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Digital camera for M lenses


lfp

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I have a few M lenses that use together with my M7.

 

As I do not intend to buy the M8 for now.

I'm looking for the best digital solution to use those M lenses.

 

Any ideias ? Lumix/Panasonic ? Olympus ? Epson ?

 

What the best solution avaiable....

 

thanks

lfp

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I'm holding off on my next digital camera (currently Nikon D80 w. nikkor lenses and a Leica Digilux 2 that gives me the most fun I can have with my clothes on), but a colleague has been using his old M lenses on the Panasonic G1 to his satisfaction. I believe there are a couple of adaptors -- certainly Voigtlander (sp?) makes one. G1s can be had for $640 with the kit lens included.

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To my knowledge there are only the Epson and the M8

 

The new Olympus PEN has an adapter for M lenses. Mike Johnson's TOP site has a review by Ken Tanaka today on the PEN, which includes examples using M lenses.

Jeff

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Either of the Micro-4/3rds cameras (Panasonic G/GH-1, Olympus EP1) can accept Leica M lenses via an adapter. 2x crop factor (35="70"), video focusing (LCD or EVF), some people have reported some corner softness with wider-then-35 lenses.

 

I have an adapter and have tried a couple of longer M lenses on the G1 (135, 90). They make very sweet SLR lenses in that context - the size SLRs should have been all along (wink!). A 90 Summicron on a G1 makes a heck of a compact "180 f/2"!

 

I just haven't made the leap to buy my own GH-1 yet (for the video and square format capabilities, and eye-level finder) since they are still hard to come by and I'm busy with other stuff.

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As well as the third -party solutions, there is now the recently announced official Panasonic (Leica approved) M to Micro 4/3rds adaptor.

 

I would think the best solution so far would be the Panasonic DMC-G1, or GH1 if you can afford it, since it has a viewfinder (EVF, not perfect but rumoured to be the best of its type so far) which the Olympus EP-1 lacks. Also, although not relevant when using manual focus M lenses, the G1/GH1 is reported to have better (contrast detect) autofocus performance when compared to the EP-1.

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The 2x crop factor is valid for all the alternative M8 cameras ?

All 4/3 cameras have that factor ?

I have a 35, 50 and 90mm lenses, but in most cases I use the 35 and 50mm lenses, and transforming them in 70, 100 and 180mm lenses don't sounds very good...:confused:

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The 2x crop factor is valid for all the alternative M8 cameras ?

All 4/3 cameras have that factor ?

I have a 35, 50 and 90mm lenses, but in most cases I use the 35 and 50mm lenses, and transforming them in 70, 100 and 180mm lenses don't sounds very good...:confused:

 

 

All 4/3rds and Micro 4/3rds sensors have a 2x factor so, yes, on those cameras double your lens focal lengths to get the 35mm full-frame equivalent.

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All 4/3rds and Micro 4/3rds sensors have a 2x factor so, yes, on those cameras double your lens focal lengths to get the 35mm full-frame equivalent.

 

Furthermore, the M8 and Epson have crop factors of their own. There is no viable full-frame option for M lenses. Yet.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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I'm holding off on my next digital camera (currently Nikon D80 w. nikkor lenses and a Leica Digilux 2 that gives me the most fun I can have with my clothes on), but a colleague has been using his old M lenses on the Panasonic G1 to his satisfaction. I believe there are a couple of adaptors -- certainly Voigtlander (sp?) makes one. G1s can be had for $640 with the kit lens included.

You can use your Digilux2 with your clothes removed....

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We know what you mean but it is not easy to make a digital sensor that is compatible with M lenses due to the short distance between the lens and the sensor in a Leica M. The Epson was the first attempt and had a larger crop factor than the M8 which is the current maximum sensor size that has been achieved. Other camera makers cannot duplicate that easily and moreover it is a small market which is not interesting for the big boys.

 

So the answer is: they could but they won't.

 

Buy a film M or a second hand M8 if you want to cut costs.

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