Preparing for the M

[andybarton]

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I am sure that we were told at Photokina that all R lenses will work with the M with the most popular having firmware adjustments available

 

Focus peaking works in the EVF. It would be half useless otherwise.

 

M9/P production has already stopped

 

Pre-production Ms will be in various hands now, as they had working examples at Photokina, albeit with sealed SD card slots

[wlaidlaw]

This is the list of R lenses which will have codes initially at least from the M brochure:

 

At a glance – all R-Lenses supported in the menu of the Leica M: Super-elmarit-r 15mm f/2.8; elmarit-r 19mm f/2.8; elmarit-r 28mm f/2.8; Summilux-r 35mm f/1.4; Summicron-r 35mm f/2; Summicron-r 50mm f/2; Summilux-r 50mm f/1.4; macro-elmarit-r 60mm f/2.8; Summilux-r 80mm f/1.4; Summicron-r 90mm f/2;

apo-macro-elmarit-r 100mm f/2.8; apo-Telyt-r 180mm f/3.4; apo-elmarit-r 180mm f/2.8; apo-Summicron-r 180mm f/2; apo-Telyt-r 280mm f/4; Vario-elmar-r 21–35mm f/3.5-4; Vario-elmar-r 28–70mm f/3.5-4.5; Vario-elmar-r 35–70mm f/4; Vario-elmarit-r 28–90mm f/2.8-4.5; Vario-apo-elmarit-r 70–180mm f/2.8; Vario-elmar-r 80–200mm f/4

 

Wilson

[kdriceman]

There are no production M's anywhere right now.

 

I was at a Fellowship group visit to Leica's smart suite in Mayfair' date=' London on Tuesday hoping to see one, even if it was only a pre-production model. The M-E was available, the Paul Smith X2 and the Pana Leica latest offerings, but that was all.

 

In fact the top staff and management were available to answer questions and it soon became very apparent that they have very little information to hand about the M or the R lens adaptor. However they did state that a form of focus peaking will be included but they couldn't answer my question whether this would be available with the accessory Visoflex (Olympus) EVF viewfinder, it will definitely be included when viewing the LCD screen.

 

Most of them had handled the M at Photokina, purely momentarily as it was quickly snatched away from them apparently, They did say however that the final specifications were not determined and once they were, Leica sales and technical staff would be advised.

 

The target date for launch is January, but they couldn't advise which year!! (Fellowship joke!) At the same time as the M is launched the M9 will cease production, but the Monochrom will continue in it's present form.

 

We were let loose in their bespoke studio fitted with massive Elinchrom Strobes and an S2 tethered to a MacPRo with two Eizo screens.

 

The new S2 may be available as early as December this year and the changes are very useful indeed, with sharper AF and many other smaller but important changes for pro photographers. The new leaf shutter lenses will also be rolled out starting next year. The S2 is a very desirable camera indeed and the drooling started the second my hands landed on it!

 

Pity I am trying to cut down on camera bulk and weight. [/quote']

 

I shot a couple rolls of film this week and rather enjoyed the change. I am seriously considering selling my M9 now and shooting only film (for my rangefinder shooting) for a few months until my M240 arrives. Maybe I can get ahead of a further price drop on M9's and get reacquainted with film for awhile. I can still use my NEX7 with M adaptor if I want to shoot digital.

[chris_tribble]

I shot a couple rolls of film this week and rather enjoyed the change. I am seriously considering selling my M9 now and shooting only film (for my rangefinder shooting) for a few months until my M240 arrives. Maybe I can get ahead of a further price drop on M9's and get reacquainted with film for awhile. I can still use my NEX7 with M adaptor if I want to shoot digital.

 

What a nice idea!

[Son of Helm]

This is the list of R lenses which will have codes initially at least from the M brochure:

 

At a glance – all R-Lenses supported in the menu of the Leica M: Super-elmarit-r 15mm f/2.8; elmarit-r 19mm f/2.8; elmarit-r 28mm f/2.8; Summilux-r 35mm f/1.4; Summicron-r 35mm f/2; Summicron-r 50mm f/2; Summilux-r 50mm f/1.4; macro-elmarit-r 60mm f/2.8; Summilux-r 80mm f/1.4; Summicron-r 90mm f/2;

apo-macro-elmarit-r 100mm f/2.8; apo-Telyt-r 180mm f/3.4; apo-elmarit-r 180mm f/2.8; apo-Summicron-r 180mm f/2; apo-Telyt-r 280mm f/4; Vario-elmar-r 21–35mm f/3.5-4; Vario-elmar-r 28–70mm f/3.5-4.5; Vario-elmar-r 35–70mm f/4; Vario-elmarit-r 28–90mm f/2.8-4.5; Vario-apo-elmarit-r 70–180mm f/2.8; Vario-elmar-r 80–200mm f/4

 

Wilson

 

So, the 24mm f/2.8 and 135mm f/2.8 (or other 135) are not on the list.

At least the 24 would be nice ( but it is no match for the M 24/2.8)

[gravastar]

I'm about to place an order for several Leitax adapters for my R lenses. Does anyone know which pair of frame lines the official Leica adapter brings up in the viewfinder and what the adapter 6 bit code is?

 

The reason I ask is because we don't know if the frame lines selected by the adapter are part of the coding. Remember the problems people had with early Zeiss wide angles not being recognised? Although they had a 6 bit code on the mount they didn't bring up the correct frame lines so were not recognised by the firmware.

 

The Leitax adapters are available with 24/35, 50/75 and 28/90 frame line options and can be 6 bit coded. Maybe I should wait a while until more information becomes available before ordering.

 

One thing I have experienced with Leitax adaptors on R lenses is the rear surface of a lens is less accessible for cleaning. It pays to always use the rear lens caps and to blow off any dust before replacing the cap.

 

Bob.

[dhsimmonds]

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This is the list of R lenses which will have codes initially at least from the M brochure:

 

At a glance – all R-Lenses supported in the menu of the Leica M: Super-elmarit-r 15mm f/2.8; elmarit-r 19mm f/2.8; elmarit-r 28mm f/2.8; Summilux-r 35mm f/1.4; Summicron-r 35mm f/2; Summicron-r 50mm f/2; Summilux-r 50mm f/1.4; macro-elmarit-r 60mm f/2.8; Summilux-r 80mm f/1.4; Summicron-r 90mm f/2;

apo-macro-elmarit-r 100mm f/2.8; apo-Telyt-r 180mm f/3.4; apo-elmarit-r 180mm f/2.8; apo-Summicron-r 180mm f/2; apo-Telyt-r 280mm f/4; Vario-elmar-r 21–35mm f/3.5-4; Vario-elmar-r 28–70mm f/3.5-4.5; Vario-elmar-r 35–70mm f/4; Vario-elmarit-r 28–90mm f/2.8-4.5; Vario-apo-elmarit-r 70–180mm f/2.8; Vario-elmar-r 80–200mm f/4

 

Wilson

 

Thank you Wilson, quite a comprehensive list far more than I was expecting but note the total absence of anything longer than 200mm which is what the wildlife snappers including myself really need.

 

It will be only a matter of time before 3rd party adaptors are also available I suspect, but without access to the M's electronic interface.

[andybarton]

Third party adaptors will undoubtedly have a suitable groove milled into the M-side of the mount to allow for third party coding.

 

Loads of the small, fast, Chinese accessory manufacturers were at Photokina. You can bet that they will have a mount available before Leica do.

[wlaidlaw]

Third party adaptors will undoubtedly have a suitable groove milled into the M-side of the mount to allow for third party coding.

 

Loads of the small, fast, Chinese accessory manufacturers were at Photokina. You can bet that they will have a mount available before Leica do.

 

The Leitax semi-permanent R to M mount I have put on my 80-200/f4, has coding pits milled in it. Is the 'R' code announced yet?

 

Wilson

[MarkP]

Preparing for the M?

 

PC-Super-Angulon-R 28mm

Vario-Elmarit-R 28-90mm Asph

Deciding whether to keep the M9 as well as, or to trade it in for the M

Preparing my bank manager for the financial onslaught:D

[andybarton]

I'm about to place an order for several Leitax adapters for my R lenses. Does anyone know which pair of frame lines the official Leica adapter brings up in the viewfinder and what the adapter 6 bit code is?

 

The reason I ask is because we don't know if the frame lines selected by the adapter are part of the coding. Remember the problems people had with early Zeiss wide angles not being recognised? Although they had a 6 bit code on the mount they didn't bring up the correct frame lines so were not recognised by the firmware.

 

The Leitax adapters are available with 24/35, 50/75 and 28/90 frame line options and can be 6 bit coded. Maybe I should wait a while until more information becomes available before ordering.

 

One thing I have experienced with Leitax adaptors on R lenses is the rear surface of a lens is less accessible for cleaning. It pays to always use the rear lens caps and to blow off any dust before replacing the cap.

 

Bob.

 

 

Are you proposing to buy Leitax R-M adaptors? If so, why?

 

Why not just buy the Leica adaptor then you don't need to worry about it. Stick your R lenses on that - you don't even have to get a screwdriver out. Choosing the correct R lens in the menu will work much better than trying to code an R lens as a nearest equivalent M

[lct]

So, the 24mm f/2.8 and 135mm f/2.8 (or other 135) are not on the list. (…)

Neither two dozen other ones more or less, from 15/3.5 to 800/6.3.

[wlaidlaw]

Are you proposing to buy Leitax R-M adaptors? If so, why?

 

Why not just buy the Leica adaptor then you don't need to worry about it. Stick your R lenses on that - you don't even have to get a screwdriver out. Choosing the correct R lens in the menu will work much better than trying to code an R lens as a nearest equivalent M

 

If I was going to buy other R lenses I would agree with Andy. However for me, the 80-200 Vario-Elmarit R may well be the only R lens I buy. I just liked the idea of not having another adapter for this long heavy lens, which I will probably be carrying around in and using from Land Rovers and the idea of a rigid Leitax connection seemed like a good one. If I do end up buying a Shift 28 Super Angulon at some point, I will just buy a normal R to M adapter.

 

Wilson

[Olsen]

Certainly my experience of getting a 300mm lens has been that although later autofocus / internally controlled aperture lenses can be used manually, it's not a nice experience, whereas professional lenses from the manual era give a very good experience. I've been looking at Nikon professional lenses with ED glass, or Canon L series FD mount, and for the moment have gone for an f4/5 Nikkor. Much as I love it, the idea of trying to manually focus my series 1 Canon EOS 300 f/2.8 L on the M is not attractive. Once I've tested things - and if I still decide I want that focal length and maximum aperture, I'll either look around for an FD fit Canon, check Nikon, or even get a Tokina AT-X 300mm SD if I can find one.

 

In brief - while an external aperture control ring is important, even more significant IMHO is the long throw and fine focus control that you get with a lens that was designed for this operation.

 

Hum, I still have a Canon FD 200 mm 2,8 in the attic.

[gravastar]

Are you proposing to buy Leitax R-M adaptors? If so, why?

 

Why not just buy the Leica adaptor then you don't need to worry about it. Stick your R lenses on that - you don't even have to get a screwdriver out. Choosing the correct R lens in the menu will work much better than trying to code an R lens as a nearest equivalent M

Good point. My intention was to code the Leitax adapters the same as the Leica adapter and use the lens selection menu. My only reason for thinking about Leitax was my experience with other R-M adapters which leave much to be desired in the way of mechanical robustness when used with the heavier R lenses. The durability of the bayonet retaining springs is inadequate and the R lens can pull away from the adapter unless you support the lens.

 

Bob.

[wlaidlaw]

Good point. My intention was to code the Leitax adapters the same as the Leica adapter and use the lens selection menu. My only reason for thinking about Leitax was my experience with other R-M adapters which leave much to be desired in the way of mechanical robustness when used with the heavier R lenses. The durability of the bayonet retaining springs is inadequate and the R lens can pull away from the adapter unless you support the lens.

 

Bob.

 

Bob,

 

My thoughts but put more succinctly. I had thought the R to M adapters were more secure than this but it confirms that my decision to go the Leitax route for the big zoom may be the correct one. Here is my picture of the 80-200 with the Leitax http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/attachments/leica-r-leica-flex/341994d1350676989-r-solution-more-details-r0011274.jpg

 

Wilson

[chris_tribble]

Hum, I still have a Canon FD 200 mm 2,8 in the attic.

 

Lucky man - they still fetch around £1500-£2000 depending on condition, and would a splendid thing to stick on the M-240.

[andybarton]

Good point. My intention was to code the Leitax adapters the same as the Leica adapter and use the lens selection menu. My only reason for thinking about Leitax was my experience with other R-M adapters which leave much to be desired in the way of mechanical robustness when used with the heavier R lenses. The durability of the bayonet retaining springs is inadequate and the R lens can pull away from the adapter unless you support the lens.

 

Bob.

 

I am sure that the Leica one will be engineered properly.

[wlaidlaw]

Andy,

 

At £215 for the Leica 'official' R to M 240, you would be desperately disappointed if it was not dramatically better than the £29 Fleabay versions

 

Wilson

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[k-hawinkler]

Andy,

 

At £215 for the Leica 'official' R to M 240, you would be desperately disappointed if it was not dramatically better than the £29 Fleabay versions

 

Wilson

 

 

Not necessarily. Sometimes one gets lucky. :D