Saturday, August 29, 2015

LEICA CAMERA AG. BOUND





Tomorrow I am leaving for a month in Germany and Italy.  One of the highlights of that trip will certainly be a visit to Leica in Wetzlar.  I have an appointment for a private tour of the facility.  At that time I hope to be able to gather in depth information about the production methods for the Leica cameras and lenses, an article about which will appear on these pages after I return.  I am also hoping to clear up some of the recent rumors regarding new Leica products.


Since traveling does allow only limited internet access, I will not be here on a daily basis as is usually the case.  Please bear with me and wait for hopefully a lot of exciting news after my return the beginning of October.

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Next Friday - The Superlative Light by Robert Shults






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Thursday, August 27, 2015

LEICA DIGILUX 3 WITH NOVOFLEX LENSES



Leica Digilux 3 with Novoflex Follow Focus 400mm f/5.6

Digital photography started for me with the purchase of a Leica Digilux 2.  It proved to be an excellent camera with a performance level way beyond what one could reasonably expect from a five megapixel camera.  A lot of the credit for this goes to the outstanding 7 - 22.5mm (28-90mm equiv.) f/2 – 2.4 Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens.  As a matter of fact, the only thing that ever bothered me about the camera was the fact that it had a fixed lens. 

That problem was solved for me when I purchased a Leica Digilux 3.  Besides a 50 percent higher pixel count, the camera does offer interchangeable lenses.  One of my interests lies in the use of long lenses, primarily for wildlife photography.  At the time I purchased the Digilux 3, it was the only alternative of a digital Leica that could be equipped with lenses longer than 135mm.

At that time I had a 105mm Micro Nikkor which turned into the equivalent of a macro focusing 210mm lens on the Digilux 3.

Leica Digilux 3 with Micro Nikkor 105mm f/4

Of course the first choice of longer lenses were the Leica R lenses.  However, many years ago I also had a set of Novoflex Follow Focus lenses which I used on a Leica R4.  I had long since sold them, but I remembered them fondly.  At the time I managed the largest Leica dealer in Minneapolis.  Since the Novoflex 400mm f/5.6 and the Leitz Telyt 400mm f/6.8 were virtually of the same design, we decided to do a side by side comparison test.  As it turned out, the Novoflex lens was very much equal to its Leitz counterpart.  Another test with the Leitz 560mm Telyt f/6.8  and the Novoflex 640mm f/9 Novoflex rendered similar results.

Once I had the Leica Digilux 3 in my hands, I began to ponder what other lenses might make sense for me.  One advantage of the Digilux 3 is its 2x crop factor.  It effectively doubles the focal length on any lens compared to full frame or 35mm cameras.

Leica Digilux 3 with Nivoflex Follow Focus 200mm f/3.8

I decided on the Novoflex 200mm f/3.8 and the Novoflex 400mm f/5.6 which gave me the equivalent of a 400mm f/3.8 and an 800mm f/5.6.  Especially the 200mm lens proved to be very handy because it rendered 400mm type results in the small package of a 200mm lens.  I also find the pistol grip type focusing of the Novoflex lenses extremely easy to use.

Unfortunately I could not find a mount for the Novoflex lenses to go onto the Leica Digilyx 3 directly.  So I opted to obtain the lenses with a Nikon mount and then adapted it to the Digilux 3 4/3 mount.

Whenever possible, I use these two lenses on a tripod.  But I have also obtained quite successful shots by using them on a monopod with a shoulder stock for extra stability.

Both lenses have been used rather successfully over the last three years.  I feel that the results prove that my decision was accurate.  Of course both lenses can now be used on the Leica M Typ 240 and its derivatives as well.  But that is another story.

Novoflex Follow Focus 200mm f/3.8

Novoflex Follow Focus 200mm f/3.8

Novoflex Follow Focus 200mm f/3.8

Novoflex Follow Focus 200mm f/3.8

Novoflex Follow Focus 400mm f/5.6

Novoflex Follow Focus 400mm f/5.6

Novoflex Follow Focus 400mm f/5.6

Novoflex Follow Focus 200mm f/3.8

Novoflex Follow Focus 200mm f/3.8

Novoflex Follow Focus 200mm f/3.8

Novoflex Follow Focus 200mm f/3.8

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To comment or to read comments please scroll past the ads below.

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Cumberland: Island of Conflict and Change by Jeff Kauck






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Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography

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Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography


Tuesday, August 25, 2015

LEICA S TYPE 007 READY FOR DELIVERY IN SEPTEMBER WITH LOWER PRICE



LEICA-S-(TYP007)-LANDSCAPE

Leica Camera AG announced the release date for the new Leica S Typ 007 as the end of August, with shipping to begin in September.  But the real news is that the camera will be available for $16,900.  That is $8,500 less than the original price of $25,400.  That is certainly a great incentive for anyone who is considering the purchased of the new Leica S.  Leica also said that all new Leica S lenses will continue to be discounted under the current Exchange Rate Program until October 31.

LEICA-S-TYP-007-TOP-LANDSCAPE

For complete information on the Leica S Typ 007 go here.


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To comment or to read comments please scroll past the ads below.

All ads present items of interest to Leica owners.
Inventive Camera Bags for All of Your Gear


For more information on KOMARU and for orders go to: www.taos-photographic.com


For more information and pre orders go to: www.lenstab.com

Cumberland: Island of Conflict and Change by Jeff Kauck






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Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography

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Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography

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Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography