leica m3 and visoflex

[removed account4]

hi

i was wondering if i can use my regular olde leica lenses with
a visoflex -thingy that i have? i don't have it infront of me, but
i think there is a pop up ground glass ... by attaching this to my
leica will i be able to do close up/macro "stuff", or should i still buy tubes and
strange things to put infront of my viewfinder?

thanks for all your advice!

john

 

[Dan Fromm]

John, the Viso converts a first rate RF camera into a second rate SLR. Much better for macro work than the RF camera itself, not as good as a real SLR.

FWIW, when I started out with 35 mm, one of my options was a screw mount Leica. At the time very inexpensive used, as were used lenses to fit. But I knew that I'd want to try to shoot small moving subjects -- fishes in aquaria -- closeup. I had several friends who were serious photographers and had lots of RF Leicas, M and thread mount, and lenses. Their advice, to a person, was that for what I wanted I'd be better off with a real SLR as from, e.g., Nikon. I think their advice is still good.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[naturephoto1]

Hi John,

As Dan says Visoflex is used for macro work (bellows and macro lens) as well as telephoto M series lenses or telephoto lenses (longer than 135mm) like the 400 and 560mm f5.6 and 6.8 lenses with the M series mount. The Visoflex will add weight to the camera system and has long been discontinued in its various forms.

I would say if you wish to use Leica glass in the macro or long lens range, consider getting an R4SP, R5, R6 (or 6.2), or an R7. The R8 and R9 are much more expensive, heavier and larger than the previous R cameras. The older R series cameras are more in keeping with the size of your M series cameras. If you need a mirror lock up the R7 has an unusual mirror lock system but it will work; I do not use it frequently but as I recall you have to relock it every time it is used. The R8 and R9 have a true mirror lock and both cameras have the ability to accept the Digital Module R if that is a consideration for the future.

Rich

 

[removed account4]

hi dan and rich

thanks !
i had a feeling there was a reason
why this wacky device never saw the light of day

i guess i'll stick to the pentax and l-f stuff that i already use seeing that
i don't have the $$ to buy anything more sophisticated

thanks again!
john

 

[Dan Fromm]

John, with all due respect, the 50/2.8 SMCP-A Pentax macro lens gives nothing away to any of its competitors. I got one ages ago for a friend in Costa Rica, who has since published some very satisfactor pictures taken with it.

There are many fine third-party 90 - 105 mm macro lenses in K-mount and there's always the option of using a long enlarging lens on bellows close up. I have nothing against Pentax's own 100/4, just no first-hand or good second-hand knowledge of how good it is. I certainly wouldn't refuse one if offered it as a gift.

 

[removed account4]

hi dan

thanks for the suggestions! i will keep the macro lens in mind ...

all the best
john

 

[Jim Jones]

Some Leica lenses that were great performers at normal distances are much inferior to quality macro lenses. Neither of my 50mm Summicrons has flat field sharpness when used for close-ups.

 

[John Koehrer]

I guess I gotta play devil's advocate. If you have the viso already, do you have any of the focusing mounts & longer lenses 65> to use with them? It seems like overkill to go into another system(especially Leica) if you've got the bits & pieces.
If you want to chase bugs etc. an SLR is certainly more efficient. If your shooting static items the viso is very smooth, though bulky. Use it with the mirror in the slow rasie mode & it has no vibration to add to the camera.

 

[Lee L]

You can also mount other lenses on your Visoflex. If it has an M-mount on the front you can mount M lenses or any LTM lenses (with a readily available screw mount to M adapter), including many 39mm thread enlarging lenses designed for working at shorter distances. With the prices of enlarging lenses going down, you might snag some very nice enlarging lenses and have yourself a very nice setup at attractive prices. I've tried a 45mm Apo Componon HM, a Beslon 100mm f:4.5 (made in Wetzlar), and a Steinheil 135 Culminar (same basic optical design as the 100mm Macro-Elmar R) on a Visoflex style setup that I believe was made by either Novoflex or Steinheil, and had surprisingly good results. I've had the Schneider lens for a long time, and the Beslon, Culminar, and Visoflex knockoff cost me about $100 for all three pieces at recent used camera shows.

As John mentions, the slower-working Viso setup is fine for static subjects, but not optimal for moving subjects.

Lee

 

[Dave Parker]

Just as a quick question, can someone post a picture of a viso, I have never seen one, and just made a bunch of viewing screens for someon, who just gave me the dimentions, but I don't know what the item looks like that they were going to be installed in..

Thanks.

Dave

 

[Claire Senft]

I have used an M5 with Visoflex quite extensively. All my work was done with the camera mounted on the tripod. I was not the least bit concerned with being quick. The lens heads for 90mm and longer can be mounted to the Visoflex. The 65mm black Elmar is a stunningly good lens. If you wish to work from a tripod the Visoflex and adapters used with a Bellows 2 is a first rate piece of equipment that only suffers from ease of use. The ground glass is very nice to use. If you get the appropriate adapter you will also be able to use any enlarging lens that that has 39mm threads on the bellows. The other problem when using the Visoflex on a M3 is no light metering. Actually, this is not hard to cope with.

Within the limits that I have specified, the Visoflex is, in my opinion, a first rate macro set-up.

 

[Lee L]

Dave,

Here's a place to start. There were three basic models of Visoflex, and you can read about the differences here: http://elshaw.tripod.com/Visoflex/Visoflex.html

Forgot to mention that one thing nice about the Visoflex configurations with chimney finders is their utility for copy stand or ground level work, like having a full screen high magnification right angle finder on an SLR. You can get chimney finders, 45 degree finders, and finders that mount over the body for SLR type viewing. The basic Visoflex is a mirror box in an extension tube that attaches to the lens mount on the front of the body. The mirror sends the image to a horizontal ground glass on top of the extension tube, and above that you can mount various finders. The link above will get you to an overview of the system and interchangeable parts.

I use my Viso copy on Bessa bodies with internal meters, so like Claire, I get TTL metering with my setup.

Lee

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I have an M3 with a Visoflex and a 65mm Leitz Canada Elmar in a Viso focusing mount. I use it on a tripod. Yes it's slow, but it makes great pictures!