[Leica] G1 AVAILABLE LIGHT

[vroger at gmail.com (Victor Rubin)]

Gary Dalton wrote:

"Given the incredible number of Canon and Leica objectives available, which
ones, generally speaking, might lend themselves to relatively easy use with
the G-1?

Or, if it's easier to state, which lenses are NOT suitable or are difficult
to work with in this arrangement? (I know this: One must use caution with
older, heavier lenses on the relatively delicate G-1 body.)

I have three M2 rangefinder lenses: a 35, a 50 (collapsible), and a 90. And,
I also have a 65 and a 200 Telyt for use with the Visoflex. (I understand
the care must be taken with any collapsible lens.)

As for Canon, I have  FD (non-auto-focus lenses): 17mm, 50mm macro, 50mm
regular, and a 70-205 macro-zoom.

I understand the notion of the changing "efl" with the adapters (e.g. a 50
becomes a 100 etc.) I'm not an experienced enough shooter to visualize how
this might play out in the real world...
With respect to the Thinking Man, is the image I see pretty much the image
as captured, or did you edit it?"

Hi Gary:

Starting with the last question, there was, as always with my images- post
processing in Photoshop. Rarely, if ever, do I use an image straight from
the camera. With respect to the lenses: As an old Leica Photographer I had
accumulated a number of "legacy lenses" - as they are now called. What a
nice name for them. It implies value. Maybe we should refer to older people
as "legacy people". Anyway, I digress. I have not noticed a problem with any
of them. The 0.95 Canon I use is hugely heavy- but does not seem to put any
strain on G1. The collapsible Summicron cannot collapse on the G1 without
damaging the sensor which is right up front. The question of the 2x increase
in focal  length is tricky. My "normal" lens is a 1.9-28mm Voigtlaender
Ultron which gives me a 56mm lens. It harkens back to the days I used a 58mm
Biotar as a normal lens with a Practina. I use the the 14-45mm lens that
comes with the G1 as a 28 mm  wide angle. All in all, the G1 has given me
more pleasure than any other digicam that I own. It allows me to use lenses
which I enjoy using- it forces me to think before I shoot. I have to focus
and adjust the f stop. I feel like a photogrpher again. Bests: vroger