OT: Re: [Leica] Epson digital, or what?

[benjaminmarks at verizon.net (Ben Marks)]

One solution that the Canon cameras offer is the use of Pentax screw-mount lenses with an adapter.  These lenses have a sliding switch to take the aperture directly to its working size. So: focus wide-open and then slide the lever to take the exposure.  Once the lens is stopped down, on the Digital Rebel with other-branded lenses and adapters one can meter in "auto" mode which I think is just a center-weighted averaging pattern.  It works allright.  Another benefit is that there are Pentax screwmount lenses available out there for a song.  I think my 24/3.5 cost $100 from KEH.  A 50/2 costs between $35 and $60.

In a vain attempt to keep this on-topic, let me also mention that I have also used my 35, 50 and 135 R-lenses on the Digi-Rebel with an adapter with ok results.  In low-light situations, focussing is more difficult than on an R4 or R5 body.  When comparing the real-world results on the Digi-Rebel of a Canon 50/1.4, a 50 Summicron-R w/adapter, a 50/1.4 Nikon w/adapter and a 50/1.4 Pentax screwmount w/adapter, I have to say that I get the best results from the Canon lens BECAUSE, I can have the camera help with focussing in low light and BECAUSE the more sophisticated metering patterns are available.  Also there are slight differences in color-cast, but these can be easily made to agree with one another in PS.  Although I bought the Digi-Rebel so that I could use my R lenses on it, I find that I reach for the Canon glass more often than not. sigh.  You go with what works.

Let me echo that I am one of the fools waiting for the Epson in hopes of using my M lenses for digital too. . . . 

Benjamin-Marks-at-verizon-dot-net