Some R4M and R4A information

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koala

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Helpful post, thank you.

I'm really interested in the R4A because I like to shoot wides and I appreciate the fact that it has built-in 25mm framelines. However, I'm used to "framing" and composing with my 15mm and 25mm lenses through the big, bright accessory VFs. I'm not so sure that I could make the transition to composing wides within the tighter confines of the VF window and framlines of the R4A. The projected 25mm framelines remind me of the 75mm framelines on the R body.

As a glasses wearer I can appreciate the tighter 35mm framelines, though. With my specs on I think I would be able to see beyond the entire frame on the R4A.
 
"Garireo finder". I never noticed that before in the spec sheet. How funny - that's Japanese for "Galileo finder"!! :D:D

/Ira
 
ffttklackdedeng said:
What does 85% Field of View mean? That the frames show 85% of the image area?
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Yes, that is what it means. This value is very much standard in the rangefinder business (Leica, CV). The Contax G offered 90% at infinity though.
 
joachim said:
Yes, that is what it means. This value is very much standard in the rangefinder business (Leica, CV). The Contax G offered 90% at infinity though.
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Are you sure you don't mean the magnification factor?

I've not heard of a field of view difference with framelines. Certainly there are SLR's that didn't show the whole frame.
 
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Like Joachim said.

Problem with RFs is that the viewfinder FOV is constant, while the lens FOV changes (focal length gets longer) when focusing closer. So the frameline
is usually adjusted to be accurate at some distance, like 1 or 3m. I believe
it's 1m for Bessas (100% coverage) which leads to a < 100% coverage at
infinity.

The R4* viewfinder magnification is .52.

Roland.
 
Does anyone know at what aperture the R4A will be able to focus the 75mm lens? f2.5? f2.8? f4?
How about a 50mm lens? f1.5? f2? f2.8?
 
ferider said:
Thanks for posting this.

I love the fact that the 28mm frame line is isolated.

Roland.
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Pant, pant pant!! :D Me too. I have a cracking 28/2.8 M-Hexanon that needs a good rear lens cap! And I have the Leica 24/2.8 too... I'm seriously thinking of breaking my normal (wait & see) rule and being an early adopter. Maybe if I make a trip to NYC and buy it from Rich Pinto so there's no shipping... ;) :cool:
 
dazedgonebye said:
Does anyone know at what aperture the R4A will be able to focus the 75mm lens? f2.5? f2.8? f4?
How about a 50mm lens? f1.5? f2? f2.8?
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The EBL is almost identical to the Leica CL. So I assume 50/2 is OK, and {90,75}/4 as well. But, YMMV.

Roland.
 
ferider said:
The EBL is almost identical to the Leica CL. So I assume 50/2 is OK, and {90,75}/4 as well. But, YMMV.

Roland.
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I understand that it's all design compromise, but not being able to shoot 75mm at about f2.8 for portraits will cut down on my love for this camera.

I think I might have gone with framelines at 25/28/35/40/50 and kept a slightly longer EBL. Of course, I have now idea if that would work anyway and what do I know?
 
Steve, I'm quite conservative wrt EBL - too much coffee I guess. Some people use 50/1.5 and 90/2.8 successfully on the CL. Also if you have a bit more subject distance (like 2 vs 1m), it will become much easier.

Think about it this way: due to its crop factor, the RD-1 gets close to the R4 EBL. There are many reports about fast lens use on the RD-1.

Roland.
 
ferider said:
Steve, I'm quite conservative wrt EBL - too much coffee I guess. Some people use 50/1.5 and 90/2.8 successfully on the CL. Also if you have a bit more subject distance (like 2 vs 1m), it will become much easier.

Think about it this way: due to its crop factor, the RD-1 gets close to the R4 EBL. There are many reports about fast lens use on the RD-1.

Roland.
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As I think of it, the hardest part of shooting 75mm wide open on that camera will be the seperate viewfinder. The subject is going to have to be pretty much sitting still to allow narrow dof and switching back and forth between rangefinder/viewfinder (at least at my current skill level).

I guess it'll come down to whether or not I feel I can live without a lens longer than 50mm.

25/35/50 sounds like a very nice kit...or maybe 21/28/50, if not coupled 25mm is forthcoming.

Exciting in any case.
 
ffttklackdedeng said:
What does 85% Field of View mean? That the frames show 85% of the image area?
Click to expand...

Yes, it does. It's pretty typical. 87% is probably more the standard, but it's close enough.
 
this camera is amazing, bet I wont have any problems working with 28 or even 25 with my glasses on. Fantastic, now if I wasnt so dreamy about the ikon still...
 
ferider said:
Problem with RFs is that the viewfinder FOV is constant, while the lens FOV changes (focal length gets longer) when focusing closer. So the frameline is usually adjusted to be accurate at some distance, like 1 or 3m. I believe it's 1m for Bessas (100% coverage) which leads to a < 100% coverage at
infinity.
Click to expand...

Not always true, Roland. The Fuji GL690 and GW690 series have automatic field adjusting framelines: when you focus closer, two right-angled framelines move closer to each other to reflect the actual FOV. On the GL690, the viewfinder shows 95% of the image at 1m and 92% at infinity, which is outstanding for a rangefinder camera. As far as I know, there are very few other RF cameras with automatic field compensation. Even Leica doesn't offer it.

If you want accurate framing for cheap, buy an old folding camera: because most of them have a front focusing lens, FOV doesn't vary according to focus. The framelines stay accurate throughout the whole focusing range.

Cheers,

Abbazz
 
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