Great to see you here. Join our insightful photographic forum today and start tapping into a huge wealth of photographic knowledge. Completing our simple registration process will allow you to gain access to exclusive content, add your own topics and posts, share your work and connect with other members through your own private inbox! And don’t forget to say hi!
Currently using Leica 15/3.5 (need to sell for a 19 or 21), 50/2, 90/2 and 180/2.8. Need to get an adapter for my 35-70/4 ROM now that he lists it as an approved lens.Anyone tried Leica R with the Leitax replacement mounts? I understand several of the lenses (19mm current, maybe even 35Lux)
No problem with the ROM zooms, just have to do a little surgery on the lens to bury the wires. Not a big deal compared with what the Canon guys are doing to clear the mirror.figures out a way to fit the ROM zooms.
Thank you very much for your reply. Really appreciate your input. Forgive me for asking more questions. I am struggling with the decision whether to go Canon or Sony with my R glass. I would like to use all my R glasses. The 19 current vers, 35 Lux, 80 Lux, and the two f4 ROM zooms 80-200, 35-70.Currently using Leica 15/3.5 (need to sell for a 19 or 21), 50/2, 90/2 and 180/2.8. Need to get an adapter for my 35-70/4 ROM now that he lists it as an approved lens.
The Leitax mount is a generic mount/adapter and leaves the aperture rign pretty loose. David said that if you know what specific lens you will use a mount on he can customize it for that lens. While the mount is a quality product, I'm not blown away by the end result. He offered to tweak my mounts so they would fit better, but I really didn't want to take them off and ship everything back to Spain for an undetermined period of time.
I also am using a Minolta 35-70/4 and it is a decent lens. Wish it went down to 28, wish it had a closer min. focus distance, and wish it handled flare better, but overall I'm quite pleased with it.
No problem with the ROM zooms, just have to do a little surgery on the lens to bury the wires. Not a big deal compared with what the Canon guys are doing to clear the mirror.
I hope it’s OK if I join in. I am seriously looking into getting an 850 and have many of the same questions as durrIII. The 24-105 looks like a good first lens for my needs. Is there any difference between a Minolta version and a Sony version? I see the Minolta version at KEH for an acceptable price. Is this lens noisy?
I have the a850, and I've been a Minolta/Sony user for the past 6 years. I have no eperience with the 24-105, but you might check Dyxum or Kurt Munger (http://kurtmunger.com/lens_reviews_id21.html).
Munger is strong on the Minolta 28-135 "I really like the Minolta AF 28-135mm lens, and would prefer it over the Sony 24-105mm F/3.5-4.5. At the time of this review, I think the Minolta AF 28-135mm F/4-4.5 is the best walk-around lens for a Sony full frame camera; are you listening Sony?".
I can recommended the Tamron/Minolta 28-75 f/2.8. I also like the Sigma 20 f/1.8 and the Sony 50 f/1.4. The new Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 HSM is well regarded (and compares well to the Sony CZ 24-70).
After the 24-105 the next choice is between selling off existing toys and going for the Zeiss 135/1.8 or adapting some of my Leica R lenses to alpha mount (Leitax). I know most of you have good things to say about the Zeiss but does anyone have any experience with adapted R lenses? The Zeiss has auto focus, which in the end maybe the determining factor but the 135 is huge/heavy. I really like my R lenses (24, 50 cron, 80, and 180 telyt) and would like to get more use out of them.
Your R lens collection would seem to make the Leitax solution attractive. Of course, if you're not a manual focus shooter... . I think I'd have to consider the resale value of the Leica lenses and investing in Sony CZ lenses. On the other hand, I'm personally intending to purchase several Contax CZ primes and mount them with the Lietax adapter. Contax lenses seem to be a bargain compared to the Leica R's.
Perhaps off topic but what is the best way to go for flash (F58 or F42)? I am an amateur (probably quite obvious by now) but I use flash fill on travel photos a lot and I do some portraits. So the ultimate studio set up is not important but price, flexibility and size are.
The Sony HVL-f20am flash would be an excellent solution for you. http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/sony-hvlf20am-bought-heres-a-report_topic49630_page1.html
Regards,
Graham
Alan, I went with Sony because I liked the feel of the body and ergonomics, the overall look of the images, and Sony's apparent commitment to image quality over gadgets I don't want. The lenses were secondary.
The lens mount is very solid, but it does not exert as much pressure on the aperture ring as the stock Leica mount giving a bit of play in the ring. David said that the adapters are designed to work on all lenses, some of which required a little play. If you ask, he can adjust the mount for the individual lens.