quicoalvarez

<p>I must say that I was expecting such a camera. The hybrid viewfinder of the X-Pro 1 made it too expensive and only suitable, in OVF mode, for the few x-mount lenses. Leicas are forbidden for not rich people, and their viewfinder is only for 35 mm. and longer lenses. This camera brings the path to follow for manual lens users (with HQ Zeiss ZM and/or Leica M lenses), and brings the possibility to use long telephoto zooms (i.e. 70-200/2.8) with fast autofocus, the only reason for what I have a Nikon DSLR.<br>

By the moment I use a DSLR in M mode, as it were a Leica, for manual normal, wideangle and portrait lenses, and the same camera with an AF 70-200/2.8, with or without teleconversor, only for some needs and usually for sports. An EVF (improved in this new Fujifilm) in a small, high quality sensor and manual interface camera, will bring to me the freedom that I had with my Leicas in the film era, and will made useless the need that I had then for a heavy SLR for telephoto. For $800 I will get more than with a $5000+ digital Leica.<br>

Of course, the next step is to make the same with a full frame sensor, and improve the telephoto zooms to equal Canon/Nikon DSLR telephoto quality.</p>

<p>I bought my own G2 and lenses about the same date as Don, but with the Planar 35 mm. <em>f:</em>2 instead of the 45. I use the lenses on the Contax for film and on a Panasonic G1 with the excellent Metabones adapters. It will be great if somebody could make such an adapter for the new X-Pro mount, and I expect, too, some custom framing for the viewfinder into the camera. In that case, taking as truth the rumored lens roadmap for this camera, I will only need the new Fujinons 14, 23 and 70-200 to get all I need for film and digital. I was waiting for this kind of camera during years. I don't mind if the viewfinder is elctronic, if it is good enough, or optic, but I prefer this manual approach than the simulated-manual of the Sony's Nex-7. In image quality, the specs of the Fujifilm sensor and processor seem to outperform (especially in the matter of using symmetrical designed wideangles) the new from Sony.</p>

<p>It seems, as the reviews show, that Leica m, Zeiss zm and Voigtländer vm lenses work great mounted on NEX cameras, with the only exception for color fringing and vigneting in corners for symmetric ultra wides (18 mm. and lower). This issue seems to be at least downsided by software like CornerFix.</p>

<p>I recommend you the second option. I like too much the Nex-7, but, for your work, where you need a 2.8 trans-standard zoom, it is not the right gear. The X100 is great, light and with impressive image quality. Equivalent will be the same Nex-7 if you have a good 23 to 25 prime. There is a new 23 mm. E-mount prime at about $ 400 by Magic-SLR/Nokton, perhaps it falls into your budget.</p>

<p>Bill: I agree that there are very good lenses made for (D)SLR's, but, if you have read my post well, I only say that in the <strong>normal to wideangle range</strong>, non retrofocus lenses are <strong>always</strong> better than the retrofocus ones that SLR systems need.</p>

<p>I think that in most of the posts here is not told the most important fact of the discussion: lens quality.</p>

<p>In my opinion, Leica and another rangefinder systems had much better lenses (only in normal and wideangle range) compared with SLR systems, because their optical construction had to be <em>unnatural</em>, as the minimum flange distance was 40 mm., space occupied by the reflex mirror system. All Zeiss ZM or Leica M wideangle surpass every SLR wideangle, in image quality terms. Now is the day in which, with the increasing perfection of EVF and LCD screens, mirrorless system cameras can do the job, with the same lenses, very well. With such a system we can have the best of both worlds: high optical quality in the range from extreme wideangle to short telephoto without the need of an external viewfinder, and, with adaptors like the LA-EA2 from Sony, get the abbility to use high end long telephoto lenses with accurate AF and a bright 100% image on the viewfinder.</p>

<p>We can add to these advantages the mentioned and, I think, low valued pros as: low shutter noise, light and carryable gear, the fact that we can buy one lens and use it during years (forever?), no matter if we need to change the camera, with a good EVF you can see the actual DOF, etc.</p>

<p>The first of this new system cameras is the Sony Nex-7, Fujifilm is working in a similar system, and the rumors are pointing that even Leica is going to make its own. Let's expect. In my opinion, again, DSLR times are over.</p>

<p>Wendy:</p>

<p>I am sorry because I could not give you an answer before (I was out for business). About your question about the MD to NEX adaptors, the difference in price between Novoflex and the cheaper brands is, here in Europe, about 1 to 1/2, but the difference, in terms of reliability, is much higher than this. I was told by a friend using a cheap MD to micro 4/3 adaptor that he never had any issue, but I did have some fitting problems with the same brand.</p>

<p>Yes, <strong>BeBu</strong>, these cameras are good, but my point of view is different. New mirrorles with good EVF, can admit any lens, but RF cameras are limited to a number of focals and, outside these, must use external viewfinders. I look for a new type of camera that can be used as an "old" rangefinder but <strong>too</strong> as a reflex when it is needed.</p>

<p><strong>Ikka</strong> and <strong>Steven</strong>, I have got a Panasonic G1, and I am happy with it. I just want to go further. Micro 4/3 are good cameras, but I don't like their sensor. It is so little that I can't find wideangles. The shorter I could try is the Voigtländer 12 mm. <em>f:</em> 5.6 (too slow) and the new slr magic is 1.6 but 12 mm. too, this means 24mm. equivalent to 35 mm. There are no quality wideangles. I've tried the 8-14 mm. from Panasonic and it is expensive and not good enough for my needs. As well, the size of the sensor brings another issues. I don't like either the plastic, "toyish" finish of the micro 4/3 cameras, nor an external EVF that won't let me use a flash. I look for a solid camera, despite it must be light and little. Finally, I just can't get used to the 4/3 aspect ratio, when I work with film I feel myself more comfortable, and I want to compose the same way in digital (I know this is a personal issue).</p>

<p>Well, I think this discussion is going on.</p>

<p><strong>BeBu</strong>, I think that I can make some parallelisms between mirrorless and rangefinder cameras: light, discreet and silent, can use the <strong>same</strong> top of the line lenses with DOF and hyperfocal techniques to get <em>decisive moment</em> pictures. <strong>And</strong>, with hi-tech gadgets as the Sony's LA-EA2 (other brands or third party firms - like here: http://www.birger.com/ - will soon find their own), get the autofocus accuracy and electronic iris control with, say, a 70-200/2.8. The advantage is that you can use it <strong>too</strong> as a DSLR.</p>

<p><strong>Bill</strong>, I do not care about the NEX lenses, my aim is to use RF lenses. For telephoto, see above what I answer to <strong>BeBu</strong> about it.</p>

<p><strong>Leslie</strong>, I agree, I must be adaptable too, because I can work with the EVF in the Panasonic G1, although I must use the LCD when I shoot in low light, like a concert in a little club or so. I've been using this camera from three years ago or so and, except for the little sensor issues (lack of high quality wideangles and too noisy pictures over 400 ISO), it is great, more than I thought when I bought it. Now I use it for the most of my pro digital jobs.</p>

<p>Yes, Pierre:</p>

<p>What I need is a little, "carryable" camera system, as I have with the Contax G-2 (which can not show more than the image that is going to appear into the frame) and the Leica M4. I am used, since my second camera at job was a reflex, to get my left eye opened to see around what I want to include into image, so I can manage with it. It could be a good thing if the sensor were bigger than the frame to record, and the EVF showed the frame and "some" around the frame, marked with a line, like in the Leica viewfinder-rangefinder.</p>

<p>For me, the advantage of these cameras (I am thinking in the NEX-7) is that you can have the rangefinder-like use, and the reflex use, adapting high-end AF telephoto, with the same camera. As well, for me again, the main advantage of RF cameras is the optical quality of the lenses (thinking in Leica-M and Zeiss-ZM and -G) unbeated by any SLR lens in the range between short telephoto (90 mm.) and wideangle. I have got these lenses, and they can be used in these cameras. This is what I am trying to discuss.</p>

<p>Frank, I think you are confusing Wendy, because you are not used to mirrorless cameras.</p>

<p>Since mirrorless cameras do not implement a reflex viewfinder, an electronic one instead, stop-down metering is not an issue, because the viewfinder (or lcd screen) lights up or down depending on the amount of light that reaches the sensor, and you can see directly the actual depth of field without pressing any DOF button. It is true that a EVF is not like an optical one, and there are some issues in low light and in high contrast situations, but technology is going over these negative points with better viewfinders, as the new Sony cameras seem to have. For the other side, perhaps auto-focus and automatic exposure are not an issue, too, for a photographer with enough knowledge and experience, as Wendy seems to be.</p>

<p>Believe me, with a good adapter (Novoflex are the best ones for me) there are no issues and you can use high quality glass without buying it new. I have been shooting with a micro 4/3 camera with MD lenses (Rokkor 35/2.8, MD 50/1.7, Rokkor 58/1.4 and MD 135/2.8), Contax-G lenses ( Planar 35/2.0 and Sonnar 90/2.8), as well as some wideangles that I had to buy because of the crop factor of so little sensor. The difference in distance from the Nex E mount and the Minolta MD mount is even higher than the one between micro 4/3 and MD mounts and, believe me again, I never had a problem with any spring or lever from the lens protruding into the camera. I repeat, perhaps you need it, but I never needed (in 23 years as a proffessional and almost 35 since I developed my first 35 mm. film) that the camera moved the aperture dial for me. Autofocus is right for telephoto sports photography and perhaps for wildlife and some extreme situations, but I <strong>never</strong> used it for portraiture or street and press photography (except for sports).</p>

<p>The last fact is that the Rebel that you are recommending to Wendy has a sensor that comes from the Stone Age, compared with the one that the NEX-7 haves. You can check the DxOMark sensor rating of the Sony A77, whose sensor is the same as the one implemented in the NEX-7, here: http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/734|0/%28brand%29/Sony/%28appareil2%29/692|0/%28brand2%29/Canon/%28appareil3%29/693|0/%28brand3%29/Canon. Although I do not give absolute trust to these ratings, it can be an orientative index for sensor quality. The sensors from sony have a crop factor of 1.53, compared with the higher of the Canon Rebels with a crop factor of 1.61. The Canon Rebel series are a bit cheaper, but if one needs to buy lenses so good as the MD, the budget grows exponentially.</p>

<p>In the film era, my basic gear was a rangefinder camera with 35, 24 and 90 mm. lenses. Most of my job was made with this camera and lenses set. I had too a SLR with long telephoto and normal lenses for sports and other press needs. Digital cameras are different, and the more important issues are their short life (technology changes so quickly) and their high price to get "state of the art" quality.</p>

<p>I've been using a micro four thirds camera during the last three years. I mounted to it, with adapters, as normal my ultra wide rangefinder lenses, as telephoto my rangefinder and manual SLR normal, portrait and telephoto, and I had to buy a (low quality in comparison) wideangle zoom for the mount. Now I am sure that I get the right system: I don't need to carry two cameras and only had to buy one lens.</p>

<p>Now I am thinking in upgrade my digital camera (I still use film, only with my rangefinder camera, no SLR), and I thought in a new mirrorless one, but with higher sensor. I need an EVF, so my options are Samsung NX11 or Sony Nex-7 (or a Nex-5N with the accesory EVF, but I don't like it so much). I won't use the camera with propietary mount lenses, at least in the range from wideangle to 135 mm. (200 mm. equivalent in an APS sensor). I think with this I will get the camera that full my needs, without buying lenses or an expensive DSLR that will be obsolete in five years. ¿What do you think?.</p>

<p>Wendy:<br>

I only tested the Nex-5 and Nex-3 and they are good cameras, but consumer targeted. The new ones, 3C and 5N, have a better sensor, with higher MP count and better (higher, with less noise) ISO settings. But what I hate in all of them is the complicated way to get the basic controls, navigating through the menu and that none have a EVF. You can buy it as an accessory for Nex-5N and -C3. The Nex-7 beats all the rest: it is a more serious, robust and reliable camera, with a sensor of 24 MP, perhaps not so good in high ISO, but (for me) enough, and the controls are natural to use and customizable. The price is higher, but a -5N with the EVF (a must for me) costs the same. The Nex-7 is implemented with the Sony hotshoe for flash an accesories that the rest of the mdels lack.<br>

For me, the best buy is the Nex-7.<br>

All of them can use every Sony/Minolta A mount lens, with iris control with the Sony's LA-EA1 adapter, with AF function limited to some lenses. There is a new adapter from Sony too, the LA-EA2, that allows autofocus in phase detection (more accurate and quick) with all A mount lenses.</p>

<p>Jay, I am an user of mirrorless cameras. I was a film photographer using film and occasionally renting digital cameras, since three years ago, when I HAD to make the change (I could get insane if I continued shooting film, developing, archiving and scanning). I wanted to use my manual focus lenses, that Leica M8 was impossible to buy, so I decided to buy the Panasonic G1 and use adapters.<br>

The camera is ok, it can be used manually without too many problems and the lenses, with a good adapter, fit well and are easy to focus. The major problem that I see is the size of the sensor (micro four thirds). It is so small that the focal length doubles. Your 58 mm. will act as a 116 mm., and your 85 as a 170: too long for portraiture. I have a serious need for wideangles. Small sensor, too, means some noise issues, that means that you will use only the lower ISO settings, at 400 ISO noise is visible, but you can soften its effect with raw develop. 800 ISO is simply unusable.<br>

In the rest of the use, the camera works all right: it is hard enough, but a bit "plastic" compared with film metal gear. I can trigger wireless both studio strobes and the shutter with a cheap Phottix trigger. And, in the pros side, the swivel lcd screen is great for portraiture composing (it is like a waist-level viewfinder from a Hasselblad or a Mamiya RB).<br>

In resume: it is not the definitive camera, but I can use my old lenses and does the job. I am thinking now in change to the new Sony Nex-7: APS-C sensor and 24 MP, I only need to change the adapters for my lenses and the camera.<br>

I recommend you this type of camera, they're cheaper and the market is moving this way, the Sony Nex-7 is the first but it seems that there will be more.</p>

<p>Hi, Thomas:<br>

I am Spanish, but I only develop B&W at my own darkroom. When I lived in Barcelona I did some prints in Manual Color, and were fine. The adress in Madrid for this laboratory is:<br>

Palacio de Miraflores - Carrera de San Jerónimo, 15, 2º - 28014 Madrid - Tel.: 914 547 271 - Fax.: 914 547 001 - mail: <a href="mailto:info@manualcolor.com">info@manualcolor.com</a><br>

Sorry, Ican't tell you more, I don't live in Madrid.</p>

<p>Waldo:<br>

Noktor is ending his production of a brand new manual focus lens for E mount, it is 23 mm. T 1.7 (that means 35 mm. in 24 X 36 format equivalent and <em>f:</em>1.4). I am told by them that there will be units ready for shipment in January. The rumored price is $ 499.<br>

I am thinking to get a Nex-7 too, to use this Noktor or buy a new Zeiss ZM 25 mm. <em>f:</em> 2.8 as normal prime. To complete my glass I will use my "old" Contax G Zeiss Planar 35 mm. <em>f:</em> 2 and Sonnar 90 mm. <em>f: </em>2.8 (53.5 and 137.7 mm. respectively equivalent in 24 X 36 mm. format), my "older" Rokkors 135 mm. <em>f:</em> 2.8 and 58 mm. <em>f:</em> 1.4 (206.5 and 88.5 mm. equivalent). For the wideangle side I am thinking in buying a new Voigtländer 12 mm. <em>f:</em> 5.6 or 15 mm. <em>f:</em> 4.5 (18.4 or 22.9 mm equivalent).<br>

If the system works as I expect, I could probably sell my bulky SLR gear and buy another body, the LA-EA2 adapter and the Sony G 70-200 mm. I will share most of the lenses for digital and film and will have only four light bodies: two Nex-7 and my Leica MP and Contax G2.</p>