Humpty Posted August 30, 2014 Share #1 Posted August 30, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi everybody, I was wondering if it's possible to use Leica lenses on a Fuji XT1. Specifically I'm looking to get a Leica Summicron-M (Asph) 35 mm If I do this, will it still be 35mm? Will it be manual focus only? sorry if I'm asking stupid questions Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 Hi Humpty, Take a look here Leica lenses on Fuji XT1. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lct Posted August 30, 2014 Share #2 Posted August 30, 2014 I have no experience with this camera, only with the X-E2, but it is indeed possible to use your 35/2 asph on both cameras with an adapter. The equivalent focal length of your lens will then be 35x1.5 = 52mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeStone Posted August 30, 2014 Share #3 Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) Will it be manual focus only? There are three types of focussing afaik: 1. Via motor in lens (most of the current autofocus lenses have that). Manual focussing usually possible, it is then called "by wire" and does not feel grippy (I don't like it). 2. Via motor in camera, transmitted via screw drive to lens (older autofocus lenses have that and some cameras have the necessary motor integrated, e.g smc PENTAX-FA 1:1.8 77mm Limited in combination with Pentax K-3), manual focussing is possible and feels much better then "by wire". 3. Manual focussing only. There is no electric or mechanical transmission/communication of the focussing between the camera and the lens. Manual focussing is often smooth and grippy. This is M-lenses of Leica, Zeiss, Voigtländer etc. The Summicron is type 3. Regards Jacob Edited August 30, 2014 by JakeStone Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humpty Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) Hi guys, thanks for the replies. And thanks Jake, for the info. So all Leica M lenses are type 3, right? Or are there some that aren't? best wishes Edited August 30, 2014 by Humpty Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted August 30, 2014 Share #5 Posted August 30, 2014 There are three types of focussing: ... 4. Via motor in body, moving the lens mount or the focal plane. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timde Posted August 30, 2014 Share #6 Posted August 30, 2014 Hi everybody, I was wondering if it's possible to use Leica lenses on a Fuji XT1. Specifically I'm looking to get a Leica Summicron-M (Asph) 35 mm If I do this, will it still be 35mm? Will it be manual focus only? sorry if I'm asking stupid questions It will be more like a 52mm, and manual focus. If you want 35mm equivalent on that camera then try a 24mm lens. 28mm works nice too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeStone Posted August 30, 2014 Share #7 Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I was wondering if it's possible to use Leica lenses on a Fuji XT1. Specifically I'm looking to get a Leica Summicron-M (Asph) 35 mm If the main reason is not the grippy manual focussing, I would not recommend it. Get the Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 and get most likely better results in combination with the sensor of the X-T1. There are tons (!) of discussions, tests, reviews on M-lenses on Fuji X cameras. So, do some searching would be my recommendation. In this context it does not matter, if the camera is Fuji X-Pro1, X-E1, X-M1, X-E2, or X-T1. They all have the same sensor. Usually the disucssions on this topic go like this: A: Does anbody know, if I can use M-lens xyz on my Fuji xyz? B: Yes, of course. There is no reason why not. C: Sorry, but there are many tests, which prove that you have usually/often severe smearing in the edges starting at lenses of 35mm and below. It depends on lens design, missing micro lenses on the sensor, and thickness of the protection layer on the sensor. B: Hey, I tried M-lens xyz on my Fuji xyz myself and it doesn't look bad at all! Yes, there is some smearing in the edges, but if I go to f/8 it is very good. I use f/2 (or f/1.4) only for specific situations, where I do not need in-focus edges anyway. C: Ok, but why do you buy these expensive lenses then, if you can bring them only at f/8 to show their quality? B: grmpf... A: ??? BTW: I like using M-lenses starting at 35mm on my Fuji X-E1 for the very nice manual focussing and because it reminds me of my first camera use in 1978. But this has nothing to do with technical quality. Saludos Jacob Edited August 30, 2014 by JakeStone 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeStone Posted August 30, 2014 Share #8 Posted August 30, 2014 So all Leica M lenses are type 3, right? Yes. Or are there some that aren't? No. Regards Jacob Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeStone Posted August 30, 2014 Share #9 Posted August 30, 2014 4. Via motor in body, moving the lens mount or the focal plane. Nice, I didn't know this. Do you have an example for it? I enhance my post with 'afaik'. Regards Jacob Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted August 30, 2014 Share #10 Posted August 30, 2014 The trivial example would be the TLR, such as the Rolleiflex, where you focus by moving the plate with the two lenses to and fro. There used to be a 35mm RF (?) camera, presumably a German make, which did it, but I can't recall the name at the moment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalArts 99 Posted August 30, 2014 Share #11 Posted August 30, 2014 Nice, I didn't know this. Do you have an example for it? The Contax AX SLR (around 1996) shifted the film plane (worked kind of like a motorized view camera ) Everything moved including the mirror box.... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeStone Posted August 30, 2014 Share #12 Posted August 30, 2014 Concerning the original question, a good starting point could be: The performance of Carl Zeiss & Leica M lenses on the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 by Jan Vogelaar | Fuji RumorsFuji Rumors and http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2011/12/en_CLB41_Nasse_LensNames_Distagon.pdf (starting at page 11) Regards Jacob 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 30, 2014 Share #13 Posted August 30, 2014 The Contax AX SLR (around 1996) shifted the film plane (worked kind of like a motorized view camera ) Everything moved including the mirror box.... Yes, an ingenious – if slightly barmy – method of auto-focussing manual focus lenses. The downside, of course, to this kind of solution is that not all lenses focus by moving all the elements together as one unit. Any lens with a floating element (like many of the modern Leica lenses but also many older Nikon "CRC" lenses) will not be focussed optimally by simply moving the film plane. I'd also imagine that the motors involved in moving a film plane must require an accuracy that is an order of magnitude greater than that involved in turning a helical. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted August 30, 2014 Share #14 Posted August 30, 2014 The AX was designed to be used with Zeiss lenses specifically designed to be used with the C/Y (Contax/Yashica) mount, and they did not have floating elements. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
indergaard Posted August 30, 2014 Share #15 Posted August 30, 2014 Get the native Fujinon glass instead. It works better at a much better price point on the XF platform. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VVJ Posted August 30, 2014 Share #16 Posted August 30, 2014 Get the native Fujinon glass instead. It works better at a much better price point on the XF platform. +1. The 35mm f/1.4 XF R Lens is only $599 at B&H and it is an excellent lens. If you want to shoot your M glass on the Fuji you will need to buy an adapter. Results will not be optimal as the Leica sensor and firmware is optimized for M glass, the Fuji sensor and software is not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 30, 2014 Share #17 Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) The AX was designed to be used with Zeiss lenses specifically designed to be used with the C/Y (Contax/Yashica) mount, and they did not have floating elements. Yes, that was why I referred to "this kind of solution". I (perhaps mistakenly) thought the discussion was about moving the mount as a method of offering autofocus with manual focus lenses. Besides which, I understand that the Contax 28mm/F2 did use a floating element so thats at least one that wouldn't have been optimal on the AX. Edited August 30, 2014 by wattsy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbl Posted August 30, 2014 Share #18 Posted August 30, 2014 I wouldn't bother putting an M lens on an XT1. If I'm grabbing an XT1 (which I don't own, btw), it'd be because I want autofocus. If I'm going to be manually focusing, I'd just assume get the full Leica experience. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humpty Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share #19 Posted August 30, 2014 Hi everyone, thanks for the replies. 99% of it has gone over my head. I just don't understand all this technical mumbo jumbo. Thanks anyway though. Things like this: The performance of Carl Zeiss & Leica M lenses on the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 by Jan Vogelaar | Fuji RumorsFuji Rumors tell me nothing and show me nothing. I want to see some proper photos taken by a proper photographer. Not by some camera nerd who just goes to the park and takes photos of his children. This is why I hate reviews by Steve Huff. Oh and btw, I have the The 35mm f/1.4 XF R Lens. I don't really like it to be honest. It's nothing special. I'm probably going to sell it. The reason I got curious and excited about the prospect of using a Leica lens on my Fuji XT1 is because I saw this guy get some really nice shots with a Leica lens on his Sony A7: https://www.flickr.com/photos/utsp/with/15057753271/ I really like those shots .Very Leica-esque. I thought that something similar would be achievable on an XT1. None of the Fuji lenses have that look or quality. It sucks. It sucks I tell ya. Good evening. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbl Posted August 30, 2014 Share #20 Posted August 30, 2014 The reason I got curious and excited about the prospect of using a Leica lens on my Fuji XT1 is because I saw this guy get some really nice shots with a Leica lens on his Sony A7: https://www.flickr.com/photos/utsp/with/15057753271/ I really like those shots .Very Leica-esque. I thought that something similar would be achievable on an XT1. None of the Fuji lenses have that look or quality. It sucks. It sucks I tell ya. Ok, let’s back up here :-). Is it possible to use a 35mm Leica lens on an XT1? Yes. It will be roughly equivalent to a 53mm lens on a full-frame body. You will need to manually focus the lens since the M lenses only work that way. For the flickr site, what do you like in particular about the photos? That might help a bit. -jbl Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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