Lumix Leica M Mount Adapter + Voigtländer NOKTON classic 35mm F1.4 on GF1 - Snds Ok?

This is a setup that I was thinking about getting. I figured that all I would need is an M mount adapter but wasn't sure if things should work out. Any thoughts on this? I saw a compatibility chart but it only showed a few lenses which worried me.

http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/connect/mrma.html

Any input appreciated. I look forward to owning my second interchangeable set camera. (My other setup is with canon lenses).

Thanks!

I wouldn't invest in any more lenses on the Lumix - unless you are also considering getting a film Bessamatic for your Nokton lens. Look at it this way - digital camera bodies go the way computers go - better quality and lower prices as time goes by, so eventually worth a few hundred USD give or take a few USD.
Lenses however are forever - or .. nearly.

Just my opinion - my own path:

Nikon Coolpix 990 (or was it 900? the first decent digital cam still close to a thousand USD), Canon 10D (another $1500, now worth peanuts), Sony R1(still a great cam owing to its superlative Zeiss T* lens), 20D (now worth a couple peanuts), Fuji F10, F50fd, 5D : and that's IT until the next Oly E-P2 or better Panasonic m 4/3. Similarly no more wide angle lenses for my DSLR .. since m 4/3 is at a big advantage in this area..

Check my stream for my "real" point of view
--
NYCandre - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/

yes, it should work. i have the e-p1 with a voigtlander m43 to M mount adapter that i use with a leica 50 cron and a voigtlander 50 nokton. it works great. there are plenty of folks on this forum that have similar setups using legacy lenses on m43.
--
'Too much color blinds the eye.'
-Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

I´v actually got my Nokton 35mm f/1.4 lens and adapter today! I have only taken a few shots and all of them in dim light. I´m so happy to finally have a lens for my E-P1 that can handle poor light well. It´s easy enough to focus, but I´m not very fast doing it yet. Only thing I don´t like about this lens is the nearest focus distance of 70 cm. Here´s my first test photo of my daughter (f/1.4):



PS. I can recommend http://www.chiifcameras.com for voigtländer lenses.

Regards,
Oivind Eide

-------------------------
http://www.oivindeide.no

When you say you wouldn't invest in any more lenses on the lumix do you mean m43rds lenses? Or panasonic branded lenses? You also say the lenses are forever... I too have a 10D and when I upgrade that, I'll still be able to use the 10d. If I upgrade the lumix GF1, couldn't I still keep those same lenses?

AWESOME!

ivind Eide said:

Here´s my first test photo of my daughter (f/1.4):

Click to expand...

My Nocton 40 mm f/1.4 works very well.



There is one point, though: at full aperture, in very contrasty situations, there is a "dreamy halo" surrounding the whiter parts that may be due to stry rays bouncing sideways inside.

In this forum, there was a thread about a baffle to correct such behaviour (not exclusive of Voigtländer lenses, but also seen in OM's, Leica's, etc.)

The "halo" disappears at f/1.8, so I never really bothered to try this Baffle suggestion.
--
Antonio

http://ferrer.smugmug.com/

MikeD - sorry I wasn't clear - I don't think the 4/3 lenses or other lenses with an adapter on a m4/3 is a such a good idea, UNLESS you happen to have these lenses already .. because it looks like 4/3 will die in favor of the much more differently useful m4/3. I agree that it is a debatable point, some people do like the special results obtained with different lenses .. tho considering all the fine points of digital sensors it seems an expensive hobby.

--
NYCandre - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/

I see, so do you think that one should just invest in only m43 lenses?

Well, that's what I'd do - lenses are so important for good photography.. more so than bodies, because bodies keep improving while lenses are forever. I'm not belittling the Nokton, actually have been considering one if I started shooting film with a Bessa Voigtlander. .

Actually if I'm right, in a couple years the full 4/3 lenses will be very cheap as 4/3 is being phased out for m4/3 only. A 4/3 Leica lens will be unbeatable and affordable then..
--
NYCandre - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/

nycandre said:

Actually if I'm right, in a couple years the full 4/3 lenses will be very cheap as 4/3 is being phased out for m4/3 only. A 4/3 Leica lens will be unbeatable and affordable then..
--
NYCandre - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/

Click to expand...

I don't think 4/3 will be phased out in favour of micro 4/3 as long as Olympus are still making money and good bodies for 4/3's.

A leica 4/3 lens will be less affordable if it does happen.
--
http://pix.ie/duffarama

Mike D said:

This is a setup that I was thinking about getting. I figured that all I would need is an M mount adapter but wasn't sure if things should work out. Any thoughts on this? I saw a compatibility chart but it only showed a few lenses which worried me.

Click to expand...

It'll work fine.

But honestly, I have more fun with an old Nikkor 50/1.8 (~$40) on my G1 than I do with a spanking new Nokton 40/1.4 (~$400).

The Nokton is a bit faster (but 50/1.4 Nikkors are easy enough to get) and much smaller, since the Nikon adapter is about an inch thick. I will probably hang onto it for my future GF1 or perhaps get a rangefinder someday, but I'm not sure I'd buy it again if I had to do it over again.

IMHO, the CV Nokton 35/1.4 and 40/1.4 lenses and many of the "fast 50's" can have some rough / edgy bokeh. If that is a concern to you, I can recommend the CV Nokton 50/1.5, as it has better bokeh than most fast lenses in the 40-50 mm range. It's not as compact as the CV 35-40/1.4 twins, though.