Need advice, I have blindly fallen in love!

[umcelinho]

I'm in fact trying to find an used LTM 12mm but it has been quite difficult lately 🙁
In other news, I've bought today an R-D1s from a friend. We had swapped his R-D1s for my X100 but he decided to undo the trade, I gave it back with a broken heart. Mended heart now!

Btw, for a 35mm equiv, I've already used the 21/1.8 Ultron and it's a fantastic combination, will give enough low light speed and shallower dof, the 21/2.8 Biogon was pretty good as well and considerably lighter and more compact, would give some subject separation as well.

 

[teleparallel]

Hello everyone!

So I have got a bit of a problem!

I have:
Two Fuji X-Pro1's
Fuji 35mm 1.4
18mm 2.0
Canon F-1N
50mm 1.8
28mm 2.8
135mm 2.8

Didn't your bag appeared at Japan Camera Hunter?

I don't have a R-d1. But I have a a film Bessa rangefinder, which is close, just with film, apparently. If the epson is like the film versions, you won't regret it. My R4A have gorgeous finder, and fells really good. I think people tend to overlook non leica stuff. Try it out, if you have the money to spare. If it doesn't work, sell it.

Best of luck.

 

[umcelinho]

i wish the R-D1 would come with an R2 viewfinder... the 1:1 mag is sweet, but using a 21 to get a 35mm equiv (in this case 32mm) is a bit clumsy, takes some effort to get used to estimating the field of view. For those who like 40m and longer, it's perfect, but with a lower mag it'd be more versatile. But i understand that most people have 35mm and up lenses, i can see where they came from.

 

[anerjee]

I'm in fact trying to find an used LTM 12mm but it has been quite difficult lately 🙁
In other news, I've bought today an R-D1s from a friend. We had swapped his R-D1s for my X100 but he decided to undo the trade, I gave it back with a broken heart. Mended heart now!

Btw, for a 35mm equiv, I've already used the 21/1.8 Ultron and it's a fantastic combination, will give enough low light speed and shallower dof, the 21/2.8 Biogon was pretty good as well and considerably lighter and more compact, would give some subject separation as well.

Which viewfinder are you using?

 

[witzansky]

Didn't your bag appeared at Japan Camera Hunter?

I don't have a R-d1. But I have a a film Bessa rangefinder, which is close, just with film, apparently. If the epson is like the film versions, you won't regret it. My R4A have gorgeous finder, and fells really good. I think people tend to overlook non leica stuff. Try it out, if you have the money to spare. If it doesn't work, sell it.

Best of luck.

Yes it did, but I send it a while back. - Only got more of a rangefinder fetich since then

 

[aldobonnard]

I have an M8, X-Pro1, R-D1. Or should I say "had an X-Pro1" (sold after 2 months)... The x-pro1 is a great camera, really one of the best, high spec, high tech, but not for manual focusing, not for manual lenses. No discussion on that, it's just rubbish with M lenses as long as Fuji don't bring an x-pro2 with a split focusing screen (if it's any good then, to be confirmed).
The R-D1 VF is bigger than M6 (0.72) and as precise ultimately. The baselength is shorter but it's 1:1 so it's quite accurate for all M lenses. Only lenses like 90/2.8 or 90/2 will have some misses. In case, use a magnifier (japanexposures), I have one and it's very useful for the Nokton 50.
Yes the R-D1 is scarce and much sought for, so be patient and don't rush...
The VF can be adjusted easily, either yourself or a good shop (there are in Paris and London, don't know elsewhere).
At the end of the day, the x-pro1 is sublime, yes, but it's not fun nor great to shoot with, imho. The R-D1 is rather the full quid. A classic.

 

[steveclem]

They are just damn fine cameras. Great colour rendition,sublime design and an absolute classic.

 

[witzansky]

I have an M8, X-Pro1, R-D1. Or should I say "had an X-Pro1" (sold after 2 months)... The x-pro1 is a great camera, really one of the best, high spec, high tech, but not for manual focusing, not for manual lenses. No discussion on that, it's just rubbish with M lenses as long as Fuji don't bring an x-pro2 with a split focusing screen (if it's any good then, to be confirmed).
The R-D1 VF is bigger than M6 (0.72) and as precise ultimately. The baselength is shorter but it's 1:1 so it's quite accurate for all M lenses. Only lenses like 90/2.8 or 90/2 will have some misses. In case, use a magnifier (japanexposures), I have one and it's very useful for the Nokton 50.
Yes the R-D1 is scarce and much sought for, so be patient and don't rush...
The VF can be adjusted easily, either yourself or a good shop (there are in Paris and London, don't know elsewhere).
At the end of the day, the x-pro1 is sublime, yes, but it's not fun nor great to shoot with, imho. The R-D1 is rather the full quid. A classic.

Thank you for the reply and for letting me know about the magnifier (but it seems they are sold out!)
The plan is to keep one x-pro1 and 1 or 2 autofocus lenses.

 

[witzansky]

What about lenses then?
I'm thinking either the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 or 50mm f1.1 if I can find the last one at a good price. I know its a big heavy lens, but... f1.1 wauw...
When I had my Canon, I dreamed about the 50mm 1.2!

 

[teleparallel]

What is you favorite focal length on the x-pro? 50 1.1 sounds cool but remember that the effectivel FOV is 75mm. You do have 1.2/35mm Voigtlander.

 

[witzansky]

What is you favorite focal length on the x-pro? 50 1.1 sounds cool but remember that the effectivel FOV is 75mm. You do have 1.2/35mm Voigtlander.

Well, I prefer a 50mm equivalent lens. I shoot mostly with the Fuji 35mm 1.4.
maybe the 50mm is a bit too long.
But then again, the 35mm 1.2 is a lot more expencive, right?

When I look at reviews on the 50mm 1.1 it is very mixed. Some like it at say its sharp, some don't!
I love shooting wide open, and would love a 1.1 or 1.2

 

[le-alain]

What about lenses then?
I'm thinking either the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 or 50mm f1.1 if I can find the last one at a good price. I know its a big heavy lens, but... f1.1 wauw...
When I had my Canon, I dreamed about the 50mm 1.2!

Nokton 35mm classic SC 1.4 is very good, small, not too expensive,
Nokton 50mm 1.5, very good too but with more a caractère, great for portrait, sharp in center at 1.5, very sharp > 2.8
Heliar 75mm 2.5, not too big, very good for portrait
21mm f4, very small, not expensve, and excellent even at f4 all over the frame
12mm if you like UWA, need a finder, need cornerfix, expensive
I found it better than 15mm on RD1, the corner are worst (color, light fall, resolution)

and you have all Leitz Leica alternative, all brands LTM mount, very good 5cm f1.4 or 1.5 can be found under 200$

 

[flyalf]

The RD-1 is imo The Sweetest Digital. Its handling is better than the Leicas. If you can do with the limitation in pixels its a non-brainer. One lens I highly recommend is the Jupiter 8 50/1,5 (the MC "P" version). It has a very nice rendering. Best of luck!

Edit: the Jupiter is bugdet lens, you can do great bang for bucks.

 

[gdi]

I have had 3 R-D1s, an X-Pro1, and M8s and an M9. The R-D1 simply handles beautifully, esecially compared to the Leica digitals. It was a fabulous design. The image quality of the Epson is very good, I especially like it with low contrast lenses, like a CV 28/1.9, in B&W.

But, of the three R-D1s I had, two had to be returned to Epson for major faults. The last one had to go to Japan and cost a lot of money to fix. If I had that camera today, it would likely be an unfixable paper weight since Epson ceased service. I think the "x" model is still being serviced, I would try one of those if I had to have one....

 

[teleparallel]

Well, I prefer a 50mm equivalent lens. I shoot mostly with the Fuji 35mm 1.4.
maybe the 50mm is a bit too long.
But then again, the 35mm 1.2 is a lot more expencive, right?

When I look at reviews on the 50mm 1.1 it is very mixed. Some like it at say its sharp, some don't!
I love shooting wide open, and would love a 1.1 or 1.2

Yeah, the 35 1.2 is more expensive. But I think it's the one if you're looking for super speed and such. I think you'd regret to buy the 50 1.1 just because it's fast and not using it because it's long.

They are big too.

I wonder in the future having a 35/1.2 for my current bessa, to shoot in dark situations without relying in higher speed films. At the same time, I think it's bulky and expensive. So it's far away in the future.

But let me add a little more, hopping not sounding too boring

Currently I have a setup of slow(ish) lenses. Voigtlander has this line of Color-Skopar's, that are slow but give great results, with low distortion and low(if any) focus shift, are very small, well made, and there're cheap(rangefinder crazy scale of cheap).

So I have 4/21mm 2.5/35mm and 2.5/50mm(You can only get the last one used and for ltm, but it's awesome). I'm happy because it covers what my bessa R4A is made to do(21-50mm finder), the hole setup can be distributed in pockets because all lenses are small. The result's are awesome.

This long text has a point aside talking of my gear: I did not spend much(reangefinderwise). I can do everything(I don't really think that rangefinders are really made to go much beyond 50mm, even with .72 finders). I carry it everywhere and don't have back problems. So there are points to consider.

The only lens that I still thinking about getting some day, it the 1.2/35. To go out in the evening or night, and still be able to shoot. I'd keep the skopar 2.5/35. I have not see someone who owns it and doesn't love it.

 

[umcelinho]

the 1.2 is not only about being faster, but overall it has better image quality and i found it to be sharper than the 35/1.4. also it just won't flare, it's very resistant. the version 2 of the 35/1.2 has a fantastic build quality, it's delicious to shoot with. the out of focus rendering is also beautiful.

the size is not so much of a problem when using a jacket to keep the lenses, even if the 35/1.4, for instance, is much smaller, in practice i've taken both of them in jacket pockets and it works fine. weight and size when shooting is not a problem, it balances well on the R-D1 also. I think it is worth it. I do have a 35/1.7 Ultron that I love, but most of the time I've been using just the 35/1.2. The 1.7 is quite enough for low light though, I've used it in darker situations and it does the job.

 

[witzansky]

You have all been a big help to me!
Awesome forum this is, where people actually wish to help! LOVE IT!
I am going to pick up a secondhand Voigtlander nokton 50mm 1.1 tomorrow, fond one at a great price!
Also I am waiting for a Epson r-d1s from a guy from Sweden.
I can't wait to get my hands on that camera!
The only rangefinder I have tried is my friends Leica M6 for a couple of hours, so I am very excited to see if I like rangefinders and can get used to it (if i can hit focus!) If I can - I have, for a long time, dreamt of a Leica m9 (and m8 earlier on)
If i like rangefinders, hopefully I will have a M9 (otherwise a Nice Epson together with my fuji x-pro1)

Again THANK YOU so much! - You guys are awesome.
I might have a lot of questions when I get the Epson, so stay tuned ;-)

 

[nk12]

How do you enjoy your R-D1? I picked mine up earlier this year (instead of the M9 for the 1:1 VF). I have some trouble focusing at night but still enjoy the camera.

 

[witzansky]

How do you enjoy your R-D1? I picked mine up earlier this year (instead of the M9 for the 1:1 VF). I have some trouble focusing at night but still enjoy the camera.

I do like the camera a lot, but in a few months I will buy a Leica M9 instead.
Tried the M9 and the rangefinder/viewfinder was so much better, even though it is smaller. - I found it a lot easier to focus with the M9, because of the more contrasty rangefinder patch.

The first lens I bought was the Voigtlander 50mm 1.1, (it is quite a difficult lens to begin with) - But when I can hit focus, it is so nice!
Mostly I use my new Voigtlander 21mm f4, because it is so much easier to focus with.

If I had the money, I would buy a M9 and keep the Epson because of the fun I am having with it.


I love:
- the built quality, feel and look of the camera.
- 1:1 viewfinder
- Even in the best pro camera store in Denmark, they had no idea what camera this was.

I hate:
- The rangefinder patch after i tried the M9.
- Sound of the shutter.
- how centeret your eye has to be to see the rangefinder patch clearly. (no problem on the M9)

 

[radical7]

I'm missing mine ><
There's a look to the files 🙂