Preparing for the M

[k-hawinkler]

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I just took a couple of shots with Leica glass and the OM-D E-M5.

One hand held @ 1/3s. The other @ ISO=10,000.

Both look useable. That camera is definitely a keeper for static scenes.

Compared to the E-P2 with 2-axis, the new 5-axis IBIS is really amazing.

 

Next to the shutter button on top of the OM-D E-M5 is function key FN2.

Pressing it switches on magnification up to a factor of 14x,

magnification factor user controllable for several different values.

Pressing it again and magnification is off. Very nice.

The M240 has reportedly a similar arrangement with the function button at the front of the camera.

It is even more convenient for M lenses as it switches automatically to magnification as one focuses.

 

The OM-D E-M5 also has a function button FN1 at the upper back in easy reach of the thumb.

FN1 can be setup to mimic focus peaking while it is depressed. That seems to work as well.

But I definitely prefer focus peaking as it's implemented in the NEX cameras.

[jdlaing]

I just took a couple of shots with Leica glass and the OM-D E-M5.

One hand held @ 1/3s. The other @ ISO=10,000.

Both look useable. That camera is definitely a keeper for static scenes.

Compared to the E-P2 with 2-axis, the new 5-axis IBIS is really amazing.

 

Next to the shutter button on top of the OM-D E-M5 is function key FN2.

Pressing it switches on magnification up to a factor of 14x,

magnification factor user controllable for several different values.

Pressing it again and magnification is off. Very nice.

The M240 has reportedly a similar arrangement with the function button at the front of the camera.

It is even more convenient for M lenses as it switches automatically to magnification as one focuses.

 

The OM-D E-M5 also has a function button FN1 at the upper back in easy reach of the thumb.

FN1 can be setup to mimic focus peaking while it is depressed. That seems to work as well.

But I definitely prefer focus peaking as it's implemented in the NEX cameras.

 

I've been using an EM-5 for quite a while now. Nice features. If only the NEX was any good with wide angle lenses.....

[chris_tribble]

I've played with the EM5 too and if I were in the market for an alternative DSLR I would be interested - it's a neat device and a good vehicle for Leica lenses (if you can live with 4/3rds). As it is, I've got money sunk in fast Canon glass so I'll stay with the 5D2...

[k-hawinkler]

I've been using an EM-5 for quite a while now. Nice features. If only the NEX was any good with wide angle lenses.....

 

 

My WATE 16-18-21/4 works very well on the NEX-7 and even better on the NEX-5N.

However, the 21/2.8, 28/2, and 28/2,8 show the red edge problem, not too bad though.

The 35 mm lenses seem to be borderline.

[k-hawinkler]

Chris,

 

I understand, being heavily invested in Nikon gear.

The beauty of the Leica and Nikkor lenses is that I can use them also on the NEXs and MFT cameras.

No news there.

The more I get into these diverse cameras the easier it becomes to familiarize myself with them.

And to form an opinion based on fact, not dogmatic wishful thinking.

[Manolo Laguillo]

I just bought a beautiful 35 PC-Nikkor + Novoflex LEM/NIK adapter, to use it with the M...

 

Considered the Curtagon 35 PC, but:

 

1. the Nikkor's shift is bigger: 11mm;

2. the Nikkor's max f.stop is 2.8, instead of Curtagon's f.4;

3. did find the Nikkor first, and at a nice price

 

With the Super-Angulon-PC-R it will be a nice pairing!

 

Cheers,

 

Manolo

[chris_tribble]

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congratulations...

[adrianw]

I have ordered a Novoflex Canon FD lens (manual focus and apertures) to M body converter and will try it on my M9 when it comes. I already have an FD 80-200 L lens which I know is superb and have no doubt it will at least equal the Kyocera 80-200. Tests I read indicated that the 70-180 R lens was much better, but I have not seen one for sale. Importantly to me, I have a mint 35mm f2.8 tilt shift FD lens. If that all works I will worry then about extension tubes and extenders. The TS should go a long way to enabling me to sell all the Canon 5DII gear (with regret because it is so good, but very heavy and too bulky to fit on domestic airlines.

So Chris, my priorities will be the occasional use of zoom, 200mm to cover musicians on stage, but the facility to tilt/shift and to be able to go really close up without buying macro lenses to further weigh me down and diminish my bank account are really my critical issues for land/seascape work.

[chris_tribble]

Adrian - this sounds good. The one thing I'd recommend is getting the FD to M adapter coded + adjusted to bring up the 90mm framelines (Malcolm Taylor's done mine). Once this is done, from everything I've read, you will then be able to set the nearest R lens equivalent focal length and be able to benefit from the automatic focus confirmation function which the M240 provides. Of course, this will also be possible with the front F/A button, but nice to have it working automatically.

 

Congratulations on the 35 T/S - a lovely thing. I opted for the Nikon 28 PC because this was what I could get!

[wlaidlaw]

There is a Canon FD 35 TS on Fleabay UK at the moment at a reasonable £470, if anyone is interested. Here Canon FD 35mm F/2.8 S.S.C TS Lens | eBay I have promised myself not to buy any more kit until I actually have the 240 in my hot sticky hands. Reverse Murphy's - the more I buy, the longer the wait for the M-240 will be.

 

Wilson

[stevelap]

..............rails... got to have rails.............

 

 

..................Man I love this, "Preparing for the M" thread! We are going to end up buying so much crap for this new camera that we are never going to use.

 

Oh yes, some have started already before even a sniff of the camera's availability. .

[k-hawinkler]

I am counting on the M240 working just fine and delivering good results.

But a little insurance is always good, in this case an Olympus OM-D E-M5 with Leica APO-Telyt-R 280/4.

 

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Operating at 120 Hz, the EVF doesn't skip a beat! Very Nice!

[chris_tribble]

The one regret I have is that I don't have / can't afford to prioritise this lens! An asking price of around €5000 I just can't do it for a lens I'd use half a dozen times a year...

 

My copy of the 300 FD Canon f4 isn't bad (on the Olympus EP2) but it's not a patch on the Leica R 80-200 F4. Heigh ho...

[k-hawinkler]

The one regret I have is that I don't have / can't afford to prioritise this lens! An asking price of around €5000 I just can't do it for a lens I'd use half a dozen times a year...

 

My copy of the 300 FD Canon f4 isn't bad (on the Olympus EP2) but it's not a patch on the Leica R 80-200 F4. Heigh ho...

 

 

Hi Chris,

 

WOW! Those prices went up in a hurry.

I got my APO 280/4 about a year ago from Stephens in Manchester for less than the number you quote - but in USD.

That about doubled the price in the last 12 months.

 

For my kind of photography it might be less expensive to operate several different cameras and optical reducers on the same lens instead of using multiple lenses on the same camera.

I know you want to get down to one camera. Understood. For me that's not a goal however.

 

For example for the APO 280/4 one finds:

 

280/4 .. mm on Leica M240

298/2.8 mm on Sony NEX-7 ............ with Metabones Speed Booster, one gains one f-stop, I have that Speed Booster

398/2.8 mm on Olympus OM-D E-M5 with Metabones Speed Booster, one gains one f-stop, not available yet

420/4 .. mm on Sony NEX-7

560/4 .. mm on Olympus OM-D E-M5

 

Of course, in addition to these combinations one can also use APO-Extenders, increasing effective f-numbers though.

However, the cost for those APO-Extenders has also gone up and is now comparable to the cost of the cameras mentioned above.

 

With excellent sensors now in APS-C and m4/3 cameras, it now seems to become a question of image quality comparisons.

Which approach works better? Multiple lenses on one camera or multiple extenders, reducers, and cameras on one lens?

 

Indeed, we live in interesting times!

[wlaidlaw]

Do folks not find it a little odd and maybe worrying, that there has not been a whisper on progress from Leica, Cmosis or STC-Microelectronics since September. I have checked on their websites and blogs. It is almost like this is Leica's Manhattan Project. Even the various images we have seem, all date from prior to October. My concern would be a fab, stitching or yield issue on trying to scale up production of the sensor from prototype individual sensors to large size wafers. It is known that other camera makers, e.g. Canon, have struggled with very low yields in the past on their sensors, when moving up to a new technology.

 

Anyone heard anything that they can disclose, without having the Solms Ninja team descend on them?

 

Wilson

[jdlaing]

Do folks not find it a little odd and maybe worrying, that there has not been a whisper on progress from Leica, Cmosis or STC-Microelectronics since September. I have checked on their websites and blogs. It is almost like this is Leica's Manhattan Project. Even the various images we have seem, all date from prior to October. My concern would be a fab, stitching or yield issue on trying to scale up production of the sensor from prototype individual sensors to large size wafers. It is known that other camera makers, e.g. Canon, have struggled with very low yields in the past on their sensors, when moving up to a new technology.

 

Anyone heard anything that they can disclose, without having the Solms Ninja team descend on them?

 

Wilson

 

No.

[chris_tribble]

+1

[jaapv]

It is still within the announced time scale. Let's start worrying at Easter.

[wlaidlaw]

It is still within the announced time scale. Let's start worrying at Easter.

.

 

If I was Leica, I would want to "keep the pot boiling" by posting some up to date images or giving some progress reports. I cannot see that there is anything to be gained by secrecy, unless it is bad news.

 

Wilson

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[-ph-]

Well, they are not shy of showing the M around here in Germany. There were at least two events in the local Leica store where you could handle and shoot the M. On the other hand, it looks as if the M will be sold out for months, so where is the hurry for marketing?

 

Peter