LEICA M + R Adapter: adequate solution?

[mmradman]

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i think its not a real solution.

 

Thanks for bumping this thread.

 

Back to your assertion, what do you propose or expect as real solution.

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[wlaidlaw]

If you look at this thread: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-r-leica-flex/260201-i-tried-m-r-adapter-evf-5.html#post2234320 , you will see I have been doing some real testing with R lenses and the VF-2 viewer, with an Olympus EP-2 micro 4/3rd camera to see if the concept works. Initially, before my M to mFT lens adapter arrived, I was very pessimistic. The screen on the VF-2 seemed small and not very detailed. Manual focusing with the VF-2 and the electrically actuated focus on my 14-42mm Olympus lens was pretty awful with it being quite difficult to detect the actual focus point.

 

Yesterday morning, my M to mFT arrived. It was a very cheap one and has needed a bit of work on my part to get the fit of the adapter tight enough to prevent movement of a long and quite heavy 80-200 f4 Vario-Elmar R, fitted with a permanent Leitax R to M mount. Focusing was actually very easy with only a tiny movement of the focus ring required to pop in and out of very clear focus. Once I have the tripod mount for the 80-200 (in the post from Hong Kong), it will be possible to focus very accurately indeed. It is certainly easier to focus the 80-200 at 200 accurately than a 280mm Telyt on my Visoflex III. I am now confident that with the added benefit of focus peaking, the M-240 will provide a wholly satisfactory R solution.

 

I now just wish that Leica would hurry up and deliver the one I have on order.

 

Wilson

[MikeEvangelist]

I now just wish that Leica would hurry up and deliver the one I have on order.

 

Amen!

[k-hawinkler]

Wilson,

 

I looked at the picture in the thread you point to.

Indeed, that scene contains quite a few areas of high contrast or micro contrast.

So focus peaking should work pretty well.

 

If you are trying to take a photo of a scene that doesn't contain high contrast or micro contrast areas then you are back to a situation where focus peaking doesn't apply.

 

But you can still use magnification, although that's a bit more challenging when handheld.

Being able to switch instantaneously back and forth, for example, between 1x and 10x magnification can help achieving focus and the frame you want. At least that's my experience with using manual focus lenses with my NEX-5N and NEX-7, both with EVFs.

 

Of course, when using a tripod or bean bag and having plenty of time, magnification often is the way to go, not just in low contrast scenes.

 

What's your experience for these scenarios?

[wlaidlaw]

Wilson,

 

I looked at the picture in the thread you point to.

Indeed, that scene contains quite a few areas of high contrast or micro contrast.

So focus peaking should work pretty well.

 

If you are trying to take a photo of a scene that doesn't contain high contrast or micro contrast areas then you are back to a situation where focus peaking doesn't apply.

 

But you can still use magnification, although that's a bit more challenging when handheld.

Being able to switch instantaneously back and forth, for example, between 1x and 10x magnification can help achieving focus and the frame you want. At least that's my experience with using manual focus lenses with my NEX-5N and NEX-7, both with EVFs.

 

Of course, when using a tripod or bean bag and having plenty of time, magnification often is the way to go, not just in low contrast scenes.

 

What's your experience for these scenarios?

 

 

K-H,

 

I will let you know at the end of the month, when I have been on safari in South Africa. I was going to take M9, 280/4.8 and Visoflex for long shorts. For the long shots, I am now going to take the R to M converted 80-200/4 Vario-Elmar, EP-2 and VF-2. Of course on the EP-2, the 80-200 has an EFOV of 160-400, which is ideal for longer shots. I will also take my Elmarit-M 90/2.8 and Tele-Elmar-M 135/4 for middle distance. My brother has got Shem of C4 safari's to deliver a couple of bean bags to him for me and my son-in-law for using with his Panasonic G3 and various lenses. I am deciding whether to take a travel tripod with me as well. The problem I have at the moment, is that the Canon AII tripod support ring I ordered from Hong Kong for the 80-200 V-E, still has not arrived after a month. Tomorrow is the last day of the scheduled order period and if it does not arrive then, I will ask for a refund and buy one from the UK.

 

Wilson

[jaapv]

A tripod will hinder rather than help on Safari in my experience. Beanbags are fine. Have a few sewn up with Velcro fasteners and fill them up at your destination. There are always beans in the kitchen.

You may have read in Theme magazine about my safari experiences with the 280-Viii and Televit on the MM. Excellent, I hardly used my Telyt 400.

 

http://the.me/henri-in-africa-the-leica-monochrom-as-a-travel-camera/

[wlaidlaw]

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The only time I think the tripod might be useful is for photographing the watering hole in front of our cottage in Addo from the veranda, otherwise I agree it will be bean bags all the time. I cannot decide whether to take a Telyt 280 + Visoflex with me or not. I think I will probably just taken the 80-200 Vario Elmar and use it on the Olympus EP-2 with VF-2 and the M9 with M lenses. I did use the tripod a fair bit in Namibia two years ago for early morning and evening shots, with exposure bracketing.

 

Wilson

[jaapv]

And even then the veranda will have a little fence to put a beanbag on

[naturephoto1]

Even having handed the new M prototypes with several of my R lenses (180mm f 3.4 Apo and 100mm f2.8 Apo Macro Elmarit) at PhotoPlus and having discussions with Justin Stailey of Leica USA, I am still torn on the camera. Besides the very high cost of the camera especially with all of the additional items (R to M adapter, EVF finder, Multifunction Grip, battery) I am reluctant to go this way. I still have issues regarding the camera including having to remove the camera from a tripod to replace the memory card and the battery since they need to be accessed after removing the bottom of the camera. I also do not know how this will work to remove the camera from the Grip. Additionally the R to M adapter with its removable base is only set up for horizontal orientation. Justin had suggested bringing this into a machine shop (and I have a good local one) to make this into a rotating option for horizontal and vertical.

 

Then there is the issue with adding an L bracket to the camera for work on a tripod possibly one from RRS. But, then how would this work with the Multifunction Grip or just opt for this and not benefit from the Grips ability to offer a 2nd flash hotshoe and to work with the camera tethered to my computer.

 

I also am not too keen for working with my R lenses for long work, macro work, close work with wide angle lenses and requiring the usage of the add on EVF finder. How would you carry this set-up in your camera bag or backpack? I really would not want to put the finder on and take it off all of the time.

 

Rich

[wlaidlaw]

And even then the veranda will have a little fence to put a beanbag on

 

Jaap,

 

I have found using a bean bag in the UK last week, that the focus ring on my 80-200 rotates so freely, that it is very easy to change focus accidentally, when resting on a bean bag. It is also more difficult to zoom and focus.

 

Wilson

[jaapv]

I tend to rest the bottom plate of the camera on the bean bag, to better reach the aperture and focus rings.

[wlaidlaw]

Jaap,

 

Currently, there is not enough camera with the Olympus EP-2 to do that. It will be better with the M-240 but still quite a lot of forward leverage with the 80-200 or 280 Telyt and 543195 41mm extension, remembering I have quite weak hands nowadays.

 

Wilson

[masjah]

Well, I took the plunge, and ordered an M (with EVF2 and R to M adapter) finally to go digital with my R glass.

 

(1) I wanted a full frame solution

 

(2) I didn't want to b****r about changing lens mounts (not easy for some of my lenses, and how do you manage the Extender?) or shaving reflex mirrors or hacking or removing rear lens shades.

 

(3) I wanted some sort of focus confimation.

 

(4) Most of my serious work is done on a tripod, so a leisurely pace is my norm. (I'm not a member of the "ack-ack school of photography".)

 

So it should suit me adequately well.

[k-hawinkler]

John,

 

Congratulations.

For your style of taking pictures the M should be a lot of fun.

[wlaidlaw]

Well, I took the plunge, and ordered an M (with EVF2 and R to M adapter) finally to go digital with my R glass.

 

(1) I wanted a full frame solution

 

(2) I didn't want to b****r about changing lens mounts (not easy for some of my lenses, and how do you manage the Extender?) or shaving reflex mirrors or hacking or removing rear lens shades.

 

(3) I wanted some sort of focus confimation.

 

(4) Most of my serious work is done on a tripod, so a leisurely pace is my norm. (I'm not a member of the "ack-ack school of photography".)

 

So it should suit me adequately well.

 

John,

 

Welcome to the club.

 

I just have my fingers crossed that in three months, we will not be cursing at the soft images coming out of that CMOS sensor, screaming about funny white balance, discussing how to resurrect locked up cameras, leaving it on the shelf and going back to using the M9. I do believe however that the team in Solms will have learnt from past errors and are really going to get it right first time, this time.

 

Wilson

[masjah]

John,

 

Welcome to the club.

 

I just have my fingers crossed that in three months, we will not be cursing at the soft images coming out of that CMOS sensor, screaming about funny white balance, discussing how to resurrect locked up cameras, leaving it on the shelf and going back to using the M9. I do believe however that the team in Solms will have learnt from past errors and are really going to get it right first time, this time.

 

Wilson

 

Let's hope so! (Am I really going to give up film?)!

[stunsworth]

Let's hope so! (Am I really going to give up film?)!

 

There's room for both - though after saying that, I don't think I've shot a roll of film since buying my M8.

[masjah]

There's room for both - though after saying that, I don't think I've shot a roll of film since buying my M8.

 

Agreed! It will though be interesting to see whether or not the same thing happens to me. If I traded my Summilux 35/1.4 R and bought the corresponding M lens for use without the adapter, I would have something which would be a real alternative to my CM or Minilux. I think I can see where this might be going!

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[algrove]

That is a very good point.

 

I wonder how many R lenses will end up being sold by those who decide a simpler alternative to wide and normal R lenses would be to just get an M lens and skip the adapter?

 

Of course, unless Solms comes out with totally new M glass, the R wide to normal zooms and all the long lenses will be heavily used by new M-240 owners.

 

How many are planning on the switch from R to M in say wides and normal lenses once the new M proves to be what they hoped for? Me for one, will keep using my M wides and normals and only use long and zoom R lenses unless Solms does upgrade some or most of them in the near future. I just hate to think what a long M APO lens will cost if the soon to be sold APO 50 is like USD7200! It might make old R lenses a steal.

[naturephoto1]

One advantage of the R wide angle lenses compared to their M counterparts is they focus closer which has application for instance in landscape photography.

 

Rich