Intro: new R3A user

[hiwatt]

Hi all,
after lurking for a couple of months I decided the time was ripe and grabbed a near mint R3A (decent deal, and 4.5 years residual warranty). I also got a 2.5 75 heliar with it and started shooting the first roll of Scala...it just feels right, great little camera.
I must admit that the difference with old/abused/cheap RFs is huge: focusing with the R3A is a pleasure.
I started off with the 75 for portraits but the reason I chose the R3A is for the Nokton 40 (for low light/street shooting): do you guys think the Nok'40 should be my next one or would you go for something wider (if so which one <$800)?
Ok don't wanna ask too much at the very beginning...but I want to add that so far (first roll still in the camera) it's been a great experience.
Peace,
Gus. 🙂

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R3A, Heliar75, 2xOly XA, Canonet GIII, Yashica GSN, Pentax 645, Sigma SD10, Sigma SA7, Minox GT ...

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I like my Nokton 40mm 1.4 for street.

But your style may vary. You may want longer or shorter.

If you get the Nokton consider whether you want multicoated or singlecoated.

 

[peter_n]

Welcome to the forum Gus! Lots of people like that 40 here and it would make a great pair with the 75. 🙂 If you care about the OOF area of a picture it seems to be a bit harsh wide-open but softens up as you stop down. A fast lens and great value!

 

[dcsang]

Welcome Gus !

As a former R3A user myself, I loved the 40mm - I prefer wide and I would use the 40mm as a "normal" lens (instead of the 50mm).

Beware though 🙂 You've got an M-mount camera now and you will eventually get seduced into playing with other M-mount lenses that have a brand name that starts with an "L" 😀

Cheers
Dave

 

[Philipp]

Hi Gus!

Like Dave said above, the 40mm is ideal as a normal lens. I like it very much, it's small, lightweigth, fast and gives great results. But beware, after a few weeks you might feel a strong need for a 21mm to complete your equipment! Or is this happening just to me? 🙂)

Philipp

 

[hiwatt]

Yes Philipp....you're right. In fact I was asking if I sould start with something wider: can you manage to get straight lines with a 21? Is the 28 much better in that compartment? Sorry but, as with every new camera body I get, I'm experiencing the mother of all GAS attacks!
Thanks, Gus.

...But beware, after a few weeks you might feel a strong need for a 21mm to complete your equipment! Or is this happening just to me? 🙂)
Philipp

 

[dcsang]

Yes Philipp....you're right. In fact I was asking if I sould start with something wider: can you manage to get straight lines with a 21? Is the 28 much better in that compartment? Sorry but, as with every new camera body I get, I'm experiencing the mother of all GAS attacks!
Thanks, Gus.

You can get decent lines with the 21mm - pretty straight imho - but you're not going to get "uber straight" as you would if the 21mm was a tilt/shift lens 😀

Personally, I like the perspective out of the 21mm; but I'm a "wide" man. I use my 21mm in place of the 28mm. I look at the 28mm like Dr Evil looked at his son Scott in the "Austin Powers" movies. The 28mm is the "diet coke" of wide angles; just not wide enough 😉

Cheers
Dave

 

[sockeyed]

The 40/1.4 Nokton is a great bet for a second lens, and to round things off, I would pick up a 25/4, which is my favourite street lens. It's not rangefinder-coupled, but is very easy to use with its clear DOF scale and click-stop focusing. The brightline finder that comes with it is great too. I tried the 21mm for a while, but found it looked too wide and dramatic, whereas the 25mm looks very natural to me.

I recently travelled with the 25mm, 40mm and 75mm, and I think that I used them (respectively): 40%/50%/10% of the time. They are all fantastic lenses.

 

[JohnL]

Welcome to the forum! I suspect that lenses wider than 40mm on the R3A will require accessory finders, or at least would benefit from same. Not a huge issue, but should be considered.