Which camera for M lenses

[msbarnes]

I want to upgrade my M43 to a "budget" APS-C sensor camera to use my M lenses. (FF mirrorless is ideal but too pricey). I'm mostly thinking Fuji, Sony, and Ricoh GXR.

I haven't read the reviews too much but I believe that the MF implementation in the Ricoh was the best at the time of release; however, Sony and Fuji are more active so maybe they have caught up and/or surpassed ricoh in this regard.

Any recommendations in cameras that I should consider? My main criteria is good ergonomics and something cheapish ($500 and less). I don't need to have a RF, an OVF/EVF, or high ISO performance.

 

[Iestrada]

My poor man's Digital Leica is an XE1. I bought it for $300 used from a craigslist seller. It does the job amply. I use the voightlander 25mm f4 in black and white 100% of the time. If I want color, I use a different lens. Focus peaking is adequate. I do not like the ergonomics of the alternatives. With the ishoot grip, the size is about the same size of a film M body.

 

[BillBingham2]

From what I've been reading the X-E1 is the way to go. I've been secretly listing after the X-M1 looking for a replacement for my beloved Bessa L / CV 25 Snap-Shot combo.

While it doesn't have the shutter speed dial on top of the X-E1, it is slightly smaller and has a wonderful hotshoe right where it should be. I might go with the 18mm Fuji lens because of size/price/lack of any M mount glass any more. There seems to be a display option that looks pretty informative with respect to depth of field and focus point that I, hoping will work for fast handling close in shooting.

My newest digital camera is my iPhone 5 so beware, your mileage may vary.

On the other hand the new CV 15mm m mount (version three) appears to be well suited for digital as well as film base fun.

B2

 

[Godfrey]

The Ricoh GXR with the A12 Camera Mount camera unit is the only camera optimized for M-mount lenses other than the Epson R-D1 and the Leica M or T digital bodies.

The Sony NEX5n and NEX6 do pretty well, as does the Sony A7 and A7S with at least some M-mount lenses. I'm not very keen on the Fuji bodies, personally, although I see some getting good results.

G

 

[msbarnes]

How is the GXR more optimal than a Sony or a Fuji? I've never adopted a non-native lens onto a digital camera and I don't really explore digital cameras too often, so I'm naive in this sense.

 

[xyz3450]

The GXR APS-C A12 M mount unit was designed specifically for M-mount lenses. I think it has something to do with the sensor being aligned to suit the M mount lenses (esp. wide angle), as well as the absence (?) of a low pass anti-aliasing filter. Sean Reid (http://www.reidreviews.com/) has done several reviews (but a subscription service, I believe). Its now an older camera, but still has many fans. There are several here on RFF who have used the GXR system a lot.....

 

[Godfrey]

How is the GXR more optimal than a Sony or a Fuji? I've never adopted a non-native lens onto a digital camera and I don't really explore digital cameras too often, so I'm naive in this sense.

GXR with A12 Camera Mount

• is a Leica M-bayonet mount ... no adapter necessary.
• sensor is specially tuned for M-mount lenses with a corrective optical layer designed to handle the RF mount register and lens designs.
• has lens correction software built-in that can be configured for each lens individually and handles a great deal of corner/edge darkening and other optical—digital effects with short register lenses.
• has a customization system which allows you to set up both lens info and camera settings as specific sets that can be picked in sets of three for immediate access (the camera can store up to six in the camera and another six on the storage card).
• sensor is AA-less and returns the effective acutance of a 16-20 Mpixel sensor.

It is a unique camera product: a third party camera designed from the outset for optimized shooting with M-mount lenses, and with no lenses produced by its manufacturer for it specifically.

It is actually more compatible with more short focal length M-mount optical designs than Leica's own bodies, and produces results that are comparable to an M8.

G