i intend to go for a 35luxASPH after recovering from the eminent plunge to a M6TTL0.85 But for that time being (probably 6 months) i need a lens. i'm going for the much more affordable CV 50mm, as i've read in many articles that it is surprisingly good and compares favourably to 50lux. i hope to keep it as an occassional fast 50mm when i eventually get the 35lux to be my primary lens.

i'll be using the Nokton at max.aperture and at that aperture i'm concerned with the accuracy of focus. i've come to my own conclusion after using an SLR 35/1.4 that i'll turn a good lens into a soft one if it is even a little off focus. i've also read that it is not good to retrofit lenses other than Leicas on Leicas.

Please advise me on this RF coupling because i turn from SLR to RF hoping to improve my ability to focus. Is there a drop in focus accuracy leading to a less than "sharp" subject-of-interest? i also heard of a drop in resolution and contrast when the subject-of-interest is not in critical focus.

-- y.shawee (shawee@pacific.net.sg), September 25, 2001

Answers

The rangefinder coupling in the M's is works over the lenses inner barrel intrusion into the camera body and so the distance between the inner lens barrel (incl. glass) and the film plane. So if you focus any lens (m-mount or screwmount via adaptor) on a Leica M exactly, the result would be wrong only in cases where the lens itself is not calibrated correctly. I use a russian Jupiter-8 (copy of the 50/2 Zeiss Sonnar) which works and focuses perfectly even wide open.

Focusing a Leica RF is easier than an SLR (esp. those with microprisms), so this alone might bring you the plus on accuracy you need. But the best would be to go to your shop and try it, if you're not sure.

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), September 25, 2001.

Yes, the Nokton will work just fine.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), September 25, 2001.

Off-topic, but: if your ultimate plan is to use a 35mm lens, you may be better served by a .72 finder M6. On the .85 finder the 35mm framelines are right out toward the edges, and are hard to see.

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), September 25, 2001.

i like to keep my both eyes open when looking thro viewfinders, even p&s like mju2. my eyes feel less straining so i'll less likely get headaches. When i view thru a 0.72 with my right eye i felt i need to handle 3 images: left-eye's, viewfinder's and rangefinder's. i've not view thru a 0.85 becos the shop is out of stock for the moment. But i can foresee the viewfinder's image being closer in size to what my left-eye tells me.

Secondly, i'll not be recomposing much after focusing, 1.)to minimise the possibility of focus shift due to change of actual distance between camera and subjects, 2.)to release the shutter as soon as i'm done focusing so as to freeze the moment. As such, most if not all interest is in the middle third of the entire frame. These concern the use of 35mm and the subjects are people i can get close with, or objects that doesn't move.

Thirdly, if i'm out to be among the unknown, i'm most likely to take comfort in the longer 50mm. That's what a 0.85 is supposedly thought to meant for, lenses longer than 35mm. i hope i'm remotely close to owning a Noct someday.

And i'm prepared to see my new M6TTL to last till then. i don't think any real Leica user would tell me to give any Leica stuff up without first improving myself.

i hope to ask while this tread is still fresh and noticable, if it is worth getting a older 50/1.5 Summarit instead of the CV Nokton. i heard of fogging and coating issue, and the fact that other than its name sake, the Summarit is flare-prone against bright area and it's not better in contrast and detail retention, when compared to a CV Nokton.

-- y.shawee (shawee@pacific.net.sg), September 25, 2001.

The Nokton is definately a bargain if you want sharp contrasty images even wide open. But if you want something softer with great bokeh and that mysterious Leica glow then try one of the old screw mount lenses. If you want something in between try a 50mm Summilux and they can be had used for around $650. I also recommend the .72x if that is the only Leica body you will get. The .85x is not much better for shooting with both eyes open. Try the .72x M6 with an external 50mm finder. The new Voigtlander 50mm finder is solid metal and glass and it's 1:1, perfect for what you need. And the upcoming 1.25x magnifier makes the .85x somewhat non-essential.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), September 25, 2001.

Ray Tai is right about the Voigtlander 50mm finder: it's very nicely made, and it's a joy to use with both eyes open. The frame lines just float around your subject, and it barely feels like you're using a finder at all.

-- John Morris (jtmorris@slb.com), September 26, 2001.