Sony NEX 7 Withe Leica or Contax lenses

[philip_wilson]

<p>I just wondered if anyone has tried Leica or Contax G lenses on this body. I realize that the effective focal length increases by 1.5x and that the DOF will increase due to the APS-C sensor. But will I see a Leica / Contax image quality from this body. It has got good reviews, and compared to an M8 or M9 is a bargain at just over $1000. I have had experience of shooting my Panasonic G1 M4/3 body with Canon FD lenses and find the IQ and focusing acceptable on this body. Thus I suspect that the Sony EVF - while slower than the rangefinder will be fine. The big question is will I see a different IQ when compared to one of my DSLRs (e.g. Canon 5DII and L series Canon lenses). I am not looking for a better IQ just a more German / rangefinder style of shot.</p>

[philip_wilson]

<p>I should say that I have read the Luminous Landscape articles and wanted to hear the findings of others who have gone down this route. I suspect it will be a few weeks before I buy and NEX 7 (if I do) as I understand the floods in Thailand have restricted supply.</p>

[mukul_dube]

<p>My guess, Philip, is that the NEX 7 with Leica or Contax lenses will give you results no worse than the "acceptable" results you got with Canon FD lenses on a G1 body. APS-C is a little larger than M4/3. I wonder, though, if an electronic view-finder can match the traditional range-finder in clarity, speed and "feel". I think it will be wrong to compare the camera with the 5D2. A "full frame" sensor with a high quality lens will certainly give better image quality (with more control over depth of field, as you say). But the crucial word here is "acceptable" and it may be unwise to think in terms of absolutes.</p>

[john_parrish]

<p>Philip, in addition to the Luminous Landscape rolling review, which was quite favorable to the 24 megapixel sensor in the NEX 7, consider this review by David Kilpatrick on the Sony Alpha 77. Same sensor, same 1.5 crop factor, same EVF, but SLT body. He also presents a very favorable review. It should address your concerns. See http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2011/10/17/the-sony-alpha-77-tomorrow-today/</p>

[philip_wilson]

<p>THank you both - If I do decide on an NEX 7 I will let you know how it performs (with Leica, Contax and canon glass)</p>

[aplumpton]

<p>Can anyone suggest the maker(s) of a good adapter for Leica M, Canon and Nikon lenses? </p>

[peter_maxwell1]

<p>I have been using Leica M lenses (And Canon / Nikon) with my NEX 5 and getting good results. Much better in fact than with the kit zoom that comes with these cameras. Reviews claim the NEX 5n and NEX 7 have better IQ than the 5 so I suspect you will not be dissatisfied. I find it rewarding. Focusing using the screen is much better than I had anticipated. The zooming MF assist works well - even better than focus peaking. Of course the NEX 7 has an eye level finder so I cannot say how that works with MF lenses. The experience is different from a rangefinder camera but quite satisfying. While the IQ is good I do think my DSLRs are better with one eception - the dynamic range is excellent.<br>

BTW I do not believe that DOF increases with an APS C sensor. DOF as I understand it is a function of the physical size of the lens aperture in use. Thus it varies with lens format and focal length. (Plus other factors like distance to target.) Thus a 28mm prime lens in 35mm format has greater DOF, other things being equal, than a 50mm lens in the same format (say 35mm full frame) at an equivalent aperture setting. (Conversely a lens designed for a medium format camera, which is physically larger will have a smaller DOF at any given that aperture setting.) This should not change just because the lens is placed on a camera with a smaller sensor. But cameras with smaller sensors usually have more DOF when used with their kit lens, because the kit lenses designed specifically for them are designed to be commensurately smaller. Hence they have a smaller physical aperture size at each f stop.</p>

[ardenpress]

<p>The adapteer I have for M lenses is by Novoflex, solid and not cheap; it is tight, no jiggle, and wide open no F stops--see below.<br>

For Canon I have for the time being the Japanese Kipon adapter with blades, F stops marked as numbers 1-6. It jiggles--not that cannot be managed. BUT it cannot take the heavier lenses, 24-70, 70-200 F4. They just twist off. There is no stability; the lens would fall off onto the floor if you didn't hold it. ALSO, those bigger Canon lenses should probably be on a tripod, unless you are younger than I and have large strong hands. It may look strange but you won't care when you see the pictures.</p>

[philip_wilson]

<p>Thank you I was looking at Kipon for Contax G and FD. Thanks for your impressions of the NEX 5 Peter. I am hoping the viewfinder will help - on my Panasonic G1 you can zoom in the EVF to focus which is a big help. In terms of DOF - the DOF is only a function of the lens but since a smaller sensor gives a narrower angle of view the same framing has a more distant subject so the DOF effectively increases. thus my Canon 85 F1.2 and my Fuji GX 680 (6x8 MF) 180 F3.2 have about the same effective (ultra shallow) DOF.</p>

[alistair o]

<p>I use a Voigty 15mm, Zeiss 21/4.5 and 50/2 and the Elmarit 90/2.8 on a NEX C3. Great little combo but the lack of VF is a dealbreaker - though this is fixed in the NEX 7. I also use a 1dsMk2 with good L primes and zooms. This gallery has a mix of the two systems and you can see the relative IQ's:<br>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/Alistair001/Italy2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink">https://picasaweb.google.com/Alistair001/Italy2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink</a><br>

The following gallery is all NEX because I would not have got these with the Canon - it is too big to carry into the desert and too obvious in the back-streets.<br>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/Alistair001/Morocco?authuser=0&feat=directlink">https://picasaweb.google.com/Alistair001/Morocco?authuser=0&feat=directlink</a></p>

 

[philip_wilson]

<p>Great images - the NEX looks very good. Do you have vignetting problems with the 15mm or 21mm lens?</p>

[alistair o]

<p>THanks. No. The vignetting is mostly added in PP.</p>

[ardenpress]

<p>I found terrible vignetting with my Voigtlander 15mm lens on the 7. But when cropped the pictures are quite fine.</p>

[Karim Ghantous]

<p>I love Photozone - as far as I can tell they are objective. Here are some tests with adapted lenses on the NEX:</p>

<p>http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/overview#sony_aps</p>

<p>In general, SLR lenses should work better due to their longer registers. The ZMs don't always work nicely despite working well on film. But look at the tests, don't take my word for it!</p>

<p>I am thinking of replacing my Nikon DSLRs with NEX cameras. Ambitious? Well, IMO NEX is what digital ought to be, without the legacy of 35mm (mirror box etc.). Having said that I will be shooting film, too, so my 35mm bodies will stay. DSLRs are a niche product, between mirrorless and MF digital, but they don't know it yet!</p>

[martin_chapman3]

<p>Hi <br>

I have been using a Sony NEX 5n with my Contax CY, Leica R, Zeiss ZM Minolta MD and Contax G lenses. The EVF is fantastic - exceptional clear and the manual focusing is (for me) better than on a mirror, with the 10x magnification and peaking. It has been a lot easier than using the lenses on Canon Eos. <br>

I find that the old glass works extremely well. There have been no problems with edge colour shifts or blurring with the CY and Leica R. The old Contax 2.8's (eg 25, 28, 35, 85) are all fairly light, balance well and the length (with adapter) is similar to the kit lens. The Leica R's are much heavier, but still work.<br>

Sharpness wise, it pretty is a very honest reflection of the lenses. The kit lenses are actually pretty sharp in centre (worse at the edges) and do a great job for the price and size.<br>

The main difference is with the DOF and rendering. The Leica's (eg 100 APO, 180 APO) are blisteringly sharp. The Contax CY appear to be medium format like in rendering and the 3d effect remains. I have been reluctant to shift to the new ZF lenses for fear of losing these qualities. <br>

The out of camera JPEG results were initially disappointing because they weren't much better than the kit lenses. Obviously, processing would be optimised for the kit lenses and this shouldn't be a surprise. Processing in Lightroom gave <em>much</em> better results with adjusting exposure (often underexposed), curves (often going with Linear and 0 contrast with CY and LR), colour (needing the calibrate in LR) and levels.<br>

It has been great fun to play with the old lenses and relearn the differences in rendering look!! <br>

</p>

[teresa_kines]

<p>Can anyone please tell me if my old Zeiss lenses for the Contax RTS will work with NEX camera bodies and which adapter will work? I have Zeiss Distagon 1.4/35 T* (5869324) and Planar 1.4/85 T* (5916364).<br>

Thankyouverymuch</p>

[teresa_kines]

<p>This is the Contax RTS film camera build in about 1975 with no AF. The 85mm Zeiss lens produced gorgeous photos. Looking for a digital camera that can use them.</p>