designdog Posted March 4, 2007 Share #1 Â Posted March 4, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello. I am considering the addition of either a Zeiss Contax 85mm f1.4 or a Summicron R 90mm f2 to my L1 setup, which now includes the Leica kit lens and an Olympus 50mm f2 macro (very nice, BTW.) Â I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on this, as it is my first foray into lens adapters and their compromises. Of course I could simply get the Olympus 50-200mm, but I have that range covered in my Canon system with their excellent new 70-200mm f4L IS. Â I am looking for a fast portrait lens,and I kind of like the aperture ring concept, which adds to the camera's aura. Â Thanks, Â -ddog Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted March 4, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted March 4, 2007 I am looking for a fast portrait lens,and I kind of like the aperture ring concept, which adds to the camera's aura. Â 85-90mm strikes me as a bit long for portraiture, at least given the L1's 2x cropping factor. That said, way back when, I had an 85mm/f1.4 Contax and loved it, so if you can live with a field of view on an L1 similar to a 170mm lens in 35mm terms, then I'd recommend it highly. (As a less expensive option, I was also quite pleased with the Minolta MC 85mm/f1.7 I had prior to the Contax and these seem to sell for half or less than what an 85mm/f1.4 sells for these days.) I'm afraid I can't shed any light as to how well either of these two lenses will work on an L1, though, and I have no experience with the 90mm Leica lens. Â I have, however, used other Contax lenses with my L1: 45mm/f2.8 "pancake" (see my thread here http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/17371-digilux-3-lens-soft-least-soft.html?highlight=tessar) , as well as 35mm/f2.8, 28mm/f2.0, 25mm/f2.8, and 18mm/f4.0, and they've all worked well via an inexpensive Contax->4/3 adapter I bought on eBay. I haven't noticed any loss of resolution or flare/contrast problems with them (although I have had to tweak the exposure settings a bit from what the L1's meter recommends) and rather than use them in stop-down mode, I leave them set at f/5.6 and just live with a slightly dim image in the viewfinder. Â FYI, I've recently purchased two N-series lenses (17-35, 24-85) and am in the process of adapting these to work on my L1-view camera setup (where the L1 body is used as a digital back) and, ultimately, to work on the L1 itself. The mechanical aspects of this conversion are straightforward but sorting out some way to control the electronic aperture will take some doing... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted March 4, 2007 Share #3 Â Posted March 4, 2007 Does the Zeiss Contax 85/1.4 have the right mount for the adapter(s) available, particularly if it's a late lens? I'm also thinking of a 90 Summicron f2 or f2.8, although I have been pointed to a 100mm Telyt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted March 4, 2007 Share #4 Â Posted March 4, 2007 Does the Zeiss Contax 85/1.4 have the right mount for the adapter(s) available, particularly if it's a late lens? Â Yes, so long as you're referring to the MM/AE version for the older manual-focus Contax/Yashica cameras. There are plenty of sources for the correct adapter (eBay, Cameraquest, Fotodiox, etc.) Unfortunately, the 85mm/f1.4 N-series lens does not have an adapter available for it, nor will you be able to shoot at anything other than wide-open unless you figure out a way to control the electronic aperture. It's a shame, too, as the N-series lenses were designed from the start with digital use in mind and (my rudimentary testing confirms) these are very promising lenses when used with an L1/D3. We'll see... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted March 5, 2007 Share #5  Posted March 5, 2007 Although it's sort of hidden by the lens (the 45mm/f.28 Tessar I've referred to above and elsewhere), the photo below shows the Contax->4/3 adapter I'm using with all of my Contax-mount lenses. (Note just how compact the lens is ... too bad it's too long for general use or mine would live on the camera!) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/17798-digilux-3l1-film-lens/?do=findComment&comment=190134'>More sharing options...
NickR Posted March 5, 2007 Share #6 Â Posted March 5, 2007 There are so many legacy lenses that fit with available adaptors that it's really an embarrassment of riches for the 4/3's user. I've had some success using the Pentax 50/1.4 screwmount and so have ordered the Sigma 30/1.4. Natural light portraits are exactly what I'm thinking about and I'm hoping to work faster with the AF of the sigma vs the manual pentax. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted March 5, 2007 Share #7  Posted March 5, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) On that topic.... do anyone know if there is such a think as a split-field screen for maybe the Olympus E300... and if that might actually work with the Digilux / L1...?  I have not had any problems adding manual lenses to my Digilux, but I am having a very hard time focusing them critically at anything wider than 5.6 (which really means that I am not focusing them very good at all.)  Long time ago Minolta made a short tele-converter which was focusing permitting older lenses to be mounted on a auto-focus camera and focused using the tele-converter.. a similar product from Olympus might be very interesting and positively add some additional interest in the 4:3 system. (smile)   Bo  My Leica scratch page - random thoughts , pictures and such. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted March 5, 2007 Share #8 Â Posted March 5, 2007 On that topic.... do anyone know if there is such a think as a split-field screen for maybe the Olympus E300... and if that might actually work with the Digilux / L1...? Â There's an aftermarket split-image focus screen available for the E-330 and I ordered one back in January from an outfit in Australia. I decided to gamble that it might work on the L1/D3 as well because they share the E-330's mirror box assembly ... unfortunately, I've not received it yet nor is the outfit responding to my emails, so I'm not sure what's up. If it ever does arrive (fortunately, I'll only be out $35 or so if it doesn't...), I'll be sure to post back with my opinion of it... Â As for critical focusing, I have no problems using the MF-assist feature with Live View ... of course, most of my work with this camera has been on a tripod, so this works fairly well for me but maybe not so well for others. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted March 5, 2007 Share #9  Posted March 5, 2007 Jeffrey,  Hmm Google brought up Katz eye, though a bit steeper than 35 bucks.  Katz Eye Focusing Screen for the Olympus E 330 @ KatzEyeOptics.com  These guys are actually in Massachusetts US, and also offer a Plus treatment which is claimed to delivery a brighter screen at low lighting, might be the ticket for the Digilux 3.   Bo  My Leica scratch page - random thoughts , pictures and such. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted March 5, 2007 Share #10  Posted March 5, 2007 Jeffrey may I use that image of your L1 about the place ?  now appropriate to this discussion  Using any Lens on Your E-System Camera  wrotniak.net: Using any Lens on Your E-System Camera  4/3 adapters  Adapters: Olympus E-1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted March 5, 2007 Share #11  Posted March 5, 2007 Jeffrey may I use that image of your L1 about the place ?  Thanks for asking, but feel free to do with it as you see fit.  wrotniak.net: Using any Lens on Your E-System Camera  I'm familiar with this page but (so far) I haven't experienced over/under exposure problems to the same extent as noted therein. Obviously, this must be related to the minor differences in design between the L1/D3 and the various Olympus cameras, but so far, it's been a non-issue for me.  FWIW, with some legacy lenses (including several of my view camera lenses), I have noted the loss of resolution Wrotniak warns against and sometimes severe flare/contrast problems as well, but to date, I haven't had any complaints about at least the Contax manual-focus lenses I've tried. YMMV, of course! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted March 5, 2007 Share #12  Posted March 5, 2007 he probably, quite rightly has a focus on OM lenses and his warnings are of note to most legacy glass shot wide open zooms and very fast lenses can tend to be soft wide open he is a bit critical, but that is a good thing no-one really needs someone in his position touting how good things are when the reality can be different  thanks about the image, its over at steves now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted March 5, 2007 Share #13  Posted March 5, 2007 Actually I played a good deal with several lenses, all older large aperature lenses, it seems that the real cause of the softness might be scattered light in the mirror-box of the 4:3 system. as there is a general trend saying that lenses with a large rear element shot wide open will get soft and diffused - compared to lenses with a smaller rear-element but same f.stop. the smaller element seems to be significantly less diffused.  My wild guess is that shopping for lenses with smaller than 24mm rear elements will be the happiest experience. some of my Nikkor lenses with larger rear-elements do not render until stopped down.   Bo  My Leica scratch page - random thoughts , pictures and such. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted March 5, 2007 Share #14  Posted March 5, 2007 you can always add a baffle on the back of the lens this is supposed to improve contrast  have a look at an example here  GFSNT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted March 5, 2007 Share #15 Â Posted March 5, 2007 it seems that the real cause of the softness might be scattered light in the mirror-box of the 4:3 system. Â I believe this is indeed the cause of the problem and as it happens, most of the 35mm-format lenses I've used and been happy with have relatively small diameter rear elements. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted March 5, 2007 Share #16 Â Posted March 5, 2007 hence the baffle still some lenses are better than others Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bohtho Posted March 5, 2007 Share #17 Â Posted March 5, 2007 Does anyone have any experience with Leica R lenses on Digilux 3 ? I am considering buying an adapter as I have access to some R lenses... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted March 5, 2007 Share #18  Posted March 5, 2007 still some lenses are better than others  FWIW, I found this photo of the rear element of the Contax 45mm/f2.8 Tessar on eBay. As you can see, it's quite small -- smaller, in fact, than the rear element of the Lecia "kit" lens that comes with the L1/D3 -- and as this lens works very, very well on my L1, this is quite likely a contributign factor. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/17798-digilux-3l1-film-lens/?do=findComment&comment=190959'>More sharing options...
NickR Posted March 5, 2007 Share #19  Posted March 5, 2007 you can always add a baffle on the back of the lensthis is supposed to improve contrast  have a look at an example here  GFSNT  Is this the same as stopping down or is it more like vignettting? At what point does one become the other? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted March 5, 2007 Share #20  Posted March 5, 2007 its not either, its the size of the image circle, there fore the rest of the diameter of the glass, intended for 35mm is wasted   E-300 with Konica Hexanon AR 40/1.8 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/17798-digilux-3l1-film-lens/?do=findComment&comment=191096'>More sharing options...
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