Live View opens new avenues for M

[UliWer]

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How about a ring flash? Does anyone know if the M(ilestone*) has a flash synch socket?

 

Pete

 

From the description of the "multifunction grip" :

 

"To permit the use of a separate flash unit when an accessory viewfinder is mounted on the camera, the multifunctional handgrip M also provides a dedicated SCA hot shoe that communicates with the camera in the same way as its own hot shoe.

The multifunctional handgrip M also provides a socket for an external power supply and a DIN/ISO-X sync socket for studio flash systems, in addition an optional power pack is also available."

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[k-hawinkler]

But, if you want to be able to focus down to about 20", then mill down the DR version of the 50mm Rigid and use the EVF or the live view LCD image for the "near range" and the RF for the "far range" and get the best of both "dual ranges" in this wonderful old lens. That is what is so fantastic about having the new EVF.

 

 

I'll just use my Rigid Summicron from 1956.

[Rick]

I'll just use my Rigid Summicron from 1956.

 

Nothing wrong with that at all. I just happened to get a mint copy of the DR version off eBay last year and sent it off to DAG and had him mill off the near flange so it would work on the M9. Now it will work even better on the new M. (p.s. We haven't had a visible moon yet for me try the 280mm)

 

charlesphoto99, I understand that the 90 Macro will have to still have the goggles but, I think that it will be easy enough to get a Milch adaptor for it.

 

Also, I agree with you that Pandora's box is going to be opened when people can't understand why the live view image on the back of the camera isn't perfectly clear at 10x zoom when they focus using the RF.

[marknorton]

I too have been surprised by the negativity in this thread - the opportunity to use additional lenses with a Leica M is for me one of the most appealing aspects of the new camera.

 

I've never done anything with the R before so yesterday dipped my toe in the R lens pond which I will look forward to using. Then there's Nikon, where the corresponding adapter had been languishing for a few years with only Live View now able to resolve the problem of focussing and framing.

 

I was really struck how the Live View image is not so badly affected by stopping the lens down so that the way of working is the same for M, R and F lenses except for the fact you still have the rangefinder for M lenses. For Live View working, there will be times when you need to open up the lens for best focus and that is the remaining compromise compared to open aperture focussing on an SLR.

 

So, aside from those R lenses, which of the Nikon lenses am I looking forward to trying? Of course, you can only sensibly use those lenses which have an aperture ring which rules out most modern lenses but there's a handful in my drawer which I think will be interesting...

 

- Noct Nikkor

- 17-35mm f2.8

- 14mm f2.8

- Tilt and Shift - 85mm f2.8

- Older still, Shift-Only 28mm f3.5

 

So, all sorts of interesting things to use on the M.

 

Macro will be interesting but I expect working in stopped-down mode will still be slower than with an SLR. Step back from extreme reproduction ratios and Live View provides much improved ease of use with the 90mm f4 compared to squinting through the goggled macro adapter.

 

I share Lars' concerns about macro lighting - there is a PC socket on the handgrip but ring flashes tend to be rather hit and miss so far as exposure is concerned. Better is to use an LED based ring-light which mounts on the lens and the camera can meter off what it sees through the lens. Unless you are trying to capture movement (in addition to the close focus and shallow depth of field), you don't really need flash based illumination and you can white balance off the LEDs.

[AlanG]

I just remembered that Hartblei made (still makes?) a camera that can accept EOS lenses. Primarily intended for the 17 and 24 TSEs. It has electronic control of the aperture. And Alpa has announced a focal plane shutter camera intended to use these EOS lenses and many other kinds of lenses too. So I assume they have aperture control too.

 

If they are smart Hartblei and/or Alpa could make some money selling EOS to Leica adapters (And for other mirrorless cameras.)

[k-hawinkler]

I too have been surprised by the negativity in this thread - the opportunity to use additional lenses with a Leica M is for me one of the most appealing aspects of the new camera.

 

I've never done anything with the R before so yesterday dipped my toe in the R lens pond which I will look forward to using. Then there's Nikon, where the corresponding adapter had been languishing for a few years with only Live View now able to resolve the problem of focussing and framing.

 

I was really struck how the Live View image is not so badly affected by stopping the lens down so that the way of working is the same for M, R and F lenses except for the fact you still have the rangefinder for M lenses. For Live View working, there will be times when you need to open up the lens for best focus and that is the remaining compromise compared to open aperture focussing on an SLR.

 

So, aside from those R lenses, which of the Nikon lenses am I looking forward to trying? Of course, you can only sensibly use those lenses which have an aperture ring which rules out most modern lenses but there's a handful in my drawer which I think will be interesting...

 

- Noct Nikkor

- 17-35mm f2.8

- 14mm f2.8

- Tilt and Shift - 85mm f2.8

- Older still, Shift-Only 28mm f3.5

 

So, all sorts of interesting things to use on the M.

 

Macro will be interesting but I expect working in stopped-down mode will still be slower than with an SLR. Step back from extreme reproduction ratios and Live View provides much improved ease of use with the 90mm f4 compared to squinting through the goggled macro adapter.

 

I share Lars' concerns about macro lighting - there is a PC socket on the handgrip but ring flashes tend to be rather hit and miss so far as exposure is concerned. Better is to use an LED based ring-light which mounts on the lens and the camera can meter off what it sees through the lens. Unless you are trying to capture movement (in addition to the close focus and shallow depth of field), you don't really need flash based illumination and you can white balance off the LEDs.

 

 

Nope!

 

Nikon G Lens to Leica M Camera Adapter For M9 M8 M7 M6 M5 M4 | eBay

 

I have this adapter. It works quite well.

It lets you control the aperture of a Nikon G lens from the adapter.

You can open the aperture completely, or stop it down completely, or anything in between.

What works for me:

 

Start at one end, either open or stopped down.

In the camera watch the exposure change as you change the lens' aperture.

You count the stops, until you are at the desired aperture.

That's it.

[henning]

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The Leica M would never be my main macro setup, as there are better ones. The camera would work well on my Aristophot with the Photars or other micro/macro lenses, but then the old Visoflex setup wasn't bad for that either. For live stuff outdoors an LED ringlight works just fine and doesn't need sync. This would allow me to use the 65 Elmar a bit more. That's about as far as I would go in macro with the M.

 

However, the M-R adapter and some slightly longer lenses would be very welcome. For travel, I really don't need more than a 180, so a 180/4 tucked into the end of the bag with my M lenses wouldn't weigh things down too much, and instead of the Frankenfinder, I would take the EVF. If I'm willing to carry a bit more weight, the 280/4 with extenders can come along or even the longer Telyts.

 

How much I'd use live view would be decided after I see how good the implementation is, for my purposes, but I certainly like the expansion of the possibilities.

 

Henning

[theno23]

I got the idea from my WATE that focuses closer than .7 m but , when it reaches this near range it decouples from the RF. On the M9 I have to use the distance markings on the lens with my WATE and my machined DR. Hope this helps.

 

Now, with LV we can use these lenses and have a way to visually confirm focus, much expanding the usefulness of several lenses in this way.

 

The Voigtlander 35/1.2 does the same, focusses down to about 50cm, but without coupling for the 0.5-0.7m bit.

 

- Steve