Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/11/28

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] Leitaxed R lenses on Nikon
From: cummer at netvigator.com (H&ECummer)
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:11:09 -0800
References: <mailman.970.1354152757.1211.lug@leica-users.org>

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:58:31 -0800
From: "Aram Langhans" <leica_r8 at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica in the LUG
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>

Too far off for me yet.  My interest would be for my R lenses, but I will 
wait and see how others have "mastered" this acceptable solution to learn if 
it really is worth it or not.  Would it be better than my spending way less 
up upgrade my perfectly acceptable Nikon D7000 to a DX00 full frame?  I will 
have to see how others feel about the only two real drawbacks of Leitexed 
lenses on Nikon - the focus problem and the stopped down meter issues.   If 
it really is an acceptable solution, I will save up my money, sell my bad 
leg, rent out my spare bedroom and get one.

Aram

Hi Aram,
Over on the Leica Reflex Forum
Frank F and I had a discussion about using leitaxed R lenses on Nikon Dslrs.
Apologies to those Luggers who are also on the Reflex Forum for the 
duplication
but I thought some here might be interested.


[LRflex] Leitaxed R lenses on Nikons

Hi Frank,
Answers to your questions (*) below.

From: "Frank Filippone" 

Howard

Do you shoot your Leitax'd lenses wide open all the time?

* No - the focus confirmation on the D700 worked up to f5.6 - and with the 
D800E in brighter light it works up to f8.0. So I can focus and work at f8.0 
in 
good light. If I have trouble with confirming focus then I open up.

What are the results like when using your lenses with the D800e?

* The quality of R lenses shines through - every time. The limit IMHO is the 
eye of the photographer, :-)

Which lenses?  Mostly long Telephotos?  WA?  50?

* I have had a variety of R lenses and with experience have sold off some of 
them. I 
had the 19 Elmarit Version 1 but it was very large, the front element was 
exposed, and it tended to vignette in the corners wide open so I sold it off 
and replaced it with the Cosina / Voigtlander 20mm. Fact is I don't use that 
very much at all - having the 24 - 70 Nikkor zoom but it is a huge monster.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/El19CheungShaNofilterw.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/c4d9htp

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/FeralCow19EFilterw.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/btke4a

* I have the 28mm Elmarit latest version and it works very well and is 
perhaps 
the best 28 ever made by man. It draws simply wonderfully. I shoot it mostly 
at 
f5.6.
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/HK2010_001/4PanMidW.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/ayadq7a

* I have the 21 - 35 Elmar and sent it to Leitax to be bayonet changed 
because 
the rear cowling needed to be shaved to clear the mirror of the D700 (and 
now 
the D800E). It is a great wide angle lens and sharp to the corners as you 
would 
expect a Leica to be. I use it quite a bit for street shooting.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/lens+pix/CageTalkw.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/ctx6zrh

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/lens+pix/Check24w.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/2ek7ecu

* I recently acquired the 35 - 70 Elmar zoom and (bravely for me) I made the 
leitax bayonet change myself. It requires some filing to preserve the ROM 
attachment should you ever want to revert the lens to the R mount.
* The quality of the 35 - 70 Elmar is clear on the D800E but being limited 
to 
f4.0 as the widest aperture in low light focusing can be more difficult. At 
least that is what I am finding for my 69 year old eyes.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/lens+pix/HC70Elw.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/9r2yztn

* I have the 90 Summicon (Canadian made) and it is great for portraits but I 
find it doesn't get a lot of use. I use the Nikkor 85 f1.8 AF instead. AF 
and 
auto aperture have their place.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/HK2010_001/YlwRsW.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/3ax9cct

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/HK2010_001/PurpleOrchidW.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/2bbzjkc

* The 100 APO is spectacular on the D800E and I have the 1:1 adaptor so I 
can 
get really close. This is the one lens I will not sell no matter what 
happens. 
Flowers and bugs watch out!!

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Macro/PetuniaW.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/b3skj7l

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada2012/SpiderLw.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/9ukuzus

* I had the 180 f3.4 APO and its quality was clearly evident on the D700. It 
didn't focus close enough for tight portrait shots and I finally sold it off 
- 
which I now regret.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/LiLauw.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/blu4s6

* I had the 400 f6.8 with the trombone focusing and I used it with the D700 
on 
a tiger shoot in India a few years ago. I had real trouble getting sharp 
photos 
in the heat of battle and came to rely more on the 300mm f4.0 manual focus 
Nikkor that I had with me - so I sold off the Telyt as well. When I hit 
focus 
the images were great but I was mightily frustrated and disappointed when I 
missed focus in an other wise good shot. And, of course, you couldn't get 
focus 
confirmation with f6.8. The 300 f4.0 with auto aperture worked better for me 
in 
the field and the quality was more than good too. 400 Telyt shots:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/TIGER/TigHuntW.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/2apymwo

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Final+Tigers/TigUpW.jpg.html

http://tinyurl.com/c7q6jx7

* One comment about focus confirmation - the arrows in the view finder point 
in 
the opposite direction to what you must turn the lens to achieve focus - 
because Nikons and Leicas focus in opposite directions. So you have to 
rewire 
your brain with practice to overcome this difference. I hope this long and 
detailed answer isn't too long or to detailed but it sums up my experience 
so 
far. I don't regret at all making the bayonet changes.

Cheers
Howard



Replies: Reply from leica_r8 at hotmail.com (Aram Langhans) ([Leica] Leitaxed R lenses on Nikon)
Reply from grduprey at mchsi.com (grduprey at mchsi.com) ([Leica] Leitaxed R lenses on Nikon)