[Leica] D700 50'cron update

[jhnichols at lighttube.net (Jim Nichols)]

Hi Dave,

I also got a good buy on a Summicron-R 50/2.0 at KEH.  I haven't noticed 
flare, but did find that the infinity mark on the focus scale is beyond 
actual infinity.  This is no bother when focusing through the finder or on 
the screen, but makes for more thought when trying to set hypofocal 
distances.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Rodgers" <drodgers at casefarms.com>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 10:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] D700 50'cron update


>>>I was looking at KEH, which has almost no lenses at all, and ebay,
> which has only a few, and nothing low priced.<<
>
> Good deals come up from time to time. You just need to keep an eye out.
> I bought my 50/2 Summicron from KEH. I wasn't really in the market for
> one. But the price was too good to pass up. The condition was even
> better than advertised.
>
> I really wanted a 50/1.4. The last 50/2 R I had -- which I sold with the
> rest of my R system -- was prone to flare. I tested the 50/2 I purchased
> from KEH and it wasn't prone. Can't explain why my former one was flare
> prone. I thought maybe all 50/2 R's were. I'm glad I got the Summicron.
> It's lighter than the Summilux.
>
> My current setup -- D700 with 28/2.8, 50/2 and 90/2.8 R lenses -- is
> pretty compact. I find I'm using the 50/2 most of the time. There's no
> crop factor, which is nice. I often take just the body and 50.
>
> I also keep a small Kodak neutral gray card in my back pocket or camera
> bag. I use that to set the WB. On the D700 I hold the WB button down for
> a second until "Pre" blinks on the LCD screen. Then I shoot the card.
> That sets a user defined WB (doesn't save a photo of the card). That WB
> setting remains the default until I either do it again or I change to a
> common setting.
>
> I find that this method results in extremely accurate colors, which is
> great since I'm trying to avoid post processing. Probably sounds like
> more of a PITA than it is. If I'm feelin' lazy I can use auto WB, but
> taking a moment in different lighting is worth it to get very accurate
> color. If I want a warming filter there are several ways I can quickly
> accomplish that with WB settings. Of course, I can shoot RAW and not
> worry about any of this. But right now I'm going for the optimum JPEG.
>
> DSLRs have come a long way in terms of how they handle WB. I always
> considered myself a BW person, but that may change!
>
> Good deals, I notice, don't last long on KEH. When I was shopping for a
> 28 I saw one last about a minute. I snoozed and missed out. I jumped at
> the (relatively) inexpensive 50/2 when I saw it.
>
> Dave R
>
>
>
>
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