Which first lens for R-D1s?

[skyjuice]

jjcha: Hi Jason! I am glad for the info. and your gallery is superb. I'm very impress with the nokton 35mm f1.2. Frankly I don't think you are a beginner, cause the pics are just great and you should continue to recommend about this lens!

Mind if I ask for additional info, does the lens too "long" and block the finder while trying to focus at close range? Also, do you have any UV filter (+0) on the lens to protect it? If yes, what sort of brand if you don't mind to share.

Cheers!

 

[Terao]

By the way, mind if I ask about CV 35mm F1.2 Nokton ASPH? What do you think about the quality of the lens & the colour of the pic? I've read Sean's review and it is one of his favorite fast lens.

Does it fits well on R-D1s frameline? Cheers!

Its too big/heavy and lacks character for me. Technically very good indeed and extremely well made (easily Voigtlander's most "luxurious" lens) but it just doesn't fit the rangefinder concept (its more like an SLR lens). I haven't shot with it enough, maybe I'll come to like it more. Its a specialist lens for low-light and I certainly wouldn't get it as my first lens (or only 35mm). A used pre-asph Leica Summilux will be about the same price, almost as fast, and significantly smaller. Forced to choose though I would still go with the 40mm Nokton - compactness is important to me and its the ultimate in fast & small lenses.

Been out with the 25mm Biogon this morning, currently post-processing the pics. Early thoughts are I like its contrast and colour rendition. Its also completely insanely sharp edge to edge, easily outresolves the R-D1's sensor.

Thanks for the compliments on the wedding photos, certainly my finest moment to date in photography, comprehensively outdid the pro guy at the wedding 😎

 

[jjcha]

Well, compared to the current 35mm 'lux the Nokton is the larger lens, but neither is a pancake by any stretch of the imagination. I can't say the difference in lens size is really that big of a deal to me. Both are too big to fit into a pocket with the camera. Both are small enough that I can carry them on a camera all the time and not have it be too obtrusive (at least relative to my DSLR zoom lenses).

I guess for me it's like saying the new Mini cooper is a bigger car than the old one. It's very true, and to someone used to the old one, the new one is significantly bigger. But at the end of the day, they both squeeze into parking lot spaces pretty much the same, at least for me.

I did see the 40mm f1.4 and that certainly is a very sexy/small lens. Personally, I don't really feel the need to go small, but maybe I just like the size of the camera with the Nokton on it. It just feels like the right size to me. I have the 12mm f5.6 which is a much smaller lens, and I dunno, the lens almost seems too small to me. Again though, I'm coming from a DSLR background, so all this stuff seems rather small to me to begin with.

I do use a multi-coated UV filter. I used a regular single coated UV filter, but it does cause internal reflections (flaring) when strong light sources were in frame. I noticed when I removed the filter, the flaring would go away. I hope the multi-coated one does a better job than the single coated one, but it's too early to say how much better it performs. I use B+W but only because it is the brand that has been recommended to me by others.

I use the optional vented lens hood and even with it, the lens does block out a bit of the lowest right of the frame (maybe about 15%.) I don't find it's a big deal for me.

I only recently got into rangefinders (about two months actually), but with the R-D1 and the Nokton, I shot more shots those two months than I did in two years of owning my old Canon system. I find I want to carry it all the time and my shooting has improved as a result. I'm so glad that I tried the R-D1... I hope you have as much fun with yours as I have with mine.

Best regards,

-Jason

 

[Terao]

Jason,

Your recent experience is very similar to mine last summer 🙂
It gets addictive 😀
The R-D1 plus Nokton reminds me of the Leica Digilux 3 plus 14-50mm Leica kit lens - its a bit of a brick to carry around all day (I tend not to use a neck strap)
I guess my problem is that my favourite rangefinder is a Bessa T plus something like the Voigtlander 21/4 - weighs nothing, fits in a coat pocket.
I agree though size isn't everything, its a great lens and good value for money. I've used it to take a few photos I really like (and will be part of family history) so for that reason alone I'll persist with it.
I think the great thing about these lenses is that they do have characters and different approaches to optical perfection. My new Zeiss Biogon 25mm is almost too sharp in comparison, even at f/5.6.

 

[Terao]

An example from the Biogon:

 

[skyjuice]

Jasan and Terao: Thank you so much for the gallery. I am totally addicted to both lenses (Zeiss Biogon 25mm and CV Nokton 35mm F1.2 ASPH). Each has its own characteristic for different application. I can see the excellent contract on the CV nokton, whereas the Biogon 25mm hold the centre to edge sharpness.
Once again, thank you to both of u!

Terao: Did you use any external viewfinder to couple with the Biogon 25mm, mind sharing please? Cheers.

 

[Terao]

Terao: Did you use any external viewfinder to couple with the Biogon 25mm, mind sharing please? Cheers.

No, but I need to get one. I ordered the 25 D finder from Robert White but they've sent me the non-D version so am waiting for a replacement. I may actually change my mind and get the 28/35 mini-finder instead, quite a few people have said that its a good match for a 21/25 combo like I use. Because I wear glasses using the edge of the R-D1s finder was a bit difficult, but I'm used to estimating.

One thing I will say about the lens is its taking me a while to get used to the focal length - its tighter than I was expecting. I find my 21mm a little too wide at times so I'm sure I'll get used to it.

 

[skyjuice]

Terao: Thanks for the info. I realised you took many photos of Reading, UK. I did my master in finance at Univeristy of Reading. Miss it very much, and we always hang out at Warner Village for movies and nice dinner at Chili and Nando's Chicken.

Yup, some sites said the 28/35 minin finder is good for the 21mm and 25mm lenses. Please let me know what you've got in the end. I would like to get one too.

Cheers!

 

[Terao]

The canal and river is good for photography, and the centre isn't bad either 🙂
Plenty of places I wouldn't walk about with a Leica though 😀

 

[Burkey]

"Snipped"
I've heard of the CV Nokton 40mm 1.4, it produces excellent image when coupled with R-D1s. The price is extremely reasonable as well. Does anyone know whether an external viewfinder is required for people like me wearing glasses?

Thanks!

I just received my RD-1 and have been using it with a 40mm Nokton I've had for a couple of years. The results are excellent and the 35mm frame lines seem to be much more accurate than I would have thought they would be. I wear glasses and really am experiencing less frameline/glasses issues than I did with the 40mm Nokton on my R3A. I've attached one of my first images from this combination. Shot in RAW, it's an image I took my TA, (teaching assistant), just outside of my office at the college where I teach. More images soon. I have a 28mm Ultron on the way.

 

[skyjuice]

Burkey: Hi and thank you for sharing the photo! She is lovely.
My R-D1s is on its way from Japan and expecting to arrive next week. Are you planning to get Zeriss Biogon 25mm F2.8?
Cheers.

 

[Burkey]

Skyjuice - Thanks for the comment about the photo. Actually I have an Voigtlander Ultron 28mm f/1.9 Aspherical in silver on order. The reviews looked good and I think it will compliment the Nokton 40mm well. I'm really enjoying the RD-1. I'm sure you will find it an exceptional image-making tool. Good luck. I look forward to seeing some images from you and your system once it's "up and running".
. . . Burkey

 

[skyjuice]

Burkey: Sean has gave a excellent rating on the CV 28mm F1.9 ASPH and you will truely enjoy it!
I will post up images once it is ready to run. Of course, I am quite worry using the R-D1s cause it is my first time to operat rangefinder and coming from DSLR background, not very sure I can do it well. Steep learning curve ahead.

 

[skyjuice]

Hi, appreciate if someone can provide more info on the UV filter (which serve to protect the lens)? I am looking for good filter which fit into Carl Zeiss 35MM Biogon and 25MM Biogon.

Cheers!

 

[Burkey]

I'm not sure the filter size for the two lens you are referring to but I usually use B+W filters.