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Best solution for shooting with 75mm lens?


mxa

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Greetings!

 

In the past two years I shot a lot with a mirrorless digital APS-C camera (1.5x crop) with a Summicron 50mm lens attached. The 75mm focal length has really become my favorite by far so ....... I just bought an APO Summicron ASPH 75/2. :)

 

I plan to use it mostly on film and I would like to dedicate an M body to this lens. (I have already an M6 TTL 0.72 with a bunch of M lenses)

 

The 75mm focal length seems to be a bit of a second class citizen within Leica: the frame is not that useable as it is visually overwhelmed by the 50mm frame, for instance. (Am I wrong?)

 

So, I ask for some help from you fellow 75mm fans. How do you use your 75mm lens? With a 0.85 body? With a Voigtländer external viewfinder? Does someone use it on an M3? Can one ask Leica to modify a camera to exclude the 50mm frame?

 

Again, we are strictly talking about M-film here.

 

Thanks!!!!

 

Marco

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Hello Marco,

 

My short answer is "just use it" and you would like it or not.

You can use the Apo-Summicron-M 75mm with your M6 TTL 0.72 as many people use for years.

 

I don't think so that 75mm is less considered by Leica peolple, users and manufacturer.

 

A x0.85 viewfinder has the same frame lines as your's x0.72.

Maybe an magnifier x1.25 or x1.4 can help for focussing and framing, in bad light, but not really necessary in general photography.

 

I have used Summilux 75mm + M3 some day and as usual no 75 frame lines.

With practice, one can imagine the virtual 75 field quite accurately inside the 50 lines.

 

Arnaud

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+3.

 

It doesn't take too long to learn to ignore the 50mm framelines surrounding the 75 APO-Summicron

 

Although probably more of a problem with digital than film:

1. this lens can be challenging to focus wide open

2. it is not unheard of for the lens calibration to be off out of the box requiring a visit to Leica to fix.  There are older threads on this in the Forum.

Edited by MarkP
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It is not difficult to ignore the 50mm lines imposed upon the 75mm frame. You will become accustomed to it.

 

That said, it would be so cool to have the 75mm in the solid form that the 50mm uses, but I doubt that is even possible.

 

Use it an enjoy!

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You become more accustomed to the frame lines the more you use it. Start out giving a respectable border around the main content of your image and before long you will know what will be inside or outside the frame instinctively. It's no different really to using any other focal length on a rangefinder, people who change from a 35mm as their default standard lens often need to re-evaluate things when they move to a 50mm.

 

 

Steve

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I have that lens and use it on my TTL.

 

It's a terrific lens which gives similar results as the 50/1.4 Asph, nothing short of fantastic.

 

Mine had to go in for calibration as it was off by quite a bit - I could basically only use it at f4 and up to have any sense of certainty that focus would be correct. Also and a bit off-topic, I know, but it becomes a bit front heavy as it extends with focusing. Not a problem but noticeable (to me).

 

However I don't like this lens. I often accidentally frame with the 50 frame and when I realise I've either already taken a badly framed photo or missed the moment. This is all very individual so like the others I strongly recommend you to use it and form your own opinion.

 

Good luck

Philip

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There is no justification for choosing the wrong frame when composing.

 

With that said, I believe Leica could accept the fault  by displaying only the appropriate frame. Where is their head?

Edited by pico
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As I see it, it is not about "justification"; it's about user-friendliness of the design. Seeing the 75mm frame becomes more natural with use, but I still don't like it. Then again, I'm very firmly a 50mm person so I'm likely not the best subject for a test about how easily one can adjust.

 

As for displaying only the 75mm frame, perhaps that's possible on the digital cameras, but if one removes the 50mm frame on a film M where would it go? The frame preview lever has three positions and a 50mm lens won't bring up the other two (if that's where the 50mm would be placed).

 

 

 

 

 

There is no justification for choosing the wrong frame when composing.

 

With that said, I believe Leica could accept the fault  by displaying only the appropriate frame. Where is their head?

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As I see it, it is not about "justification"; it's about user-friendliness of the design. Seeing the 75mm frame becomes more natural with use, but I still don't like it. Then again, I'm very firmly a 50mm person so I'm likely not the best subject for a test about how easily one can adjust.

 

I'm with you on the 75mm frame, Philip. I've tried to like the 75mm focal length but, like you, I found it difficult to use the 75mm framelines in the unconscious way I do a 28, 35 or a 50. I've personally moved on.

 

 

 

As for displaying only the 75mm frame, perhaps that's possible on the digital cameras, but if one removes the 50mm frame on a film M where would it go? The frame preview lever has three positions and a 50mm lens won't bring up the other two (if that's where the 50mm would be placed).

 

It's the same for both digital and film. The whole frame selection system works on the basis of just the three positions and there is no possibility of separating the 50 and 75 frames using the existing system. In theory somebody could have the frame sets customised so that, for example, the 28/90 pair is replaced by a single 75, and the 50/75 lens mount on the lens is replaced with a 28/90 mount. This way the 75mm lens would bring up a "75" frame but such a customisation would preclude using a 28 or 90 on that camera nor would the lens work properly on other cameras.

Edited by wattsy
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Hello Everybody,

 

Or, someone could simply have the 50mm frame lines removed & have that frame position only display the 75mm lens's angle of view.

 

 

Yes, that would probably be the most straightforward option for a committed 75mm user who has no need for the 50 frame.

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I plan to use it mostly on film and I would like to dedicate an M body to this lens. (I have already an M6 TTL 0.72 with a bunch of M lenses)

 

As you are proposing to dedicate a body to this lens, I think Michael's suggestion of having the 50mm frameline masked out is the best option. Particularly so if you can obtain a 0.85x VF body. Leica might not be willing to do the modification but any of the good third party technicians like DAG should be able to do it for a modest cost.

Edited by wattsy
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As you are proposing to dedicate a body to this lens, I think Michael's suggestion of having the 50mm frameline masked out is the best option. Particularly so if you can obtain a 0.85x VF body. Leica might not be willing to do the modification but any of the good third party technicians like DAG should be able to do it for a modest cost.

 

Thank you all for your comments! Great suggestions.

 

Yes, you are absolutely right, eliminating the 50mm frame would be the simplest (?) way, and if Leica could/can do that without destroying my piggy bank, I would/will consider doing it. I will keep you posted if it is possible to "erase" the 50mm frame (or, even better, erasing it and making the 75mm frame with solid segments).

 

Cheers

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  • 2 weeks later...

I contacted Leica about the possibility of sending in an M 0.85x and having them remove the 50mm framelines, thus leaving only the 75mm. They told me it is not possible regardless of the Leica model chosen.

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