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Hi All SL-users! I have had my SL for some months and used mostly M-R lenses with the adapers and the 24-90 Zoom which covers most situations. The system is heavy, but once you get used to it, -you start wondering why not use lenses of your 645 cameras:)? I have the Contax 645 lenses and wonder if anyone has found suitable adapter to use these on the SL - even if the AF and some other functions might be lost? Some time back there were still companies which made tailor-made adapters, but I have learned that we are maybe past those times?;) However, there are individuals who are keen to solve problems and I remember someone making an AF-unit of Nikon's 16A-teleconverter, which was not that difficult after all... Even the Photokina exhibition might have revealed something on this front? So, -please, share any of your experience and of this topic? if there are any:)? br Hans

Hello Everyone, First time post to this great forum I've lurked a while, obsessed about this and that, but finally decided to pull the trigger and bought my first L camera, a nice (metered) MP of which I am the second owner. I'm looking for a 50mm Summicron and see that the newest body style, the one with the built-in hood, has a weight difference when choosing chrome or black and that it's due to the brass body of the chrome lens. I don't see any information available regarding the older, tabbed version with the same optics. I see that the lens as a whole weighs less and is a little smaller physically, but nothing on wether the black is lighter than the chrome body. Is this tabbed version, in chrome, also made of brass? Is there a difference in weight? If there is I guess it might not be worth mentioning, but it made me question the body composition, wondering if the chrome lens is anodized aluminum or brass. Any info appreciated. To be sure, I'm talking about the lens version in this photo. Thanks so much.

Hi, I've been spending days reading about these wonderful Leica M Series lenses. Some questions: 1. Are the Summilux, Summicron and Elmarit-M lenses yielding very similar sharpness and picture quality (given that you don't get the wide open F stops with the very expensive ones)? 2. Amongst the experienced Leica users are the Summicron lenses seen as being significantly improvements over the Elmarit series lenses (other than faster)? 3. Are the Elmarit series lenses seen as being a definite step up from ANY of the Zeiss ZM series or Voightlander lenses? 4. If # 3 is yes, then are there any exceptions where the Zeiss ZM or Voightlander are very very close in image quality (I already read that the Leica M Series are significantly higher build quality). 5. If I follow the wisdom of investing in lenses (the M9 will in fact will be replaced or upgraded, but the Leica lenses will be very current no matter what for decades), then are there any digital larger sensor size bodies available that can accept the M Series Leica lenses that cost significantly less than the M9 (until someday when I can afford to buy it used). 6. I have to wear reading glasses. Please direct me to any sites (forums) that talk about the use of rangefinder cameras for those who have to wear reading glasses (diopter 2.0) at this point. (Just use slightly greater magnification?? like a diopter 2.5 for more precise rangefinder focusing?) 7. I also want to find out about focusing rangefinder cameras in very low light. Any forums or sites you can direct me to ? In essence, I'm looking for the smallest body with smallest lenses that are wonderful in build and image quality potential so I actually wind up using them, having them on me, having them in my backpack (or with me on daily walks with the dogs) without weighing two tons and taking up all the room (and so I can have that special feeling that money investment has gone toward something very special--- in the end for me artistic photography has to have that feeling tone, so it might as well start with me and my equipment). Thank you for any directions to relevant forums, sites etc, and thanks for any wisdom, insights, encouragement, lessons learned along the way, pitfalls to avoid while purchasing Leica stuff for the first time. Spike