dkCambridgeshire Posted July 8, 2017 Share #1 Posted July 8, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) The longest SL tele lens manufactured by Leica Camera AG is the 90-280mm - a superb optic within its design parameters but 'limited' as regards suitability for wildlife photography - especially as no matched extenders are offered. Canon and Nikon AF lenses can be adapted via 'smart' Novoflex adapters but AF performance is usually compromised … and efficient manual focus of an AF lens can be difficult . For the more budget conscious photographers several high quality manual focus legacy tele lenses are readily available which with audacious use of adapters and extenders can be hooked up to the SL 601 … transforming it into an ultra long focus workhorse. The SL 601's advantage over just about all other mirrorless ICL cameras is its superb electronic viewfinder … thus enabling efficient use of most manual focus lenses. I recently acquired a 1991 vintage manual focus Canon FD 500/4.5 L optic which can be sourced for c.£800 … a fraction of the price of a modern AF Canon prime tele 'L' lens. Adapting the FD 500/4.5 L is relatively simple. I use a Canon FD to Leica SL/TL adapter purchased from C7 in Poland I bought one of their ex-demo examples. C7 manufactures adapters to much finer tolerances than the budget price Chinese adapters listed on Ebay and Amazon. FD 1.4x extenders further increase the lens' versatility converting it to a 700mm f6.3 optic. The Canon FD 2x A extender does not have as good a reputation as the 1.4x so I have not used or bought same. The following Q&D photos show the lens in use inside a hide and also illustrate the modified Baby Benbo tripod supporting the lens and camera. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! The 35 years 'young' Baby Benbo tripod is a veritable workhorse capable of supporting a very heavy load. Mine has been modified by substituting a longer centre leg from a regular size Benbo tripod - legs are interchangeable between models. The longer leg enables more comfortable 'sitting / observing' … and the short outer legs enable the tripod to be positioned close to the hide window . A Jobu gimbal is supporting the lens and camera. The hide is large but when several photographers / observers are inside tripods with large footprints can get in the way … hence the need to place the tripod as close to the window as possible. That's my trolley on the floor … hide access is difficult (a long-ish hill descent/climb) so wheels help when humping heavy tripods and lenses. On this trip I was testing the various adapters / extenders stored on the hide window shelf. The TL 23mm lens is used with the SL 601 to photograph my notebook pages on which I write the actual lens and adapter combinations in use … thus when the images are loaded to my computer there is a photo diary record each time the lens is changed. There is usually no lens EXIF data when using legacy lenses unless e.g. the focal length can be dialled in. This photo illustrates a very scarce Canon Inc. manufactured Canon FD to Canon EF /EOSlens adapter … a very high quality 4 element adapter which is also a 1.26x extender. Here it is hitched up to a Fotodiox EOS to M adapter and the Leica M Adapter T … thus converting the lens to a 630mm f5.7. More about the scarce adapter http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/canon_fd_eos_adapters.html Some might argue that the Leitz Telyt 400mm and 560mm lenses also offer the means to use the SL 601 as a wildlife camera. I've tried both and they are excellent lenses - but in my experience the FD 500/4.5 L and the FD 300/4 L are better options and easier to focus. A few images taken yesterday using the SL 601 / Canon FD 500/4.5 https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/253460-3rd-party-lens-performance-on-sl/?p=3310700 Regards dunk 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! The 35 years 'young' Baby Benbo tripod is a veritable workhorse capable of supporting a very heavy load. Mine has been modified by substituting a longer centre leg from a regular size Benbo tripod - legs are interchangeable between models. The longer leg enables more comfortable 'sitting / observing' … and the short outer legs enable the tripod to be positioned close to the hide window . A Jobu gimbal is supporting the lens and camera. The hide is large but when several photographers / observers are inside tripods with large footprints can get in the way … hence the need to place the tripod as close to the window as possible. That's my trolley on the floor … hide access is difficult (a long-ish hill descent/climb) so wheels help when humping heavy tripods and lenses. On this trip I was testing the various adapters / extenders stored on the hide window shelf. The TL 23mm lens is used with the SL 601 to photograph my notebook pages on which I write the actual lens and adapter combinations in use … thus when the images are loaded to my computer there is a photo diary record each time the lens is changed. There is usually no lens EXIF data when using legacy lenses unless e.g. the focal length can be dialled in. This photo illustrates a very scarce Canon Inc. manufactured Canon FD to Canon EF /EOSlens adapter … a very high quality 4 element adapter which is also a 1.26x extender. Here it is hitched up to a Fotodiox EOS to M adapter and the Leica M Adapter T … thus converting the lens to a 630mm f5.7. More about the scarce adapter http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/canon_fd_eos_adapters.html Some might argue that the Leitz Telyt 400mm and 560mm lenses also offer the means to use the SL 601 as a wildlife camera. I've tried both and they are excellent lenses - but in my experience the FD 500/4.5 L and the FD 300/4 L are better options and easier to focus. A few images taken yesterday using the SL 601 / Canon FD 500/4.5 https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/253460-3rd-party-lens-performance-on-sl/?p=3310700 Regards dunk ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/274213-the-versatile-sl-601-used-with-legacy-manual-focus-fd-500mm/?do=findComment&comment=3311007'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 8, 2017 Posted July 8, 2017 Hi dkCambridgeshire, Take a look here The versatile SL 601 used with legacy manual focus FD 500mm. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Marac Posted July 8, 2017 Share #2 Posted July 8, 2017 Paxton, I visit there often myself Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted July 8, 2017 Share #3 Posted July 8, 2017 Dunk, is that Canon lens really drooping at the end? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted July 8, 2017 (edited) Dunk, is that Canon lens really drooping at the end? Not really 'drooping' as in 'damaged' Peter … the hoods needed tightening … there is a tightening screw for the reversible / detachable hood … and also a twist lock for the telescopic part of the built-in hood. I took the apparatus pics before the lens was fully / properly assembled … dunk Edited July 8, 2017 by dkCambridgeshire 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted July 8, 2017 Paxton, I visit there often myself Not Paxton … I'm not allowed o reveal the hide location because it's a habitat for a number of endangered species . I can post photos of endangered / protected species at the location and will do so at a later date … but the actual location cannot be revealed. dunk 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted July 8, 2017 Share #6 Posted July 8, 2017 How would using the Leica APO Telyt-R 280/4.0 with a 2X APO extender compare with this, not on price, but on focus ease and usability? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted July 8, 2017 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) How would using the Leica APO Telyt-R 280/4.0 with a 2X APO extender compare with this, not on price, but on focus ease and usability? 560/8 or 500/4.5 … the wider aperture does make a difference to both ease of focusing and DOF … latter with the 500/4.5 offers better differential focus i.e. OOF background. You mention 'not on price' but the 280/4 Apo Telyt R is considerably more expensive at c. £3K … but OK if you already have one. And the 500/4.5 will easily convert to e.g. a 700mm f6.3 (with 1.4x extender) . The 280/4 with stacked 1.4x and 2x APO extenders = 784mm f11 wide open . With relatively high ISO capable cameras (SL 601) , small aperture lenses are not the problem in low light that they used to be … but wider aperture lenses at lower ISO are likely to produce better quality . Even if the 280/4 Apo Telyt R is allegedly the best tele lens that Leica have ever designed / manufactured, its performance as a 784/11 is likely compromised compared to use without extenders. The Canon FD 500/4.5 L lens is likely not so far behind the 280/4 APO R as regards resolution. The FD 500/4.5 L 7 elements in 6 groups lens includes 1 fluorite and 1 UD glass elements … it is a sophisticated design. dunk Edited July 8, 2017 by dkCambridgeshire 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildlightphoto Posted July 9, 2017 Share #8 Posted July 9, 2017 The Canon FD 500/4.5 L lens is likely not so far behind the 280/4 APO R as regards resolution. The FD 500/4.5 L 7 elements in 6 groups lens includes 1 fluorite and 1 UD glass elements … it is a sophisticated design. I find the Canon FD 500mm f/4.5 L requires correction for lateral chromatic aberration for optimum image quality. Once this is done it's quite a good lens but clearly not in the same ballpark as the 280/4 APO R. One revealing observation is that moire and aliasing are more troublesome with the 280/4 APO than with the FD 500mm f/4.5 L. I also find that the Canon's tonal gradation is not as clear as the 280/4 APO particularly in highlights such as white plumage. However considering its capabilities and current market value it's quite a bargain. all photos: Leica SL, Canon FD 500mm f/4.5 L 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted July 9, 2017 Author Share #9 Posted July 9, 2017 (edited) Thank you Doug. One reason I chose to acquire the FD 500/4.5 are your good reports of the lens as documented on other forums … and some of your images taken with it. I used to have a 280/4 APO R lens but as much as I miss it, 280 mm is not of sufficiently long focal length for smaller birds at a distance … even when extenders are used. Previously I've photographed mainly larger birds e.g. egrets and herons for which the 280 was fine. I'm also planning to use the 400mm Noflexar T with the SL and the TL; previous experiments with the TL and Noflexar T suggest I need a better support especially when used with Leica R APO extenders. Regards dunk Edited July 9, 2017 by dkCambridgeshire Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted July 13, 2017 Dunk, is that Canon lens really drooping at the end? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Leica SL and manual focus Canon FD 500.4.5 lens after tightening the lens hood dunk Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Leica SL and manual focus Canon FD 500.4.5 lens after tightening the lens hood dunk ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/274213-the-versatile-sl-601-used-with-legacy-manual-focus-fd-500mm/?do=findComment&comment=3315211'>More sharing options...
wildlightphoto Posted July 13, 2017 Share #11 Posted July 13, 2017 Looks like a very nice hide too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) Looks like a very nice hide too! It's a large hide Doug and can accommodate 7 or 8 photographers … there are 8 shuttered windows … not permitted to state location as 'endangered species' frequent the locality. Another s/h 400mm 'T' Noflexar should be arriving this weekend which plan to use with the SL and TL2. Existing T Noflexar is due for dismantling / service to remedy jammed adapters and bellows. Regards dunk Edited July 13, 2017 by dkCambridgeshire Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpeg.d69235707723d30ca8b6f9daf94b1a02.jpeg)
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.