Leica Model II and Sony A7ii: Sizes compared.

[jcgoodman]

<p>The Sony, in the picture, bears a Leitz Elmar 3,5cm lens; the Leica has a Leitz Elmar 5cm lens. Both lenses fitted with appropriate hoods, screw-in filters, aperture-actuating rings.</p>

[jcgoodman]

<p>Pic...</p><div></div>

[Karim Ghantous]

<p>Christmas camera porn? Why not. :-) </p>

<p>Overall, just by visual inspection, the two bodies look roughly the same size. The A7 system can be as compact as the M system simply by using M lenses. The only problem? You probably won't find RAW modules to fix aberrations of M lenses on A7 bodies. That might not be a big deal, though.</p>

<p>I prefer the Leica body because it lacks a grip, although its viewfinder is quite poor and its focusing is quite slow. As far as image quality in normal light is concerned, the Leica could out-perform the Sony if responsiveness were not an issue. Those old RF bodies make such lovely noises, too.</p>

<p>Back before mirrorless system cameras were even conceived, I had both a IIIc and a Nikon D1. The D1 would quickly become obsolete - in fact the D1 has no use today, but old RFs, from all manufacturers, are still being used. I noticed with amusement that the D1 was about the size of four IIIc's, while its sensor was half the size of the Leica format, and gave technically inferior results (but that's not the whole story, obviously).</p>

<p>Size isn't the main feature of a camera, but it plays a part. Fuji Instax cameras are not tiny, but they are fun and almost addictive.</p>

[robert_bouknight1]

<p>I recently got a user A7, and have had a load of fun digging out my Leica and now Contax RF system lenses.</p>

<p>The A7 won't replace my Nikon FX DSLRs, 2.8 zooms, and fast AF primes for "serious" photography, the Sony system and operation just can't match the Nikon system's ability to quicly get the image I need, IMO.</p>

<p>But, I can put together a small but very capable travel kit built around the A7. Currently, the kit consists of the A7 with Sony 28/2+21mm convertor, 50/1.5 Zeiss RF, Leitz thin 90/2.8, and the Sony pancake 16-50 DX zoom for when I want to leave the camera bag in the hotel room and just be a tourist. I have not decided on an (optional) longer lens to add to the kit, and am still looking into "classic" WA lenses, but don't seem to already have anything that beats the fast AF28+21 combo. I sold my 35 'cron a while back</p>

<p>I have missed "small but capable kit" since I shot with RF film cameras. Guess I could put something similar together with a Nikon (or other brand) DX camera & lenses, but the Sony brings very good high ISO for night street shooting and easy but very precise focusing using the finder magnification feature, reminds me of LTM cameras with the magnified RF. And, it is a lot of fun having the ability to hang and use just about any lens on the A7!</p>

[Ed_Ingold]

<p>The "aberrations" observed when using Leica lenses on a Sony body are tolerable with a focal lengths of 50 mm or greater. Even with shorter lenses, smearing in the corners may not matter unless you are shooting subjects in which detail matters, such as landscapes.</p>

<p>Collapsible Leica lenses are very compact, but should be used with caution on other cameras, or even digital Leicas, since they may damage internal components.</p>

<p>If you want Leica performance on the Sony, with benefits of modern design and total integration, Zeiss Loxia lenses are a suitable choice. They are 2" in diameter and a little longer than comparable Leica lenses (A Summicron 50 is 1.5"x2"), but completely manual. Prime Nikon SLR lenses aren't much larger, at 2-1/4" in diameter, and do not suffer from corner smearing due to the long back focus length. (Nikon lenses don't perform any worse on a Sony than on an SLR. In comparison to dedicated Sony lenses, that isn't saying much.)</p>

<p>I have grown fond of hand grips, and added it to my Leica M9 as an attachment from Really Right Stuff, along with an Arca-style tripod plate. Leica actually offers a similar devise, but more expensive and less functional, IMO. Whether aesthetics should come before function is a personal matter.</p>

 

[mukul_dube]

<p>Robert, I use an A7 with manual Nikkors, which cost much less than the lenses from my M6 kit and are as good. Perhaps your "serious" is different from mine.</p>

[robert_bouknight1]

<p>Sure, manual Nikkors work well on the A7, especially the 55/3.5 micro. With fast wide angle manual lenses, it seems a little easier to get focus spot on with the A7 vs the D810. If I am going to haul larger tele/zoom lenses around though, the D810+AF is hard to beat.</p>

<p>The 85/2 vintage rangefinder Nikon I have is outstanding on the A7, but is a heavy chunk of brass and glass, so it is not in the small light travel kit. Probably the next lens I would throw in the travel kit would be a Zeiss Opton 135/f4 that is small, light, and good. Or, I could leave out the 90 & 135 and take a 75-150/3.5 Nikon E, or maybe a 105/2.5.</p>

<p> </p>

[jcgoodman]

<p>The A7ii, in the Sony/Leica photo, above, carries a Yeenon Helicoid Close-focus adapter - the version with an Infinity-Lock (recommended). This is another piece of fun gear - well-worth its purchase price! Apart from early 1930s close-focusing versions of the Elmar 35 and 50mm lenses, and the later Dual-Range Summicron 50mm, Leica photographers have had to direct their efforts to the "over 1 meter" universe, without resorting to various close-focus/copying accessories.</p><div></div>

[jcgoodman]

<p>Leitz Hektor 135mm on Sony A7ii - all of my three Hektor 135s, without filters or hood, produce vignetting in the corners of image - caused, I think, by the body of the lens.</p><div></div>

[jcgoodman]

<p>Just discovered - the vignetting in the above photo was caused by the Yeenon adapter. No vignetting with other, simpler adapters.<br>

Regards to everyone,<br>

John,<br>

Melbourne, Australia.</p>

[larry h-l]

<p>Hi John,<br>

I use a Yeenon close-focus adapter on an A7s and have not seen any vignetting with any Leica lens that I own. (28mm Elmarit, 50mm 'cron, 90mm Tele-Elmarit, 135mm Tele-Elmar), nor with any Voigtlander lens.<br>

Is your Yeenon adapter LTM or M-mount?<br>

If M, perhaps the combo of an LTM to M to Yeenon to body is causing the issue.</p>

 

[jcgoodman]

<p>Hi Larry - My Yeenon is for M-mount, to which I add a Leitz M to SM adapter, so, yes this could be causing the vignetting. No vignetting using a non-Yeenon NEX to LTM adapter, although no close-focus helicoid with the latter.</p>