SL2, viewfinders, and lenses

[harmsr]

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This forum is really a bad influence on me.

 

I was looking at iiig cameras as per another thread, and had to look at an SL2 & SL since you guys always talk about how great the viewfinder is. Unfortunately, I have to agree with you on the bright and easy to focus finder. The SL2 came home with me, along with a 3 cam 50 Lux (55mm with slide out hood).

 

The viewfinder on this thing is really amazing in how bright it is, and how easy the split ring/microprism is to focus.

 

I would like to get a second lens in the 90, 135, or possibly even out to 180 range, but am completely unfamiliar with the R lens lineup. I believe that I need to stick with either a 2 cam or 3 cam lens, correct?

 

What are the better lenses to look for? To give you an idea of what I like in fingerprints of lenses, my M lens lineup is 21 Elmarit ASPH, 28 Cron ASPH, 50 Lux ASPH, 90 Elmarit (current). Probably the most important is that I really prefer the 90 Elmarit over the Pre-ASPH Cron, ASPH Cron, Macro Elmar, or Summarit. I like how it is sharp but transitions smoothly, has a bokeh which is pleasing to me, handles easily, and has a short focus throw which is easy to snap into focus.

 

Best,

 

Ray

[Michiel Fokkema]

Yes,

2 or 3 cams.

The Elmarit 90 for R is the same lens as the M version.

The 135 is very cheap and good for the money. Try to get a second version.

In 180 you have 3.4 apo, 4.0 and two versions 2.8. The first 180/2.8 is quit huge. The second 2.8 is much smaller and performs very well. The 3.4 apo is legendary. the 4.0 is very small and a good performer also.

 

Cheers,

 

Michiel Fokkema

[Joop van Heijgen]

The Elmarit- R 2,8/28 , the Elmarit-R 2,8/35 and Macro Elmarit -R 2,8/60 are also great performers!

 

 

The 'second hand' prices of these lenses are not expensive!

[Guest lll]

Hi,

 

the first 2.8/180 is huge but beautiful. It renders the transitions and the out-of-focus areas very smooth. Best for portraits. A very similar characteristic you will get with the first 2/35 Summicron. Even a big piece of glas, but drawing very nice. Both lenses were "superseeded" by their successors in terms of sharpness, solution, contrast. But they got more analytic while the first generation lenses were typical Leitz "drawers". But dont get me wrong: You will not miss any sharpness in your pictures, they just will be very harmonicly rendered.

 

If you like the contemporary look for your pictures try to get the first generation lenses. Sharp pictures you can get nowadays with nearly every SLR...

 

Best

Friedhelm

[wildlightphoto]

The SL2 came home with me, along with a 3 cam 50 Lux (55mm with slide out hood)... The viewfinder on this thing is really amazing in how bright it is, and how easy the split ring/microprism is to focus.

 

I would like to get a second lens in the 90, 135, or possibly even out to 180 range, but am completely unfamiliar with the R lens lineup. I believe that I need to stick with either a 2 cam or 3 cam lens, correct?

 

What are the better lenses to look for? To give you an idea of what I like in fingerprints of lenses, my M lens lineup is 21 Elmarit ASPH, 28 Cron ASPH, 50 Lux ASPH, 90 Elmarit (current). Probably the most important is that I really prefer the 90 Elmarit over the Pre-ASPH Cron, ASPH Cron, Macro Elmar, or Summarit. I like how it is sharp but transitions smoothly, has a bokeh which is pleasing to me, handles easily, and has a short focus throw which is easy to snap into focus.

 

With rare exception, I'm not familiar with the M lenses so I'm not sure what's comparable. The late model R 90mm Elmarit is the same optics at the late model M lens. I find the 90 'cron and early 135 Elmarit-R to have a very similar character: gentle on older skin at full aperture, very sharp stopped down one or two stops, very sweet bokeh. The 135 has a long-ish minimum focus distance and is quite heavy. The second model of the 135mm Elmarit-R is better in the corners at wider apertures and is even heavier.

 

Comparing the 180mm f/4 Elmar-R and 180mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt-R, the 180 APO-Telyt-R has less appealing bokeh at times, a longer minimum focus distance and it snaps into focus more clearly than the Elmar-R. The Elmar's best features are the E55 filter thread and its tiny size & light weight; the APO will be sharper. The Elmar flares readily with sunlight on the front element.

[harmsr]

Thanks for the information guys.

 

Unfortunately the camera had to go off to DAG as the meter is off. The dealer is taking care of it.

 

In the mean time, I think that I have decided on the 90 Elmarit if it renders like my 90 Elmarit for the M.

 

If you guys see one for sale, please let me know.

 

Thanks,

 

Ray

[robsteve]

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Doug:

 

I don't find my SL2 as easy to focus as my R9. I think it may be a diopter problem, as the sceen seems a bit more distant than in the R9. On the R8 or R9, I shoot with the dioipter adjusted a bit off the middle point. Since you have both the SL and the R8, is there a relation to the Diopter setting on the R8 to the diopter you need for the SL? In other words, can I look at my Diopter setting on the R9 and relate it to what size diopter I may need on the SL2?

 

Robert

[wildlightphoto]

Robert, I don't need a diopter correction lens on the SL. On the SL2 I need a +0.5 correction lens to make the SL2 as easy to focus as the SL. On the R8 the built-in correction constrol is set 2 tick marks in the + direction. I suspect those for whom the R8/9 is easier to focus than the SL or SL2 should look in to diopter correction lenses for the SL/SL2 bodies.

[Guest tummydoc]

Robert, I don't need a diopter correction lens on the SL. On the SL2 I need a +0.5 correction lens to make the SL2 as easy to focus as the SL.

 

What strength are your reading glasses? That might help others to extrapolate as to which diopter to buy for their SL or SL2, since your focussing is spot-on. The ones for the SL2/R3 are easier to come by but most people are still going to have to buy them sight-unseen. So far I don't need a diopter for any camera but I don't expect that to last forever

[wildlightphoto]

What strength are your reading glasses?

 

I dunno, I can't read 'em w/o reading glasses

 

2.50. My distance vision is still good.

[Guest tummydoc]

That's very helpful, thanks. Reading glasses are typically prescribed for viewing at approximately half a metre (18"). If you can see the focussing screen sharply with a 0.5x, that means it is placed at an effective distance of (based on a quick assessment by an opthalmologist somewhat distracted whilst rushing to round this morning) about a metre and a half. The SL is probably two metres, if you don't need a diopter for it. So someone contemplating a dioptre for one of those cameras could ask their eye doc what their prescription should be for sharp vision at those distances.

[mole73]

Ray,

 

congratulations on your new baby!

 

The Leicaflex SL 2 is really a nice body, i would like one too...!

 

Greetings

Robert

[garyp]

I have the settings on my R8s at mid-point [no adjustment] and can focus fine w/out my glasses, but I tend to need my glasses with the SL for best view. Guess that's why I've been picking up the 8s more. Might have to get myself a diopter for the SL.