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Any advice?


JohnB

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Hello, not exactly new to forum, having been a member 10 years ago under a different name, which for some reason I can no longer use.

 

This is my dilemma: I have a variety of Leica cameras and, now I am retired, need to rationalise to one or two digital devices. It would be good however to use some existing lenses.

I have a Digilux 3, which despite the top plate surface wearing in rather an ugly fashion (restorable?) I intend to keep.

I also have a CL set with a 50mm and 90mm lens and a Leicaflex SL with four lenses, including my all time favourite, a Summicron 90mm.

I am thinking of purchasing either an M8 or perhaps an X1. My question is, which, if any of these lenses would be usable on these camera, presumably with appropriate adapters.

Would it be possible to use the Digilux 3 lens on either?

 

All advice appreciated

 

My apologies if I have posted this in the wrong section.

 

John

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The lenses for the CL are native M lenses; you can attach them to any M right away. Are you sure the shorter lens for your CL is a 50mm lens? The SL usually sold with the most wonderful 40mm Summarit-C 1:2.0. 

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The 40mm lens in an M8 would be the equivalent of a 50mm on a film camera.

 

The M8 is now a 10 year old camera and has well known issues with the rear screen. Don't pay too much for one and try to get a warranty from a dealer.

 

The X1 has a fixed lens, so none of your existing lenses can be used on that.

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Many thanks.

 

If the M8 is problematic (and being retired I can't afford a newer M series) is there another body on which I could use my lenses? Failing that, are they worth much?

I have a summicron 50mm, a 35mm, 90mm summicron and a 135mm, all 2 cam.

Is there any interest in complete CL sets these days?

 

John

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Many thanks.

 

If the M8 is problematic (and being retired I can't afford a newer M series) is there another body on which I could use my lenses? Failing that, are they worth much?

I have a summicron 50mm, a 35mm, 90mm summicron and a 135mm, all 2 cam.

Is there any interest in complete CL sets these days?

 

John

Well, you could sell all the older equipment & invest in the Q..

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Many thanks.

 

If the M8 is problematic (and being retired I can't afford a newer M series) is there another body on which I could use my lenses? Failing that, are they worth much?

I have a summicron 50mm, a 35mm, 90mm summicron and a 135mm, all 2 cam.

Is there any interest in complete CL sets these days?

 

John

There is certainly interest in CL kits although if you sell the gear yourself you'll probably get more by selling each item separately.

 

There are Fuji and Sony cameras which you can use your lenses with and you can use your R lenses with Canon DSLRs - all with relevant adaptors, but with varying degrees of success.

 

An M8 sells for circa £1K. An M9 is about £2K. Your only other Leica option is the T which can take your lenses (with adaptors) has just been discontinued - a new model is expected soon.

 

I think you need to decide what you need most from a new camera and which lens/es and consider selling everything if necessary to buy into a new system.

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Would using this on a M8 change the focal length?

 

 

 

Pedant alert....no, the focal length remains the same.  But the cropped field of view is roughly equivalent to the FOV of a 53mm focal length (1.33x) for your 40mm lens. 

 

Essentially you're only using the central portion of your lens with the M8....effectively eliminating edge issues.....for a nice 'sweet spot'.  If you used the same lens on a 'full frame' (non-cropped) M, like the M9 or M240, you would then get to use the full FOV of your 40mm lens (but could crop in post, if desired).

 

I keep my M8.2 as back-up to an M240.....still a very capable camera.

 

Jeff

Edited by Jeff S
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The M8 is a wonderful camera. I am probably going to keep it forever. It is slightly cropped with crop factor 1.33

Because it uses only the center part of the lenses, it is very good with older lenses.

On the other hand it is harder to really do wide angle with it.

A 28mm will have about 35mm equivalent view.

The Summicron 40C will be about 50mm FOV and will be an excellent match for the m8. One remark though, to make it really shine, you need to have it encoded and modified so it brings up the 35mm lines in stead of the 50mm lines.

The 35mm of the M8 match very well if you take the inside.

Mofification of framelines is inherent for the 40cron and will be needed for any M body.

 

On the M8. If your budget is about $1000, it is the only digital M within reach. But that also makes it the best digital Leica within reach IMO.

I can see no option available either new or second hand in any brand that will match its IQ potential at base ISO.

 

Mind you, this is necessary if you want to use it IMO:

- any lens shorter than 50mm will need digital encoding (on other digital Ms you can choose the lens type manually)

- color photography needs a UV/IR filter. These can be found easily second hand

- shoot in RAW + PP in lightroom or an other professional PP tool

 

The M8 has some known technical issues with the LCD. It can not be repaired, but OTOH it is only a cosmetical issue. AFAIK all other technical issues can still be serviced. Sometimes replacing it with an other second hand M8 will make more sense. I have used 4 M8's since 2009 and never had an other technical issue than the LCD one.

 

So my advice is to sell your SL + R lenses, keep your CL. Have your 40cron modified, and encoded and buy one or 2 UV/IR filters. Buy an M8 with the rest of the money.

 

If you can afford it, buy a second hand M9 and do the same as above. Not as much need for the UV/IR filters then, but they still help.

 

The main advantage of the M9 is that it is FF. and that you do not have to encode your 40C. So if you do not mind the somewhat narrower FOV on the M8, it is the best value for the money.

Edited by dpitt
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