new member... says hi

[pfogle]

Hi everyone,

After reading Sean Read's review on LL a while back, I found this forum and have been following with interest.

I've just sent off my order for the following kit, mainly on the recommendations I've read here, as I haven't tried them yet (mad, huh?!)

body with 40mm f1.4 Nokton and hood
28mm f1.9 Ultron
spare battery and 1 GB fast card

I figured this is the minimum I can live with to get started! I'm looking for a digital to replace the Leica/tri-X/D-76 combination that I used for years when I had room for a darkroom.

If anyone can recommend a good system for b/w printing I'd love to hear. I'm currently using an Epson 1290/black only/2880dpi/matt paper.

[jlw]

Just out of curiosity, what are you going to use for a viewfinder with that 40mm lens on an R-D1? The available finder frames are 28, 35 and 50. Other than that, sounds as if you're off to a good start. I assume you already have a card reader for your computer? (The R-D 1 won't connect to a computer directly.)

I'm still looking for a good b&w printing option myself (one that doesn't involve esoteric third-party inks and voodoo.) Currently I've got an Epson R800, but am not really happy with its grayscale results (highlights have a yellow tinge) not to mention the fact that I can't do 11x14s anymore. The new HP Photosmart 8750 announced at PMA sounds promising (has HP's PhotoGray cartridge system and prints up to 13 inches wide) but it won't be available until May, and I've gotten burned too many times to get excited about a printer until I've seen the results with my own eyes.

[pfogle]

I read that the 35mm frame is pretty well exactly the view of the 40mm, so I'm hoping that will do it. I'll have pix up by the weekend, I hope!

Phil F

[David Kieltyka]

The R-D1's 35mm frame is a good match for the 40mm Nokton. At close range (under 2 meters or so) you don't want to frame too tightly. I use the Leitz 40mm Summicron-C as well...it's a mm or two wider than the Nokton.

-Dave-