recommend a wide angle for me

[wblanchard]

Would anyone care to recommend a good wide angle lens to use on my R3A in Key West this summer for sunsets? Maybe use it for other things like night time city shots in Vegas or Balloon Fest in New Mexico...something wide, sharp, and works well in low light.

Yes, looking for the holy grail to spend my money on..😀

 

[JohnM]

I guess it depends on what you consider wide?

I like and would recommend CV's 25 snapshot or the 21/4. Both would do the job and perhaps be a little more versatile than the CV 15/4.5.

If lowlight is that important, maybe the 28/1.9 Ultron is the answer if it's wide enough to suit you? I've never used one, but I would love to hear some user opinions on it.

Or, heck, just buy all 3 🙂

 

[wblanchard]

I've heard good things about the Ultron lens. I just needed something smaller than my 40. I figure the new 40 can be my walk around lens, and then a wide angle for those special shots.

 

[JohnM]

I just put a little more thought into it.

I have the R3 and the 40 combo as well as an R2 - the 28 makes more sense for the R2. With the lower magnification, you can use the outer edges of the finder to approximate the 28's FOV.

That won't work with the R3 and it would make for a pricey proposition considering that the lens itself is $450 before you even consider the finder.

With that in mind, I'll just say again that the 25 and the 21 are both nice, sharp and compact performers. Might be worth considering this - you can basically buy a 25/4 snapshot with a finder AND a Bessa L for less than the cost of the 21.

It's a fun combo.

 

[Doug]

Back on the other hand again, John's suggestion of the 28 Ultron makes sense... It's pretty fast, and 28 + 40 makes a very useful combination. My combo is just slower, is all... the 2/40mm Rokkor and 3.5/28mm Skopar. I sorta regret not getting the 28 Ultron... one fine lens.

 

[Huck Finn]

Doug, I've been obsessing over which 28 to get. I'm interested in your regrets . In what kinds of situations has the speed of the Skopar been a problem? I like what I've read about the Ultron, but its size just doesn't fit with what I want in a rangefinder camera.

 

[peter_n]

I use a 28mm Nikkor with an adapter from Stephen Gandy. I zone focus and the results are OK. If you already have a 28mm lens maybe it can be adapted to your cam.

 

[RML]

The Summicron (or Minolta Rokkor-M) 40/2 is a great lens for a low price. The CV 25/4 is also a great lens. I have both and use them regularly. I prefer neither over the other as I use them (usually) in different situations: the CV for hip shots on the street, the Rokkor for my "documentary" shots. I wouldn't hesitate to use either for landscapes or sundowns/sunrises.

 

[former member]

There is one up here on RFF right now! 35mm Summaron. I have the F2.8, it is a fine lens. The one Don has for sale does not use the "eyes" and can be used for any M-Mount camera, not just the M3. It is also somewhat Rare in this form.

This one! With the original hood at a great price!

 

[wblanchard]

Wonderful..a new client called and wants to book some architectual shots this spring..I wonder if a 12mm or 15mm ultra wide would work for outside and interior shots? Hmm...I normally use a 35mm slr and lens...maybe i can test the limits of my R3A

 

[Doug]

Doug, I've been obsessing over which 28 to get. I'm interested in your regrets . In what kinds of situations has the speed of the Skopar been a problem? I like what I've read about the Ultron, but its size just doesn't fit with what I want in a rangefinder camera.

Huck, it's a worthy subject over which to obsess! It comes down to simply wishing I had the option of opening up another 1.5 stops or so.

I got the 4/25mm with my Bessa-L, and it was a wonderful lens to have on vacation in Spain. Great for opening up tight interiors and narrow alleyways. I ended up using it more on my CLE and devoting the L to the 15mm.

But at home, diving into my environmental portrait project, the non-coupled lens kept making me nervous about the focus close-in and wide-open. There was also the lack of parallax correction when using the whole VF window on the CLE...

So I got the 28 Skopar based on good reviews, as the Ultron is (as you say) rather large, and the tidy Summicron is rather expensive. And I figured I really did want the extra DoF for this project, which called for shooting at f/4 or wider pretty much all the time in business interiors. It's been ok, but I do wish I had the option of cranking it open another stop or more, either for the limited DoF or to avoid occasional 1/8 sec exposures!

I kept thinking of the big Ultron, and I admit thinking of the pricy Summicron as well. And recently I've been thinking a faster 25mm would be an answer too. There are the coming Zeiss f/2.8 and the same speed from the 24mm Elmarit-M. I really do find that 82-84 deg angle attractive.

On the other hand, obsessing in earnest, one reason for shifting to the 28 was to pick up the parallax-corrected camera framelines, all the more useful at close distance to avoid lopping off various body parts. And the fast 28mm can add a whole 'nother stop in speed too! I'm kinda inclined now to seek out a poor under-utilized used 28 Summicron and suffer the financial impact.

If I really want something wider, there's always shopping for a 21mm... or hauling out the 15. Why do we do this to ourselves? 😀:bang:

 

[Doug]

25mm in Marbella, Spain

 

[Doug]

25mm nearer home at the shoe repair shop... (antique roll of Fuji 1600, it was very dark in the shop)