Perspective Control lens for Leica M?

This might be a stupid question, but is there such a thing as perspective control lens for a Leica M?

No, there is none I know of. I don't think a short focal length lens

usually used with PC lenses (like a 28 or 35mm) could be made to

focus to infinity with the visoflex housing. You need to be able to

see through the lens when using a PC lens--a rangefinder type of

viewing just won't cut it.

You could get a Nikon F to M adapter and put a 28mm Nikkor PC on a M

camera. Plus you'll have to use a 28mm finder on the shoe since the

large lens will not allow you to see through the viewfinder. I've

seen a photo with this in a LHSA Viewfinder issue. Framing can be

quite a challenge.

If you're hooked on Leica glass there are also adapters to fit the

Leica-R 28 or 35 PA lenses onto the M (also Canon, no doubt) - but the

viewing/framing/scale-focusing challenges will be the same as with the

Nikkors-plus-adapters.

 

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With experiment, experience, and a lot of "bracketing" the shifts

(shoot, move it a mm, shoot again, etc.) you could probably get pretty

good at using these combos.

 

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But it seems a bit like using a Miata to haul a trailer.

If you are seriously interested in photographing architecture with a

shift lens, you should not try to use whatever lens on an M, because

the Leica M is not made for that kind of work. You need a SLR to

check the shift, preferably on a tripod. I have been using my shift

lens on an old Canon A1 for 15 years or so, and it works great, but

you really need to check the image throught the lens, so you will

need an SLR.

Ok, a SLR is the better tool to get this done. But if you want to

have it on a Leica M, maybe a Focoslide is a way to go?

Thus you will get through-the-lens framing.

However, i don't know if it's possible to adapt an SLR perspective

control lens to a Focoslide.

What is a focoslide?

the focoslide (? sp) is a device for the close and deliberate

focussing with the Leica rf (screw, one version, M another).

Basically, it is a sliding/locking device which a lens is focussed by

looking through a ground glass focussing screen directly at the film

plane position, then, after composition and focussing are complete,

you slide the actual camera body and film inot the same phsycial

location. It works, but clearly was a klutzy way to do something an

SLR is made for. They do not make it anymore -- I think Leica made

the last one around 1958, when the SLR became so obviosu the choice

for this.

 

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I have one, and it does increase the lens to film plane distance, so

it is not for use with any standard R to M body or Nikon to M body

adapters (they would need to be custom built, just a tad thinner) --

if you want infinity focus. It is really designed for copy work, very

close static macro work, say with an enlarging lens or focotar, not

really for landscape or architrectural work. It is clumsy, and size-

wise and time wise, I could use a small view camera (say, 6X7) with

greater ease. I also have an occsionally found Kopil bellows for

leica screw (earleir thread on the forum) which allows shift and tilt

on a Visoflex, but is of no use unless you use a longer lens (such as

a 100-135 view camera or enlarger lens beacuse all these adapters

extend the lens to film distance.

 

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The article mentioned as being in the Viewfinder was a SLR adapted PC

lens, with a viewfinder that was angled/rasied differently according

to lens shift, but it had to be calibrated,a sI remember, by trial

and error, asnd was just one person's fanatic effort (a great

dedication to making the M work, but a hobby, not a practical

optimum). By the time you buy all these adapters, you have more than

paid for a SLR camera body -- and that SLR body will take up less

camera bag space than the Visoflex or focoslide (I use a visoflex,

but I also use the Leica R body and adapter as a replacement, and it

is more functional)/

I believe there was a Perspective Corrector outfit for Focomat 1c

and Valoy 2 enlargers consisting of a tilting negative carrier

holder, hinged negative carrier and tilting easel holder. By tilting

the negative carrier and easel holder independently,

perspectives could be corrected or distorted as desired.

Laurie,

 

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there is an shift-finder with movable finder-masks made by the

italian manufacturer Silvestri for their MF-shift-camaras. You could

attach this finder on Your Leica and use it together with M-adapted

Nikon or Leica PC-lenses (for a 28mm lens You need the 58mm/6x9

finder-mask). The Silvestri finder (I have one for my Silvestri SLV)

works fine but costs at least $ 550 and is therefore kind of overkill

for 35mm format. So You better/cheaper use an additional SLR with PC-

lenses or buy the real thing (Silvestri/Horseman Shift-Cameras or

large format like Linhof Technikardan.

Laurie: Forget all the Rub Goldberg gimmicks. If you need PC for

your work (ie, architecture), buy the 28mmPC F/2.8 Leica lens

along with an R8. I have had the PC for years and it is an

incredible lens. It does take practise but once you get used to it

you will be quite pleased. You can probably get both

second-hand if money is a question.