Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/11/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Aram ,if I could join in your discussion? Yes I have seen the same imprecision in the focus confirmation light in the D7000 and D600. In addition I found that a new AF-S 50 was in error and needed AF tuning anyway. Liveview is very accurate in either with deliberate technique (tripod for close ups for example) but I find it inconvenient for any other situation. I also have a KatzEye split image/microprism screen for the D7000 (to use the manual focus CZ Planar 100) It greatly improves brightness and manual focus useability with conventional AF Nikkors here too. No such screen will be made for the D600 and I think the D800 iterations either. I had zero metering problems whatsoever with Nikkors nor the Planar personally. Cheers, Geoff http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman On 29 November 2012 14:46, Aram Langhans <leica_r8 at hotmail.com> wrote: > Thanks Howard. I saw your post there, but never replied as we were still > on our trip. > > I just recently noticed something on my D7000 as far as focus goes. I was > using the 50 cron and getting what looked like out of focus pictures. One > of them had some things in front of the main subject fairly close and I > noticed that they were sharp as a tack. I then used my homemade fine focus > test rig and using the focus conformation, I found that there was quite a > bit of front/back focus range when the light was lit, but I could rotate > the lens quite a bit and still keep it lit. In those situations, I could > get front, back or correct focus shots. My eyes and the small crop screen, > though larger and brighter than the Canon I had before, is not good enough > for me to see tack sharp focus on the screen. > > I then tried live view with the imaged magnified and could get tack sharp > results on what I was focusing on. I do not want to use live view all the > time, but if the focus conformation lights are this unreliable, it could > explain some of my missed shots with the 50. Now, I don't seem to have > that problem with the 100 APO. Maybe when I am doing Macro I take more > time to see, and maybe the closeness makes the image snap in and out of > focus enough for me to more accurately judge correct focus on the screen. > > Have you noticed any focus conformation slop on your Nikon? > > I am also wondering if I should invest in a split image/microprism screen, > but the metering problems with a third party screen have me hesitating. > There are already some metering problems stopped down with Leica glass on > the D7000, though not nearly as severe as with my previous Canon. > > We can take this back to the Reflex forum if you like. > > > Aram > > > -----Original Message----- From: H&ECummer > Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:11 PM > To: lug at leica-users.org > Subject: [Leica] Leitaxed R lenses on Nikon > > > > Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:58:31 -0800 > From: "Aram Langhans" <leica_r8 at hotmail.com> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica in the LUG > To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> > > Too far off for me yet. My interest would be for my R lenses, but I will > wait and see how others have "mastered" this acceptable solution to learn > if > it really is worth it or not. Would it be better than my spending way less > up upgrade my perfectly acceptable Nikon D7000 to a DX00 full frame? I > will > have to see how others feel about the only two real drawbacks of Leitexed > lenses on Nikon - the focus problem and the stopped down meter issues. If > it really is an acceptable solution, I will save up my money, sell my bad > leg, rent out my spare bedroom and get one. > > Aram > > Hi Aram, > Over on the Leica Reflex Forum > Frank F and I had a discussion about using leitaxed R lenses on Nikon > Dslrs. > Apologies to those Luggers who are also on the Reflex Forum for the > duplication > but I thought some here might be interested. > > > [LRflex] Leitaxed R lenses on Nikons > > Hi Frank, > Answers to your questions (*) below. > > From: "Frank Filippone" > > Howard > > Do you shoot your Leitax'd lenses wide open all the time? > > * No - the focus confirmation on the D700 worked up to f5.6 - and with the > D800E in brighter light it works up to f8.0. So I can focus and work at > f8.0 in > good light. If I have trouble with confirming focus then I open up. > > What are the results like when using your lenses with the D800e? > > * The quality of R lenses shines through - every time. The limit IMHO is > the > eye of the photographer, :-) > > Which lenses? Mostly long Telephotos? WA? 50? > > * I have had a variety of R lenses and with experience have sold off some > of them. I > had the 19 Elmarit Version 1 but it was very large, the front element was > exposed, and it tended to vignette in the corners wide open so I sold it > off > and replaced it with the Cosina / Voigtlander 20mm. Fact is I don't use > that > very much at all - having the 24 - 70 Nikkor zoom but it is a huge monster. > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+**on+Nikon+D700/ > **El19CheungShaNofilterw.jpg.**html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/El19CheungShaNofilterw.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/c4d9htp > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+**on+Nikon+D700/ > **FeralCow19EFilterw.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/FeralCow19EFilterw.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/btke4a > > * I have the 28mm Elmarit latest version and it works very well and is > perhaps > the best 28 ever made by man. It draws simply wonderfully. I shoot it > mostly at > f5.6. > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/HK2010_** > 001/4PanMidW.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/HK2010_001/4PanMidW.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/ayadq7a > > * I have the 21 - 35 Elmar and sent it to Leitax to be bayonet changed > because > the rear cowling needed to be shaved to clear the mirror of the D700 (and > now > the D800E). It is a great wide angle lens and sharp to the corners as you > would > expect a Leica to be. I use it quite a bit for street shooting. > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/lens+pix/** > CageTalkw.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/lens+pix/CageTalkw.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/ctx6zrh > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/lens+pix/** > Check24w.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/lens+pix/Check24w.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/2ek7ecu > > * I recently acquired the 35 - 70 Elmar zoom and (bravely for me) I made > the > leitax bayonet change myself. It requires some filing to preserve the ROM > attachment should you ever want to revert the lens to the R mount. > * The quality of the 35 - 70 Elmar is clear on the D800E but being limited > to > f4.0 as the widest aperture in low light focusing can be more difficult. At > least that is what I am finding for my 69 year old eyes. > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/lens+pix/** > HC70Elw.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/lens+pix/HC70Elw.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/9r2yztn > > * I have the 90 Summicon (Canadian made) and it is great for portraits but > I > find it doesn't get a lot of use. I use the Nikkor 85 f1.8 AF instead. AF > and > auto aperture have their place. > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/HK2010_** > 001/YlwRsW.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/HK2010_001/YlwRsW.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/3ax9cct > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/HK2010_** > 001/PurpleOrchidW.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/HK2010_001/PurpleOrchidW.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/2bbzjkc > > * The 100 APO is spectacular on the D800E and I have the 1:1 adaptor so I > can > get really close. This is the one lens I will not sell no matter what > happens. > Flowers and bugs watch out!! > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/Macro/**PetuniaW.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Macro/PetuniaW.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/b3skj7l > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/** > Canada2012/SpiderLw.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada2012/SpiderLw.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/9ukuzus > > * I had the 180 f3.4 APO and its quality was clearly evident on the D700. > It > didn't focus close enough for tight portrait shots and I finally sold it > off - > which I now regret. > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+** > on+Nikon+D700/LiLauw.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/LiLauw.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/blu4s6 > > * I had the 400 f6.8 with the trombone focusing and I used it with the > D700 on > a tiger shoot in India a few years ago. I had real trouble getting sharp > photos > in the heat of battle and came to rely more on the 300mm f4.0 manual focus > Nikkor that I had with me - so I sold off the Telyt as well. When I hit > focus > the images were great but I was mightily frustrated and disappointed when I > missed focus in an other wise good shot. And, of course, you couldn't get > focus > confirmation with f6.8. The 300 f4.0 with auto aperture worked better for > me in > the field and the quality was more than good too. 400 Telyt shots: > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/TIGER/**TigHuntW.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/TIGER/TigHuntW.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/2apymwo > > http://gallery.leica-users.**org/v/Howard+Cummer/Final+** > Tigers/TigUpW.jpg.html<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Final+Tigers/TigUpW.jpg.html> > > http://tinyurl.com/c7q6jx7 > > * One comment about focus confirmation - the arrows in the view finder > point in > the opposite direction to what you must turn the lens to achieve focus - > because Nikons and Leicas focus in opposite directions. So you have to > rewire > your brain with practice to overcome this difference. I hope this long and > detailed answer isn't too long or to detailed but it sums up my experience > so > far. I don't regret at all making the bayonet changes. > > Cheers > Howard > > > > ______________________________**_________________ > Leica Users Group. > See > http://leica-users.org/**mailman/listinfo/lug<http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug>for > more information >