johnvanr
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 p.3 #16 · Are alt lenses just a distraction? | |
rscheffler wrote:
I feel where you're coming from. I've used the M system now for about 15 years and it was my main travel system for most of that time. Part of the reason was my 'work' DSLR system consisted entirely of very large, integrated grip Canon 1D series cameras that I grew less and less fond of carrying around casually. I didn't want the attention they often garnered and was getting tired of the size and weight. While there were smaller DSLR body options, like the 5D series, the performance of those cameras was sluggish compared to the 1D series while not being all that much more compact or all that much less expensive to serve strictly as a casual camera.
While it might seem ironic to spend more than a 1D camera for an M and a lot more than most Canon EF lenses for Leica's own M lenses, I really enjoyed how the M addressed its niche as a compact, high image quality FF system. And I really liked the rangefinder focusing system.
Like you, I added various 'alt' lenses to the M system. While I have a collection of them, I don't really consider Zeiss ZM or Voigtlander VM as 'alt'. Rather, I think vintage LTM, Contax, Canon, Nikon lenses do. And I also collected (and still have) quite a few of those. Particularly 50s. I think I'm already an outlier among M users in that my typical walk around kit consists of four lenses - 21, 28, 50 and 90. Sometimes I'd even include 35 rather than replacing the 28. And/or on rare occasions I would bring along the VM 15 v3. Most of the time, that core kit was all current/modern Leica/VM glass, even though I had a range of 'alts' to rotate into the mix. I always felt I'd potentially miss out on something for which I would prefer modern technical performance if I didn't have the modern glass at hand. Sometimes I'd bring a 50s era Zeiss 50/1.5 Sonnar to augment the 50 Lux ASPH. But then the bag would fill up too much even for my liking.
Things changed for me somewhat over the past few years. Mirrorless finally consistently outperformed top-end DSLRs and relatively small cameras like the Canon R5 series became powerhouses that the old 5D series never even came close to achieving. With a camera like the R5II (or Z8, a1), AF, fps, sensor performance all significantly outperform what only recently I needed a 1D series camera to achieve. And it's in a small, relatively light package. With a stacked sensor, true silent shooting capability, highly accurate and flexible AF, high frame rate when I want it, and IBIS. All that, combined with native RF mount lenses that eclipse what was available 10 years ago, and I really don't feel like I need or want to adapt non-native lenses. Like you apparently, I like to work fast. And native RF lenses allow that, particularly some really excellent zooms. I was always a frequent lens changer and really appreciate the flexibility and prime-like performance I get out of these zooms.
As you probably recall, I ended up getting the Shoten M mount to Canon RF chipped adapter over a month ago. So far I have not used it beyond testing to confirm it works. I'm still kind of undecided what lenses I actually want to adapt to Canon RF from my M collection. It will probably be longer lenses, such as the 90 APO ASPH and Nikkor 10,5cm f/2.5 LTM. Or the various 50s I have. I guess I just have to put a few in the bag and take them out. But the initial inclination is always to grab the Canon RF zooms, even for casual walks. I think I just have to force myself to bring one or two alts along.
It's one of my favourite times of the year now as trees are just in the process of budding and I love how light filters through the forest canopy in early spring. The Canon RF lenses faithfully render these scenes with great sharpness and clarity. But when I revisit similar images I previously created with the M system, I do think the unique rendering of some of the M lenses added a certain degree of character through their subtle imperfections that I find visually appealing.
I'm kind of hooked on mirrorless's IBIS and the ability to work handheld at low ISOs, stopped down and at marginal shutter speeds that I'd otherwise need a tripod for the M system, eliminating some/much of that system's compactness. As a result, for casual walk around, I haven't used the M much lately, always grabbing the Canon instead. Certainly I could revisit this or even bring along both systems because the M kit is in a small bag and try some side-by-side shooting rather than adapting M glass to the Canon system. The Shoten adapter's process of 'registering' the current lens on the camera for each lens swap is slightly annoying. I used to sometimes bring along a telephoto paired DSLR (for the AF) to augment the M system. This time the M could augment the Canon mirrorless system via a few alt lenses to contrast the modern rendering of the Canon RF glass... Or I could just use the Shoten with M glass on one Canon body and native RF lenses on another...
Some decisions to make.  ...Show more →
I have used the Shoten adapter now quite a bit. Even bought a Canon R8, which now gives me a small light camera to use with the M lenses. While setting up isn’t ideal, I do enjoy the combo. I will sell the M11. The irony now is that the 28mm Typoch I bought recently in the RF mount is now more difficult to focus on my RF cameras than the M lenses. Of course, color fringing is an issue with some lenses, but I don't shoot landscapes with my M lenses anyway.
But I'm also wondering about just adding the 16-28mm f/2.8 zoom and the 45mm f/1.2 lens. Both are small, relatively affordable. When it comes to the M lenses, it's really the question which ones offer something special, esp. since I'm also leaning toward my MFT system more than before, so I have the smaller system.
When I first bought the M lenses, it was because I found MFT limiting in situations where a small M lens on a FF camera would show benefits. MFT has improved since then, as has the software to deal with noise.
In short, M lenses that render pretty much like the first-party lenses aren't needed in my kit anymore. Those that offer something special still have their place.
I want to keep a FF system, though, because I do like to use most of the older lenses at their intended focal lengths.
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