SL Lens Questions

[Flyer]

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Having now had the SL for just a week, I have been using it with a Canon adaptor and a 16-35, which worked of by AF was slow and it kept freezing.

 

As such I am now looking at different options.

 

If I use a Leica manual focus lens and you stop down the aperture to say f11 (typical for landscapes) how much light is retained through the EVF as the aperture will be very small?  Anyone with experience with this?

 

Also if I attached a third party lens via an adaptor and only use it in manual focus, does peaking still work?

 

Finally the 3 prime focal lengths I am going to buy to cover Landscape are 21/24mm + 35mm + something around 80mm, what would you recommend for the latter?

 

 

 

Many Thanks

 

Flyer

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[steppenw0lf]

You should just try it with any lens to see how easy it is.

The EVF makes sure that the brightness of the finder is always about equal, what ever the aperture.

So peaking and manual focusing work almost always flawlessly with all lenses - only if there is very little light, then the EVF refresh rate slows down. (Or if an older lens is not so contrasty wide open, peaking might not work). Focus peakig is a feature of the camera, not the lens, so it will work with any lens.

But in daylight there never is a problem.

 

There is a wide choice in 90 or 100mm lenses - so I would choose a macro 100. But it does not matter most of these lenses are fine. 

And I would probably also choose the Contax 2.8/21 and 2.8/35. But the choice is endless.

Of course the Leica R lenses are nice (19mm, 35mm, 90mm)

But maybe you prefer the M lenses (which are usually much more expensive).

 

Maybe one note about the 90mm. As the SL 90 is coming soon (?) I would not invest too heavily in older gear, but rather go for that lens. It will be the best 90mm for the SL by far. And give you all the latest features of the camera.

I would rather buy a simple older macro in the meantime until this highclass lens is out.  (E.g. the Tamron 90mm or Contax 100mm or any other manual macro).

[Einst_Stein]

Coming from M, 90mm would be my choice.

[darylgo]

Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. Super sharp, small, small, small. 75mm f2 Apo. Sharp and small. Or the 24-90, one lens that's not a compromise in IQ and you gain OIS.

[Flyer]

how about this?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Konica-M-Hexanon-28mm-f-2-8-Lens-Leica-M-fit-/263135431911?epid=108775030&hash=item3d44180ce7:g:dMgAAOSwhgJZY4vJ

 

 

Cheers

[Flyer]

Or any of these, any advise appreciated

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leica-Elmarit-M-28mm-F2-8-Lens-with-makers-box-/292164037609?hash=item4406556be9:g:Uh0AAOSwFJBZUTJd

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leica-35mm-f-2-4-Summarit-M-Lens-Mint-Condition-/263174824962?hash=item3d46712402:g:EY4AAOSw23NZpY2v

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carl-Zeiss-BIOGON-T-35mm-F-2-0-ZM-Lens-for-Leica-M-Sony-A7-A9-/162638913171?hash=item25de08de93:g:sQAAAOSwilBZmbLZ

[ramarren]

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Flyer, 

 

Nearly all of 'em will work fine, and they're all pretty high end lenses, so which one to pick is more a matter of what you like than anything else.

 

The one caveat is that short focal length Zeiss Biogon lens designs are typically not the best performers on digital sensors. Similar design Leica lenses do better because Leica supplies lens profiles to correct the problems.

 

As I've said so many times, I prefer the feel and ergonomics of Leica R lenses on the SL, if I'm not going to use SL series lenses, over any of the M series lenses. If you want a 24, 28, or 35mm lens, the Leica R lenses in these focal lengths are terrific. And, generally speaking, fairly inexpensive compared to M mount lenses. I had both the Elmarit-R 24mm f/2.8 and Summicron-R 35mm f/2 ... both were superb performers. I sold them off because in this range the SL24-90 is actually a even better performer, and it's the range where a zoom is very handy to me anyway. I traded my Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH for a Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21mm ASPH that I use on both the M-D and SL occasionally, and the 'Lux 35mm v2 I have for the M is so perfect on the M-D I have a hard time taking it off that camera. The only other M lenses I use on the SL occasionally are my Summarit-M 75mm f/2.4 and ancient Hektor 135mm f/4.5. 

 

My most-used lens now on the SL aside from the Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8 is a toss-up between the Super-Elmar-R 15mm f/3.5, the SL24-90, and the Summicron-R 90mm f/2. They've made equal numbers of excellent photos for me. 

[LocalHero1953]

I would recommend you start with one low risk (i.e. low cost) manual lens and get used to that: how it performs, its strengths and weaknesses; sort out what are issues with that particular lens and what are to do with manual lenses on the SL. Then you will be in a position to make your own better choice for the next lens. Starting with three lenses bought at the same time, picked from the preferences of random members of the forum (however capable they may be, they will have different interests to you) is a route to confusion down the line. Step by step, building your experience as you go is the best approach. Unless, of course, you have money burning a hole in your pocket.