Leica summilux-M 75mm/1.4 on R-D1s, any experience?

[Jackslai]

Dose any one use Leica summilux-M 75mm/1.4 fit on R-D1s? it is fit on "R-d1s" not on the Leica M8 or Leica film camera. because some one told me this lens can not fit on R-d1s.
Please share your experience, I have interested the lens, Thanks.

 

[sleepyhead]

I use the 75mm Summilux on my R-D1s with no problems - it's a great combination - I'll try to post a few examples in the coming days if I have more free time.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

I used the combo when I had the R-D1. I found focus wide open and up-close to be a bit hit and miss. I could make it work, but the length of the RF was a little short for this, the Noctilux and the 90 AA wide open. I sent the camera to DAG with these lenses for adjustment and he responded that there was just too much backlash in the RF-roller (cam follower) to guarantee focus. He suggested that the camera would be more accurate if I started with the lens racked all the way (out? in? I can't remember) and focusing from that direction only.

I don't have these problems with the M8.

Ben

 

[JonasYip]

I have both, but I rarely use them together because I never really found a comfortable way to frame. Perhaps I should revisit the combo...

j

 

[sleepyhead]

Some sample pictures

Some sample pictures

Here are some samples with R-D1s and 75mm Summilux, taken around Christmas 2008 visit to Sweden:

 

[sleepyhead]

Regarding ability to focus the 75mm Summilux on an R-D1s:

I WONDER IF THERE IS SOME VARIABILITY BETWEEN CAMERA BODIES, because with the first R-D1 that i owned, I had a hard time - focus was hit or miss - even with the Megaperls 1.3x magnifier that I bought especially for it.

Then a year or two later i bought an R-D1s, and with this bady i have no trouble focusing ANY lens accurately, the 75mm Summilux, my 50mm Summilux, a 90mm f/2.8 tele elmarit - even without the finder magnifier.

Either there is some difference between the bodies, or I've improved, or both!

I know that the rangefinder of my first body was constantly "adjusted" by tge previous owner by removing the hotshoe, etc. I used to wonder if he messed something up in there...

My current body has never been opened, and the rangefinder works perfectly and I have NO back or front focus with about 10 lenses that I've tried.

THE VERTICAL ALIGNMENT of the ranefinder is a bit off however, but I decided NOT TO HAVE IT FIXED, BECAUSE otherwise it's perfect.

 

[sleepyhead]

REGARDING FRAMEING: all the pictures that I posted above are UNCROPPED - I use the 50mm lines in the camera and estimate based on experience.

This is easier than it sounds - if you look at the rangefinder focusing patch of the R-D1, it's a rectangle that is wider than it is tall. If you look at its HEIGHT and subtract that amount ALL AROUND the inside of the 50mm framelines, then it correpondes pretty well to what you'll capture with a 75mm lens.

See Rich Cutler's R-D1 site for more pearls of wisdom such as this.

 

[splitimageview]

The RD1 RF baselength is too short to reliably focus, according to the RF accuracy chart. This doesn't mean it can't be done, it just means it's more difficult, hit/miss.

Here is the thread, the chart is downloadable or view post #62.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55500&page=1

 

[jmkelly]

I don't use the Summilux on the R-D1 a lot (the lens has found a semi-permanent home on a Zeiss Ikon) but I do use it, and yes - focus f1.4-f2 is hit-or-miss even with the 1.3x magnifier.

So: snap, crank, move, repeat. It's digital. Shoot more and dump the fuzzy ones.

 

[edhohoho]

The R-D1 and 75 Summilux are a great combo. I mainly use 50mm lenses on the R-D1, but when I guestimate the cropping of the 75mm focal length using the 50mm framelines, I am usually pleasantly surprised that I am not losing anything in the corners. Perhaps I tend not to frame too tightly to begin with, but the results from the 75mm often give an even better crop than I would have thought when left to chance.

Regarding focus issues, I do not have much problem focusing the 75 Summilux, Noctilux, or other similarly fast lenses when wide open. Sometimes out of focus images are due more to motion artifact from you and/or your subject rather than actual focusing problems of the camera and lens combination. Also, the focus patch images really have to "snap" into sharp focus before there's any reasonable chance you will get a properly focused image--and sometimes this is hard to do in low light--thus the limits of your vision and pure human error can lead to poorly focused images.

The 75 Summilux is a great lens, and I love what the R-D1 can do with it. The combination is worth a try. Keepers from your efforts will definitely be worth it.

 

[Tuolumne]

It's not hard to guesstimate the framing of the 75mm lens using the 50mm lines, once you take a few practice shots at the beginning of a session and view the results. I was never able to reliably focus anything longer than a 50mm Summilux wide open on my R-D1. But the 75mm Summarit @ f2.5 is no problem and gives great results. One hell of alot cheaper than the 75mm Summilux, too!

/T

 

[ampguy]

One of my favorite lenses on the RD1. No troubles focusing wide open and/or close up, with or without Megaperls magnifier.

Sleepyhead - Set the camera on a tripod, and set items at min. distance and further with markers before and after at known distances to check for focus accuracy. Use about .023 CoC if measuring to dofmaster or other online calculator.

I would get that RF aligned by someone reliable (DAG or Steve Choi), I once had a vertically off RD1S and when shooting say horizontally, and using a round contrasty thing to focus on, it can slow down focusing.

If you have an early 75/1.4 and it has never been in for a CLA, it possibly should be, if you do a lot of wide open work, and need to focus accurately, IMHO.

 

[1joel1]

My 75mm Summilux is due to arrive next week and I can't wait. I don't anticipate any focus issues. I've used the 90mm Apo Lanthar and the 135mm 3.4 asph quite often with great results. The latter is not difficult to focus and I've been thrilled with the results.

Joel

 

[Jackslai]

I find information for that.


Thin focusing rings

Some lenses such as the Summilux 75/1.4 or Summicron 90/2 have a thin focusing ring, and there are occasional reports that this ring fails to engage fully with the camera’s focusing cam. Whether such lenses couple correctly with the R-D1 appears to be related to manufacturing tolerances of the lens, the camera or both, so one lens may work perfectly, yet another won’t.

 

[1joel1]

Took pics yesterday with the 75 summilux and R-D1 just back from Steve's for service. Hand held test shots turned out great, no focusing issues. I'm gonna diddle more with the set up this weekend. Can post pics if you want to see.

Joel

 

[f16sunshine]

It's not hard to guesstimate the framing of the 75mm lens using the 50mm lines, once you take a few practice shots at the beginning of a session and view the results. I was never able to reliably focus anything longer than a 50mm Summilux wide open on my R-D1. But the 75mm Summarit @ f2.5 is no problem and gives great results. One hell of alot cheaper than the 75mm Summilux, too!

/T

+1 for the Summarit. A surprisingly sweet performer all around. I really find the build to be tip top as well.

 

[Jackslai]

Took pics yesterday with the 75 summilux and R-D1 just back from Steve's for service. Hand held test shots turned out great, no focusing issues. I'm gonna diddle more with the set up this weekend. Can post pics if you want to see.

Joel

Can you post some pics.

 

[1joel1]

Quick pics just snapped in the back yard. 75/1.4 and R-D1

Joel