Leica limitations

[Joop van Heijgen]

OK, then, what's the equivalent R lens for the OP's 35/2 Summicron ASPH ? Does it perform more like an R-Elmarit 2,8/35, or more like a modern Canon or Nikon 35mm lens ?

Personally I do not find a big difference between M 35/2 Summicron ASPH and the Elmarit R 2,8/35. The Elmarit 2,8/35 is even better than the Summicron R 2,0/35. It is more modern and have a fine sharpness...
But alle these lenses have the special Leica 'look'; (not too sharp) with contrasting and real color performance.

Don't forget that all the R lenses have an excellent level of performance!
There are little differences between the M and R lenses, but they are subtile...
Nowadays Leicaflex (R) lenses are very cheap to buy...
In fact the M lenses are rather expensive but mostly not better than the R lenses....

 

[ferider]

Hi Joop,

can we maybe agree that the OP might want to try out a new Elmarit-M 90/2.8 before buying a Leica R with several lenses ? 🙂

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[Joop van Heijgen]

Hi Joop,

can we maybe agree that the OP might want to try out a new Elmarit-M 90/2.8 before buying a Leica R with several lenses ? 🙂

Cheers,

Roland.

I love my Leica M4 (P)and have also the Elmarit-M 2,8/ 90 on it.
The price of it was four times of my R-Elmarit 2,8/90 (second hand).😎

I think the main difference of these lenses is the difference in use.
In fact the difference between the Leica M and the R system.
I use the 90 Elmarit for mainly fast 'snap shot' portrait photos and the R Elmarit 90 for 'normal' portrait photos.

Joop

 

[David Hughes]

It might be an idea to start a post on the limitations and problems of using SLR's...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Many short telephoto lenses are identical optically between the Rangefinder and SLR version of the lens. In the Nikon lineup, the 10.5cm F2.5 and 13.5cm F3.5 were optically identical in RF and SLR mount. In Leica mount, there were adapters to use the 9cm F2 Summicron head with the SLR. Nikon also made a similar adapter for the 13.5cm F3.5 lens to use with the Nikon F.

But aside from this trivia, what is important is that the OP is going to try a short telephoto on his camera. If he likes the result, problem solved. If he does not like using an RF Camera with a short telephoto, on to the next solution.

 

[mfogiel]

I will show you 2 examples shot with the same fl:

Zeiss Biogon 25/2.8 ZM- this one focuses down to 50 cm:

Zeiss Distagon 25/2.8 - this one focuses down to 14cm ! :

Unless you want to really get close, the Biogons ZM are all focusing close and are a great bargain for the quality they give.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I highly advise not getting too close to an infant or toddler with a camera.

a) It is a shiny thing and can be grabbed at that range;
b) It is susceptible to moisture and at that distance it is within range of wet-burps.

 

[Steve_F]

'Mfogiel' - the bottom Image is exactly the type I'm talking about. The top one is also something very similar to my preferred style.
What body was it taken on?

Steve.

 

[Vincent.G]

Hi Steve, let me share with you my experience. I am in the same boat as you. Coming to RF from SLR background. I still keep both systems as they have strengths over each other. There must reasons why Nikon F mount killed Leica RF back then and similarly, there must reasons why we still have many Leica RF users till now. You must use both in the most demanding situation according to your shooting style and will realize their strengths and weaknesses.

With regards to filling the frame with the baby's face and hands, I share with you the two shots below.

I shot this with M2 and cron 50 DR.

I can do the same with Nikkor 50 f1.4 Ai-S

I find shooting with a RF or SLR similar in this situation. I prefer the focusing style of RF as the focusing patch use superimposition. My Nikon F3 and FM3a only has a horizontal split prism that is slightly more difficult to use (I know we can change the screen but I have learnt to handle it).

For both shots above, I metered with incident light meter. The mounting/dismounting of the goggles for the DR is rather troublesome at times. For this matter, the nikkor lens is more user friendly.

My baby is less distracted by the quiet shutter of my M2 but to get this close, it is hard not for them to get distracted by you!