Shooting with old lenses - Leica SL2-S
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- Shooting adapted manual focus lenses with my friend Rosie.
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FM 7 presets: www.forrestmankins.com/fm7
Camera:
Leica SL2-S
Lenses:
Leica R summicron 35mm
Zeiss c Sonnar 50mm 1,5
Nikkor AI-S 50mm 1.8 (Japanese version)
Nikkor AI-S 105mm 2.8 macro
All adapted using Urth adapters
I bought a used Leica SL a few years ago with the idea of using my M-series lenses on it. Although I had dismissed the SL at first just for its size, for the prices for these used SL cameras, using it with smaller manual lenses, and with modern features, it’s been a great value and I can say a joy to use. I bought my son a vintage film Pentax camera to get him started in photography, and that turned into a game changer for me. I discovered vintage Takumar lenses on the SL, with Rayqual adapters M42 and LM-LA it has turned into a nice system. First thing about the camera itself; the SL cameras uses a very thin cover glass which works well with vintage lenses. The bright high-resolution EVF is great with focus and seeing what a vintage lens is doing, and the one push zoom-in makes precise focus easy. Although weather sealing and auto-focus with a modern Leica or Sigma lens would be nice, with a vintage lens that larger camera comes in much more compact and ‘doable.’ Adapted Lenses; I have my set of vintage Leica lenses, but adding anything more ‘Leica’ can be expensive. For ridiculous low prices I’ve bought the older Takumar lenses and it has been a great choice. I’ve settled on the original pre-set aperture lenses when available, the 2-ring aperture style. Just set the 1-ring to f8 and the second ring for smooth adjustment and seeing the lens bokeh and depth of field changing. They are very sharp, good natural color, and can also have that ‘character’ of a vintage lens. Takumar 58mm f2 ‘Sonnar design’ a really beautiful lens, Macro-Takumar 50mm f3.5 focus to 1:1 and very sharp, 135mm f3.5 a nice lens in every way, 200mm f4 also very sharp, 35mm f2.3 (no pre-set on this) is a bokeh monster. Besides excellent built and image quality we’re talking prices in the $20-150 range for most vintage M42 Takumar lenses. The only disadvantage I have run into is the time it takes screwing them on and off the adapter.
Thinking about doing the same with Takumar and R-lenses. I can get similar look with Fuji but I am hoping full sensor will help IQ. Thoughts?
I loved the build and image from the m42 rakumars, with the 85mm 1.8 being my favorite!
@@martindemanable Just got 28 mm STak paired with XT3, I love the Mat highlights. Great for B&W.
More of this kind of videos please! Love to watch how you work in the field. Super interesting video!
thanks so much for the feedback! that's awesome to hear and we have more of that coming!
Love the mindset shift of thinking as marketed "limitations" to be the very things that often make us more intentional with our photos. Been adapting some of my old olympus film lenses onto my fuji XT4 and loving it! Big fan of "character" lenses
It's completely true, being deliberate and using our brain is an advantage, not an impediment! I bet that is a super fun setup
I also have a Leica SL2 S, and I only shoot with my M mount jewels, summilux 50, summilux 35, Sumicron 50, APO Sumicron 90 and a lovely SUPER-ELMAR-M 18mm f 3.8, clearly all manual lenses and I have rediscovered the pleasure of photography after running the last 30 years with automatic cameras. I sold all my CANON gear, and move into the Leica world but with only manual lenses, and I can not be happier!!!!
most criminally underrated channel on youtube!
It does not matter!!! what does matter is that subscribers value Forrest's work... well, I speak for myself, I don't know if Forrest is interested in having many subscribers 😅
thank you both so much - I am so thankful to have people here who want to see what we are creating, and the channel is just getting started
Forrest...I enjoyed your video. Keep them coming! I love my SL2-S with manual Leica m and Zeiss zm lenses. They rendering characteristic of each lens is unique and that intrigues me for the image goals I have in mind. Technological advances in photography over the past 25 years has been astounding pushing the boundaries of image creation into realm of science with processors, sensor technology and now AI that almost anyone can pick up a camera or phone and just snap pictures. The art of photography is losing out to technology. My young adult children are both mid distance runners. I often photograph their meets with my Leica SL2-S and manual m lens and capture photos to the amazement of spectators and photographers utilizing Nikon Z9, Sony A1, Canon R5 etc.
I have an SL2-S that I shoot with a 50mm summicron V5. It’s my favorite way to use the camera. I’m subbing.
I got a vintage canon lens for my Nikon Z5 and it honestly made me fall in love with photography all over again. I only use it for personal work but it's made such a difference to how I shoot my subjects, much more purposeful. It looks beautiful too!
Those old canon lenses are gorgeous! and still (relatively) inexpensive somehow! Having the same sort of experience over here.
This was great! Love the combo!
thanks so much! yeah it's a really fun and simple setup. enjoying it immensely
@@ForrestMankins I can imagine 👌
the color and texture of this video resembles the way you edit your photos because it looks like film, super cool!!!
All thanks to Etienne! He created this and did an amazing job with it.
Great video! I’ve been looking around for good adapted lens options for my new (to me) SL2-S. I think I will definitely be trying out that 105mm. That 6x7 800 Warm Shadows preset in your film pack is my new favorite starting point too.
Last year I started experimenting with a vintage Canon EF 70-200 manual focus adapted to my Canon mirrorless and I have fallen down the rabbit hole of vintage lenses and can’t wait to try more. I totally agree that it’s the best of both worlds - especially when paired with film style presets like yours. I love the character I can get from images without the expense and inconveniences of shooting film. Thanks for the tips on using manual focus though, I do struggle with that at times. I always think about how few decades ago these types of lenses were all even the pro’s had access to and they made the limitations work, so there’s got to be ways to do it.
So great to hear - I do feel like it's the best of both worlds, and it's rekindled my every day photography for sure, and makes me put more creativity into actual "shoots." are you using a programmed button to zoom in to focus? That's how I'm doing it
Great video, I love using manual lenses on my digital cameras. I've found that its also made me a better and more intentional photographer
Thank you Lukas! That's really what it feels like over here too, having a blast with it.
Moments I’m glad to have subscribed to Forrests CZcams page even though he doesn’t post as often 😁
thank you! new video out this coming sunday, and the sunday after that, etc.
Thank you!
Goal achieved. 👌
I have mostly older Leica M lenses on M film cameras. Digital needs are served well on a Sony A7Rii. I simply adapt the old lenses.
There's also an entire Hasselblad system, with bodies, lenses and accessories for a range of tasks. I still look out for that occasional special lens for the Leica. .. a portrait gem.
Your images shared here are an inspiration, thanks.
An area of work demanding criticality perfect results, that I still work with, is artwork reproduction. Some is as steps within printmaking processes, and other for publications. Then lenses have very special requirements, such as zero distortion.
Cheers, Kevin.
Thank you so much! Right you are on all fronts - and sometimes there is definitely a need for just straight optical perfection, no "character," etc, you don't want anything to be changed or lost in capture. Thank you for the great comment!
Love your style and how you shoot. Thanks for the videos. To solve the problem with the minimum focal distance on M lenses just google for the 7Artisans LM-L close focus adapter. It's a helicoid adapter. Have fun!
Thank you so much! I got a close focus adapter and am even more excited about m glass! I'll probably make a video with it once I have some real photos to share
Just bought the origional SL for adapting vintage lenses. You will get better results adapting vintage glass on a Leica body than say a Sony, Canon etc because leica has a thinner sensor stack and a microlens array that is optimized for adapted glass. All I have right now is a Minolta 58mm 1.4 but I'm trying to hunt down some good copies of the Solviet Jupiter 8 and 9 lenses which really have a vintage look. I bought a 1952 Jupier 8 on ebay and the glass was perfect but the focus ring was nearly seized.
As a guy using nikkors, I approve this and the techniques you said are spot on. And the place is what sets the photos alive plus the model of course.
thank you! they are super great lenses, I think that 105mm macro is my most used lens these days
From your video, photos look tasty, I will definitely try to acquire one.
I have a number of vintage lenses that I shoot on my Nikon Z6. Brands are Sunpack, Minolta, Konica, Yeshica, Montgomery Ward and Hexagon.
I use a Sl2 and a M10 monochrom and often use the m lenses on the SL2. and i have a 1950´s 35mm Summaron f3.5 i love. so small pretty sharp, but with lots of character.
Regularly use a 50mm close focus summicron m lens on my SL - probably my favourite vintage/digital combo ❤
I'm so keen to try one of those! What a cool setup!
@@ForrestMankins cool but very capable 👍
I’ve been goofing around with slow aperture wide angle Takumar glass on an EOS R adapted with a Urth M42/RF adapter and been pretty happy as well as a K/RF for a 1.4/50 SMC Pentax-M.
Also, I’ve recently tried a Nikon Z5, FTZ-II, and early 1960’s non-Ai lenses. The only disappointment there is the 2/50 shot wide open has a “smear” look occasionally with fine textures. The rest have been very very good. (3.5/28, 3.5/35, 1.4/50, 1.8/85, 2.x/105 Sonnar)
Fuji was a failure for me due to EVF/peaking challenges. Third party M to X adapters were universally a failure, the Fuji one acceptable save for the challenges above.
I *wish* an SL2-S was in my budget given the gorgeous, effective EVF. Someday! 👍👍
Stumbled into your channel today. Really helpful to see/hear your thought process on lensing. I was smitten by the SL2-S last year and I’ve been wondering about the SL 35 (non-APO). How do you like it? I splurged with the 50 and 75 Crons but I’ve been thinking about this one. How do you feel about it vs the similar third-party lenses?
Absolutely loved the video and the vibe it presents. The topic is exactly something I was looking for. MF lenses on SLxx body. I have a lot of older lenses such as M mount, leica R, CY, Nikon AIS lenses and I've collected them for their uniqueness. I am planning to get an SL body considering the price today for a body that is minimalist and robust with a very good EVF and battery life and a comfortable MP count. How is your experience with the SL2-s? Good hit rate with the focus peaking for large aperture lenses? EVF clear for precise focusing? If anyone has any experience and would like to share, that'd be great.
Love this - I am very curious how does vintage lenses work and look on the Leica SL2-S for video.
we'll have to film some with them, I think they look beautiful!
I have just discovered your channel. I have a bunch of vintage lenses and I am on the fence for the Leica SL2-S. I also shoot with my Leica M rangefinders (both digital and film). So naturally, all my M glass should work nicely with the SL2-S. But I want to try out my Zeiss and Meyer Optik SLR lenses on the SL2-S. I have heard good things about its sensor. Does it produce good skin tones right off the bat just like the Canon? (Incidentally I also shoot with Canon 5D MarkIV along with a bunch of EF lenses).
Thanks for the great video. One remark: you often make her laugh, but forget to capture her beautiful smile. You often make a joke after taking the shot. Maybe you can try to make her laugh while framing your talent and focusing the camera and take the shot when she exposes her beautiful smile.
Very nice video, good job
Thank you very much! It is all Etienne, he made this!
Great video! When shooting with the manual lenses on the mirrorless body, are you using focus peaking of any sort? Thanks to you I have a Zeiss Sonnar 50 1.5 set to arrive on my porch tomorrow. Will be pairing it to a Sony A7rV or A1, probably the A7rV, leave longer lenses on the A1. Feels like a waste with the AI chip in the A7rV, but I do find the color reproduction to be much better on the A7rV over the older A7rIV. I don't normally shoot people, but it might give me a good reason to learn.
As always, thanks for sharing.
I thought I would use focus peaking more, and I do have it turned on but I’m just zooming in and adjusting focus - if I were shooting more things instead of people I would probably use focus peaking more. That’s awesome! I really really like this lens the more I use it - I’ve been shooting it a ton at f2-f5.6
I always learn something new from your vids. have you ever thought of doing a photo course on Domestika or one of those?
thank you so much! just trying to be helpful. I haven't - maybe in time I'll hear from enough people to know what I should make or teach about.
I have a bunch of Minolta md lenses that I am going to start using on the Leica sl2s. Cheers. The summicron looks good 😅 it very expensive
Oh I bet those are awesome! The Nikkor glass at like f4 and smaller is suuuuuper nice too. And yeah it’s the price of a new zoom these days 🥲
Pretty good video. Why were the comparison photos only on screen for less than a second, and why did you not comment on them. I appreciate the concept but I can not come to any conclusion with so little information. Good concept; would like more commentary from you. Thanks.
Have you seen any color cast when mounting the Zeiss lenses? Adapting the Zeiss 50mm (or most m mount lens) requires a really good adapter, as it's very easy to mess up with the flange distance that could cause some weird blue cast on the mid-frame.
I have not seen that at all personally! I’m using the Urth ones (directly from their website), and have had no issues with Zeiss Leica or Nikkor lenses
When people began to adapt manual lenses to DSLRs, there was an issue with the back element reflecting off the sensor, and causing a soft bloom on images. I haven't heard of this on mirrorless cameras, but it's possible.
Nice vid! I also shoot an L-mount digital body (Lumix s5) with a couple vintage Nikkor Lenses (50mm f/1.8 and 28mm f/3.5 AI) as well as adapted m-mount Voightlander 50mm APO and 35mm Ultron
that's an awesome selection! it just has a different feeling to it, both photos and process, right?
@@ForrestMankins Definitely! Makes a huge difference to the look of the digital files, a lot less clinical imo. Also a great way to test vintage lenses with a digital body as opposed to waiting to develop film to see if there are any issues like haze or dust spots inside.
I tested a selection of Nikon, Canon, Contax/Yashica and other lenses on my Lumix S5. Objectively (no pun intended), the kit 20-60 outperformed most wide angle and standard primes for sharpness, only the Canon FD and AF Nikon 50mm running the Lumix lens close. Subjectively, it was a different story, though what the vintage lenses brought aesthetically is harder to describe. Also, the S5 is a 24mp camera, old lenses may be progressively out-gunned on a 50+ megapixel sensor, if sharpness is a consideration.
The era of lens is also a consideration, with quality lenses of a particular time performing roughly the same, and late-era autofocus lenses being closest to modern glass optically. Then there's the issue of coated and uncoated glass, triplets over highly corrected 4-element designs, deep into the rabbit hole. Suffice to say if sharpness across the frame is a prerequisite, look no further than modern mirrorless lenses with compensating elements. For portraits and character photographic subjects, old lenses definitely have a place. One caveat is prestige vintage lenses run modern lenses close for price on the used market. Nevertheless, there are lots of quirky old lenses for bargain prices if you steer clear of famous brands.
Absolutely agree - thank you for such a great comment. I hope folks watching the video will read this. Thanks for taking the time to write, it’s much appreciated!
Olympus Zuiko MC 50mm f1.4 on Sony A7ii
Try the Jupiter 85mm on the end of a Leica
have you ever used 35 mm flektogon?
no but I'll have to look it up!
Beautiful lady🎉
How's the SL2-S feeling compared to the R5?
I just want to carry it around all the time and look for pictures, loving it so much and which I had rented one years ago to try
@@ForrestMankins Love to here that
Very excited to see where it takes you. Your approach and conversation across all these videos is super inspirational. I have a 5D and 40mm+85mm on the way thanks to your little nuggets of real talk.
You barely showed any of the images from the 105! 😢
But why would you do a test with two different sensors? The Leica sensor is completely different than the Canon..
Not vintage but shooting a 28 cron and a 50 lux on a fuji body.
A Leica Summicron R is hardly considered an old lens. Try shooting with an Elmar, Hektor, or Summaron from 60 or more years ago.
I’d call 40 years fairly old. But it’s really about manual focus lenses vs new huge lenses.
Hey I’m in such a delema - so I’ve been shooting on 70d and adapted Olympus OM prime glass - and I started shoot more video sequences/ mood clips for my clients (boudoir) I also have a OM-4Ti film camera and I love the the all manual work process - but I need to upgrade my gear and the Leica SL2s seems awesome (have 3k budget max for a used body)but can I really shoot commercially with a Leica sl2s and adapted lenses ?? Would it work for a wedding with maybe one Auto focus lens - can I reall shoot video and taking full advantages of the Ibis with a non M Mount adapted lens 😅…. Would you go for the Sl2s for paid gigs and larger budget fashion/street fashion shoots 😅😅 sorry for many questions but it’s like your previous video - I can’t get myself to buy a R6ii or that lumix S5ii it just feels to much like having dinner all week with an accountant - but I need a work horse to push my perfessional work and earn my buck ;)
Here my site: www.atelierphilip.com (I’m starting to make money with my work )
Thx man would love to get your input!
And keep it up! Your video are awesome and finally match my thinking 💭 of this love for creation ! ;)
Hey! thanks for sending this - can you send this in an email please? forrest@forrestmankins.com