[Leica] Photo Expo 2012

[photobynelsch at gmail.com (Bill Nelsch)]

That is certainly disappointing news about the focusing of R lenses.  Does
the focus assist work with the external electronic finder?  Did Leica
acknowledge the unsatisfactory focusing of R lenses?

Bill in Denver

On Sat, Oct 27, 2012 at 4:59 PM, A. Lal <alal at poly.edu> wrote:

> Just got back from a very interesting day at PhotoExpo 2012.
>
> I was very interested in the new Typ 240 and the R to M adaptor. According
> to sales staff  the Typ 240s on display were prototypes where focus assist
> in live view did not work well. An 80 Summilux R was available to test with
> the R adaptor. It was very hard to focus the 80 with the external
> electronic finder.  By way of comparison I find it easier to focus an AI
> Nikkor manually on my D800E. Perhaps production bodies will be improved
> with regard to electronic focus assist, but as of now I certainly would not
> call this a 'satisfactory' solution.
>
> The R adaptor is simply a (well made) tube with a female R mount at one
> end and a male M mount at the other. The tripod socket is non-detachable.
> The old 2228 tube or one of the Novoflex R to M adopters ought to function
> equally well. Lack of  diaphragm stop down is disappointing. On the plus
> side live view focussing (or what passes for it) at working aperture will
> eliminate the effects of focus shift.   On the next model Leica needs to go
> over to a hybrid electro-optical finder so that live view does not require
> an external attachment, and they need to find a way to get better
> resolution in live view to make focussing easier.
>
> Overall, I came away with mixed feelings about the Typ 240. Focus with
> live view was not as easy as I would have liked; of course, with M lenses
> if was just fine. The M system and its lenses are so much smaller than full
> frame DSLRs like the D800E that I really want to get one. Let's hope
> production cameras offer better live view operation.
>
> BTW, I stopped off at Novoflex and enquired about M mount adaptors.
> Novoflex do offer Canon FD and EOS to M and Nikon  F to M, so the big two
> are covered. No Contarex or Alpa Reflex to M adaptors are contemplated as
> sales would be too low.  I was also told that old Novoflex Follow-Focus
> lenses can no longer be repaired or updated due to lack of optical cells
> which were made for Novoflex by Agfa - I would never have guessed Agfa in a
> million years.
>
> CZ had an example of the new 135/2.0 in EOS mount. On a 5DII manual focus
> was straightforward, even with the default screen. Two examples of the new
> high resolution 55/1.4 were on display and they are huge for their
> specification,  about the size of a Hasselblad 50/2.8 lens. A wide angle,
> perhaps 28mm, and a short tele will follow. The sales rep claimed that they
> would do justice to the new generation of high MP sensor from Nikon and
> Canon.
>
> Nikon had the new 70-200/4.0 zoom on display. It is significantly lighter
> than the 2.8 zoom and handled very well on the D800E. This lens really
> impressed me. I may well sell off my 70-200/2.8 VRII and get this one in
> its place. Deliveries are expected to begin in late November.
>
> Regards,
> Akhil
>
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