Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/02/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>Does Leica make MP cameras or lenses? Now if they were filmed with a >Summicron, I might give it a thought. :) > >Jim > A while ago, when I asked the cinematography list about using R lenses on an MP camera, I was told that Leica make some lenses for Panavision. Well, someone has to, I guess. Apart from those specials there are a few R lenses which are adapted for use with MP cameras. Z****, in their literature, say that MP lenses should have their best MTF in the 20 to 30 lppmm range, and that finer detail is distracting in a moving image. My own preference is for Angenieux lenses on 16 mm and Z**** for 35 mm. The price tag on a 'Standard' T2 50 mm lens (DM7000 or thereabouts) makes the Noctilux look like it is intended for disposable cameras and the 'variable primes' (DM40000) make any R zoom look cheap and tacky. And remember, these things only have to cover half-frame. One issue is flange focal depth. Most reflex movie cameras require a larger ffd than most still cameras. For example the Panaflex ffd is 57.12 mm and the Arriflex is 52.00 in comparison to 47.15 mm for the R and 27.35 mm for the M. Note that (!!! special interest warning !!!) the ffd is 0.02 mm beneath the emulsion surface for colour films. Do you know how long I have been waiting to tell that to someone? Regards, Malcolm