Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/12/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]2 comments: Focus peeking seems to fall off at small apertures Metabones adapters are avail that preserve auto-focus on some Canon & Minolta lenses. -Lew Schwartz On Sat, Dec 14, 2013 at 8:47 AM, Frank Filippone <red735i at verizon.net> wrote: > I went to Samys to play with one yesterday.... There were plenty in stock > of each model. > > My review is for ergonomics and overall fit and feel.. I leave the image > characteristics to someone else.... I was/am not interested in owning > native mount lenses, so I didn't try any out to any extent. I will not > comment on native lens line availability ( as there is none). > > Good stuff: The camera is small ( estimated 90% of the size of an > M-anything) and light ( maybe 60% of the weight of a M9), the sound it > makes > is not bad, adapters were available in the store for Nikon and Leica ( and > probably more), the VF is really nice and bright and contrasty, the x10 VF > magnification did not introduce a significant delay in shutter response, > the > VF was quickly responsive Nice balance with short LEICA lenses. Focus > with > even an F8 lens was pretty easy inside the store. The EVF is absolutely a > great feature. Focus peaking ( in yellow or red) was easy, to say the > least. A great camera for low light levels and accurate focus. VF > brightness was constant regardless of ambient light in the scene. > > > Bad stuff and why..... > Camera is so light and plasticy that it feels like a $129 P+S. > It will probably not balance well with any long or heavy lens.. it will be > quite front heavy. ( Nocti, 75 Lux, 90 AA, 135, etc.) > Because of the light mass, there is a lessened amount of mass to kill > vibration and noise from the moving shutter mechanism. > There is no feeling of bulk, heftiness, solidity etc. Even a Nikon D200 ( > $250 used in the Samys case) feels more solid. > Too many dials buttons and controls for a newcomer to become comfortable > with immediately.... And probably too much camera if you are going to use > it as I would: MF lenses, x1 and x10 VF. Quite a difference to an M3 or > Nikon F. Not intuitive. > While I am hardly familiar with the controls, the embedded menu has a bunch > of sub-menus. And sub-sub menus. Getting to the one control you want is > going to be a memory test. > If you have large hands, you will find no place to put your fingers on this > camera, It is pretty small, and thin.... There may be a solution to this > ( > accessory handles) but I did not inquire. > When using a Nikon adapter, the camera/lens combo ( 50 1.4 G lens) feels > even more front heavy than with a 50 Lux. The lens is way out there. > I did not check out the lens mount, but I personally would not put a > 300/2.8 > on the camera, and then proceed to carry the combo from the body lugs or > tripod screw on the body....! > > Note: There were lots of comments on how any adapter should be from > Novoflex or Metabones to keep alignment to the gnats eyelashes. However, > Samys did have cheap Chinese adapters available... Having seen the > different adapters, forget the Novoflex and go for the Metabones for Nikon > G > lenses. The aperture adjustment mechanism is quite superior. > > Note: the $69 Chinese M adapter would not click lock the lens to the > adapter.... the lens was free to rotate ( off the camera to the floor) so I > did not actually try a M lens on the body. I pointed this out to the > salesman, he put the DEFECTIVE adapter back in stock... ! > > Now you are probably wondering overall what I thought of the camera... A > absolutely beautiful M9 or M(240) replacement. Maybe the perfect Digi-M. > For > MY long Nikon lenses, which tend to be fast and therefore heavy, and > large, > I am not so sure.... > > And, for those that must have an optical VF in any M body, grow up. It is > only a VF. Optical or otherwise. Embrace the future. > > Went home without spending a dime.... for now, but one is in my > future....maybe in a year or so.... > > YMMV > > Frank Filippone > Red735i at verizon.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information