R lenses on digital body..

[steveclem]

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Gents, having had my interest in photography tweaked by this forum and the purchase of a Lumix LC1 I would really like to use my R lenses in digital format. Is this possible on say a Digilux 3/L1 camera body and 4/3 mount or am I just as well off (or worse off) using the micro 4/3 mount on another system?

I have only traveled the analogue road with my R cameras and vastly prefer the dials offered to the wheels and buttons of the majority of digital cameras.

This was a factor in my choice of the Lumix along with it being half the cost of a Leica badged model. the lens was the reason and I have 4 more available.

So, any thoughts on what I need to consider and any recommendations as to a digital body that fits the analogue criteria?

I don't have the funds for an M8 and lens combo yet. What sort of performance and limitations can I expect from this arrangement? I realise I'll be M/F but that's ok, focus confirmation wouldn't be unappreciated but it's not obligatory, I suppose I'll have to step down meter as well, any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[adan]

Given the criteria "....vastly prefer the dials offered to the wheels and buttons of the majority of digital cameras" and "I don't have the funds for an M8 and lens combo yet" - the Digilux 3 or Panny L1 are about it.

 

There is the Leica-made R9/DMR back, but it will cost about as much as an M8 + lens. Or more, depending on your market.

 

The DMR is 10 Mpixels and crops 1.4x - the Digilux 3/L-1 is 8 Mpixels and crops 2x. Depends on what R lenses you have and how you want to use them - a 15mm won't be a "15mm" anymore - it'll be a "21mm" on the DMR and a "30mm" on the Digilux.

 

A very new and untested option may be the Fuji X-Pro1. Which is designed more as a Leica-M-type body with a window viewfinder - BUT also allows the window to become an EVF, just like your Lumix LC-1. (Flipping a lever on the front covers the window, and turns on the internal electronic viewscreen). In practice it would be like your Lumix - with interchangeable lens capability, 3X more pixels, and 8 years more advanced technology.

 

Does have a shutter dial (and exposure compensation dial). Will have an adapter for Leica M lenses, so there will likely be a route to mount R lenses eventually. Body price in the US about $1700. 1.5x crop and 16 Mpixels. More info here:

 

Fujifilm X-Pro1 Preview: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

[steveclem]

Thanks for replying Andy. After I took my R system out of storage I realised just how nice these instruments really are. the heft of them and their clarity and think it's such a crying shame that they're threatened with obsolescence digitally speaking. I've got a lot to learn now with digital, I'm still looking up acronyms like EVIL and MILC as I drag my Luddite self into the modern age. An R6 camera with digital capability would do just fine but I'll not hold my breath. Will I be sacrificing much by using a Digilux3 other than A/F?

One other question, would it be worthwhile buying a micro 4/3 camera (was thinking the Lumix GF1) as an inexpensive option and using that as taster camera? I realise it's a wheel and button model but I could be persuaded to change if the ends justified the means.

I'd prefer to keep hold of my R system, it holds a lot of memories and that first R5 and 90 f2 cost me a Nikon and lenses as well as my Bronica 645 system to purchase, but I never regretted it.

[bill]

So, I have converted my R glass to Nkon mount and happily use them with two totally different platforms - a Nikon FM3a and a Ricoh GXR. The latter requires a Ricoh M mount ("lensor") module and a Novoflex Nikon F to Leica M adaptor (Novoflex).

 

The benefit of this setup is that I have a single, very well-made digital platform that takes all my Leica lenses from LTM to M plus the Nikon'd R glass.

 

No doubt a R to M adaptor could be employed if you wanted to keep the R mount on the R glass but I don't see the point - Nikon make fine film and digital bodies which take Leica glass albeit with some minor repurposing - which is more than Leica currently offer...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[earleygallery]

The problem with 4/3 is the 2x crop factor, so a 50mm lens becomes 100mm.

 

I use a Canon body with a 'focus confirm' adaptor. Just buy one adapter and leave it on the body, then you can switch lenses between the canon and your R5 with ease.

[adan]

Will I be sacrificing much by using a Digilux3 other than A/F?

 

One other question, would it be worthwhile buying a micro 4/3 camera (was thinking the Lumix GF1) as an inexpensive option and using that as taster camera?

 

One thing you will sacrifice using R lenses with ANY digital camera (except the Leica DMR/R9) is the automatic aperture stop down. No other camera has the lever to hold the lens wide-open until exposure. So if you set f/8, you will be focusing at f/8 (dark view, and no crisp transition from focused to fuzzy). Cameras with electronic (TV) viewfinders can crank up the gain to keep the view brighter, but you are still trying to focus with the depth of field of f/8 or f/11 or whatever.

 

(I use R lenses with a Canon 5D, but only lenses so good wide-open that I don't ever need to stop down).

 

Another thing you will sacrifice (unless you get a large, expensive, "full-frame" camera like a Nikon D700 or a Canon EOS 5D), is field of view. As I said before, cropped sensors smaller than 35mm film mean your big, expensive 15mm or 19mm lens becomes a big, expensive "21" or "28" or "38mm" lens. Your 50mm is no longer a "normal" lens - it frames like a 70 or 100mm.

 

If your R lenses happen to be mostly longer lenses anyway, the crop can be a plus - a free teleconverter.

 

As to a GF-1 - that depends on whether you will be happy holding the camera out in front of you to compose on the rear screen (like a cellphone), with much greater risk of camera shake. If you prefer holding the camera up to your eye, the GH-2 with built-in electronic viewfinder may be a better choice.

 

Panasonic DMC-GH2 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

[steveclem]

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Well, I appreciate your opinions gentlemen, seems I'm pretty well stuffed in my mind as I'm not really going to see what I would like in a manner I would like. One question, does the 2 x magnification have any bearing on aperture ie:, is it like a 2 x convertor and take a stop away from the lens? I have to say, it might be interesting to use on my 560mm but not much else really.

I get the feeling I'll not get much in exchange for my system s/h, I might give red dot a call and see if they'll offer a trade in.

Thanks.

[bill]

Seriously, Steve, I'd get rid of the bodies, but keep the glass, unless you need the money. You don't lose light, you are simply using less of the lens. The crop on the Ricoh is 1.5, btw, not 2x since it is not micro 4/3. Well worth looking into, I would suggest, in terms of flexibility. The current module is 12 Mp, with a 16 Mp version rumoured.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[kanzlr]

The two best solutions for using R glass digitally, on a modern non-DMR body are, in my opinion, the Nikon D700 (with magnifying eyepiece and a modified Canon Ec-S matte) and the Ricoh GXR which has, to me, the best manual focusing aids of all digitals.

 

Of course Andy is right in that stop down metering/focusing is a bit of a pain. C'est la vie.

[bill]

To be honest, I use my R lenses wide open most of the time.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightmancer/6790764115/in/set-72157629101936075

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[taskoni]

In the past I was using my R lenses on the Canon 5D. I find that way more comfortable and safe than using them with Nikon since I didn't have to unscrew anything, just mount the on the rings and that's it. Now I am using them only on my R7 but was looking at the R>M adaptor for my 24mm to go on the M2...

[lct]

A s/h Canon 5D1 won't be much more expensive than the Digilux you envision and will make nice images with your R lenses in full frame format. Better order a good split image focus screen for it though.

[Jaybob]

The Sony NEX's will work as well.

The bigger sensor = less crop factor than 4/3rds. 28 is a 42, 35 is a 52.5, 50 is a 75, 90 is 135 and so on.

NEX 5n body, with the add on EVF, and a R to Sony E adapter, is around 850 dollars.

NEX 7, (when it ships) + adapter $1050.

 

I use the older NEX 5 with R and M glass. Manual focus lenses are great on this camera because of the focus confirmation ("focus peaking" is what Sony calls it) AND the ability to zoom in 7 and 14 times to any portion of the image to check focus.

 

there is no teleconversion light loss, just teleconversion.

 

Jay

[earleygallery]

Well, I appreciate your opinions gentlemen, seems I'm pretty well stuffed in my mind as I'm not really going to see what I would like in a manner I would like. One question, does the 2 x magnification have any bearing on aperture ie:, is it like a 2 x convertor and take a stop away from the lens? I have to say, it might be interesting to use on my 560mm but not much else really.

I get the feeling I'll not get much in exchange for my system s/h, I might give red dot a call and see if they'll offer a trade in.

Thanks.

 

Before you throw in the towel.....buy a Canon DSLR body, any crop factor (1.5) body to start, will cost you £200+ depending on model/condition. I'm still using an ancient Canon 20d, it's fine. EOS to R adaptor with focus confirmation about £15 on ebay. See how you find shooting with that. If you don't like it you won't lose anything.

[roguewave]

Steve, I shoot mostly with my R8/DMR & R Glass. I do own a Digilux3 which I gave to my son. He loves that kit. I bought a used DMC-L1 which I use with a 50 Summicron or 50 Summilux, both of which I always shoot wide open. The image files are very good. Honestly, these lenses on the L1 are perfect for using a small kit to get results that usually require a much longer & heavier lens. Get the adapter & put your R glass to work on your L1.I always use the EVIL on the back of the camera. It's much easier to focus & gives you a fine idea about what the frames will look like. Enjoy.

[steveclem]

Hmmm, much to chew on now, things have progressed. I'll look into the Canon option and Ricoh, though I'm leaning towards a low cost alternative for now until I know I either like or dislike what feel. I rather like the idea of super telephoto applications and wouldn't mind trying it out on wildlife and see what the results are. I also like the analogue style of the D3/L1 camera and I think I'm only going to use fully open to start with, the lenses are supposed to perform well like this, if not optimum but at least more than adequate...I hope.

Those Sony's are a strange looking animal, I'm guessing they're a micro 4/3 yes but will retain focus confirmation? I'd like that on any body I did buy, if only for peace of mind.

It's very encouraging so far, when I lined my film kit up and totaled what I'd spent in time,money and effort to get the things I wanted it struck me that the advance of digital had taken away a lot of what I once cherished. The R6.2 I bought new in Cologne and at the time I thought it was a phenomenal camera and mechanical perfection. And so it should be for the price I paid, I actually imagined it would hold its value a great deal more than it did. I guess I should have bought the M6 instead I was considering as the partner to my R5, ha ha, always the bridesmaid as they say.

[sfage]

One thing that makes me little nervous is the adapter issue. I have a fotodiox on order but this 5 weeks waiting time is really getting upon my nerves.

 

... but, I have some other less important lenses I'd like to try. The trick is, I have heard some of the cheaper Chinese adapters can actually get stuck upon my brand new, one month old 5d.

 

Not "entirely" excited about that prospect.

 

PS: by "get stuck", I mean, will not come off of the camera.

[earleygallery]

Well, your R6 is still a phenomenal camera, and it will still be capable of superb results. Just because digital has joined the party doesn't mean that your film gear has got any worse!

 

Some of us would say sticking your R glass on some digicam is in fact a big step backwards!

 

Why do you need to shoot digitally?

[wildlightphoto]

Those Sony's are a strange looking animal, I'm guessing they're a micro 4/3 yes but will retain focus confirmation?

 

The NEX sensors are bigger than 4/3 sensors, a crop factor of 1.5 IIRC vs. the micro 4/3 crop factor of 2 so you'd be throwing away less of the R lens' image circle. The NEX cameras have focus peaking, which highlights in the viewfinder the areas that are in focus. Better than focus confirmation IMHO because it's effective everywhere in the viewfinder, not just at a focus point.

[phancj]

I would look at the Nikon D800. Just announced.

 

CJ

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