Digilux 3 Lens Questions

[pAthdoc77]

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I am fairly new to photography, and have gradually worked my way up the ranks and am now using the Digilux 3. The camera takes great pictures with the stock lens, but I would like to buy a new one. A telephoto lens would probably be what I need since a lot of the pictures I take are from a distance. The stock lens is 14-50mm, and I would like to get in a bit closer than what it will allow. I guess I'm used to the range my old V-Lux 1 that was equivalent to 35-420mm. Here are a few questions that I'm having trouble finding answers to online. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

1. I read that Leica makes (or used to make) a 4/3 lenses. Are these still available and if so where can I find them? In my searches, all I have been able to find are M and R mounts, which would require me to get an adapter.

 

2. If I was to get an M or R lens, do they have auto focus (because I heard that they don't...I just wanted confirmation)? I've experimented with manual, but i'm not great with it (yet).

 

3. Does using an M or R adapter change anything? I ask this because I was told that the 4/3 system has a 2x crop, which makes it equivalent to 28-100mm on a 35mm camera. From my understanding, the R system is a 35mm. So how would putting an R lens on a 4/3 system affect the overall range of the lens? Someone please correct me if I am getting this all wrong....because I have a feeling that I am.

 

4. I'm a bit of a label whore and would like to stick with a Leica lens, but if I need to I will reluctantly buy outside of the red dot. Any recommendations?

 

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

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[carlosecpf]

I own a Digilux 3 as well and I bought the PanaLeica 14-150mm (28-300mm 35mm equiv). It is designed by Leica and manufactured by Panasonic, just like the kit lens. It is an impressive lens with 10x zoom, Optical Image Stabilization and it is pretty sharp. I strong recommend it, though it's a bit expensive. You can find this lens at BH photo website.

 

There is also the Olympus 50-200mm that is cheaper, has a faster glass but is heavier.

[pAthdoc77]

Thanks! I'll look into your recommendations.

 

Out of curiosity, what are the differences between all the different Leica lenses? For example, they have a summicron, an elmarit, a summilux, and a summarit with same focal lengths and similar max apertures. Can someone help me in understanding the differences?

[ASpes]

Trying my best at your questions ...

 

1) Leica has designed (but AFAIK never directly manifactured, this was done by Panasonic) just a few 4/3 lenses besides your 14-50, actually a 14-150 and a 25/1.4, they carry the Leica logo and work just like your kit lense.

Anyway given that your D/3 is a 4/3 compliant camera, you can use any lense made for this standard (except those made for the micro 4/3 of course), so you have the full Olympus range to choose from, and they go from good to excellent. Sigma also makes a few interesting lenses, but unfortunately their QC is sort of shaky so it's not easy to find a good sample.

As a reference you could look at the B&H online catalog, they have a full listing for 4/3 lenses.

 

2) 3)

Given the short flange distance, you can also use lenses from many other brands via an adapter, and the Leica "R" ones are definitely a good choice.

In any case they become manual lenses to all effects, which means that you have to stop them down and manual focus them. The latter is not that easy on a D/3, and not my cup of tea, but there are a number of people that have no problem with it, so guess it's a personal matter. My suggestion is to try it yourself before committing, and see how it suits your working style.

 

You mention the Leica "M" lenses, but on a standard 4/3 camera like the D/3 they wouldn't be able to focus to infinity, you need a micro 4/3 camera for that. In any case *any* lense you mount on a 4/3 camera, either micro or standard, will have a 2x crop factor because of the sensor size.

 

4) Guess you already have your answers on this, and I fully agree with Carlos suggestion of the 14-150. Anyway have a look at the Oly range, as it offers you quite a few outstanding lenses to choose from, I use a fair number of them myself. Just remember that they have no aperture ring, but you can set the f/stop via the dial at the back, everything else works as expected.

 

As for your last question, the Leica naming of lenses mostly reflects a speed classification, Summilux is for 1.4 lenses, 'cron for the f/2 and so on.

Optical design is certainly related in the same line, but in the years it can vary quite a bit, making for somewhat different lenses though they carry the same name and general specs.

Sorry but if you need specific details to compare the design (and results) of Leica lenses, you will have to ask one of the many people in this forum who are more knowledgeable than I on this very technical subject.

 

Hope this helps.

[pAthdoc77]

Thanks ASpes, some great information there. I think that I may go with the Pany 14-150mm for now. I do plan on upgrading to an M9 next year, but only after I've "mastered" (and I'm using that term loosely) my D3.

 

I just read some info online that said that the names of the lenses are just Leica's way of categorizing their aperture sizes. I compared that info with the lenses on Leica's website and it seems to be true. All the summicrons have an f-stop of 2, the summilux f1.4, etc.