Lens question

[spxxxx]

Hi

New to this forum and on the way to get the R-D1 when I can pluck up courage ......

My question has probably been asked before but here goes........

I will of course have spent far too much when I purchase the body to have much left over for expensive NEW Leica lenses so I need advice on the best reasonably priced used lenses for this camera in say 35mm and 50mm as most of my shooting would be covered by this. (50mm / 75mm)

You members have probably got between you every lens going so let me know and also what would be the average price to pay for your reccommendations.


Many thanks

Simon

 

[sevres_babylone]

I was in a similar position to you when I bought my R-D1 last year. That is, I didn't own any Leica or other 35mm rangefinder lenses either. I ended up buying 2 new Voigtlander lenses. The 35mm 2.5 PII (m-mount) and the Nokton 50 mm 1.5 which does require a converter. I have been very pleased with this combination, although someday I will get a faster 35 (or go for the Nokton 40mm) and a smaller 50mm. I use the 35 about 70 per cent of the time, and find that it and the R-D1 make a comfortable combination for street shooting.
A used Nokton 50mm is being advertised on this forum's classifieds for $270. There is also a Voigtlander 35mm 1.7 ultra being advertised there, with an M adapter whio could be used for both lenses, if necessary, since the issue of pulling up particular framelines doesn't come up with the R-D1.
If you haven't already, I would encourage you to read Sean Reid's review/articles on lenses for the R-D1. Both of the two lenses offered in the classifieds are reviewed by him at:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/fastlensreview.shtml

 

[spxxxx]

Cheers for the quick reply........

Simon

 

[pfogle]

Well, my first lens was the 40/1.4 Nokton, very good and cheap. I regularly use a Jupiter 8 50mm f2 that cost less than 30 GBP - there are lots of excellent inexpensive lenses to try out 🙂

 

[RML]

Some lenses that don't break the bank:

Jupiter-8 50/2 (LTM, so add an LTM-M adapter)
Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2
CV 25/4

 

[wlewisiii]

Good stuff already mentioned. I'll simply add comments for my two favorite lenses, in alpha order, the Canon 50/1.8 & the Leica Summicron Collapsible 50/2. These are both normals that can be found relativly inexpensivly. Since you are intending to use your lens on an RD-1, that does change things a bit 🙂 but still, I'd take either lens over anything else irregardless of crop factor. YMWV. Take it from there...

Good luck & good light,

William

 

[Steve Litt]

My Personal favorite with my RD-1 -ie used 95% of the time me being a one camera one lens at a time person- is the 40mm summicron .I find it compact fast to focus and it is just as good for B/W and colour, drawing well with the RD-1 sensor. I got mine off E/bay for £180.00 in the UK which seems the average price.It makes a slightly long standard at 60mm and the 35mm frame lines of the RD-1 fit its FOV better (to me) than they do my 35mm voigt.

Regards

Steve.

 

[spxxxx]

Cheers for the info...... as my interests lie more with the B+W it is interesting about the 40mm summicron........

It will come down to the best deal - I think between the 40mm and 50mm summicron - any advice on the best ranges of serial no's to go for or year of manufacture?

Simon

 

[LCT]

...I think between the 40mm and 50mm summicron - any advice on the best ranges of serial no's to go for or year of manufacture?

Summicron-C 40mm f/2 # 11542 (1972-1977) serial # from 2,5xx,xxx to 2,8xx,xxx approx.
Summicron-M 50mm f/2 # 11819 (1978-1994) serial # from 2,9xx,xxx to 3,6xx,xxx approx.
I own both and even 3 copies of the 40/2. 🙄
You cannot go wrong with those little gems.
Best,
LCT

 

[Bob Parsons]

I use a 50mm Summicron serial #3,618,xxx which has the focus tab. The tab makes it so easy and fast to focus, it's well worth trying to find one with this feature.


Bob.

 

[LCT]

I use a 50mm Summicron serial #3,618,xxx which has the focus tab...

Must be a # 11819, Bob.
Best,
LCT

 

[peterbilitch]

Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2

Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2

Hi,

Although I have Leica glass in the form of 35/2 asph and 50/1.4 non-asph, before I sold my R-D1 (which I inevitably regret) I almost exclusively used a Minolta 40/2

The Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2 produces similar results as seen from modern Leica lenses and yet costs about 200 GBP on the second-hand market.

Most of the images in my gallery were shot using this lens and as can be seen, the images have the distinctive hue of the 'Leica Look'

It is interesting to note that whilst this lens was produced by Minolta, it was made to the same specifications as Leica set for their own lens.

In addition, as mentioned by Steve Litt, the field of view given by the Epson R-D1 35mm framelines exactly matches the field of view of a 40mm focal length and this I assume is the reason for Voigtlander producing the recent 40mm f/1.4 lens.

I can also add that the focusing movement is very smooth.

Peter

p.s. I just located one for sale on eBay at the moment:- Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2

 

[LCT]

...The Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2 produces similar results as seen from modern Leica lenses... the field of view given by the Epson R-D1 35mm framelines exactly matches the field of view of a 40mm focal length...

I own that lens as well (CLE version) and its results are very close to those of the Summicron-C 40/2 as well as the Summicron-M 35/2 4th version.
They are not as sharp as modern Leica lenses but their OOF rendition is smoother obviously.
See:
http://www.leica-camera.com/cgi-bin/discus_e/discus.pl?pg=prev&topic=2&page=118756
However i've had some focusing problems with the Rokkor on the R-D1, mainly at short distance, so that i don't use it anymore. Maybe it comes from my copy, i don't know.
As for the field of view, it is the same as that of the Summicron-C and i use the 35mm frame of the R-D1 as well but the 50mm frame is more accurate a short instance with both lenses IMHO.
Best,
LCT

 

[spxxxx]

WOW

Thats what makes a good forum............

All this info is invaluable....... I think I will probably go for a used 40/f2 as mentioned previously.

Thanks for all the info....

Just got to decide on new or used R-D1......


Simon

 

[Steve Litt]

Anyone looking for a 40mm Summicron-one has just been listed by mwclassic.com for £159.00 (about $295 USD).I have no affliliation with them but have had good service from them in the past and check their update every week just in case!
Steve

 

[spxxxx]

What an excellent site........

Many thanks

Simon