Leica Lens
Here at Leica Lens.net we’ve compiled a huge list of problem solving articles, comprehensive reviews as well as pictures and videos to help you decide on the best quality Leica Lens.
We try to show you the best deals and discounts so you can get the biggest bang for your buck. Throughout the site there are plenty of real reviews by real people that are already owners of Leica Lens.
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How Can I Find Reasonable Values For A Leica R3 35mm Camera Body And Lenses?
I have a Leica R3 35mm body and several lenses all in near mint condition with no use for them and those online "sell me your camera" sites seem way too low.
Find a Nice Digital Camera
Where are you going today? Are you going alone or together with your friends or family? Don?t forget to bring your camera. Don?t leave home without your camera. A lot of unique thing happen in the street. You can capture anything with your camera. What is your camera? Do you still have your grandfather?s camera? Many people still use SLR (single lens reflection) cameras. A SLR camera is great because you can create photography art. A professional photographer will use both digital and analog camera. If you go to the city and enter the camera shops, there are not many conventional cameras available now. Most people are preferred to use a compact digital camera. A digital camera is slim, full with features and easy to use. You don?t have to bring a big size camera and film wherever you want to take some pictures. When you need to buy a digital camera you must think about the price, brand, features, picture quality, mega pixel, services and guarantee, etc. You can choose many brands such as Kodak, Canon, Pentax, Panasonic Lumix, Leica, Casio, Nikon, Sanyo, Samsung, Sony, and other brand. A digital camera starts from 1.3 mega pixels and above 10 mega pixels. You can get a good quality picture from 4 or more mega pixel resolutions. Don?t buy a digital camera below the 4 mega pixels because the picture quality is not so good when you print your photo. Recently, Canon PowerShot, Casio Exilim, Sony Cyber-shot, Panasonic Lumix and other Chinese brand Mikona camera promote 12.1 Megapixel digital cameras. Wow... The latest digital camera also equipped with face detection technology, high sensitive ISO, anti shake, anti blur, auto focus, internal editing, and other high tech features. Also you can connect your digital camera to view full HDTV 1080p for better images. You don?t have to buy a separate video camera if you are a traveler because a compact size digital camera also equipped with a capability to make a movie. It?s incredible. Before you make a decision please consider the feature of the camera. Don?t forget to check the brochure and browse the information in the Internet. Make sure that the lenses size, zoom, and flash light, battery life, etc. fits your needs. Ask the shop owner about bonus if you choose a particular brand. Sometime they give some bonuses such as external memory or soft case. Most digital camera also include video capture capability, but make sure that you can make a video or movie with sound or audio. Video without audio is not complete. It?s a great idea if you purchase a digital camera in a promotion season. Digital cameras are now available for both professional photographers and amateur enthusiasts. A professional digital camera is expensive and the size it?s bigger than the compact size digital camera. K Setiabudi
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Top 20 Questions to Consider When Buying a Digital Camera
My top 20 key questions to ask yourself when buying a digital camera.1. How many "megapixels" /resolution?Once and for all, at least to me, you have to get the highest resolution your money can buy at the time you buy. Period.2. Who made the lens? Most cameras will give you an idea where the lens was made just by looking at the front of the lens. Know if the lens of your camera came from a reputable company like Leica, Zeiss, Canon, Etc... Lens quality is one of the most important factors you should consider especially if you're going to use it for commercial, technical or scientific purposes.3. Will I need interchangeable lenses? How many are available for my specific camera in mind?Having the option of interchangeable lenses gives you the freedom to experiment with different kinds of focal lengths. Although some P&S (point and shoot) cameras can rival DSLR's with a generous zoom range for a non interchangeable lens system. Also note the number of lenses available for use with your specific camera because of flexibility reasons. You can practically cover the entire "zoom range" with interchangeable lenses versus modest zoom ranges on non interchangeable lens systems or P&S cameras.4. Does it have a zoom capability? What's the range?Almost all applications that I listed above will need some form of zooming in (telephoto) or out (wide angle), especially if you don't have the space to move around the object you are shooting. For Landscape shots, wide angle shots are very common and appealing while zooming in on the details serves as a break and complements the wide angle shots. For weddings and events, you need a zoom because there will be times where you are limited by the shooting space and you will have a difficult time moving around. Its a good thing to know that you can do all sorts of framing without even moving from your position.A nice zoom will give you the efficiency and versatility in your photography, so my suggestion is to go for the longest range you can get (usually from a 7X to a 10X for Point and Shoots).Also note the speed of zooming in or out as this will be a factor if you're shooting events like weddings. You will fail to capture that "decisive moment" on a mediocre zoom speed.5. Does it have the provision to capture raw images?Many photographers will say you'll need this digital camera feature if you want to have big prints from your pictures. Although this is correct, the main reason why you will want this is because of the benefit it will give you...pure total control of your pictures... from exposure, color, metadata, hdr and a lot more.6. Can I attach an external flash?Having an external flash capability will give you the power and creative freedom to light your subjects any which way you like. You can connect your digital camera to all sorts of lighting equipment thus giving you more options and versatility. This comes in the form of a hotshoe or a PC-Sync socket. If your digital camera doesn't have this feature, there is still hope because accessories called flash slaves are being sold by third party companies in different flavors that will also do the same job more or less.7. Does it have a tripod socket?Some of the most beautiful landscape pictures that I've seen are undoubtedly made with a tripod, so this is a must have if you are planning to do this kind of photography.The "available light shots" in a wedding, still life and product shots, studio and fine art shots ... all need a tripod for successful execution... so guess what happens if you don't have a tripod socket?... You cannot effectively use a tripod!8. Does it have automatic and manual focusing?It will not be evident at first why you'll need this especially if you're just starting out in photography. But if you're like me... A total control freak when it comes to cameras... and you really want to express your creative side, this is definitely a must have.9. Can you attach filters to it? and what filter size?Creative expression through special effects is just one of the many reasons that makes photography fun and interesting, and experimenting with filters is one creative pursuit you should try with your photography especially if you're a beginner. Always remember to ask if the particular digital camera you are eyeing for can handle filters and ask for the filter size. (To save you from buying the right filter with the wrong filter size) Please note that most Digital SLRs should be able to to handle filters as most lenses that come with it have a filter thread built into the lens.Most P&S (point and shoot) digital cameras normally doesn't have a filter thread built-in and might need special accessories to accomplish this so you should check to know for sure.Again, there are many third party accessories that you could buy to adapt filters to your P&S digital cameras that don't have this provisions. I'll discuss all about this in a future post so watch for it. (Or subscribe to my announcement list (feed via email) so you'll know when it's up. 10. Can I upgrade the firmware?The good thing about some digital camera manufacturers is that they keep on improving their digital cameras even after they sold it to you... this comes in the form of a firmware upgrade. Usually this involves an improvement on one or many features of a camera. Be sure that the digital camera you're planning to buy has an easy way of upgrading its firmware. This comes in the form of either an easy download via the manufacturer's website (find it and bookmark it now) or a FREE CDROM.Another caveat - be sure to consider if a downgrade is also possible or available with your digital camera... Why is there a need a downgrade you ask?... Because, you may want to reinstall an earlier firmware... just in case you don't like the results from a firmware upgrade.Occasionally there's a feature that will be removed by the upgrade that you failed to read about and you decided that you just want to keep that feature instead of a bunch of trivial upgrades from the new firmware. (Yes, I personally experienced this.)11. Are there extra goodies or software that come with it?Some people ignore the fact that you can save a lot of money just by doing a simple arithmetic. Did you know that you could actually get your digital camera for a lot less if you study the deals and offers on the marketplace?If you buy a digital camera and it comes with software that you can really use... like photoshop, elements, or any other image editing software for that matter, then you already saved some money you would otherwise spend. Some dealers will throw in lots of extras... If you just simply ask.Always try to ask for these things that you'll end up buying anyway if you don't - like camera bags, extra lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, tripod, lens cleaners etc. Trust me... you will end up buying these things if you don't ask for it on the deal. What have you got to lose? Simply ASK. Would you believe that I effectively lowered one of my camera purchase cost by as much as 30%? Ask away.12. Is there Local Support in your area?Finding the answer to this one will give you a great benefit in the long run. Wouldn't you sleep better at night because you feel that extra security - that in case there is something wrong with your digital camera, you can bring it in for repair at a moments notice? Not knowing when your camera will be repaired (or if it even arrived at a distant repair facility) is one of the worst feelings a photographer can have especially if you're in the middle of a photoshoot or project.13. What type of warranty does it have? Worldwide / Countrywide?If you travel a lot its good to know that a countrywide or even better - a worldwide warranty can get your camera fixed wherever you are. Always bring the warranty card and glue it on your camera bag.14. Does it have the ability to take video and audio?I know, most DSLRs don't have this function. But some non interchangeable lens DSLRs have it. This is a very useful feature to have if you're on a project or photoshoot and want to document or record a procedure, a moment, or an idea that you would otherwise have trouble remembering or even writing. It's always a good idea to bring a P&S camera backup that have this function.The things that you could do with audio and videoclips on a photoshoot are only limited by your imagination... interviews, documentation, funny quips, training procedures, bloopers, etc..15. Does it have a manual white balance?White balance is one of the most interesting aspects of digital cameras. Its fun and fascinating to work with. Having this option puts the photography fun-o-meter way way up. In future posts, I will be discussing white balance in detail so be sure to stay tuned.16. How sensitive is it to infrared?If you're planning to make infrared pictures or enter the exciting world of Infrared fine art photography then you'll want to know if your digital camera can do it. TIP: There is a simple way to test how sensitive your digital camera is to infrared using a very common device - a TV remote control. For P&S, you can aim the remote control towards the lens and gauge how bright the LED from remote is. This should give you an idea how sensitive your digital camera is to infrared. For DSLRs you will need to take shots of the LED and experiment a little or you can simply research or google the particular camera model you have in mind for other people's experiences and thoughts about it. 17. How high is the ISO sensitivity? Is it manually adjustable?ISO sensitivity is a term referring to the sensitivity of film to light. In the digital camera world, it refers to the sensitivity of the electronic sensor in your digital camera in relation to the ISO standard used for film.The higher the ISO sensitivity of your camera the faster or better it can record a specific amount of light.High ISO sensitivity is useful for taking better pictures in dark settings... such as inside a church or at night. The higher the ISO setting, the more details you can capture of a dark scene. One caveat - take note of the amount of noise a particular camera exhibits at higher ISOs. Some people like it and some don't. Again, don't be afraid to ask or do research on the noise characteristics of your camera model in mind to see if this is the right choice for you.18. How high or low can you set the shutterspeed? What are the minimum and maximum aperture settings?Shutterspeed and aperture settings are the basic mechanisms that drive your camera and controls the amount of light that is exposed by the film or image sensor. You use high shutterspeeds in action shots and to prevent camera shake, and you use low shutterspeeds for movement effects and bulb or long exposures. You can check for these figures on the websites that I gave you in part 1. You can see it in the technical specifications for a particular camera. A bulb or "T" function is a nice feature to have because you can take exposures for virtually very long periods of time. Another feature to have is if your camera has a remote control to use this bulb or "T" mode. This gives you the capability to take pictures without holding your camera and adding to the "camera shake".With the subject of apertures, a small one (small aperture opening) lets you have a wider depth of field so your shots are sharp from near to far versus a large aperture (big aperture opening) where your shots have a narrow depth of field and appear "selectively focused".19. Does it have some form of an image stabilizer?New cameras coming out as we speak often have this feature. Simply put, an image stabilizer is some form of a mechanism built into the lens or the camera body (depending on the manufacturer and their implementation) that basically prevents you from getting blurred pictures when taking pictures in low light or you are using a long or telephoto lens. Having this feature can mean the difference between a blurry picture (aka no picture!) to a usable one.20. How close can it focus? Macro abilities?The closer your camera can focus... the bigger the picture of an object you can take in relation to the image dimensions of the final photo... and the bigger the picture of the object... the more detail you can get. If you want to take pictures of small objects such as flowers and fine details then this is a must-have.That's it. Whew.Do you really have to go over all these questions?... Of course not, but even if you only study and ponder on half of them...and take the time... I promise you that one thing will surely happen... You'll be...a lot smarter!than when you first started asking these questions... ergo you'll be in a better position to decide what digital camera to buy... Because you are now armed with the most powerful tool anybody can have the power of information!In any case, I hope you find as much value in these questions as many of my friends have and be able to get the camera of your dreams.Enjoy!
Compact cameras, the best of the best… for travelling
There are thousands of compact cameras on the market, so many functions and facilities with numerous options and settings to confuse even me; a seasoned photographer. So I would like to share with you the main features that always catch my eye when technology continues to better itself.
Compact Digital Cameras struggle to produce decent wide-angle images; most are about 34mm at their widest angle. In the old days of film this setting would have been a standard lens for reportage work.
Wide–angle: A compact zoom lens that can reproduce images at a 28mm setting will enable you to cover more area from any given point. 28mm is ideal for atmospheric interiors or group shots in tight locations. But then any lens at 28mm could show serious distortion at its edges. Carl Ziess created the best-engineered lenses for the Leica film camera range. So for me lenses that are wide-angle and built to the standard of Leica lenses will always catch my interest.
Megapixels: The bigger the better…Why? Because any shots taken with a large megapixel camera will enable you to earn money, should you choose to place your travel shots into a library (Alamy.com for example). On the internet you don’t need such a large megapixel camera but if you would like to have that work reproduced in print at a later stage the bigger the megapixel camera the better the quality. Example a 14-megapixel camera takes 14 million bites of a photograph; this figure enables the digital camera to store greater colour detail in the form of graduation of colours and enables the user to enlarge photographs at much greater enlargements.
Film speed setting: The images sensors in compact digital cameras tends to be of a quality that is optimised for Good light so the current downfall in all digital cameras is their poor ability in low light situations. Therefore I would recommend never setting the film speed on your digital camera anything more than 200 iso. The image sensors in professional 35mm digital cameras tend to cope with low light conditions better and have a reputation of not showing any visible degradation between 100 & 400 iso. Until I can find a compact that has this ability I will not use and film setting faster than 200 iso.
I currently own a Panasonic 14.7 megapixel camera the Lumix FX150. It’s not as expensive as a Leica compact camera, but it does use the same lenses that are in Leica’s compact range. It’s 28mm wide-angle, has an aperture of f2.8, which allows more light into the camera than most. It can record photographs with its ‘raw’ setting this enables me to capture the maximum dynamic range of a photograph (A jpeg is a process interpretation) and has OK sound when used in its video setting, this is ideal for my YouTube blogs.
How Best To Go About Choosing Your Digital Video Camera Zoom Lens
Okay, so you finally decided to get that digital video camera you've been saving for. You have enough money to buy a kick-butt video camera. But have you considered the most vital part for the camera? The part that comes into play with every video shot. The digital video camera zoom lens. Without a proper digital video camera zoom lens, your prized video camera isn't all it could be. You would be much better off if you spend equal amounts on the camera and the digital video camera zoom lens. The lens is that important. Your choice of lenses can distinguish between a good camera and an outstanding camera.Spend More On The Lens
The digital video camera zoom lens determines how well your videos turn out. It, more than anything else on or in the camera affects the end products. Think about it, every shot you take goes through that lens. Really the camera is just a case for the mechanisms inside. You could make a case for reversing the spending, more on the lens and less on the actual camera. Most digital video cameras don't come with the ability to change lenses. This fact makes it more important to purchase the best digital video camera zoom lens possible. Another piece of advice regarding the lens is too not purchase the plastic lenses. The clarity is much better from glass digital video camera zoom lens.
If you do plan on purchasing a video camera where you can change the digital video camera zoom lens then compare the options of each lens to find the one that you want. Experts recommend that you purchase brand names such as Canon, Pentax or Nikon. Be sure to check if the lens will work for your camera. Digital video camera zoom lenses are not created equal and a lens from Nikon may or may not work with a digital video camera made by Canon.
If you are a professional photographer, then you should check out Leica, Carl Zeiss and Leupold. These are specialty lens manufacturers. The quality of the videos will show if you use one of their digital video camera zoom lens. If you are just a beginner then these lenses may not be the best place to start, because of the cost. But if you want extraordinary quality, these digital video camera zoom lenses are the way to go.
Options for digital video camera zoom lenses include normal, wide angle and telephoto. The focal length of the lens has a lot to do with the type of digital video camera zoom lens choice. The quality of the lens is also determined by lens speed, a significant factor in your shoot quality. You should think about focusing distance as well as advanced features such as vibration reduction, USM or ultrasonic motor and filter thread which should be present in any good digital video camera zoom lens.
Before you make that digital video camera zoom lens purchase you should research each feature that you want and choose the lens that fulfils those wishes the best. As a rule of thumb, the more expensive lenses are usually the better choice since more of the elements in the lens with be glass, although this does increase the camera weight. In the end if you do the research and take into consideration your shooting needs and budget, you will make the right choice
Ideas On What You Might Get For Your Camera
The rampaging popularity of digital has gutted the secondary market for used 35mm cameras, and something like the Canon 7 once had value as a usable as well as collectible item. It seems the market is still holding steady for these, however, so you have a surprisingly valuable piece. The Canon 7 is a classic 35mm coupled rangefinder camera, basically a competitive "clone" of the Leica cameras from Germany ,they both use lenses with the exact same form of screw mount, made by Canon of Japan from 1961 to 1964.
The Canon 50mm f.95 lens was a monster, a pat-on-the-back accomplishment for the Canon engineers because of its extraordinary maximum aperture yet a truly awful optic in practice, that has far more collectible than usable appeal. A truly excellent Canon 7 with that huge lens should sell in the $500-$600 range these days. Oh, and to be complete, there's an accessory viewfinder that goes with the lens...the lens was so darn big that the normal viewfinder in the camera couldn't quite see around it! Anyway, this can be a bugger of a camera to sell because the market is rather small. If you'd like some recommendations on how best to sell it.
You have a Leica IIIa, a typical 35mm coupled ramgefinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany in 1936. It was the first 35mm camera to offer a super fast 1/1000 second shutter speed. This is a very common model, and Leitz sold over 90,000 of them from 1935 to 1939. A truly excellent example today, complete with an appropriate 5cm lens. In truly excellent condition, you would expect to get around $250 today.
The Super Baldina is a compact folding bellows camera for 35mm film, with coupled rangefinder, made by Balda of Germany from 1937 to 1940. Not a lot of collectible interest. A really fine one might get $75.
The Nikon FE, introduced by Nikon of Japan in 1978, is one of those 35mm single-lens-reflex cameras ,really one of thousands and thousands, whose current value has been gutted by the rampaging popularity of digital. Just a couple years ago, this used to have good resale value, in the $250 range, but today is a hard sell at $75.
The original Nikon F is a classic 35mm single-lens-reflex camera that maintains some value despite the rise of digital. Yours dates from about 1965. With the meter viewfinder in place, this is a Photomic prism, so you can actually call the camera a Nikon F Photomic, if everything is in excellent condition, you can probably still get about $150. That simple viewfinder, sell it seperately because they're much harder to find and the collectors want them. In excellent shape, you'll get $75 for that alone.
It's a Ernst Leitz Wetzlar 9 cm, 1:4 lens, No. 455160. With protective caps. This is a pretty common lens. Over 120,000 were made from 1933 to 1963, and yours dates to 1938. The Elmar 9cm f4 was the least expensive telephoto lens Leitz offered. A truly excellent example today only sells for about $75.
A Leica IIIf, a classic coupled rangefinder 35mm camera, made by Leitz of Germany in 1953. The Leica IIIf was important as the first completely new camera introduced by Leitz after recovering from the carnage of World War II. This is a fairly common model, with over 180,000 sold from 1950 to 1956, but it still retains some value in the collectible camera market. An excellent examples, with appropriate Elmar or Summitar 5cm lens, can sell for $300-$350.
If you would like you can always go on the internet and look up some of the auction houses, ask them questions on what ever camera you would like to try and sell and they should be able to come up with a price for you. Or you can always do the reasearch yourself and learn about cameras.
Getting A Usable Vintage Camera
You can certainly get a nice usable vintage Leica for $500 or less. However, you need to understand a few things before you choose one. Leitz made two different systems of 35mm rangefinder cameras.
The earlier system has a mount that accepts lenses that screw into the camera body (what we call 39mm screw mount, or LTM for Leica thread mount). They introduced this system in 1930 with the Leica I(C) model, and continued it well into the 1950's up to the classic Leica IIIg. Concurrently during the 1950's, Leitz introduced a new system that accepts lenses with a special bayonet mount (rather than screw in, the lens is placed against the mount lined up with a red dot and a quick quarter turn locks it in place).
This is known as the M bayonet system, which started with the superb Leica M3 and continues right up to the latest M8. Okay, for $500 you want to find a classic Leica that your fiance', who probably knows and appreciates the Leica mystique, can enjoy in his free time.
I'm talking hobby camera, not camera for his work, because a photojournalist today would be doing his job with the latest digital gear. No problem. You're on the right track looking at the Leica IIIf. It's a common model, with over 180,000 sold between 1950 and 1957, it accepts all the zillions of screw mount lenses Leitz made up to that time (and also early 39mm screw mount Canon, Nikon, and even many Russian made lenses), and there's always a bunch available on eBay.
I do not recommend the Leica IIIg; although it is a better camera, collectors keep it's price hovering in the $1000 range. I do not recommend some other common earlier models like the Leica III, IIIa, or IIIc; although they're equally common and readily available for less money, they are also just old enough to cause a lot of trouble and frustration. Among the screw mount models, the Leica IIIf is a great choice. Find one that work! Don't take a risk on an example that needs any sort of repair.
Look for one that has a bit of external personality (as long as there's no overt damage, a few rub marks or gentle dings are not a problem), the seller guarantees it all works, as it should. And the Leitz Summitry is a fine fast lens, but get the Elmer 5cm f3.5 instead if you can.
Forget the original box (collectors will PUSH the price for original boxes, but there's no advantage for you there), don't worry about a case (they fall apart, and they sometimes cause more damage to the camera because they hold in moisture), but do try to get a proper Leitz lens cap. This is your best bet for a usable vintage Leica in the $400-$500 range.
Now if you want to bend just a bit, and you'd like to explore those later M series cameras, you can probably get a 1960-ish Leica M2 with a superb Submicron 50mm f2 lens somewhere in the $500-$600 range. All the same thoughts apply in regards to condition, etc. The biggest advantage of the M series over the old screw mount series is that if your fiance' eventually wants to get a modern Leica (for work AND pleasure), any lenses he already has with the M2 would be interchangeable with the later camera.
The classic M3 is too desirable among collectors, the M1 has limited features, and you could consider stepping up for the M4 (actually it would have to specifically be the M4-2 because the original M4 has become quite collectible as well), but that model is the first of the "modern" designs. So there you have it, the Leica IIIf or the Leica M2, those are your best choices in your price range. Regarding your question about Leica values, in general, yes, all of them do increase in value.
The vast majority increases slightly ahead of inflation (over time, not right away), so not that terribly high, but certainly enough to equal money in the bank (and assuming you deal only in top condition). The historically significant models, and a few choice rare models, increase by much greater degrees, in some cases to the point of being ridiculous. Common models like the IIIf just seem to float along with the economy. So, in general, Leica cameras appear to be a good to excellent "investment".
Leica 90mm f/2.0 Apo Summicron M Aspherical Manual Focus Lens
Product Description
A fast, computed high-performance lens for portraiture and photojournalism. Also excellent for quick snapshots when you want to take pictures inconspicuously from a distance. Its high speed permits relatively fast shutter speeds that prevent blurred images caused by camera motion. With an aspherical lens surface and APO-corrected quality, this lens sets standards in the category of short telephoto lenses. Built-in sliding lens hood. 6-bit lens identification co... More >>
Leica 14409 Macro Adapter for 90mm Macro-Elmar-M
Product Description
The Leica Macro-Adapter-M was specifically developed as an accessory for the Leica Macro-Elmar-M 90mm f/4. It allows close focusing from 0.77m (reproduction ratio 1: 6,7) down to 0.5m (reproduction ratio 1: 3).When the lens is to be used in its close-focusing range from 0.77 to 0.5m, the Leica Macro-Adapter-M is attached to the camera body instead of the lens. The lens is then mounted on the adapter after rotating it, i.e. with its lower side turned up. In this posi... More >>
Leica 21mm/ f1.4 ASPH
Product Description
Leica 21mm f/1.4 Summilux-M Aspherical Manual Focus Lens - Black
* Super Wide Angle
* 6-Bit, Digital Compatible... More >>