[LRflex] Re: Summicron 50mm take apart?
- From: Steve Lang <stevelang@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 01:30:20 -0700
Hi Richard,
Thanks for the info!
Don't forget- I also have a Leicaflex SL. ;-) So that is good advice to get
familiar with the 'Flex finder, I really need to start putting some rolls
through it anyway.
The funny thing is that I also spotted some really cheap focusing screens on
EBay (~$23). However, if I'm going to go through the work of putting a
screen in, I think I'd rather make sure it was a good one. It doesn't look
too hard at all, it's more the risk of something going wrong.
Cheers
Steve
On Sat, Aug 1, 2009 at 1:19 AM, Richard Ward <ilovaussiesheps@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> Hi Steve,
> the 'viewfinder size' effect you commented upon between rebels and the
> 30D type Canon's is primarily due to the type of 'prism' is used to bring
> the lenses image up and around to the eyepiece you look through. The cheaper
> cameras use 'mirror prisms' and while it works, it usually gives a dimmer
> image and feels like you're looking into a tunnel. The more expensive slr's
> use real "glass type prisms" which usually run circles around the mirror
> kind if they're designed right.
> The focusing screen is part of the "mirror" area you see when you're
> changing lenses. I am being intentionally vague here because I don't want to
> misdescribe something working from my usually shuffled memory files and
> either send you on a wrong tangent or embarrass myself!
> Before you spend funds and muck around inside your camera I suggest
> physically seeing the kind of focus aid's film cameras all had once upon a
> time. A friend or relative might have one laying in a closet or you can
> fiddle one up for a tiny sum somewhere.
> If you're loving the Manual Focus glass, I highly reccomend going with a
> replacement screen and will 100% do so myself, but I know what I'd gain,
> what I'd be using, how to use it, and the effects of losing the built in
> screen. ie: the etched af focus marks of the factory one (and if your's
> light up, they won't light up anymore). There can also be a need to
> compensate for certain metering problems - so I hear.
>
> Just make sure you're an informed consumer!
>
> Richard.
>
> ________________________________
>
> Life is hard...but I just take it one photograph at a time.
> ~•~
> "You miss 100% of the shots you never take" Wayne Gretzky
> ~•~
> In a world without walls and fences, who needs Windows or Gates?
> ~•~
> It's okay to be stupid. Just don't be gung-ho about it.
> ________________________________
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Steve Lang <stevelang@xxxxxxxxx>
> *To:* leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> *Sent:* Saturday, August 1, 2009 3:51:31 AM
>
> *Subject:* [LRflex] Re: Summicron 50mm take apart?
>
> Hi Richard,
> Thanks so much for the tip. Yeah, the Live View is really cool and
> absolutely great for certain subjects, but not moving kids. At f2 it's
> tricky with even a still subject without a tripod. I am also relying on the
> AF confirmation in the viewfinder- that seems somewhat hit/miss, but I am
> still getting familiar with it.
>
> I have heard focusing screens mentioned, but never actually bothered to
> research them at all (frankly I wasn't even sure where it is in a camera.) I
> checked out the Katz screen, coincidentally they have a 10% summer sale
> right now ;-) They're not as expensive as I imagined, plus I am actually
> pretty handy with fixing gadgets and can probably put the screen in myself.
>
> One nice thing about the XSi is that the viewfinder is bigger than previous
> Rebels- but do you think it is big enough with a focusing screen to
> accurately manually focus my Summicron at the more open apertures? I guess
> the XSi finder is close in size to that of the 30D, if not as bright. I
> don't have a lot of experience with manual focus cameras, so I have no
> feeling for how good a solution this is (not that the alternatives are so
> great, but I'm having fun so far.)
>
> Thanks,
> Steve
>
> On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 10:54 PM, Richard Ward
> <ilovaussiesheps@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
>> Hello Steve,
>> I saw where you posted "I put the money towards a XSi body and am
>> looking forward to using the Live View to help with focusing." As someone
>> who cut his teeth in photography with fully manual Minolta SRT's, progressed
>> through their X370 to X700's, and transitioned to the uber techy EOS Film
>> and then Digital SLR's, I want to pass along an option you might want to
>> consider for your Rebel re: Focusing your Summicron. That "live view"
>> technology is about as geeky cool as can be, but using it to chase your kids
>> in changing light and distances isn't very handy at all. (The word
>> impossible comes to mind!)
>> I suggest you research getting an aftermarket Focusing Screen for you
>> Camera to replace the Rapid Return Mirror in your Rebel. Canon has
>> interchangeable screens as an option in the more expensive models, but the
>> rebels and xxD's aren't included in the fun unless you buy aftermarket. I
>> haven't replaced my screen yet, good lenses are a higher priority at the
>> moment! But I DEFINITELY want to. I carefully researched this topic and
>> there are a couple of sources you should be able to google up fairly easily.
>> One's called Katz, there's the very expensive beatty screens, and 1 or 2
>> other's out there.
>> I use a 'focusing' M42 adapter with my old Zeiss, but it's invariably
>> inaccurate when dof gets shallow and when the working distance starts to
>> narrow up. That sports photo I posted before was prefocused to keep the
>> entire batter in the depth of field, but on the little 20D LCD I didn't
>> catch that it landed a bit to in front of him. It doesn't ruin the shot, but
>> instead of relying on adhoc adaptations of chips and sensors, I could have
>> quickly and easily used 50 year old technology to land my dof properly.
>>
>> Sincerely
>>
>> Richard W.
>>
>> ________________________________
>> Life is hard...but I just take it one photograph at a time.
>> ~•~
>> "You miss 100% of the shots you never take" Wayne Gretzky
>> ~•~
>> In a world without walls and fences, who needs Windows or Gates?
>> ~•~
>> It's okay to be stupid. Just don't be gung-ho about it.
>> ________________________________
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Steve Lang <stevelang@xxxxxxxxx>
>> *To:* LeicaReflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> *Sent:* Friday, July 31, 2009 1:47:40 AM
>> *Subject:* [LRflex] Re: Summicron 50mm take apart?
>>
>> I am currently getting the digest email, so will send all replies in a
>> single message-
>> To Doug and Aram,
>>
>> Thanks for the advice, you are completely correct. Later that night I shot
>> some test shots on a tripod, and got striking results compared to my other
>> lenses. I always knew that minor lens flaws should not impact image quality,
>> but this lens is great even with quite a few marks! I am very happy to have
>> acquired it, I would've paid much more for a 'minty' copy anyway. Instead, I
>> put the money towards a XSi body and am looking forward to using the Live
>> View to help with focusing.
>>
>> BTW Doug- it was your Leicaflex article at photo.net that inspired me to
>> go looking for one!
>>
>> To Richard,
>>
>> Thanks for the tip. I was actually shooting at ISO 800, my impressions of
>> the Canon ISO range are the same as yours. ISO 800 is very usable even with
>> a bit of cropping (and I've never done too much post noise-removal work
>> either.) I always find myself pushing the limits with my Canon 50mm at 1.8
>> and ISO 800, with DSLR's I am always willing to give it a go. I'd rather
>> have a semi-blurry shot at the 'magic hour' than anything under the harsh
>> early noon sun. That's one wonderful thing about digital- with multi-GB
>> cards the norm, you aren't afraid to shoot a string of shots to try to make
>> sure you get a good one if conditions are challenging (as is usually the
>> case with my kids.)
>>
>> Cheers all,
>> Steve
>>
>>
>
>
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