Re: M8 comments :-)

My reading of some sites suggests that the encoding is only used for jpeg 
processing. For RAW files, the lens encoding (which is actually not electrical, 
but analog - four squares blackened in different patterns for different lenses) 
is used ONLY to populate EXIF data so that the lens info is associated with the 
image. So for RAW images it may not matter (and I hope it doesn't).
 
It's a question I have also, and will be checking out once the M8 becomes 
available. I can't see spending an additional $750 for my 5 M lenses above the 
already high M8 price (I think the charge will be $150/lens).
 
As for Mark's response below, I think he had a typo in his 2nd paragraph. I 
think he left a leading "1" off of his first sentence that reads, "35mm lenses 
aren't recommended".
 
Personally, I plan to try my 135 on it...
Bob
 
Bob Adler
Palo Alto, CA
http://www.raflexions.com 



----- Original Message ----
From: Mark Bohrer <lurchl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: leica@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 10:27:26 AM
Subject: Re: M8 comments :-)


Mike:
From the M8 tech specs in the Leica-M brochure I downloaded, older 
lenses are usable on the M8 without the new coding. As I understand 
it, that coding optimizes correction for vignetting in the camera's 
firmware, but that's something you could fix in Photoshop if you even 
needed to. The lens ID in the image file is nice, but unnecessary. 
The auto-coordination of the zoom reflector with focal length in your 
flash and auto slow-sync in automatic exposure mode are also nice - 
but how often do you use flash with a Leica M-camera?

Other than the Elmarit 135mm f/2.8 with the magnifying goggles, 35mm 
lenses aren't recommended because of their equivalent 179.6mm focal 
length on the M8. But people used to use 200mm Telyts with sports 
finder and adapter ring / spacer on M-cameras, and guesstimate focus.

I'd find one of those old 200mm sports finders and adapt it to the 
M8's hot shoe for a non-Elmarit 135mm. Rangefinder focusing would 
provide better accuracy than guessing, though not for critical close 
distance stuff. And you'd always get a little more than you saw in 
the finder, but it'd be fairly close.




At 09:37 AM 9/26/2006, you wrote:
>I greatly appreciated both Ted and Henning's comments and loom
>forward Tom Abrahamsson's notes in Viewfinder, when they come out....
>
>BUT I have a MAJOR question re the M8:
>
>What about using older lenses. The leica folks day that the new
>optimized lenses have a new electronic contact  and that 'new" Leica
>M lenses can be retrofitted at a cost of $100 each. However I have
>OLD M lenses, a pre aspheric 'Lux 35 i use a lot, a 90 mm tele
>elmarit, a 135 and a couple, of 50 mm my favorite being the Dual
>Range 50..plus some wider lenses from Voigtlander and others....
>
>I get the IMPRESSION that these will still offer decent rendition  on
>the sensor, but don't KNOW if this is the case. For me a body will be
>sticker shock enough, investing in a new range of lenses will be an
>awful financial burden.
>
>Can Ted, Henning or anyone else discuss the use of early m lenses on
>this latest body?
>
>Mike
>
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Mark Bohrer
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(408) 866-9405

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