[Help] M8 or R-D1, and Lens

[aigts]

A few more questions.

1. Does the Nokton 40/1.4 or 35/1.4 obstruct the viewfinder like the bigger 35/1.2 and 50/1.1?

2. Does the 35mm bring up the 50mm frameline due to its crop sensor?

3. Since the frameline for 50mm is smaller, will this affect one's ability to focus accurately?

Thanks.

 

[menos]

A few more questions.

…
3. Since the frameline for 50mm is smaller, will this affect one's ability to focus accurately?

Thanks.

If you refer to the R-D1 - I can tell you, that with a 50 1.4, there is no trouble in focussing correctly, if the rangefinder of the camera is set properly and you have accommodated your eye point to the camera (the eye position regarding focussing is more critical with the R-D1, than with Leica rangefinders).

The x1.00 finder of the R-D1 really helps there. With Leica I prefer, to use a magnifier, to come as close to x1.00 as possible, to shoot the 50 Lux.

I find the R-D1 much more difficult to learn first because of this. Once you know how the camera behaves though, it is academical (a lot of skimping and adjusting in the beginning is normal with the R-D1).

 

[sevres_babylone]

A few more questions.

1. Does the Nokton 40/1.4 or 35/1.4 obstruct the viewfinder like the bigger 35/1.2 and 50/1.1?

2. Does the 35mm bring up the 50mm frameline due to its crop sensor?

Thanks.

These answers refer to the R-D1 only.
1. The 40mm does not obstruct the viewfinder.

2. You set the framelines yourself. With the 40mm you would choose the 35mm framelines over the 28mm or 50mm framelines which you would choose for 28mm and 50mm lenses respectively. The 35mm framelines bring up the 35mm framelines, but because there is a "cropped" sensor, what you see through them is approximately equivalent to what you would see with 50mm framelines on a 35mm film camera.

 

[aigts]

Thank you guys.

I am leaning towards to an M8 and 35/1.4 at the moment. I think one of the advantages of using a rangefinder is its compact size and that is what I want from this setup.

I have read that both 35/1.4 and 40/1.4 produce unpleasant bokeh wide open, and some distortion. Are these issues really that noticeable and problematic in real world shooting?

 

[maddoc]

M8 + 35mm Summilux-M pre-ASPH. As small as it gets, no distortion and that lens is sharp wide open but of lower contrast compared to more modern lens designs. Out-of-focus rendering is beautiful.

 

[aigts]

M8 + 35mm Summilux-M pre-ASPH. As small as it gets, no distortion and that lens is sharp wide open but of lower contrast compared to more modern lens designs. Out-of-focus rendering is beautiful.

Thanks. I will look into that as well. Is the Ultron 35mm 1.7 worth considering?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Well, I think the 35/1.7 Ultron is worth considering! I've only used it with my film cameras, but recently picked up an M8. It is not a small lens, but much smaller than the 35/1.2 -which I have never used. The Ultron is low-medium contrast, desirable for digital.

I have the Ultron and a Canon 35/2. I'll be trying both on the M8.

 

[Rob-F]

Thank you guys.

I am leaning towards to an M8 and 35/1.4 at the moment. I think one of the advantages of using a rangefinder is its compact size and that is what I want from this setup.

I have read that both 35/1.4 and 40/1.4 produce unpleasant bokeh wide open, and some distortion. Are these issues really that noticeable and problematic in real world shooting?

I think the 35/1.4 makes good sense. You never said that extreme low light work was a goal. Compactness is important to you. You will have that with the 35/1.4, not with the f/1.2.

As to Bokeh. I have the 40/1.4. I love it, but I can't say I've evaluated it from the standpoint of OOF rendering. I can say I have not seen anything in my images so far that I haven't liked. But I don't take many shots with OOF backgrounds, as I don't usually focus very close. Most of my subjects are at a distance of at least 8 or 10 feet or more.

Do you really need f/1.4? If not, how about a version 2 or 3 35/2 Summicron? Or how about picking up a CV 35/2.5 as a second lens to use when speed is not essential? The Bokeh will be fine with either.

Me, I would use the 28mm CV with the M8 in order to get the 42mm equivalent view. What a great walkaround focal length, and so compact!

 

[aigts]

Thanks for the input.

It's hard to choose!

 

[meven]

You can check some of my photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/from_max/tags/voigtlandernokton35mmf14sc/

They are all taken with the Nokton 35/1.4 SC mainly on the M8.

I use to have the Nokton 35/1.2 and sold it, it was too big. I did not regret switching to the 1.4 version.

I also use to own the RD-1 and sold it for the M8, the M8 is simply better, no doubt about that (IMHO).

 

[Ezzie]

Regarding ergonomics. I have the CV 35/1.4 and am borrowing the CV 35/1.2. The former works good enough for me on my R-D1, and is one of my two walk around lenses (the other being the CV 28/1.9). The 35/1.2 however is just too big and heavy on the camera for such duties. Fine as a special uses lens, but puts a sprain in your neck as a daily user. If I want big and chunky I use the dSLR. Which has a much better strap to boot.

 

[aigts]

Thanks, everyone. I will give M8 + CV35/1.4 a try.