Leica R 28mm on Canon 5D

[john_wolf2]

Anyone using this combination? Appreciate any thoughts on it?

 

Anything special to be aware of when looking for a used lens?

 

And how about comparisons to Canon's 28mm offerings?

 

Thanks.

John

[derek_stanton2]

Speaking specifically of wide angles: it may not be 'fun' to focus it on the 5D's stock

screen.

 

Buying a used lens? Look for clean glass and smooth focus ring action, and precise

aperture detents. Then, shoot/test it. Focus on a ruler at 45-degrees to see if focus is

accurate. Shoot something at infinity. What else could there be?

 

I haven't much experience with anything wider than 35mm. When i compared my Leica R

glass (80Lux, 50cron, 35cron) to the matching Canon AF lenses, the Canon stuff was all

better. Considering also that the AF gave me consistently sharper results, quicker, i sold

the R gear. But, Canon's lenses wider than 35mm don't have the same reputations. I don't

have any doubt that the Leica would be better, especially in static situations when you

have time to focus slowly. Lots of people, though, are using Zeiss/Contax wide angles on

Canons. Especially the Biogon, i think. They're available at very low prices, considering the

performance. Check the forums on FredMiranda.com.

[john_wolf2]

Thanks, Derek. I use the Ee-S screen, which helps a little. But more often I use focus confirmation on the center spot. So focusing isn't much of an issue. I'm just looking for better quality than Canon's 28s offer.

 

John

[shambrick007]

I had and used a 2-cam version for a wile on my 5D. It was probably the sharpest lens that I've ever used on the body. It was sharp even wide open in the center, and great overall when stopped down. I have a good Leica-R to EOS adapter with proper registration. As mentioned above, it was pretty tough to focus w/the standard 5D screen.

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I never compared it to a Canon 28mm prime, but in the end I got rid of it because in real world, daily applications it was just not night and day performance over my 17-40/4.0 L (at 28mm), when stopped down - I have a good copy of the lens. Maybe if all I shot were landscapes on a tripod (which I though I'd be using the lens for), I would have kept it, but for what I actually shot, it was not worth giving up AF and auto aperture.

 

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<img src = http://www.keh.com/ProductImages/fullSize/LR06009000153.jpg><p>

A 3-cam, but the one I had looked just like this one.

[derek_stanton2]

Also.... I don't know if anyone else can confirm this (Sheldon?), but with every non-Canon

lens i've tried via adapter on the 5D, i've experienced random, odd focusing issues. I can

focus carefully and with the focus confirmation adapters, i get the light...but the image

upon review is out of focus. I would get 3 out of 5 in-focus, and the other 2 would be just

weirdly OFF. So oddly off that i can't even figure out what is in focus in the frame.

 

Anyway, that's a major reason why i no longer use non-Canon lenses. I was always

looking for lenses from other manufacturers that had particular 'characters,' thinking the

Canon stuff was just too 'common' or sterile. But, the drawbacks are significant, and when

i can't get consistent results, it seems not worthwhile. With the Canon wides, there may be

a more valid rationale, since you're pursuing a technical advantage. But, wides are also

most often used stopped-down a bit, and there, the differences sorta go away. If you're

shooting landscapes, every little bit probably matters. But, for most other things, the

speed, efficiency, and accuracy of the Canon AF lenses is hard to beat.

[gunnar_norden]

I have used both the current version and the one before it on my 5D. I kept the new one

which is fantastic but the old model is quite good too (and much less expensive).

 

Derek _ I use the Ees and focus confirmation adapter and I never had any odd focusing

issues. Works great all the time. I have sold almost all of my Canon lenses and bought quite

a few Leitz-R and I am very happy with my choice.

[john_wolf2]

Thanks, Gunnar. Any idea how to identify the newest model. Starting serial number maybe?

 

I also use the Ee-S and focus confirmation adapter with the Summicron 50 and there are no focusing issues.

[gunnar_norden]

John, the new one has built-in rectangular hood. Starting s/n 3664831.

[fourfa]

"Also.... I don't know if anyone else can confirm this (Sheldon?), but with every non-Canon lens i've tried via adapter on the 5D, i've experienced random, odd focusing issues. I can focus carefully and with the focus confirmation adapters, i get the light...but the image upon review is out of focus."

 

with which focus screen?

[doug_nelson3]

I use 28mm Leica R (older 3-cam) on a Canon F-1. Even with the state-of-the-art super bright screens, I gave up trying to focus a 28. Use the viewfinder for framing. Set it at f8 or f11 hyperfocal settings for a nice street-shooting set up. This lens is SHARP, has a nice color rendition, and is known to have minimal, if any, barrel distortion.

[derek_stanton2]

Andy:

I now have the EE-S screen. But, when i was using the various adapters, it was with the

stock 5D screen. I had these problems with lenses by Leica, Nikon, Pentax, and Contax.

Adapters from various sources, some with focus confirmation chips, and some without....

 

I guess i should retry it with the new screen, but frankly, at this point, i'm almost

completely 'over' the idea of using other lenses on the Canon. The Canon lenses are

superb ??at least the group i have. And, if i want to shoot Zeiss, i'll use a Contax RX or

Hasselblad or Rolleiflex.

[jim_buchanan]

Well, I just received a #11333 Elmarit-R 28/2.8 ROM version with built-in hood. I have been wanting one of these for over a year now. There was a pre-ROM version with the current optical formula and built-in hood. I plan to use it for a pending 450D EOS and maybe later with a full frame EOS. I have the Zeiss 28/2.8 as well and plan on comparing the 2 when I get the 450D.

 

Dispite being a ROM version only several years old, mine shows wear. Glass and mechanics are good. If possible, I'd like to remove the built-in hood. Anyone know how?

 

This 28 has internal focusing groups for improved close performance. Minimum distance is 12 inches from focal plane to sensor, with a 1/4 turn of the focus ring! 1.6x crop camera gives 45mm equilivent view in full frame. More later when I get a camera...

[derek_stanton2]

Hi. Revisiting this thread, incidentally while looking for something else, and i can now add a response to this old dialog.

 

I had the EE-S screen installed, but hadn't tried it with non-Canon lenses until yesterday. With the EE-S, i was unable to

reproduce the freaky out of focus problem i used to have with the standard 5D screen.

 

I'm expecting a Contax 28mm lens next week, and i'll try it with a more critical eye, but for now, it seems the EE-S alleviates

my concerns.

 

Thanks to all for the suggestion/recommendation.