Is anyone planning to buy a micro 4/3 body specifically to use their Leica glass

[peterm1]

I hope this is the right place to post this.

I have seen a few articles etc about the new range of micro 4/3 system cameras and the fact that Leica M glass can be used with an adapter and still give full infinity focusing. An adapter is now or will soon be available according to some sources.

Which sets me thinking...... Do I "need" another camera so that I can shoot digitally with my Leica glass. (Lets face it, I will never get away with trying to convince my spouse that I need an M8.)

The new Panasonic G1 is about as ugly as a baboon's backside in my humble opinion. (Well here I AM visualising the "tasteful" bright red one, not the sane and sober black model which is OK.) But what the heck, in any event, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and no doubt there will be other models coming - including an Olympus that I notice is being touted around the internet in mock up form. (I guess the real one is still a way off.)

Which brings me to my question. Who here is considering getting a micro 4/3 camera solely on the gounds that it can use their Leica glass? I must admit to being tempted and if any company is savvy enough to design one that is even halfway "rangefinderish" in its looks then that might just about undo me.

Incidentally I already own a Panasonic L1 which I bought largely on the grounds that I can use various classic SLR lenses with adapters. Its not a bad way to go by any means.

 

[back alley]

i bought one to use with my zeiss m lenses.

also bought the 45-200 panasonic lens to go with the kit 14-45 lens.

joe

 

[kshapero]

Where to you get the M adapter?

 

[__hh]

If/when the Oly version comes out, I'd be seriously tempted by its seemingly compact size. Couple it with the CV 25mm f/4 Pancake and we have a nice outdoors/daylight compact 50mm equiv setup.

 

[back alley]

panasonic is promising a 20/1.7 pancake in '09.
if the olympus is more 'rf like' then i will get one of those also.

cameraquest will have adapters by the end of january and there are others for sale now but overseas, germany and japan i think.

 

[kshapero]

20mm/f1.7 sounds nice. I have a Nikon AI 24mm/f2 on my Pany L1 (with a Nikon adapter, of course). Works like a charm.

 

[user237428934]

With my lenses I had 70mm and 100mm with the G1. So crop factor 2 sounds not like a good idea for me. Besides that I like the idea of micro 4/3

 

[photogdave]

I would buy one if I were looking for a compact digital with SLR image quality. The ability to use M lenses would be a bonus but I wouldn't consider it solely for that purpose.
Focusing manually on an LCD is tough. What the heck am I going to do with a manual focus 42mm f/4?

 

[Ronald_H]

Focusing manually on an LCD is tough. What the heck am I going to do with a manual focus 42mm f/4?

NO, it isn't tough. It is easier than with any camera you have ever used. The EVF automatically zooms in when you half press the shutter button. Very smooth and well implemented. Works better than any RF or SLR, how hard that might be to swallow for some.

Anyway, I would have bought the G1 if it had HD video (but that one is still in the works). I thing it is a bit too big, but as a camera it is fine, dSLR quality in a small package.

As said, the crop factor limits things a bit with my M and F glass, but it will be extremely nice to be able to at least use (nearly) all of them.

 

[Fred Burton]

After playing with a G1, I would say it's the beginning of a new approach to cameras that might become mainstream when the costs come down to Canon P&S levels. I think the biggest obstacle for it (though it is to the makers advantage) to overcome is that it's easily adapted to use (after a fashion) Leica lenses. It will never ultimately live up to the hype once folks start sticking all manner of weird glass on it.

I'll buy one with the lenses made for the camera once the used market is flooded with them by disenchanted buyers who wanted an M8 for $600 but got something entirely different.

 

[Austerby]

I might get one when I want to replace my D70 as the ability to use my M lenses on it will give it a headstart over the competition, but I don't see it in the immediate future. I had been considering an M8 as prices are good at the moment, but I like my mechanical Leicas and don't need another digital camera at the moment.

 

[rpsawin]

Maybe as a companion body in my gear bag but not to replace my M's.....

 

[photogdave]

NO, it isn't tough. It is easier than with any camera you have ever used. The EVF automatically zooms in when you half press the shutter button. Very smooth and well implemented. Works better than any RF or SLR, how hard that might be to swallow for some.

YES it is tough. I know because I tried it at my local camera shop. I even tried it with a M4/3-4/3 adapter with a 4/3-LeicaR adapter and a Leica R lens. I agree it's a good screen and the EVF is simply amazing - it sets a whole new standard for EVFs.
But manual focusing a lens is still slow and there is NO WAY it works better than any RF or SLR. It's more like focusing on ground glass.

 

[Ronald_H]

YES it is tough. I know because I tried it at my local camera shop. I even tried it with a M4/3-4/3 adapter with a 4/3-LeicaR adapter and a Leica R lens. I agree it's a good screen and the EVF is simply amazing - it sets a whole new standard for EVFs.
But manual focusing a lens is still slow and there is NO WAY it works better than any RF or SLR. It's more like focusing on ground glass.

I tried it in the shop as well and was blown away. So I politely disagree.

 

[MacDaddy]

Either I'm nuts (and many would agree on THAT!) or ahead of the curve, but I bought a G1 yesterday and John Milich already has a G1 adapter available for M lenses. If this works as i hope, then I feel that I've just bought the "poor man's M8". BTW, I paid $632 for a new one on Amazon, so prices are already falling. And I ordered it with both lenses.
Look for a real world user report in late January '09 with the MFT lenses and either Milich's or Cameraquest's adapter in February with some of my CV glass.

 

[venchka]

Yes. I want one.

Yes. I want one.

I want one. I will also want/need a 12mm and 15mm lens.

My only concern now is which color body should I buy to go with my mixture of chrome and black lenses. 😎 I may need a new camera strap also to match the body. 😀

 

[wayneb]

This might be a stupid question, but beyond the focusing issues, will M-mount glass look better than the lenses designed for the camera. Not saying that the lenses are nicer, just that in digital cameras they calibrate the chip/software for the line of lenses.

 

[mackigator]

I want one. Poor mans M8.

 

[djonesii]

to supplement D300 ...

to supplement D300 ...

I got mine to supplement the d300 because the canon G9 is just too much of a slow unergonomic beast. There are just times that I don't want to deal with film. The M6 and GA645 are good fun, but to snap away with them is just not practical.

The added plus is that I will be able to use my CV glass, I have the 15/25/40, and that will make a great kit of 30/50/80 on the G1.

All I need is Stephen from Camera quest to deliver. I am not a patient fellow, but as I have committed to the list, I will wait a bit rather than order the Milich adapter.

I have a feeling it will be a very fun rig to shoot with. I will be able to give direct comment as to the whole shooting experience as compared to the M6 when I get the adapter.

I do really hope for the poor mans M8. I did a few focusing tests with it before I was required to put it back in the box and under the tree, and while a totally different focusing method, I found the end result very good, and with every bit a good a feel as the M6. That is highly subjective, and as they say, YMMV

Dave

 

[padraigm]

It's an interesting concept, but the 2X crop factor really puts a lot of lenses out of usability for this camera. The CV 15 and 25 are quite slow lenses. Probably the fastest lens you are going to be able to use is a 28/2 which ends up being a 56mm lens, a little long. If it was not for that I would seriously consider it.