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MatthewOsbornePhotography
Joined: 30 Dec 2012 Posts: 154 Location: Coventry, UK
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Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 11:52 pm Post subject: Leica Summicron 90mm f2 - Do people user a magnifer with it? |
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MatthewOsbornePhotography wrote:
Hi guys,
I've just got a Leica Summicron 90mm f2 lens, 1973 version. I have been toying with the idea of either the 75/1.4 or 90/2 for a few weeks but the 4x lower price of the 90mm won me over.
Here are 2 sample shots with model Emma in the studio using the 90/2 lens at roughly 1M at f2.
Leica Summicron 90mm f2 Colours by MatthewOsbornePhotography - Leica Photographer, on Flickr
Leica Summicron 90mm f2 by MatthewOsbornePhotography - Leica Photographer, on Flickr
The second shot looks a bit airbrushed on the skin but I promise it isn't. It is edited but I tend not to blur skin. I try to let light soften it.
Anyway the reason for my post... I'd love to hear from anyone who uses a Leica camera with a magnifier on the viewfinder such as x1.4. They are not cheap so I want to know if they are beneficial to focusing or not. I would find it useful for both my Cron 90/2 and Elmar 135/4 lenses, especially using them wide open.
Many thanks! _________________ Regards
Matt
Weddings & Engagements: http://leicaweddingphotographer.co.uk/
Website: http://www.matthewosbornephotography.co.uk
Blog: https://MrLeica.com
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LeicaM9/M8/M3/M2/D800/Rolleiflex SL66E/Mamiya RZ67 ProII/Mamiya M645 1000S/Fuji GF670/Fujica GS645/PentaconSix/ARAX-CM/Nikon FM/Yashica MG-1/Moskva-5/Voigtlander Bessa R3A |
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Rick1779
Joined: 17 May 2013 Posts: 1207 Location: Italy
Expire: 2014-06-06
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Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:07 am Post subject: |
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Rick1779 wrote:
Can't answer to your question, but the color shot is _________________ TELLTALE
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duckrider
Joined: 11 Dec 2013 Posts: 437 Location: Germany
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Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 11:45 am Post subject: |
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duckrider wrote:
I only had a cheap one and cannot recommend it (out of MY sight!):
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Phottix-1-25x-Viewfinder-Magnifier-for-Leica-Black-/400609907774?pt=DE_Foto_Camcorder_Objektive&hash=item5d4636143e#ht_151wt_1005
I don't know, if the original Leica one are better, but these are indeed not cheap!
I need to wear glasses and looking through the magnifier was incomfortable, precise and slow focussing without loupe gave similar, if not better results.... _________________ T*homas
(from the origin land of Zeiss, an obligation )
Zeiss ZF 3.5/18, 2.8/25, 2.0/35, 2/50macro, 1.4/50, 1.4/85, 2/100macro
Nikon Df, F2AS, F2A, F3/T, FM
ALPA 11Si, Angulon 2,8/35 ; Xenar 1,9/50 ; Tele-Tessar 4/200
Leica R3 SAFARI Safari Lenses 2.8/28 ; 2/50 ; 4/180
Rolleiflex SL 350 , Zeiss 2,8/16 ; 4/18 ; 2,8/25 ; 2,8/35 ; 1,4/35 ; 1,8/50 ; 2,8/85 ; 1,4/85 ; 4/135 ; 4/200
Leica M9-P, Leica M4-2, Tri-Elmar "Wate", Distagon 2,8/21, Biogon 2,8/28, Biogon 2/35, Planar 2/50, Tessar 4/85, M-Elmar 50mm, Summicron 90
Sony alpha 7r & adapters for all lenses above |
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Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57865 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2025-11-18
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Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
So beautiful! _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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scsambrook
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Posts: 2167 Location: Glasgow Scotland
Expire: 2011-11-18
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Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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scsambrook wrote:
Opinions on the value of viewfinder magnifiers vary tremendously. If you want to see examples of indecision and agonising, look at Leica User Forum Still, the consensus seems to be that, at the very best, the device is less than convenient for out and about use.
I had some focus problems with my M8 and was agonising over taking the plunge when prudence intervened and My Dear Wife said 'Why not go and see your optician?" A wise girl, to be sure.
The Leica M8/9/240 rangefinder system is inherently sufficiently accurate to manage focusing a 90mm f2 correctly, if both camera and lens are correctly set up. All we have to do is superimpose the images . . . very carefully.
The key factor in precise image alignment is actually the clarity with which you see the view/rangefinder images and that's principally dependent on the relationship of your eyesight with the M viewfinder system. The presence of even a small degree of uncorrected astigmatism will compromise focusing efficiency, as can even a small amount of un-corrected long- or short-sightedness. The M viewfinder has a small amount of 'power' which means that the image seen through it is at a virtual distance of around 1.5/2 meters (I think that's right) and any inablity of the eye to compensate may well take the edge off the clarity of what's seen with a resulting diminution of focusing accuracy.
If you already wear either specs or contact lenses of any sort, it's worth going to see your optician and asking him/her to let you borrow one of their little lenses look through the camera finder. Try minus and plus 0.25 diopter increments up to 1.5 diotpers and see if there's any change. And even if you think you don't need specs, try it anyway. Plenty of English opticians do free eye tests these days.
In my case, adding a +0.5 diopter viewfinder correction lens wiped out the focusing inconsistencies I'd been getting at wide apertures.
But, be warned, a Leica-brand correction lens will set you back well over £100, an utterly ridiculous price indeed. My optician made mine up for me for a fraction of that, and I got a retaining ring for a nominal price.
Er, if you already knew this, please forgive my prattling on. _________________ Stephen
Equipment: Pentax DSLR for casual shooting, Lumix G1 and Fuji XE-1 for playing with old lenses, and Leica M8 because I still like the optical rangefinder system. |
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MatthewOsbornePhotography
Joined: 30 Dec 2012 Posts: 154 Location: Coventry, UK
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Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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MatthewOsbornePhotography wrote:
scsambrook wrote: |
Opinions on the value of viewfinder magnifiers vary tremendously. If you want to see examples of indecision and agonising, look at Leica User Forum Still, the consensus seems to be that, at the very best, the device is less than convenient for out and about use.
I had some focus problems with my M8 and was agonising over taking the plunge when prudence intervened and My Dear Wife said 'Why not go and see your optician?" A wise girl, to be sure.
The Leica M8/9/240 rangefinder system is inherently sufficiently accurate to manage focusing a 90mm f2 correctly, if both camera and lens are correctly set up. All we have to do is superimpose the images . . . very carefully.
The key factor in precise image alignment is actually the clarity with which you see the view/rangefinder images and that's principally dependent on the relationship of your eyesight with the M viewfinder system. The presence of even a small degree of uncorrected astigmatism will compromise focusing efficiency, as can even a small amount of un-corrected long- or short-sightedness. The M viewfinder has a small amount of 'power' which means that the image seen through it is at a virtual distance of around 1.5/2 meters (I think that's right) and any inablity of the eye to compensate may well take the edge off the clarity of what's seen with a resulting diminution of focusing accuracy.
If you already wear either specs or contact lenses of any sort, it's worth going to see your optician and asking him/her to let you borrow one of their little lenses look through the camera finder. Try minus and plus 0.25 diopter increments up to 1.5 diotpers and see if there's any change. And even if you think you don't need specs, try it anyway. Plenty of English opticians do free eye tests these days.
In my case, adding a +0.5 diopter viewfinder correction lens wiped out the focusing inconsistencies I'd been getting at wide apertures.
But, be warned, a Leica-brand correction lens will set you back well over £100, an utterly ridiculous price indeed. My optician made mine up for me for a fraction of that, and I got a retaining ring for a nominal price.
Er, if you already knew this, please forgive my prattling on. |
Many thanks Stephen, that sounds a good idea. I am normally -1 prescription but have not had an eye test for a while.
I like to think I do not need a magnifier as it would be a lot of hassle (taking on and off when using wider lenses) and expense.
Thanks for the push in the right direction! _________________ Regards
Matt
Weddings & Engagements: http://leicaweddingphotographer.co.uk/
Website: http://www.matthewosbornephotography.co.uk
Blog: https://MrLeica.com
Social Networks
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32681588@N03/
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/matthewosbornephotographycouk
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LeicaM9/M8/M3/M2/D800/Rolleiflex SL66E/Mamiya RZ67 ProII/Mamiya M645 1000S/Fuji GF670/Fujica GS645/PentaconSix/ARAX-CM/Nikon FM/Yashica MG-1/Moskva-5/Voigtlander Bessa R3A |
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ForenSeil
Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.
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Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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ForenSeil wrote:
I had this lens or maybe earilier version on Leica M5 and used an "cheap" chinese magnifier (not original by Leica but did fit the same screwmount) for the viewfinder. But it was very hard to get everything in focus wide open anyway, maybe my lens copy had some RF missalignemend (my copy looked hardly used and had a fingerprint inside). It had much less problems with 50/1.1 Nokton with the same magnifier.
I didn't like the old 90 Cron very much, newer ones are supposed to be much better though. _________________ I'm not a collector, I'm a tester
My camera: Sony A7+Zeiss Sonnar 55/1.8
Current favourite lenses (I have many more):
A few macro-Tominons, Samyang 12/2.8, Noritsu 50.7/9.5, Rodagon 105/5.6 on bellows, Samyang 135/2, Nikon ED 180/2.8, Leitz Elmar-R 250/4, Celestron C8 2000mm F10
Most wanted: Samyang 24/1.4, Samyang 35/1.4, Nikon 200/2 ED
My Blog: http://picturechemistry.own-blog.com/
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