[Leica] M Lenses on GF-1

[drodgers at casefarms.com (David Rodgers)]

My initial impressions of using M lenses on a GF-1 are more favorable
than I anticipated. The camera feels really nice in my hands with Leica
lenses attached. It might even feel better in some ways than it does
with the Panasonic 20/1.7. However, I still really like the 20 and all
it brings to the table.

The Leica lenses are heavier and make the camera feel more substantial.
I thought the Noctilux might overpower the camera body (feel like
holding only a big lens) but it feels surprisingly well balanced. 

The fact that the 50/2.8 Elmar doesn't collapse when attached to the
adapter makes it a little less compact. That eliminates one of 50/2.8's
bigger virtues.

My favorite lens on the GF-1 might actually be the 50/1.4 Summilux. It
feels and handles very nicely on the body. Same for the 35/1.4 Summilux
ASPH. I feel comfortable holding my left hand under the lens. That's the
style I grew up with. It helps me to stabilize the camera. A lot of
smallish lenses (the 20/1.7 included) are almost too small. The heavier
Leica lenses offer a little more ballast, as well as more real estate
for getting a solid grip. It makes the GF-1 feel even more like a CL. 

On the normal to wide end, the 21/2.8 ASPH is too close to the 20/1.7 in
focal length and it doesn't have AF. For all those reasons I doubt I'll
be using it all that much. I know that contradict whats I said about the
"feel" aspect of larger lenses, but as I said, there are other things
that I really like the 20/1.7.

The 28 Elmarit (3rd Gen) feels much like the 50/1.4 and 35/1.4 (i.e.
balances and handles well). However, the 28/3.5 VC Color Skopar could
turn out to be my favorite in that focal length. The 28/3.5 is my only
chrome lens. I like how it looks on the GF-1 body. Plus it's compact and
easy to focus quickly. 

All the Leica lenses are relatively easy to focus. That was once concern
I had before I tried using them. I've said it before, but I really like
the EVF. It's convenient to zoom in for critical focus by merely pushing
the thumbwheel. It's nice for framing. The "zoom to focus" worked well,
particularly when using the Noctilux. People have expressed concerns
about the GF-1 EVF but I'm a big fan of it. 

My one big complaint about the GF-1 and Leica lenses is the fact that
the small sensor doubles the effective focal length of every lens. I
don't mind that I have a 100mm f1 and 100mm 1.4 lens. And the 35/1.4
ASPH is a nice 70/1.4 lens. They all make for nice medium tele's. I can
see how the in-body IS of the Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras might be
advantageous with those. . 

I feel limited on the wide end. I have an 18 VC, but like the 21 Elmarit
it's close to the 20/1.7. I may get a 12mm VC, or I may wait until
Panasonic or Oly come out with a super-wide for micro four thirds. I'm
in more of a normal lens than wide-angle lens phase of late, so I'm not
in a hurry. 

Finally, I'll say that it's really nice be able to use my Leica M lenses
on a digital body. The good news I that it seems more practical to do so
than I thought it would be. IOW, I'm breathing a sigh of relief. 

Dave R