mxa Posted January 8, 2016 Share #1 Posted January 8, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Greetings! In the past two years I shot a lot with a mirrorless digital APS-C camera (1.5x crop) with a Summicron 50mm lens attached. The 75mm focal length has really become my favorite by far so ....... I just bought an APO Summicron ASPH 75/2. I plan to use it mostly on film and I would like to dedicate an M body to this lens. (I have already an M6 TTL 0.72 with a bunch of M lenses) The 75mm focal length seems to be a bit of a second class citizen within Leica: the frame is not that useable as it is visually overwhelmed by the 50mm frame, for instance. (Am I wrong?) So, I ask for some help from you fellow 75mm fans. How do you use your 75mm lens? With a 0.85 body? With a Voigtländer external viewfinder? Does someone use it on an M3? Can one ask Leica to modify a camera to exclude the 50mm frame? Again, we are strictly talking about M-film here. Thanks!!!! Marco Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 Hi mxa, Take a look here Best solution for shooting with 75mm lens?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
a.noctilux Posted January 8, 2016 Share #2 Posted January 8, 2016 Hello Marco, My short answer is "just use it" and you would like it or not. You can use the Apo-Summicron-M 75mm with your M6 TTL 0.72 as many people use for years. I don't think so that 75mm is less considered by Leica peolple, users and manufacturer. A x0.85 viewfinder has the same frame lines as your's x0.72. Maybe an magnifier x1.25 or x1.4 can help for focussing and framing, in bad light, but not really necessary in general photography. I have used Summilux 75mm + M3 some day and as usual no 75 frame lines. With practice, one can imagine the virtual 75 field quite accurately inside the 50 lines. Arnaud Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 8, 2016 Share #3 Posted January 8, 2016 My short answer is "just use it"+1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hepcat Posted January 8, 2016 Share #4 Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) My short answer is "just use it" +2 Edited January 8, 2016 by hepcat Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted January 8, 2016 Share #5 Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) +3. It doesn't take too long to learn to ignore the 50mm framelines surrounding the 75 APO-Summicron Although probably more of a problem with digital than film: 1. this lens can be challenging to focus wide open 2. it is not unheard of for the lens calibration to be off out of the box requiring a visit to Leica to fix. There are older threads on this in the Forum. Edited January 8, 2016 by MarkP Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted January 8, 2016 Share #6 Posted January 8, 2016 It is not difficult to ignore the 50mm lines imposed upon the 75mm frame. You will become accustomed to it. That said, it would be so cool to have the 75mm in the solid form that the 50mm uses, but I doubt that is even possible. Use it an enjoy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpsawin Posted January 9, 2016 Share #7 Posted January 9, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Use an external viewfinder for composition if it really is an issue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted January 9, 2016 Share #8 Posted January 9, 2016 You become more accustomed to the frame lines the more you use it. Start out giving a respectable border around the main content of your image and before long you will know what will be inside or outside the frame instinctively. It's no different really to using any other focal length on a rangefinder, people who change from a 35mm as their default standard lens often need to re-evaluate things when they move to a 50mm. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted January 9, 2016 Share #9 Posted January 9, 2016 I have that lens and use it on my TTL. It's a terrific lens which gives similar results as the 50/1.4 Asph, nothing short of fantastic. Mine had to go in for calibration as it was off by quite a bit - I could basically only use it at f4 and up to have any sense of certainty that focus would be correct. Also and a bit off-topic, I know, but it becomes a bit front heavy as it extends with focusing. Not a problem but noticeable (to me). However I don't like this lens. I often accidentally frame with the 50 frame and when I realise I've either already taken a badly framed photo or missed the moment. This is all very individual so like the others I strongly recommend you to use it and form your own opinion. Good luck Philip Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted January 9, 2016 Share #10 Posted January 9, 2016 (edited) There is no justification for choosing the wrong frame when composing. With that said, I believe Leica could accept the fault by displaying only the appropriate frame. Where is their head? Edited January 9, 2016 by pico 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted January 11, 2016 Share #11 Posted January 11, 2016 As I see it, it is not about "justification"; it's about user-friendliness of the design. Seeing the 75mm frame becomes more natural with use, but I still don't like it. Then again, I'm very firmly a 50mm person so I'm likely not the best subject for a test about how easily one can adjust. As for displaying only the 75mm frame, perhaps that's possible on the digital cameras, but if one removes the 50mm frame on a film M where would it go? The frame preview lever has three positions and a 50mm lens won't bring up the other two (if that's where the 50mm would be placed). There is no justification for choosing the wrong frame when composing. With that said, I believe Leica could accept the fault by displaying only the appropriate frame. Where is their head? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 11, 2016 Share #12 Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) As I see it, it is not about "justification"; it's about user-friendliness of the design. Seeing the 75mm frame becomes more natural with use, but I still don't like it. Then again, I'm very firmly a 50mm person so I'm likely not the best subject for a test about how easily one can adjust. I'm with you on the 75mm frame, Philip. I've tried to like the 75mm focal length but, like you, I found it difficult to use the 75mm framelines in the unconscious way I do a 28, 35 or a 50. I've personally moved on. As for displaying only the 75mm frame, perhaps that's possible on the digital cameras, but if one removes the 50mm frame on a film M where would it go? The frame preview lever has three positions and a 50mm lens won't bring up the other two (if that's where the 50mm would be placed). It's the same for both digital and film. The whole frame selection system works on the basis of just the three positions and there is no possibility of separating the 50 and 75 frames using the existing system. In theory somebody could have the frame sets customised so that, for example, the 28/90 pair is replaced by a single 75, and the 50/75 lens mount on the lens is replaced with a 28/90 mount. This way the 75mm lens would bring up a "75" frame but such a customisation would preclude using a 28 or 90 on that camera nor would the lens work properly on other cameras. Edited January 11, 2016 by wattsy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted January 11, 2016 Share #13 Posted January 11, 2016 Leica, or some industrious technician, could etch(mask?) a dotted line to the make the 75mm a full square inside the 50mm frame line. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted January 11, 2016 Share #14 Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) Hello Everybody, Or, someone could simply have the 50mm frame lines removed & have that frame position only display the 75mm lens's angle of view. Best Regards, Michael Edited January 11, 2016 by Michael Geschlecht Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 11, 2016 Share #15 Posted January 11, 2016 Hello Everybody, Or, someone could simply have the 50mm frame lines removed & have that frame position only display the 75mm lens's angle of view. Yes, that would probably be the most straightforward option for a committed 75mm user who has no need for the 50 frame. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 11, 2016 Share #16 Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) I plan to use it mostly on film and I would like to dedicate an M body to this lens. (I have already an M6 TTL 0.72 with a bunch of M lenses) As you are proposing to dedicate a body to this lens, I think Michael's suggestion of having the 50mm frameline masked out is the best option. Particularly so if you can obtain a 0.85x VF body. Leica might not be willing to do the modification but any of the good third party technicians like DAG should be able to do it for a modest cost. Edited January 11, 2016 by wattsy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxa Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted January 12, 2016 As you are proposing to dedicate a body to this lens, I think Michael's suggestion of having the 50mm frameline masked out is the best option. Particularly so if you can obtain a 0.85x VF body. Leica might not be willing to do the modification but any of the good third party technicians like DAG should be able to do it for a modest cost. Thank you all for your comments! Great suggestions. Yes, you are absolutely right, eliminating the 50mm frame would be the simplest (?) way, and if Leica could/can do that without destroying my piggy bank, I would/will consider doing it. I will keep you posted if it is possible to "erase" the 50mm frame (or, even better, erasing it and making the 75mm frame with solid segments). Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock Posted January 12, 2016 Share #18 Posted January 12, 2016 I have used my M6TTL since 2001 and have never had a problem with the 75mm frame lines. Now I am thinking about it all the time. Who started this thread? :-) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxa Posted January 21, 2016 Author Share #19 Posted January 21, 2016 I contacted Leica about the possibility of sending in an M 0.85x and having them remove the 50mm framelines, thus leaving only the 75mm. They told me it is not possible regardless of the Leica model chosen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted January 21, 2016 Share #20 Posted January 21, 2016 Hello Marco, Welcome to the Forum. There are a number of independent Leitz/Leica repair people in a number of places around the World (Including Germany) who may be able to do this for you. Best Regards, Michael Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.