Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/04/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Interesting. Are you attaching the bellows II directly to the 4/3 adapter? Henning Wulff wrote: > I've also been quite pleased with the use of M lenses on the GF-1 and > G1. The lens I tend to use mostly is the 50/1.4 ASPH; it balances well > and complements the 20/1.7 nicely. Occasionally I've used the 75/1.4 > and 75/2 and even the 135's, but the 135/2.8 starts to look stooopid > on the GF-1, and since I have the 45-200 with IS, that is usually the > better choice. > > What I do use quite a bit is the Leica Bellows II with various lenses, > including the 65 and the lensheads of the 135/4 Tele-Elmar as well as > more specialized macro lenses. These work quite well, and the bellows > unit is fairly compact and good handling for what it is. > > With respect to the wider lenses, the smearing in the corners with M > focal lengths shorter than 35mm bothers me enough that I generally > don't use them. The CV 12, 15 and 21 all suffer from this a fair bit. > Also, I have the truly outstanding 7-14 so the wide angle options > aren't generally that appealing. It'll be interesting to see how the > new 9-18 Olympus collapsible lens performs as it will be a fair bit > less expensive than the Panasonic wide zoom and also a lot smaller > when collapsed. > > > > At 1:55 PM -0400 4/13/10, David Rodgers wrote: >> My initial impressions of using M lenses on a GF-1 are more favorable >> than I anticipated. The camera feels really nice in my hands with Leica >> lenses attached. It might even feel better in some ways than it does >> with the Panasonic 20/1.7. However, I still really like the 20 and all >> it brings to the table. >> >> The Leica lenses are heavier and make the camera feel more substantial. >> I thought the Noctilux might overpower the camera body (feel like >> holding only a big lens) but it feels surprisingly well balanced. >> >> The fact that the 50/2.8 Elmar doesn't collapse when attached to the >> adapter makes it a little less compact. That eliminates one of 50/2.8's >> bigger virtues. >> >> My favorite lens on the GF-1 might actually be the 50/1.4 Summilux. It >> feels and handles very nicely on the body. Same for the 35/1.4 Summilux >> ASPH. I feel comfortable holding my left hand under the lens. That's the >> style I grew up with. It helps me to stabilize the camera. A lot of >> smallish lenses (the 20/1.7 included) are almost too small. The heavier >> Leica lenses offer a little more ballast, as well as more real estate >> for getting a solid grip. It makes the GF-1 feel even more like a CL. >> >> On the normal to wide end, the 21/2.8 ASPH is too close to the 20/1.7 in >> focal length and it doesn't have AF. For all those reasons I doubt I'll >> be using it all that much. I know that contradict whats I said about the >> "feel" aspect of larger lenses, but as I said, there are other things >> that I really like the 20/1.7. >> >> The 28 Elmarit (3rd Gen) feels much like the 50/1.4 and 35/1.4 (i.e. >> balances and handles well). However, the 28/3.5 VC Color Skopar could >> turn out to be my favorite in that focal length. The 28/3.5 is my only >> chrome lens. I like how it looks on the GF-1 body. Plus it's compact and >> easy to focus quickly. >> >> All the Leica lenses are relatively easy to focus. That was once concern >> I had before I tried using them. I've said it before, but I really like >> the EVF. It's convenient to zoom in for critical focus by merely pushing >> the thumbwheel. It's nice for framing. The "zoom to focus" worked well, >> particularly when using the Noctilux. People have expressed concerns >> about the GF-1 EVF but I'm a big fan of it. >> >> My one big complaint about the GF-1 and Leica lenses is the fact that >> the small sensor doubles the effective focal length of every lens. I >> don't mind that I have a 100mm f1 and 100mm 1.4 lens. And the 35/1.4 >> ASPH is a nice 70/1.4 lens. They all make for nice medium tele's. I can >> see how the in-body IS of the Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras might be >> advantageous with those. . >> >> I feel limited on the wide end. I have an 18 VC, but like the 21 Elmarit >> it's close to the 20/1.7. I may get a 12mm VC, or I may wait until >> Panasonic or Oly come out with a super-wide for micro four thirds. I'm >> in more of a normal lens than wide-angle lens phase of late, so I'm not >> in a hurry. >> >> Finally, I'll say that it's really nice be able to use my Leica M lenses >> on a digital body. The good news I that it seems more practical to do so >> than I thought it would be. IOW, I'm breathing a sigh of relief. >> >> Dave R >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >