Rd 1 or 2 - for Russian Lenses ?

[dee]

Hi
I have a small inheritance which , sensibly , I should invest in a digital SLR ...
But I also have a collection of Russian camras and screw thread Leicas - with several I22 / I61ld / I 26 , plus a couple of new Jupiter 8s ... and am hooked on rangefinders !
Naturally I would invest in modern 50mm / 35 mm [ near equivalent ] lenses, but would love to be able to directly ''digitise '' these old lenses .
Would this be possible with an Epsom RD1 or RD2 ?
What would be the problems ?
Thanks
dee

 

[tmessenger]

Hello Dee

I've had a number of Russian lenses and most of them had to be collimated for correct focus on the Rd-1. My Leica lenses have been right on the money so I know it's not the camera.

Good luck

Tim

 

[RML]

First of all, there's no such thing as an R-D2. Only an R-D1 (or R-D1s).

Secondly, YES. Yes , you can use these lenses on the R-D1. I love the J-8 on mine, though I mainly shoot with the razor sharp CZ Planar T* 50/2.

BTW, you can also use them on the Leica M8.

 

[Didier]

I have a small inheritance which , sensibly , I should invest in a digital SLR ... But I also have a collection of Russian camras and screw thread Leicas - with several I22 / I61ld / I 26 , plus a couple of new Jupiter 8s ... and am hooked on rangefinders! Naturally I would invest in modern 50mm / 35 mm [ near equivalent ] lenses, but would love to be able to directly ''digitise '' these old lenses . Would this be possible with an Epsom RD1 or RD2 ? What would be the problems ?

If you mean R2D2 - yes he would love to play with your gear 🙂...
Seriously - I wouldn't buy that camera just for using a I-61LD or I-22. If you want a digital rangefinder body - then, ok, you have the choice of 2 models, the Epson and the M8. Both are a bit too expensive just to use an old $10 FSU lens - even if this can admittedly make fun (but dont'expect such lenses to focus too accurately on these bodies). I have the I-61LD and the I-22 (btw the I-22 should not be collapsed fully into the Epson, it would touch the shutter curtain), but mostly prefer to use my faster lenses, from Leica, Canon and Voigtlander.
Didier

 

[fgianni]

Do not listen to them, the I-61LD kicks ass on the r-d1! It's a really nice cheap portrait lens.
On the other hand I would not recommend it for street photography, it's really too long, and I dont like how my J-12 draws on the R-d1, so as my normal lens I have a Cron 35 4th.
However but I'm sure a very reasonably priced, and extremely compact CV Skopar 35 would be an excellent option for digital RF-based street photography.

 

[fgianni]

BTW my I-61LD focuses spot on on my R-D1