Use of auxiliary lenses on Electro35 GS/GT

[Photog9000]

Has anyone had any experience with the two auxiliary lenses available for the Electro 35 GS/GT models? I am trying out the lenses and just wanted to know what anyone's experience has taught them. Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts.

 

[b1bmsgt]

They really don't do all that much, but they look kinda cool, don't they?

Russ

 

[KoNickon]

Optical quality is quite good -- but they're only a little bit wider and a little bit more tele. And transferring the distance settings is a bother. Only useful for playing around a bii, and certainly not for when you're trying to work fast. In short, I wouldn't bother.

 

[Photog9000]

I was thinking of using them only in the daylight w/fast film (Tri-X), setting the aperture at f8 or f11 and setting the hyperfocal distance from infinity into wherever would be somewhat sharp. I know it would not work if focusing is a concern unless a small aperture is used. Optical quality was a concern as you mentioned, Nick. It is nice to know from a user that the IQ is ok. From what I recall of the specs the wide is a little over 37mm and the tele is around 57mm. At 37mm, it would not be bad for a walk around street camera. Not quite the 35mm I would like but it is less than a 10% deviation.
If you toss in using the hyperfocal scale and not trying to focus, what are your thoughts? (One of the reasons I am asking is I am toying with the idea of getting an interchangeable lens RF such as the Bessa R2A or maybe going digital with the R-D1 or maybe used Leica M8/8.2. Can't afford the M9...)

 

[f16sunshine]

I tried them years ago. The tele quality was just ok and the wide was quite poor. The best thing about the tele/wide set was the cool little external VF. The wide framelines are a match for 35mm making it quite useful. I've collected a few. One is glued onto a nikonos iii and works great there on rainy, muddy trails and kayak trips.

 

[tomisimpern]

For a walk around street camera, I'd also recommend a Yashica Electro 35CC. it's an Aperture Priority (no manual) shooter with a nice 35mm f1.8 lens, in a small pocketable package. you can get one for £50-70 right now, and they really are good little cameras.
Might be worth a try - I love mine.
Tony

 

[tomisimpern]

Cameraquest talk about them here http://www.cameraquest.com/yash35cc.htm

 

[unixrevolution]

I got a set of the aux lenses with my Electro 35, and to be honest I've never used them. Mounted them up a couple times, but never actually used them. 45mm is very useful, and the little extra focal length or viewing angle isn't worth the bother of F/4, focusing twice, and composing twice.

 

[Photog9000]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. 🙂 I have reached the same conclusions about these "toys". I am considering putting them up on eBay just to recover a few pennies to put toward another Nikon prime (maybe) or possibly a digital rf (r-d1, m-series). 😀

 

[Shahin]

I have a MG-1 and I would like to try them out, especially the tele lense. Is there a speacial one for the MG1 or can I use the ones for the gs '/gsn?

 

[bundok]

Is there a speacial one for the MG1 or can I use the ones for the gs '/gsn?

Sorry, Shahin, but the auxiliary lenses for the MG-1 (as well as for the GL, GX and the M5) are different ones, because of the need of a hole for the light sensor above the lense.

You can see the difference here:

Unfortunately, they are quite rare and often expensive. But keep looking! I got mine on ebay for around 10 EUR. They were described as being for the normal Electro-35-series. Of course, I spotted the "1:5,6"-labeling and knew I had to bid. 😀

Good luck!

BTW - I always have the wide angle lens in my case for landscape shots and I use it quite often.

 

[GSNfan]

Those auxiliary lenses are useless but the bright little viewfinder that comes with them makes it worthwhile.

GF1 users could really benefit from that viewfinder because its frame line for 38mm is very close to 40, so a GF1 with its 20mm kit lens matches perfectly with it.