m240 with R Lenses

[dierk]

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For slow deliberate working it is a brilliant solution. I am using various R and Visoflex lenses. It is a whole different world to the vague focusing though a Visoflex. Focus peaking is work in progress. It works well with high contrast lenses and high contrast edges but needs to be made more selectable. On the older Telyt lenses and even on the very highly regarded 80-200/f4 Vario Elmar, focus peaking is pretty hard to spot. On my Hartblei 80mm Tilt/Shift Super Rotator, which is based on an old Pentacon 6 medium format lens, focus peaking is non existent. The inability to move the focus patch is irritating and a serious omission. On the other hand, on my 28-85 Zeiss Contax Vario Sonnar, a very high contrast lens, focus peaking is relatively easy to see. The balance with these big heavy lenses on the M240 leaves quite a bit to be desired. Maybe it will be better when the MF grip arrives but that is going to make the zoom button even more difficult to hit. It is not always easy to hit focusing quickly and with the camera in balance. Nothing like as easy as with a good SLR, split image and micro-prisms. So not a perfect solution but not at all bad. After all, there are no SLR's out there which can work as a rangefinder.

 

Wilson

for focus peaking a fast lens is not helping, if you use it stopped down!

If you focus open and try to stop down later - forget it!!

If you focus on a tripod, you can not move the focus field to part of the image, where you want to focus - forget it!

 

Wilson, I have the Canon 17mm tilt/shift and planned to use it on the M. As the focus magnification only uses the center, a tilted lens is absolutely useless

 

How do you focus the tilted lens on the M?

 

I got so disappointed of the M, I gave it back after two days.

Here is, why:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/276958-m-firmware-hardware-improvements-thread.html#post2383542

 

I will use my NEX7 for macro and tilt/shift.

 

dierk

[thighslapper]

As the shutter is so much faster than the M9 ... and Visoflex.... I would have thought 'focus bracketing' with hand held macro shots would be an option ..... half a dozen rapidly taken shots whilst wobbling about usually produces one thats ok.....

[Rick]

great idea, wish I thought of that

It was hard enough to get him in focus as is. DOF is about 1/8" and just breathing causes focus issues.

 

I know you know this, but stop down and use the LV on the back while you are filming. Focusing really works pretty well even without any magnification on the LCD screen. At least you will get real time feedback on the back of the screen instead of the screen going black when shooting stills. And, you can shoot a still image anytime you want during the movie mode. Shoot 1/45 sec and you will get 1/50 at 24 fps. Use ND filters if you have to.

 

I have shot video with the M that I think looks pretty good and displayed it on a Sony G90 projector (9' tubes) onto a 10' Studio Tech 1.33 gain screen. The projector is capable of 2500x2000 resolution. I can upscale a BluRay disc to this resolution so, I have a pretty good idea what "good" is.

 

As long as the camera is steady, the camera settings are kept at standard or less, set your own color temperature, and you shoot fixed or very slow pans, it looks great.

 

I'll comment on how I think the M video looks as I figure out the best in camera settings. And, I'm not sure yet, but I don't think it is flat. Also, not sure if I like smooth film mode. Remember, I'm not doing much with it in Adobe Premiere - still learning.

[algrove]

I use the Novoflex adapter with the 100 macro. See my first shot under "R lenses on M" photos.

 

OF COURSE, use a tripod-that's a given. Stop down a lot-that's also a given. Search here for R Macro. Check under Leica Product under R/Leicaflex.

 

I have posted until now around 15-20 shots with M + Novoflex adapter. They all work just fine with LV.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-r-leica-flex/279320-r-lenses-m-photothread.html

[algrove]

This is NOT a viable solution for using R lenses.

 

How can you that THAT?

[wlaidlaw]

for focus peaking a fast lens is not helping, if you use it stopped down!

If you focus open and try to stop down later - forget it!!

If you focus on a tripod, you can not move the focus field to part of the image, where you want to focus - forget it!

 

Wilson, I have the Canon 17mm tilt/shift and planned to use it on the M. As the focus magnification only uses the center, a tilted lens is absolutely useless

 

How do you focus the tilted lens on the M?

 

I got so disappointed of the M, I gave it back after two days.

Here is, why:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/276958-m-firmware-hardware-improvements-thread.html#post2383542

 

I will use my NEX7 for macro and tilt/shift.

 

dierk

 

Dierk,

 

With an 80mm TS lens, you really use it quite differently to a wide TS lens, so the central focus patch, whilst irritating, is not a deal killer. On a tripod you can re-frame after picking up correct focus. I really only expect to use my TS lens seriously, once I can tether. I hope an iPad tethering app will be developed or that I will be able to use the Capture One App. I will also be using the TS lens on my micro 4/3rds equipment, where of course, I can scroll the focus patch.

 

Wilson

[wlaidlaw]

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As the shutter is so much faster than the M9 ... and Visoflex.... I would have thought 'focus bracketing' with hand held macro shots would be an option ..... half a dozen rapidly taken shots whilst wobbling about usually produces one thats ok.....

 

I was trying to focus on my 20 month old grandson running round the garden yesterday, using LV on the EVF and a Zeiss Vario Sonnar 28-85. It was not at all easy. It would have been much easier with my MATE mounted on the 240 and far more wieldy into the bargain. The Vario Sonnar is a big heavy lens. It is nearly as big and is equally heavy as the 80-200 Vario Elmar. However at 28mm, it is noticeably sharper than the MATE at 28mm and two thirds of a stop faster. In those circumstances, I found the focus peaking was useless. You just could not pick it up quickly enough. The little clear polyurethane hemispherical Bumpon I have put on the zoom button is a godsend and I would not dream of being without it now. As the surface is slightly tacky, your finger tip immediately picks it up as a tactile reference.

 

Wilson

[chris_tribble]

My experierence so far with the EVF and CLOSE fast moving subjects is not wonderful - it's just not quick enough, and the shutter lag is a real annoyance. I don't plan to invest in zooms for the M240 - I'd rather work with two bodies (28 prime on one, 50 or 90 on the other and then use my legs to change the frame ).

 

The two R lenses I do have are the 28 TS and the 80-200 f4. I think these are going to be highly practical solutions for the work I plan to do with them (architecture / documentary / landscape) - however, the lack of the R>M adapater has been a real pain. I want to be able to use the 80-200 on a monopod - and at the moment, can't do this in the way I'd want to (the monopod attached to the body works, but it's not ideal...). The 28 I plan to use on tripod, but the last adapter I had didn't give a truly horizontal positioning to the lens. So the reality is that I'm still waiting to appraise the lenses - but early indications are very very good. As soon as I have some real work I'll post it.

The other lens I'm playing with is a Canon FD mount L series 300 f4. I think this is going to prove to be a very effective solution for birds - but I'm waiting until I'm in Norfolk in July to give this a serious outing.

[wlaidlaw]

Chris,

 

I am using the 80-200 with the Canon A(W) support ring on a Manfrotto Neotech 685B monopod and I am very pleased with the balance and usability of that set up. The aperture ring adjustment is not perfect but is quite usable. The 685B comes from Manfrotto's "Battleship" range and is about as far from a featherweight carbon pole as you can imagine but the weight lends the whole set up stability. The trigger height adjustment of the pole from under the camera on where you grip the monopod, works beautifully.

 

Wilson

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[dierk]

.............

Nothing like as easy as with a good SLR, split image and micro-prisms. So not a perfect solution but not at all bad. After all, there are no SLR's out there which can work as a rangefinder.

 

Wilson

on the good old SLR's we can focus with open aperture and have a much smaller DOF for controlling the focus.

 

On a range finder there has never been any need for an open aperture for focusing and there is no mechanism for closing the aperture before the shot.

 

When using live view on the M you always focus with working aperture and that means very often the focus peaking will be of little or no help, I am afraid

 

dierk

[mjh]

When using live view on the M you always focus with working aperture and that means very often the focus peaking will be of little or no help, I am afraid

Nobody is forcing you to focus at the working aperture, although that would be a good idea when the lens shows focus shift. Also it must be taken into account that while focus peaking is less precise when you stop down, focusing accuracy requirements are relaxed as well.

 

On a range finder there has never been any need for an open aperture for focusing and there is no mechanism for closing the aperture before the shot.

While Leica’s adapter doesn’t support this, there will be a third-party adapter that does (still manually of course, but at the touch of a button rather than by turning the aperture ring).

[wlaidlaw]

While Leica’s adapter doesn’t support this, there will be a third-party adapter that does (still manually of course, but at the touch of a button rather than by turning the aperture ring).

 

Michael,

 

Whose adapter will that be? Is that for R lenses or for electronic diaphragm ones like Canon AF?

 

Wilson

[Rick]

 

 

While Leica’s adapter doesn’t support this, there will be a third-party adapter that does (still manually of course, but at the touch of a button rather than by turning the aperture ring).

 

This is a great idea. I hope it comes to market before Leica can get theirs to market so we can see it before we buy the Leica. If it turns out to work well it will kill the sales of the Leica adaptor. Thanks for the info.

[dierk]

Nobody is forcing you to focus at the working aperture, although that would be a good idea when the lens shows focus shift. Also it must be taken into account that while focus peaking is less precise when you stop down, focusing accuracy requirements are relaxed as well.

......

Michael,

I tried it often with the 75mm APO-Summicron on the NEX7, but to count the clicks, when stopping down for example to f/8 (I use often for studio portraits) without moving too much (me and the model!) is just not usable for me.

 

dierk

[4X5B&W]

The fact that the R to M adapter has not been made available by Leica, is not only disappointing I believe it shows a major planning problem.

 

Seven months after the M announcement a simple mechanical adapter is not available

 

From a manufacturing perspective I would guesstimate no more than a month or two to manufacture a years supply worldwide. Why they are not available at this point is mystifying.

 

I can only assume the firmware to support the R series lenses is not yet available.

Makes you wonder when this design will be finalised

[wlaidlaw]

The fact that the R to M adapter has not been made available by Leica, is not only disappointing I believe it shows a major planning problem.

 

Seven months after the M announcement a simple mechanical adapter is not available

 

From a manufacturing perspective I would guesstimate no more than a month or two to manufacture a years supply worldwide. Why they are not available at this point is mystifying.

 

I can only assume the firmware to support the R series lenses is not yet available.

Makes you wonder when this design will be finalised

 

The R lens menu is all there and working, at least to provide EXIF info. I have an adapter I have had made to replace a Visoflex to use V lenses without having to have the mirror box mounted. It is coded 110111. The R lens menu fires up just fine. How much if any correction there is, I could not say.

 

Wilson

[digitalfx]

The R lens menu is all there and working, at least to provide EXIF info. I have an adapter I have had made to replace a Visoflex to use V lenses without having to have the mirror box mounted. It is coded 110111. The R lens menu fires up just fine. How much if any correction there is, I could not say.

 

Wilson

 

Is the 100mm Macro APO on the list?

[algrove]

Yes.