RF Lineup

T

That Guy

Guest
So I'm just starting out in the RF world and could use some advice on focal length selection as well as lens speed. I've used SLR's exclusively up until now and am really looking forward to a new challenge with rangefinders.

The last year or so I've really been favoring my 28mm. I've been doing a lot of tight people shots and the shallow wide has been good for that. But I don't know if I should jump in with the super wides or go with a more balanced wide, standard, short tele approach. I'll keep the big guns with the SLR; though the 500 doesn't get used much, it's been a lifesaver when I needed it. Not that I'd be able to focus anything like that in an RF anyway.

I've got a CV Bessa L with a 25mm now, which will most likely end up as the backpacking camera (landscapes and all, plus it's really light). But I'm planning on a Bessa R in a month or so.

So what's in your kit?
 
I have had a few different lenses and have ended up shooting mainly with a 35 2.0 I find this to be an ideal lens for most subjects. Not to mention its sharpness.
 
Henri Cartier-Bresson used to shoot with Leicas and 50mm Summicrons. Garry Winogrand shot a Leica M4 and a 35mm lens. Depends on what you want to do. I like street and find the 50mm focal length a bit too long, but then lenses as short as 25 or 21 have a different purpose altogether...

Start with a 35mm (Ultron or Skopar, you pick). I regret not having done it myself, but it was cheaper to get a Summicron 50/2.

Cheers!
 
I use the 35 Ultron mostly, but have a want for the 50 Nokton. If I were to do it over again I would buy the 35 Skopar ( I think that I could do without the speed of the Ultron and the Skopar gets great reviews and cost much less) and the Nokton. I love my R, the only thing I will say is that if you intend on changing lenses often, and could afford it, go for the R2. The screw mount takes some getting used to. I just recently got my 75 so I had not previously noticed that at much.
 
I don't know what prices are for screw mount to bayonet adapters are where you all live. Over here, they cost an arm and a leg. So, factor the cost of those in when you would decide to go for an R2 instead of an R as Rover suggests.

Besides, as you've already got an L, you won't be swapping lenses all that often would you?

My line up consists of a 50/2 (came with a kit) that I use for low light and indoors, a 25/4 CV which you obviously also have, and a 90/3.5 CV. The latter one I use least, as it's quite large and hence not really pocketable.
On the other hand, the 50 sees the most use, simply because of its handholdability under low light. While with the scale focussed 25, a small aperture and thus slow shutter speed is required to cover focussing errors.
 
pvdhaar said:

Besides, as you've already got an L, you won't be swapping lenses all that often would you?
Click to expand...

No, I don't plan on swapping lenses as much. I think my approach to RF will be a bit more casual. And I was planning on getting an R at a later date anyway. So the bayonet is a non-issue for me.

But it looks that most of you favor the 35mm. I'll probably go for a Skopar then when I go for the Bessa R.
 
I think 'favorite focal length' is one of the most personal there is.
Me I've never been able to 'see wide'. Normal 50mm is as wide as I want to go and I'd say the focal length that fits my eyes the most is something in the 80-95 range.
RF is different from SLR though - unless you have a magnified view or an external viewfinder the 90mm+ lenses on a RF gets tricky and may be a natural limitation moving longer in focal length.
 
I thought I sensed a desire for some speed, so I was going to suggest the 28mm Ultron until I saw you had the 25 Snapshot Skopar. That switched me to join the chorus of 35mm suggestions.

I don't have a 50mm, but seem to have solved that lack through a compromise at 40mm. Maybe a reasonable comapnion for the 25...

It started with the normal 40mm M-Rokkor on the Minolta CLE. That was so useful over the years that this year I added a Voigtlander 40mm for my Pentax, and reciprocally a Pentax 43mm for the Voigtlander Bessa!

I also like the 25 and 28mm lenses.

For me, an f/2 or f/2.5 aperture is adequate, as even in dim light I will sacrifice elsewhere to keep a little more depth of field. With an RF camera I'm not so reluctant to shoot wide open. And these lenses are smaller, lighter, and less expensive than faster ones, too!
 
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