New R-D1S. Questions.

[ambientmick]

I know this kind of thread comes up a lot but who else can I ask these questions?

I just got the R-D1S and Nokton 40mm SC lens. I thought the camera would be good but it is probably the best camera I have owned - even better than the Canon 5D I used to own. So far only the few plastic components are a slight dissapointment but even they seem sturdy enough. B&W is fantastic and image quality is as close to film I've seen. Somehow it seems a lot less digital than the 5D - this might be due to the Nokton I guess?

Anyway a few questions.

Close focussing the Nokton seems a bit hit and miss. I did a quick test on some text at about 3 ft at an approximately 45 degree angle and correct focus seemed to be towards the top of the focus patch. Should correct focus be in the middle of the patch?

Any recommendations for the 'ideal' 2nd lens to complement the 40mm Nokton. I got the single coated version because I am primarily interested in B&W. I am mostly into street photography. I'm not sure how well I would be able to adapt to using external viewfinders??

I have subscribed to Sean Reid's site (the main reason I bought the R-D1S in the first place) and most of the Voiglander lenses seem good quality/value but I will only be able to buy one additional lens for some time so recommendations from street shooters would be great. Is the size of the 28mm 1.9 a problem? How useful is the 50mm 1.5 for street shooting? Would a 35mm be pointless given that I have the 40mm?

Finally my R-D1S shows the firmware revision as 1.0. Is this the current version for this camera? Since it is a new camera it probably is but who knows how long it's been on a shelf in the store.

Any replies are much appreciated.🙂

 

[boilerdoc2]

Grab a 35 VC. The 1.2 is a BIG piece of glass, if you need that extra light. But any of the VC's are most bang for the buck. I love my R-D1s - with any lens. Awesome high speed B&Ws!
Steve

 

[boilerdoc2]

PS: Get extra batteries!
Steve

 

[Sailor Ted]

Well this may be a bit out of your budget however the Zeiss 21 with Voigtlander 21D finder is a perfect "one lens if stuck on a quaint little European city for the rest of your life" lens. It exhibits far less vigenetting then it's CV counterpart (on the RD-1 according to Sean Reid) and has exceptional color, sharpness and handling. 35mm equiv 1.5 x 21 = 31.5 or the ideal “classic” RF focal length for many rangefinder photogs.

Just my 2 cents

PS. popflash.photo has a great deal on this lens

 

[ambientmick]

PS: Get extra batteries!
Steve

I got an NP-80 (from Jessops) - seems fine - and an Epson one on order. Thanks.

 

[ambientmick]

Well this may be a bit out of your budget however the Zeiss 21 with Voigtlander 21D finder is a perfect "one lens if stuck on a quaint little European city for the rest of your life" lens. It exhibits far less vigenetting then it's CV counterpart (on the RD-1 according to Sean Reid) and has exceptional color, sharpness and handling. 35mm equiv 1.5 x 21 = 31.5 or the ideal “classic” RF focal length for many rangefinder photogs.

Just my 2 cents

PS. popflash.photo has a great deal on this lens

I think the 21mm Zeiss would be ideal but I am stuck in a not so quaint European city in the UK so my options are limited to ebay 🙁 or Robert White where I bought the camera. There price is £680 exc VAT so expensive. Anybody got one for sale?

 

[JeffGreene]

You need too upgrade your firmware to 2.0. You can obtain instructions and firmware here. It's relatively straightforward, and once completed you'll be the proud owner of a RD1s.

 

[Sailor Ted]

I think the 21mm Zeiss would be ideal but I am stuck in a not so quaint European city in the UK so my options are limited to ebay 🙁 or Robert White where I bought the camera. There price is £680 exc VAT so expensive. Anybody got one for sale?

See the sponsor banner here on this site- popflash.photo. I'm sure they can ship to the UK, the dollar is weak and it's selling for less then one grand here in the states. Treat yourself 😎

They have great service from my experience

 

[Gid]

The 28 1.9 is relatively big for RF, but not "that" big. If you would like a 21, then it might be worth trying to find a Kobalux 21 2.8 (aka, Avenon, Pasoptik). I bought one recently for just over £200 from ebay. There is some vignetting, but not realy noticeable. I've attached a couple of snaps I took with it last week. This lens gets very, very good reviews.

 

[iml]

The CV 21/4.0 is very good and works well with a 28mm VF on the R-D1s, and is much cheaper than any of the other new options at that length. It vignettes a bit but that's easily fixable if needed, or itself can be a pleasing effect. I second the advice to buy a couple of spare batteries.

Ian

 

[nickmeertens]

I have the 28mm Ultron on my Epson 80% of the time. It's an excellent lens and the focal length, considering crop factor, would be 42 mm. For my personal taste that is spot on. The size is ok, I like how easy the big focusring is to use compared to say a 35mm 2.5. The other lens I own is the 50mm Nokton, great for portraits!
In the end it's what you feel comfortable shooting with of course, but the 28mm is clearly a step wider from 40 and you can use the framelines in the Epson instead of a add on viewfinder, so I feel it is a great addition to the 40mm lens you own...
Good luck and enjoy your Epson!

 

[ambientmick]

You need too upgrade your firmware to 2.0. You can obtain instructions and firmware here. It's relatively straightforward, and once completed you'll be the proud owner of a RD1s.

I already am a proud owner of a RD1s. I guess that 1.0 is the current highest revision. Since the RD1s is a different model, I guess revision numbers start from 1.0 again. I was just wondering if there had been any changes to the RD1s firmware yet. Not that I think it needs it - I haven't used it enough to know.

 

[tmessenger]

"Close focussing the Nokton seems a bit hit and miss. I did a quick test on some text at about 3 ft at an approximately 45 degree angle and correct focus seemed to be towards the top of the focus patch. Should correct focus be in the middle of the patch?"

I explain the problem here with a drawing:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31882

Regards,

Tim

 

[RML]

I already am a proud owner of a RD1s. I guess that 1.0 is the current highest revision. Since the RD1s is a different model, I guess revision numbers start from 1.0 again. I was just wondering if there had been any changes to the RD1s firmware yet. Not that I think it needs it - I haven't used it enough to know.

IMO that doesn't sound correct. The R-D1s is an R-D1 with an updated firmware; nothing more, nothing less. If your R-D1s has firmware level v1.0 I think you should update it to v2.0.

 

[Jim Watts]

IMO that doesn't sound correct. The R-D1s is an R-D1 with an updated firmware; nothing more, nothing less. If your R-D1s has firmware level v1.0 I think you should update it to v2.0.

If the camera has 'Dead Pixel Correction' under 'Settings', 'Basic Set Up' it should be the latest version as this function did not appear on the earlier version of the Firmware. Firmware Version number is on the LCD Brightness screen and although V 2.0 on an updated R-D1 it may be a different number on a R-D1s, although I have not heard that reported here?

 

[ambientmick]

IMO that doesn't sound correct. The R-D1s is an R-D1 with an updated firmware; nothing more, nothing less. If your R-D1s has firmware level v1.0 I think you should update it to v2.0.

Since I have an RD1s, surely it doesn't need the update. There is pixel mapping in the menu and pressing the shutter slighly returns the camera to shooting mode. Weren't these part of the update? V1.0 is displayed under the LCD brightness bar. Can somebody with an RD1s confirm that they have the same?? As I said, I assume that because the RD1s is a newer model its firmware numbering will start at 1.0. After searching around I am now pretty sure this is correct as the only update I have been able to find is for the RD1.

 

[iml]

My R-D1s says Ver 1.0 for the firmware too, and it is the most recent version, so I don't think you have anything to worry about, you have the latest firmware. I assume they number it this way because the camera was released with this firmware, whereas for the R-D1 it's an update, but it's a slightly strange numbering convention nonetheless.

Ian

 

[Jim Watts]

Yes.
This is the latest Version of the Firmware whatever the number.
Your camera is as up to date as it gets at the moment! 😉

 

[ambientmick]

If the camera has 'Dead Pixel Correction' under 'Settings', 'Basic Set Up' it should be the latest version as this function did not appear on the earlier version of the Firmware. Firmware Version number is on the LCD Brightness screen and although V 2.0 on an updated R-D1 it may be a different number on a R-D1s, although I have not heard that reported here?

Yes it does have 'Dead Pixel Correction' under 'Settings' so it is upto date. So the RD1s has firmware v1.0 and there is no update. Sorted. Thanks.

 

[ambientmick]

"Close focussing the Nokton seems a bit hit and miss. I did a quick test on some text at about 3 ft at an approximately 45 degree angle and correct focus seemed to be towards the top of the focus patch. Should correct focus be in the middle of the patch?"

I explain the problem here with a drawing:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31882

Regards,

Tim

Interesting thread. If I understand correctly; when close focussing I should focus on something slighly closer than the subject so that the subject is in focus. I guess that with practice and not wide open, this would work most of the time but it's far from ideal.