo and Juliet I tried out using my old 85mm f/1.5 Canon on the R-D1.

I haven't got any pictures ready to post yet, but a few observations:

  • Just as you'd expect, RF focusing accuracy is fine even at full aperture as long as you're not shooting close-ups. I was shooting in the 30-to-50-foot range and had no focus errors.
  • I was surprised how well this oldie performed on the R-D1! Detail was very good.
  • Auxiliary viewfinders are a pain in the butt for action shooting.
  • Biggest problem: As discussed previously, when using an aux viewfinder, my nose wants to go RIGHT into the finder eyepiece! I got in the habit of keeping a clean handkerchief handy to wipe off the nose grease.

This experience -- mostly because of the auxiliary finder issues -- makes me think that using lenses longer than 50 on the R-D 1 is not so much an everyday practical thing as something you might want to try occasionally just for the heck of it. I certainly wouldn't want to buy an expensive long lens just to use on the R-D 1... too much of a PIA!

So, I don't think the utility of Sean's review will be compromised if he limits it to 75 and shorter. Whaddaya gonna use for a viewfinder for that 75mm lens, Sean?

Also, how about including one or two oldie LTM fast lenses for comparison, since so many of us have 'em? It would be interesting to see how much visible difference there is, for example, between the new Zeiss 50/2 and, say, a Canon 50/1.8...
 
Look forward to the results Sean!! Its nice to find this forum and share the so far "unique" RD-1 experience! I've had my unit for 4 months now and I have zero regrets about buying it. I sold my M7 and Noctilux to get it so it was a risky step. Anyway I tried a few different lenses so far: Hexanon 50/2 - VERY GOOD. VC 28/1.9 - FANTASTIC. JUPITER 50/1.5 -SUPRISINGLY GOOD VC 15/4.5 - GOOD BUT VIGNETTING IS UNACCEPTABLE UNLESS SHOOTING RAW AND USING SOFTWARE. V interested in VC 40/1.4 but may plump for the new zeiss 21/2.8 when it comes out instead as I'm getting funky results with the Jupiter believe it or not!! I tried a cheapo Jupiter 135/4 but its a waste really and I certainly won't go over 85mm again... Roll on the zeiss shipment!!
 
I'm wondering how well the CV 35/1.2 will perform on the R-D1 compared to the other 35's. My 35/1.4 ASPH has been simply stunning wide open (and I say this after having used some of Canon's best L's), but if the CV 35/1.2 is comparable to it on the R-D1, then more speed is always good. :D

The 35/1.4 ASPH clobbers the CV in the film comparisons I've seen, but digital is a different game entirely so you never know. For instance, the CV 28/1.9 and 28/3.5 both appeared to perform similarly well in the film shootouts but the 28/1.9 pulled ahead considerably in Sean's review. Digital is full of surprises!
 
It is interesting, isn't it? The 28/1.9 is indeed a much better lens than the 28/3.5 on the R-D1. I've got the CV lenses all lined up and the Zeiss lenses should be here in two weeks. Will get dates from Leica when they're back from PMA.

Sean
 
I've used my 90AA on the RD-1 and it focused pretty well. Had to guess at the framing.

Hmm, you'd need a 200mm shoe finder to use the 135/3.4 on this camera. Was any ever made?

The Zeiss lens I'm waiting for (and saving up for) is the 15/2.8. I already got the V/C special edition finder that translates it to a 24mm field of view on the RD-1. Anyone want to purchase my first born so I can afford the 15mm? Or I could sell my house and live in my car ; -)
 
The 90 AA is one of my favorite lenses on the R-D1. I will usually take along a kit which contains the Tri-Elmar, the 90AA, the Noctilux, and a wide fast lens. Right now I am awaiting release of the CV 21 Biogon for this purpose. The Leitz 135mm bright-line finder is ideal for the AA, and focusing has not been a problem.

Ed
 
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