[Leica] 90 Elmarit R on D700

[crbirchenhall at googlemail.com (Christopher Birchenhall)]

Dave

Many thanks for that report. I for one would like to hear more as you
continue down this avenue.

Chris B

2009/1/13 David Rodgers <drodgers@casefarms.com>:
>
> Howard wrote:
>
>>>When I get my Leica 19mm Elmarit R adapted to my Nikon D700 in the
> next few days I am going to experiment on CS4 with complete panos.<<
>
> I installed a "Leitax Nikon F Bayonet for Leica R lenses" on a 90
> Elmarit last night. Installing the bayonet was very simple. I'll go so
> far as to say that anyone who can install a hard drive in a desktop
> computer could install a Leitax mount. In fact, the Leitax bayonet
> installation was easier than any one of the hundreds of hard drive
> installations I've done over the years.
>
> The 90/2.8 Elmarit R I converted was a 3-cam. I removed the six screws
> that attached the R bayonet. I lifted off the old bayonet. I removed the
> 2-cams (but not the R-cam). All together that involved unscrewing 10
> screws.
>
> I then placed the Leitax bayonet on the lens and attached it using the 6
> original screws. I spent less than 10 minutes on the whole process. I
> probably could have done it in half that time.
>
> I got a little sloppy and didn't keep track of the tiny screws like I
> should have. One of the cam screws (very tiny) fell into a ding in the
> table I was working on. I thought it had fallen on the floor. It's
> important to work slowly and to keep track of the screws. (When you're
> more familiar with large industrial equipment, the disappearing act of
> super tiny screws can catch you by surprise).
>
> There's also a tiny ball bearing that indexes the f-stops. The bayonet
> comes with one, but I just reused the original.
>
> I put the cams, old adapter and cam screws in a bag in case I ever want
> to convert the lens back. It would be very easy to convert the lens back
> to it's original state (as long as you have all the screws).
>
> The instructions on the Leitax web site are very straight forward.
> Again, the whole process was easier than I anticipated. My one
> recommendation would be to make certain to use a high quality screw
> driver that is the right size. I have a set of jeweler's tools. You
> don't need something of that high quality. Any good Craftsman
> screwdriver will do the trick. (I think Leitax also sells the necessary
> tools).
>
> The lens I converted has Phillips head screws. I think some of the older
> lenses may have flat head screws. I don't know when they changed from
> one to the other.
>
> I did the conversion late yesterday evening. I snapped a couple of
> frames just to try things out. Here's a link to a sample image.
>
> http://www.purplehen.com/Leica/90ElmaritR.htm
>
> It's not a very refined example. I snapped a shot and slapped together a
> web page in a couple of minutes. No processing in PS, other than to cut
> out the enlarged section.
>
> There's a typo on the page. I wrote 7/60 sec. I don't know where I got
> that. I went back and looked at the metadata and the SS was 1/10 sec. I
> was sitting on a couch watching TV and half asleep when I snapped the
> shot. I didn't think there was enough light. My focus point was the
> clock. Sharpness isn't too bad for f2.8 and 1/10th sec -- especially in
> a very low contrast scene (OTOH performance in low light is what I love
> about Leica lenses). The camera was hand held but resting on a pillow
> for support.
>
> I'm converting a 28/2.8 Elmarit as soon as my second bayonet arrives
> from Leitax. I'll do a more detailed write up after I've had a chance to
> do more of a field test.
>
> My initial impression is that the Leitax bayonet is a really good option
> for anyone who wants to use R lenses on a Nikon body. I like the fact
> that it's a permanent bayonet attached to the lens, and not just an
> adapter. It meters on the D700 -- aperture preferred, though you can't
> use the thumb wheel to change apertures. You must change the aperture on
> the lens. The viewfinder is good enough for bright scene focus. Focus
> assist also works when needed. I used it in the above shot.
>
> Again, more to come. Here's a link to the Leitax web site.
>
> http://www.leitax.com/
>
> I corresponded with David Llado -- of Leitax -- before I bought the
> bayonet. He's really great to work with. Howard Cummer originally
> introduced me to Leitax. I bought the 90 from Lugger Dave Allen (because
> a few years back I foolishly sold all my R lenses).
>
> DaveR
>
>
>
>
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