R-D1 + CV Nokton = :-) Pics

[Adam-T]

Some pics from Today with the Voigtlander 50mm F1.5 Nokton on the R-D1 all handheld .. Check out the Shutter speeds in the EXIF data - LOL - remember that this has an effective FOV of 75mm ! Fastest shutter speed was 20th sec ! .. All ISO400 between F1.5 and F2.0..

This is an excellent lens, it looks rather like a 1960s 'Cron in Chrome and handles like one too (the aperture detents are very soft unlike most CV lenses) - very sharp even wide open, it takes common 52mm filters thankfully so once you've removed the hood, you can get cheap filters and fit a Nikon lens cap instead of the silly push on type 🙂

3 Shots from inside Chester Cathedral - a good test for fast lenses and the abilty to hold RFs at low shutter speeds 🙂

http://www.cs80.freeserve.co.uk/1D/R-D1-Ch-Cath-Mitre.jpg

http://www.cs80.freeserve.co.uk/1D/R-D1-Ch-Cath-Organ.jpg

http://www.cs80.freeserve.co.uk/1D/R-D1-Ch-Cath-Wood.jpg

CV really do make wonderful value glass, I know the 50 F1.9 and the Ultrons are bulky but they`re worth it for the wide open performance and that they don`t vignette badly on the R-D1 like the slower CV lenses do

 

[Joe Mondello]

Those look great Adam. Nice and sharp.

 

[Adam-T]

Thanks Joe - I hope you`re getting good CV Vibes for your lens choices 🙂 ..

Thanks Krusty - you`re better here anyway - DPR`s Leica forum is a viper pit at the moment 🙁 . I was amazed at the slow speeds I was able to hold the R-D1 at considering the effective FL of the lens, I`d never have managed it with slower glass OR with the D200 + 50 F1.4 (NO damn chance ;-) .

I`ve still not mastered holding the R-D1 (or any RF) steady in the Portrait mode (the Mitre one at the top is a touch shaky at full size the others are tack sharp) and certainly not in Portrait mode WITHOUT covering the damn RF window with a finger when focussing (if it had a longer RF base it`d be easier ;-) but I`m getting there and absolutely NO ONE takes a damn bit of notice of you shooting with the thing even when you point it straight at them.

 

[kds315]

Thanks Krusty - you`re better here anyway - DPR`s Leica forum is a viper pit at the moment 🙁 . I was amazed at the slow speeds I was able to hold the R-D1 at considering the effective FL of the lens, I`d never have managed it with slower glass OR with the D200 + 50 F1.4 (NO damn chance ;-) .

I`ve still not mastered holding the R-D1 (or any RF) steady in the Portrait mode (the Mitre one at the top is a touch shaky at full size the others are tack sharp) and certainly not in Portrait mode WITHOUT covering the damn RF window with a finger when focussing (if it had a longer RF base it`d be easier ;-) but I`m getting there and absolutely NO ONE takes a damn bit of notice of you shooting with the thing even when you point it straight at them.

Cannot more than agree - just shot at a concert ISO1600 + CLE 4/90mm and noone even noticed that, and got a big compliment from the artist today.

Congrats for the shots of that Cathedral, warm, sharp, just great - have to get that lens also I guess, since I need some speed!

 

[mwooten]

Great shots Adam-T.
My Nokton came last week, and it is a sweet lens. It handles great, but is quite a bit heavier than my fsu 50's (Jupiter-8 & Industar 61LD). Do you think that the added mass of the Nokton helped you with the longer exposures?
I agree with you and Klaus about folks not taking much notice when you're using a rangefinder. I did candid photos for my fiancee of her Kindergarten class, and I had only a couple of kids who "mugged" and posed for the camera. Much better than last year when I used a D70.

Take care,
Michael

 

[Adam-T]

Michael - I think it`s the lack of slap in RF cams which helps with longer exposures mainly but the added weight (and something to hold) must contribute too .. I`d have probably stuck with the sharper of my two Jupiter 8s but like all FSU lenses I`ve seen, they front focus heavily and aren`t brilliant wide open (It`s cost to get them collimated and they`re not worth that IMO, I`ve even been using my CV35 F2.5 PC on the Zorki as its better glass than the J12) - the Nokton is a lot more cash but worth it IMO..

Great Shot Klaus, you did real well with a long F4 lens there!!