Milich LTM to M4/3 adapter reviewed

[scott kirkpatrick]

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Sean Reid has obtained the first of the two Milich adapters for Micro-4/3 lenses (the LTM version) and has posted closeup shots of that adapter with lenses mounted. No pictures taken with the setup, but there is a good discussion of the clearance issues. Look for the rest of the review to appear after Christmas sometime, on Reid Reviews.

 

scott

[peterv]

Just read the article, very informative indeed.

 

I hope Sean will soon add a list of M lenses that can be used, I'm a bit insecure about my 21 and 28 ASPH...

[peterb]

Just read the review myself tonight. Amazing possibilities for a totally new camera system. Finally a digital camera that can use optics going back to the thirties. Now THAT'S something.

 

That's why, after the D2 and LX-1 I bought the first system camera in years for me. The G1.

 

The promise to be able to use M lenses on this fine piece of electronic hardware is just too tantalizing to pass up. And at $800, while some have decried it being too high a price for a camera when others like Canon's Rebel Xti or Pentax' weather-sealed K20Dare or Nikons' new D90 available at prices within spitting distance of the G1, considering that for an extra $175 for either the M or LMT adapters nearly the entire body of lenses Leitz has produced since the 30's is now ready for the new century's photographic possibilities, the price seems relatively like peanuts.

 

Peter

[sean_reid]

Hi Scott,

 

Thanks for the article comments.

 

Hi Peterb,

 

It is exciting. Of course, the R-D1 and M8 have offered this to us already but the G1 is much more affordable and thus more accessible.

 

Hi Peter D,

 

Once I get an M adapter I will be trying M lenses on the G1 as well.

 

Cheers and Merry Christmas,

 

Sean

[marknorton]

The R-D1 and M8 have certainly allowed us to mount the lenses but what's exciting for me is the ability to focus and view through the lens and that you are seeing actual focus which is even better than a conventional DSLR can do (other than in live view mode) and much better than the M8/R-D1 rangefinder can do.

 

You'll be able to see that Noctilux shallow depth of field, the 35mm Summilux focus shift as you stop down from f1.4 through to f4 and wave goodbye to focus alignment issues which have plagued the M8.

 

The crop factor is the compromise of course but it points to how a future M camera might look like providing Leica are brave enough. I won't go as far as to say the G1 is a better M camera than the M8 but it's certainly an interesting one. Quiet too.

[monza]

Although the RD-1 and M8 have always offered the ability to use vintage lenses, the G1 is the first camera (ever) that allows through the lens focus with such lenses.

 

This may not seem to be that big of a deal, but this completely eliminates back focus/front focus issues on which many people have spent a lot of time any money.

 

TTL focus also means I can use both my vintage Nikon RF lenses and my vintage Sonnar 50/1.5 on the same adapter. Not possible on any M mount body!

 

EDIT: Mark, looks like we were thinking the same thing at the same time.

[sean_reid]

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I agree with the comments about focusing the lens using live view and wrote about that in the article. This blend of shallow register and live view does make for an exciting camera.

 

Merry Christmas all. I'm actually awake before the kids.<G>

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest stnami]

Pity that it is not a low light high iso camera like the D90 ........................ I have a RD-1 so the so called old look is not a problem.

 

..sorta need the 3200iso or stop prowling the dark corners of life

 

[peterv]

Imants = Voldemort???

[peterv]

Imants, could't resist the above. I hope you can take it.

 

Anyway, I agree that high ISO is what is needed next, but the 800 ISO on the G1 isn't that bad.

 

I bought one yesterday and since it's done with the kit-lens I can't post the photo here. So here's a Link:

 

New forum member - The GetDPI Workshop Forums

 

Now that doesn't look too bad compared to the portrait you posted above.

 

Panasonic has made me optimistic about the future of our M mount lenses. I'm sure better ISO will come.

 

Happy holidays!

[Guest stnami]

...... yea the future.............. the portrait is a fragged/kapustski D2 file at 400iso ...yea the D90 is mighty tempting. 3200 iso files that can cope with a lot of PP work .....YouTube - Tony Worsley - Velvet Waters

[sean_reid]

I too want resilient ISO 3200 files from a true DRF some day. We are getting that from the D700 (and I would imagine also the D3). It would be very useful for my work. Time will tell.

 

O.T. My five year old daughter just got her first camera - it begins. <G>

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest stnami]

O.T. My five year old daughter just got her first camera - it begins.

So ypou bought her the G1 with the articulated screen..............keep her busy after the box it came in loses its lusture as a toy:)

 

The G1 should sell well with those that are lens orientated as well as the old D2 brigade...........the rummaging through cupboards begins, granma and old pops just became one's best friends:D

There is a but as always, this sorta goes into the Jeckle and Hyde category

The specs for the 45-200 lens are 3.93" x 2.75" at 380g. The Nikon kit 55-200 with VR is 3.93" x 2.92" at 335g.

With a bit of development by Pana and Oly...........Leica will lose a heap of ground and be destined for a very small niche market

[sean_reid]

So ypou bought her the G1 with the articulated screen..............keep her busy after the box it came in loses its lusture as a toy:)

 

Hi Imants,

 

No, she got a somewhat simpler camera. The boxes don't interest her much but the cat loves them.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest stnami]

Yea it's going to be interesting whether one focuses quicker with a range finder or the G1 in the bustle of a market or a busy intersection

[sean_reid]

Yea it's going to be interesting whether one focuses quicker with a range finder or the G1 in the bustle of a market or a busy intersection

 

I certainly know that for me the rangefinder camera is much faster and also gives me the kind of view of the subject that I want and need.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[peterb]

It's so funny today. I remember when we dealt with the grain of Tri-X and accepted it as its 'character'.

 

And then when T-max came out with its uniform grain structure there was great jubilation at its vast improvement (and higher ISO potential). But there was still noticeable grain (or noise) at ISO 400 but we accepted it and rejoiced at its smoothness over Tri-X (which by the way Kodak continued to produce because so many missed the 'character' of the old Tri-X that the new stuff had so effectively diminished with its cleaner, smoother images). And T-Max 3200? Fastest stuff on earth. But, again, with huge, honkin' rocks of grain the size of golf balls that made up the image that we again readily accepted and approved with great rejoicing. And yet today we complain of 'noise' in the shadows at ISO 1600 and up?

 

My how spoiled we've become.

 

According to Pop Photo at low ISO's (100 - 200), when it comes to noise, the G1 is currently without peer. Color-accuracy wise the G1 is without peer at every level (again according to Pop Photo). In my opinion, that's not too shabby for a first time at bat. Panasonic has been getting hammered for their noisy processors and A/D converters since the LX-1 and for the first time their Venus engine appears to be really humming. If the G1 and its current Venus HD engine are any indication, I've no doubt the next generation(s) will now address the upper ISO issues with aplomb offering us (hopefully) cleaner and cleaner images at the higher ISO's that we saw in the lower ones. And I look forward to that.

 

And now we can put venerable Solms glass on this thing?

 

Is this a great era in photography or what?

 

Peter

[TEBnewyork]

I certainly know that for me the rangefinder camera is much faster and also gives me the kind of view of the subject that I want and need.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

Imteresting on the focus. I just put the CV75 and CV35 f2.5 on the G1 and was pretty shocked at how easy and fast it was to focus. Seeing outside the frame is a different issue

[Guest stnami]

And yet today we complain of 'noise' in the shadows at ISO 1600 and up?

I don't think you get the point here, it's about having robust flexible files at high iso(3200) taken in low light that can take a pounding with PP work.

The m8 creates great files for bnw work , but that is 640iso and below.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[peterb]

Imants,

 

You're right. And understand completely. And you're right at those ISO's you need to files that can be subjected to a lot and still yield acceptable results. I just find some of the discussions amusing considering how far we've come in such a short time.

 

TEBNY,

 

After having been subjected to the D2's grainy EVF and its manual focusing the G1 is a dream to use. But, yes, it lacks the rangefinder's ability to let one see action 'outside' the frame, but, that's always been one of the advantages of the rangefinder over the SLR.

 

Peter