Super Angulon 21/3.4 on R-D1?

[deepwhite]

Dear All,

I was lucky enough to try a Super Angulon 21/3.4 on my R-D1s last week. The first thing I found was that the light metering didn't work; I had to set the shutter speed manually.

The picture was great. I love it.

Yet I've heard that this lens doesn't work with the R-D1. Is it merely because of the light meter not working, or also because the too-long-rear-element might be damaging the camera?

I really want to get myself a SA21/3.4, but also worry about its compatibility with the R-D1. Can anyone with this combination share some lights?

Thanks in advance.

 

[cam]

as long as you're not eyeing the same one i am, i'll answer you 😛

it is only the metering that doesn't work. it's the same issue with the M8 and people thought they couldn't use the lens with their camera until they read the fine print... the lens *is* deep, though, so it's best to use care when mounting it on your camera.

and it's an absolutely gorgeous lens!

sigh. i know i'm going to weaken...

 

[deepwhite]

Thanks for the reply. Will the rear element of the SA21/3.4 touch the inner part of the camera if not mounted with extreme care? It's something I'm concerned about.

 

[kbg32]

I unfortunately sold mine after reading all the crap about this lens not working on the M8, because the rear element might interfere with the shutter itself, not just blocking the meter. I really wish I kept that lens!

 

[cam]

Thanks for the reply. Will the rear element of the SA21/3.4 touch the inner part of the camera if not mounted with extreme care? It's something I'm concerned about.

taking care when mounting your lens is only common sense... if you search through flickr (MMount forum or just tags), you'll see people using the SA with their Epsons and M8's. not a ton, but still... i think it took a few brave souls to test it out. others, don't want to be bothered with metering.

btw, you're not in Paris, are you?

I unfortunately sold mine after reading all the crap about this lens not working on the M8, because the rear element might interfere with the shutter itself, not just blocking the meter. I really wish I kept that lens!

bummer! have you seen the thread on it here in the Leica M forum?

 

[deepwhite]

I always mount the lens onto the camera at 90 degree, so I guess I'll be find with the SA21/3.4 then?

I'm back to Taiwan yesterday. Reluctantly....

 

[helen.HH]

LUCKY YOU ...the only two lenses that really turn my head
& make me scream with DELIGHT
are photos I see with the SA 21mm & the Summarex 75mm

Just over the Top Divine Lenses to my Eyes 😎

Best- helen

 

[tomasis]

Im curious if anyone tested the lens with Rd1? Myself, I have the lens and camera but I didnt tested until today after I did some read here. I found after rough measurement that SA doesnt affect the shutter curtains but the body "house" part might block with 0,1mm from the metallic part of the lens. Because I found that part of inner house got some black paint off when I did took off the lens when I both focused at shortest distance and infinity.🙂 Or maybe that paint come off at other occasion. I dont remember how it was there before 😛

 

[gohaj]

i think there is no point risking the camera body with this lens. u may consider zeiss zm 21mm (come in either f/4.5 or f/2.8 version)

 

[helen.HH]

tomasis
any photos to post with the SA 21........

Cheers ! helen

 

[deepwhite]

i think there is no point risking the camera body with this lens. u may consider zeiss zm 21mm (come in either f/4.5 or f/2.8 version)

Hi gohaj,

Thanks for the suggestion. Yet while I think the zeiss lenses perform very well, from the pictures by their users, I just don't think its character is my cup of tea. My personal favorite, also from browsing through other people's pictures and my own limited experience, are Leica lenses and then the Voigtlander.

I've seen great pictures taken with the SA21/3.4 + R-D1. In fact you can just go to flickr and search "R-D1" and you'll see the work of a Japanese photographer I'm talking about. I'm not saying that "I want this lens so that I can shoot like him"; it's just that his pictures show me the technical information about the SA21/3.4, and letting me know that it's a lens I want.

But still, thanks for the reply.😎

 

[tomasis]

deepwhite, it is something curious. I wish I could japanese so I could ask them 🙂 But why not try contact one of them in Flickr maybe some can speak English.
I rather modify Rd1 body than damage the lens 🙂 Digital camera bodies live and dies but it doesnt SA.

helenhill, sorry no interesting pics here. In the fact I did took only 2 pics and did take the lens out immediately 🙂 Adrenalin rushed in and out in that moment 😀 But what I see in two test shoots, there is enough of "leica godness" , at other words, pleasing 🙂 What bugs me, it is about same size I measured on object and camera body in milimeters. Unfortunately I didnt had any precision tools so I could decide when I measure with more precision at 0,0x mm

 

[deepwhite]

Hi tomasis, I did ask the person. He replied that he does use the SA21/3.4 on his R-D1 all the time. The only "incompaitibility" is that he has to set the exposure time manually, since the rear element of the SA is blocking the metering device of the R-D1.

I guess I'm just too worried and want to hear more from real world users.

 

[maddoc]

Was it "moaan" over there at flickr ? I have seen some photos he took with the combination Epson / SA-M.

I use this lens with my M4-P, really love the results. 🙂

BTW, in on of the Super-Angulon threads here at RF, meven (??) mentioned that the lens can't be mount on the ZI because it would hit something.

 

[deepwhite]

Was it "moaan" over there at flickr ? I have seen some photos he took with the combination Epson / SA-M.

It's Tommy Oshima I was talking about. Yet moaan is very good too. I just didn't notice that moaan also uses the SA.

 

[tomasis]

The only "incompaitibility" is that he has to set the exposure time manually, since the rear element of the SA is blocking the metering device of the R-D1.

I hope it is true 🙂 Im looking for a hand held lightmeter now. I will post pictures later. It is a bit tough when I have only 25mm external VF maybe it will work.