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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Cumberland: Island of Conflict and Change by Jeff Kauck



Upcoming shows in Tamarkin's Rangefinder Gallery



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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.


_____________________________________________________

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

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www.9days.hk


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


http://www.tamarkin.com/

Cumberland: Island of Conflict and Change by Jeff Kauck



Upcoming shows in Tamarkin's Rangefinder Gallery



Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography

Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography

Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography


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