Rethinking RF

[2tcreative]

This is getting interesting...

This is getting interesting...

These thoughts concerning hand-held speed with RF vs SLR brings to mind some thoughts from one of my favorite photographers, William Albert Allard, a NG photog.

He has said that to hold it at the 1/8 and 1/4 speeds he must have a stable platform to shoot from. If he doesn't have a tripod, be it fullsize or tabletop, he will use whatever is handy. His favorite subsitute is a beer bottle! He balances his Leica on the mouth and shoots!

He gets some of the most amazing low light shots I have seen. And in his early days he shot nothing but K25 and K64. Used Leica glass both RF and SLR. Mostly wide open.

 

[Gid]

Gid: Your comment about the OM handheld at 1/8s intrigues me. I don't think I can do that, but I haven't done any controlled test to show me the results vs. an RF @ 1/8s. I'll have to do that. I feel comfortable with my RF @ 1/8 and even 1/4, but only 1/60 or 1/30 on the OM. Like I said, I'm going to do some testing to see what actual results are.

Earl,

The point I was trying to make is that hand holding down to 1/8 with an SLR wouldn't be an option whereas it is a distinct possibility with an RF. I've had OK results with my F1 and 50mm at 1/30, but I wouldn't go any slower without some sort of support. Obviously, with a wider lens you should, in theory, be able to hand hold even slower and you might get 1/15 out of a 28, but then you're running into lens speed issues (any 28s for SLRs faster than f2?)

 

[kalokeri]

I would like to second Will´s thought, Tim. Try to find a J12 or - a little bit more expensive - a used CV 28 or 35.

As tempting as OMs get while reading the threads in the "evil slr"-zone I would avoid a third system at the moment. With the 1V you know the feeling of using a wide with a slr. If you like to use the M6, try how you feel with using a wide with a rangefinder camera.

I myself - as said elsewhere - have some difficulties in using wide angle lenses in general. But I have to admit that I feel more comfortable using the 28 on my FM2 than using the 35 on my Leica. I´m still trying to find an approach while I really enjoy the Leica with a 50.

Thomas

 

[Tom Harrell]

Raid, where can I obtain one of those FD adapter B's that you mentioned. I would like to try my FD glass on my IIIf.

Thanks,
Tom Harrell

 

[rxmd]

Obviously, with a wider lens you should, in theory, be able to hand hold even slower and you might get 1/15 out of a 28, but then you're running into lens speed issues (any 28s for SLRs faster than f2?)

28/2's are fairly common. There was a Vivitar Series-1 28/1.9 for most manual focus mounts. Canon has an autofocus 28/1.8 for EOS, Nikon has an autofocus 28/1.4.

In other focal lengths, 35/1.4's are fairly common, and to go a little wider, Canon has had a 24/1.4 since the 1980s. That should be handholdable at 1/15 with fairly reproducible results. So if you need the speed, you do have a reasonably wide choice of lenses.

For the last 20 years or so camera makers have been concentrating mainly on SLR lenses. As a result, lens development has progressed a lot; there is not much of a speed advantage to RF lenses anymore. Possible exceptions are Canon's classic 50/0.95 (for EOS they only sold a 50/1) and the Cosina 35/1.2. For practically all other focal lengths there are faster SLR lenses on the market at the moment.

Philipp

 

[Tim Gray]

Thanks for all the wonderful replies. Like I said, I think I will be keeping the M for now, just rolling around ideas. I think the bulk of the problem is the 50. I shot with a 50 exclusively for about 6 months and really learned a lot. One of things I learned is that it doesn't always work for me.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago when I shot my first concert with the Canon. I shot with 2 lenses, a 50 and a 28. The 50 was on the camera 90% of the time and it was perfect. I guess its just with the majority of the shooting I do with the RF, 50 is a bit too tight, though it is great for portraits. I also am aware of the fact that for certain kinds of shooting, the SLR is pretty much unstoppable. For other types, the RF is great. I really like the RF on 'photography' days, when I'm just wandering around a location all day, taking pictures.

As with most gear decisions, this one primarily comes down to a money issue. I really need to try out a 35 or a 28 on the RF to get a feel for it. I'm not opposed to CV lenses at all. In fact, I've had my eye on the 28/3.5 for a while, but I guess I was trying to decide between that and the Zeiss 35 while saving for them.

Someday I will pick up an OM just because the system is so cheap.

 

[raid]

Raid, where can I obtain one of those FD adapter B's that you mentioned. I would like to try my FD glass on my IIIf.

Thanks,
Tom Harrell

Tom,
they appear here and there on ebay. You may also contact KEH and ask them about it. I bought mine many years ago, and I forgot about it until recently when I was reminded by reading about the Bessa L and wide angle lenses.

 

[Tom Harrell]

Raid,
Thank you for the information. I'll contact KEH and see what they have/suggest.
Tom