Digital camera to use with Leica lenses

[MIkhail]

Hello,
What is the preferred small digital camera currently on market to use with Leica and LTM lenses? I mean- amongst Sony NEX and others of this kind, not Leica 8 or 9? Sometimes I need digital, but dont want the SLR..
Thank you!

 

[MIkhail]

Thanks anyway, I guess...

 

[rsosa]

Thanks anyway, I guess...

Allow some more time so the guys/girls here can answer you. I'm sure someome will come with suggestions
I have no experience with those type of bodies you mention
Cheers

In the meantime maybe you can search combinations of lenses you own with the bodies you have in mind on flickr, something must show up and then you can compare what fits you better regarding image rendering?

 

[tomtofa]

Maybe too general a question. Nex have big sensors, 1.5 lens equivalence, no viewfinder; Panny G/GH have viewfinders, 2x lens equivalence; GF are smaller form factor; Olympus Pens - some Pens have a viewfinder, some are easier than other Pens to manual focus; Pens have in-body stabilization, Panny and Nex don't...etc, etc.

Most will probably have some issues with wider angle lenses in the corners and edges.

Forums like GetDPI and DPR have areas specializing in using manual focus lenses on the various small sensor cameras; RFF has some but maybe not as much. I don't know that there is a preferred camera.

Personally I'm using a G1 - I like the viewfinder option. It really is fun to have access to a large variety of cheap good lenses. Not just Leicas/ltms, but almost any type, RF or SLR.

Basically, just decide on ergonomics and aesthetics, at this point. If the Nex line starts to include a viewfinder, things may change...

 

[MIkhail]

Allow some more time so the guys/girls here can answer you. I'm sure someome will come with suggestions
I have no experience with those type of bodies you mention
Cheers

In the meantime maybe you can search combinations of lenses you own with the bodies you have in mind on flickr, something must show up and then you can compare what fits you better regarding image rendering?

Thank you for the response.
My main question was: on witch body can I put my LTM lenses, and which one is a best value as of now.

 

[MIkhail]

Maybe too general a question. Nex have big sensors, 1.5 lens equivalence, no viewfinder; Panny G/GH have viewfinders, 2x lens equivalence; GF are smaller form factor; Olympus Pens - some Pens have a viewfinder, some are easier than other Pens to manual focus; Pens have in-body stabilization, Panny and Nex don't...etc, etc.

Most will probably have some issues with wider angle lenses in the corners and edges.

Forums like GetDPI and DPR have areas specializing in using manual focus lenses on the various small sensor cameras; RFF has some but maybe not as much. I don't know that there is a preferred camera.

Personally I'm using a G1 - I like the viewfinder option. It really is fun to have access to a large variety of cheap good lenses. Not just Leicas/ltms, but almost any type, RF or SLR.

Basically, just decide on ergonomics and aesthetics, at this point. If the Nex line starts to include a viewfinder, things may change...

Thank you. I presume, G1 is Panasonic?

I am also definitely looking for something with viewfinder. I don't even understand how to focus the manual lenses on a small camera, while holding it in arms stretched in front of you - I could never grasp that approach...

 

[jl-lb.ms]

Thank you. I presume, G1 is Panasonic?

I am also definitely looking for something with viewfinder. I don't even understand how to focus the manual lenses on a small camera, while holding it in arms stretched in front of you - I could never grasp that approach...

The Panasonic G1 is a micro 4/3 format camera that will accept a variety of lens mounts, including Leica M. You can then use a LTM-to-M adapter for LTM lenses. The G1 or G2 are great choices, since they have integral viewfinders. Since the G1 is an older version, it sells for much less now. Good sources are Amazon or even eBay.

 

[DNG]

Thank you. I presume, G1 is Panasonic?

I am also definitely looking for something with viewfinder. I don't even understand how to focus the manual lenses on a small camera, while holding it in arms stretched in front of you - I could never grasp that approach...

With the Panasonic G1, G2, GH2, you hold like an SLR, and the with MF lenses you can focus with or without a magnified image area. (10x or 14x)

It's very easy with +1mb EVF built in. and with 100% coverage to boot.

The left 4/way button is for activating the magnified View.
With native m4/3 lenses in MF mode, the magnified view is automatic as put your eye to the EVF.

 

[tomtofa]

The G1, G2, GH1. GH2 (the 'H' models feature high def video as well as still image capture) have an LCD screen that opens out from the camera and can be set to any angle.

So while the viewfinder is great to have, the LCD on these models is actually very handy. One can shoot at angles impossible to use while looking through the viewfinder. One of the reasons I like the G series better than the Olympus of Nex cameras.

 

[Terao]

Another vote here for the G1, G2, etc. I had a G1 when they first came out and the only reason I traded it was that I wanted autofocus so I could hand the camera over to my partner to shoot.

They all share the same sensor, and manual focus works great on them.

Just bear in mind that it will double the effective length of your lens (so a 50mm f/1.4 will have the angle of view of a 100mm lens).

This has the added benefit of using only the centre of the lens, so you will have less issues with soft corners and falloff than you would on a film body.

The downside is no wide angle coverage - even the Voigtlander 12mm is only covering the equivalent of a 24mm lens on these cameras.

 

[usayit]

I adapt M-mount lenses (there's a similar adapter for LTM) to the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic G1. Of the two, I think the E-PL1 is the better choice.

- Image Stabilization in body means the LTM / M mount lenses are also stabilized
- I find the image quality overall better than the G1. Low light is better too
- EVF of the E-PL1 is equivalent in quality to that of the G1.
- Dedicated button for magnification (in EVF) for critical focus.

E-PL1 + EVF is going to probably closet more than the G1 though....

Both are micro 4/3rds cameras and there is a sub forum here specifically for them.

 

[MIkhail]

Another vote here for the G1, G2, etc. I had a G1 when they first came out and the only reason I traded it was that I wanted autofocus so I could hand the camera over to my partner to shoot.

They all share the same sensor, and manual focus works great on them.

Just bear in mind that it will double the effective length of your lens (so a 50mm f/1.4 will have the angle of view of a 100mm lens).

This has the added benefit of using only the centre of the lens, so you will have less issues with soft corners and falloff than you would on a film body.

The downside is no wide angle coverage - even the Voigtlander 12mm is only covering the equivalent of a 24mm lens on these cameras.

Wow! I am glad you mentioned that it has crop factor 2... That's a big drawback for me, I like to shoot wide.
Hmmm..
How about other similar cameras I wonder, what is their factor?

 

[MIkhail]

I adapt M-mount lenses (there's a similar adapter for LTM) to the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic G1. Of the two, I think the E-PL1 is the better choice.

- Image Stabilization in body means the LTM / M mount lenses are also stabilized
- I find the image quality overall better than the G1. Low light is better too
- EVF of the E-PL1 is equivalent in quality to that of the G1.
- Dedicated button for magnification (in EVF) for critical focus.

E-PL1 + EVF is going to probably closet more than the G1 though....

Both are micro 4/3rds cameras and there is a sub forum here specifically for them.

Thank you. Do they have the same crop-factor?

 

[FPjohn]

Nex and RD-1 are 1.5x and M8 something like 1.33x .

yours
FPJ