There will now be a short interlude while I test the GXR on some already well tested subjects with some already well tested lenses just so I can get a baseline feel for the camera. Today I was using the A12 M Mount with the Voigtlander Super Wide Heliar 15/4.5. Of course, it isn’t super wide when attached to the A12 Mount because of the 1.5x APS-C crop. It becomes a very usable 22.5mm – still wide though. Fully open, the Heliar is f/4.5 but with usable ISO speeds of 3200 this isn’t too limiting. Depth of field/bokeh on such a wide lens isn’t a consideration since it barely needs focussing. Everything is in focus from 0.5m to infinity at f/8 which I used for most of the photos I took today.
Ricoh’s approach to manual focus aid is interesting. There are two modes, focus-peaking (like in the Sony NEX) and ‘mode 2′. I have no idea how to describe ‘mode 2′ and on first using it I thought WTF? However, having used it I love it – almost foolproof and curiously, for me anyway, the monochrome image is a big help to composition. Obviously I didn’t need a focus aid with the Heliar but I have done some test shots on the dog with the Summicron 90/2 (135mm equiv) and it was spot on focussing on The Dog’s eye, even wide open at f/2 (the aperture, not The Dog’s eye, though that was open too, he’s such a tart…)
And joy! Proper zone focussing with proper manual focus lenses with proper marks on the barrel to just line up and just shoot. Something I have really missed.
So what are the downsides so far? Because we are using rangefinder lenses with a TTL camera, as you stop down the lens, less light is available in the viewfinder (obviously) so it becomes harder to focus. SLRs keep the lens wide open until the shot but they have electrical/mechanical coupling. Rangefinders use a separate viewfinder so this isn’t a problem on those cameras. The GXR is a bastard hybrid so when focussing is critical you need to focus wide open and then stop down. Not exactly a show stopper but something to bear in mind.
The CV Nokton 35/1.2 is deeply disappointing wide open at 1.2 and 1.4 – very soft, but sharp as hell from then on. This may have been the subjects I was testing it with so I’ll investigate further. I’ve read elsewhere about the 35/1.2 being soft with some digis. It is monster glass & only worth carrying in the bag for the wide aperture. I’ll probably stick with the Summicron 35/2 though I’m pretty happy with the A12 50/2.5, especially with the 7cms 1:2 macro (don’t forget, the 35mm is 52mm equivalent with the Ricoh A12 M Mount sensor).
Other than that, I’m having fun!
by skinnyvoice
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Deptford calling: Testing, One Two Three… – http://t.co/eyRUsWhZ #photography #photoblog
RT @skinnyvoice: Testing, One Two Three… #photography #photoblog http://t.co/MbRO3cle