Sensible Digital Output Option?

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I am an M6 film shooter.  Having said that, it would be nice to have a convenient way of obtaining digital output from my M-lenses. from time-to-time.  Not something I would throw piles of money at.

Looking for ideas, and have started to think about a digital sensor camera or a film scanner as plausible options.

Red Dot Forum suggested the M240 is a solid value-leader (ca. US$ 2500), but I wonder about other (non-M body) digital options with M-lens mount adapters.  Also wonder about getting a film scanner, but it seems there aren't many options left.

Thank you for your thoughts.

- Dan

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[astrostl]

35mmc has lots of film digitizing reviews. Plenty of folks also "scan" with digital camera setups.

M adapters are plentiful, but the PhillipReeve blog has an article explaining how M lenses can misbehave on non-M bodies because of ray angle issues with their sensors. Great images can still be produced with adapters and mitigations, but it wouldn't be my default recommendation esp. if you're already used to shooting an M.

Which is to say: I'd second the suggestion for an older used M body absent other context.

[Knipsknecht]

thedarkroom.com

… they have a pretty good reputation and I like their informative content on Instagram. It’s probably easier than buying another digital camera and fiddling around with the necessary equipment needed for digitizing analog photos on your own.

[LarsHP]

If you want a top performing mirrorless solution for using M mount lenses without paying Leica prices, you can get a full frame mirrorless camera converted here:

Sony A7, Nikon Z, Canon R, and Panasonic S1 Series Thin Filter Legacy Lens Upgrade - Kolari Vision

I have gone that route myself (with my Nikon Z6) and when shooting my 28mm Summicron-M Asph II side by side with an M 240, the latter had obvious "Italian flag" problem, but less vignetting. The user experience will be different (rangefinder vs. EVF), but you will have in body image stabilization, superior EVF etc. if you go for a Nikon Z6 (which I will recommend).

[a.noctilux]

Dan,

Red Dot Forum has good advice, same M240 as me.

 

M240 can be seen as new M6 (or closer to M7 with "A" and faster shutter speeds) with small changes in M habits, same original lens (with no "in"-adapters to worry about).

M240 has the right sensor size ( 24 good M pixels) and the M240 family sh price is not that high (in Leica standard).

The battery life is one of the best, so at first the second battery ( mandatory in most digital camera ) can be neglicted.

 

Other brand with adapter x to M can be good but would lack "Leica M experience", as RF focus, direct VF view and so on .

[pippy]

34 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

Dan,

Red Dot Forum has good advice, same M240 as me.

 

M240 can be seen as new M6 (or closer to M7 with "A" and faster shutter speeds) with small changes in M habits, same original lens (with no "in"-adapters to worry about).

M240 has the right sensor size ( 24 good M pixels) and the M240 family sh price is not that high (in Leica standard).

The battery life is one of the best, so at first the second battery ( mandatory in most digital camera ) can be neglicted.

 

Other brand with adapter x to M can be good but would lack "Leica M experience", as RF focus, direct VF view and so on .

+1.

Everything Arnaud (and Red Dot) said.

P.

[a.noctilux]

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2 minutes ago, pippy said:

+1.

Everything Arnaud (and Red Dot) said.

P.

Philip, thanks.

One word for the M-D (typ 262) no LCD rear screen * for connaisseurs, genius concept which didn't sell well and not replaceable (for me) by the last M10-D.

 

* no chimping possible so 100% on the "go", having the best battery of many weeks use without charging

'kind of film M experience with sensor' ... this is my favorite M (for a while I dreamed of M-D Monochrom 🙃 which never came)

[250swb]

If the priority is digital output from your M lenses with a non-M camera something like a Nikon Z7 is a viable option, plus of course something like a Novaflex adapter. You get IBIS for your M lenses and 47mp, a difficult option to beat and at far less than a Leica alternative. It also opens up a new generation of Nikon lenses plus a plethora of the older lenses. 

[astrostl]

55 minutes ago, 250swb said:

If the priority is digital output from your M lenses with a non-M camera something like a Nikon Z7 is a viable option, plus of course something like a Novaflex adapter. You get IBIS for your M lenses and 47mp, a difficult option to beat and at far less than a Leica alternative. It also opens up a new generation of Nikon lenses plus a plethora of the older lenses. 

As with Sony, M lenses have shown field curvature issues on the Z7 and Kolarivision offers mods for them because of evident issues. If one wants M lenses to perform close to their designed potential it is not a matter of just picking up a Z and an M adapter. The SL series is pricier but much more compatible.

[Wayben]

+1 for the M240.  Nice body at a very reasonable price.

[plaidshirts]

7 hours ago, Danner said:

I am an M6 film shooter.  Having said that, it would be nice to have a convenient way of obtaining digital output from my M-lenses. from time-to-time.  Not something I would throw piles of money at.

Looking for ideas, and have started to think about a digital sensor camera or a film scanner as plausible options.

Red Dot Forum suggested the M240 is a solid value-leader (ca. US$ 2500), but I wonder about other (non-M body) digital options with M-lens mount adapters.  Also wonder about getting a film scanner, but it seems there aren't many options left.

Thank you for your thoughts.

- Dan

I’m like you in that I’m a Leica film shooter first. 
And also like you, I wanted a way to bring my photos into the digital world so I got an M-D 262 (as mentioned before, a digital camera with an analog soul) and a Nikon Coolscan IV to scan film.

- also Dan

[Danner]

Thanks everybody!  I'm gonna check out these links and give it some thought.  Forgot about the sensor spacing issue.  Before the M8, some thought a digital M was impossible because of the angles.

[Herr Barnack]

8 hours ago, Danner said:

...I wonder about other (non-M body) digital options with M-lens mount adapters.  Also wonder about getting a film scanner, but it seems there aren't many options left.

 

Thank you for your thoughts.

- Dan

JMHO but I would put that money towards an M 240 or if possible an M-P 240. 

The M-P 240 has double the buffer capacity of the M 240 and having used both, I would urge you to spend the extra money for the M-P 240.  The increased buffer capacity is easily worth the extra cost, and you also get a sapphire crystal rear screen rather than gorilla glass used in the M 240.

Edited June 1, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[hillavoider]

What are used SL2’s going for these days? They are hopeless at AF but work really well with m glass 

[LarsHP]

15 hours ago, astrostl said:

As with Sony, M lenses have shown field curvature issues on the Z7 and Kolarivision offers mods for them because of evident issues. If one wants M lenses to perform close to their designed potential it is not a matter of just picking up a Z and an M adapter. The SL series is pricier but much more compatible.

Right. That said, it's dependent on the lens used. Some M (particularly wide angle) lenses will create field curvature on stock mirrorless cameras, while others perform flawlessly; for instance, the WATE and CV 15mm f/4.5 III. 

[LarsHP]

10 hours ago, Danner said:

Thanks everybody!  I'm gonna check out these links and give it some thought.  Forgot about the sensor spacing issue.  Before the M8, some thought a digital M was impossible because of the angles.

To be precise, it's sensor glass thickness. 

[Narsuitus]

19 hours ago, Danner said:

I am an M6 film shooter.  Having said that, it would be nice to have a convenient way of obtaining digital output from my M-lenses. from time-to-time.  Not something I would throw piles of money at.

I, too, am an M6 film shooter. My first approach for obtaining digital output from my M-lenses was to allow film processors to develop my color print film and provide me with a CD of image files. However, the quality of the image files was unacceptable to me. Next, I purchased a flatbed digital scanner and created my own digital files from the images on my color and black & white film.

 

I eventually purchased a few inexpensive digital cameras so I could try creating digital images with a camera. My intent was to use these cameras until Leica produced a digital rangefinder that I liked. The Leica M10 was the first digital rangefinder that I liked; therefore, I purchased it. The M10 was the most convenient way I could use my three M-mount lenses (21mm f/1.4) (35mm f/1.4)  (90mm f/2) to create digital images. However, I do feel that I spend a pile of money for the solution.

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[a.noctilux]

To summarize after my experiences for using with M lenses:

- to take it easy, Leica M is the only one way

- next easy way ...another Leica system, SL, CL, T, S, etc.

- to experiment and eventually be upset (or happy), try another brand

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Hallo,

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