Tag: Leica M

Leitz Auction: Leica Vario-Elmar-M 3.5-5.6/28-75mm Aspheric Prototype – Commentary

https://www.leitz-auction.com/auction/en/auktion34/auction37/article/227.html

Leica Vario-Elmar-M 28-75mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspheric Prototype

Leica Vario-Elmar-M 28-75mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspheric prototype. Image courtesy of Leitz Auction.
Leica Vario-Elmar-M 28-75mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspheric prototype. Image courtesy of Leitz Auction.
Leica Vario-Elmar-M 28-75mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspheric prototype. Image courtesy of Leitz Auction.
Leica Vario-Elmar-M 28-75mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspheric prototype. Image courtesy of Leitz Auction.
Leica Vario-Elmar-M 28-75mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspheric prototype. Image courtesy of Leitz Auction.

“One of only three existing Vario-Elmar-M lenses. It has been designed in Germany in 2012 and was conceived as a universal lens replacing the Tri-Elmar 28-35-50. In contrast to the Tri-Elmar, the Vario-Elmar-M is a true zoom construction producing a sharp image also between the four hard stops. The production of the final-stage prototypes has been outsourced to Japan, but because of the complexity of the mechanical and optical design the project was cancelled in 2015. Only three lenses have been finished and met the quality standards set by Leica engineers. The lens bears the Leica order number 11669 and comes with a special screw-type prototype hood 12469.

It is one of most special modern constructions from Leica.”

Commentary

Leica Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21mm f/4.0 Aspheric three-in-one wide angle prime lens, often referred to as the WATE aka “Wide Angle Tri-Elmar”.
Leica Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm f/4.0 Aspheric three-in-one medium prime lens, often referred to as the MATE aka “Medium Angle Tri-Elmar”.
Leica Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm f/4.0 Aspheric three-in-one medium prime lens, often referred to as the MATE aka “Medium Angle Tri-Elmar”. Image courtesy of B&H.

Collectors of Leica cameras, lenses and accessories need to be very well-heeled to effectively pursue their hobby and there is no better indication of just how well-heeled than the prices fetched at Leitz Auctions.

We met one such collector some years ago in the form of Paul-Henry van Hasbroeck surrounded by more Leica products than we could count.

Clearly, he’s not the only one.

Leica cameras and lenses continue to be beautifully designed and manufactured, handcrafted in effect, and well worth their purchase prices brand new or secondhand if you are willing to forgo many of the bells and whistles to which most photographers have become accustomed nowadays.

The Leica Vario-Elmar-M 28-75mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspheric never left behind its prototype stage and if it had proven manufacturable then it would have been an admirable successor to the Leica Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm f/4.0 Aspheric and a fine companion to the Leica Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21mm f/4.0 Aspheric.

Links

  • B&H Affiliate Link – click here to research and purchase or pre-order your choice of cameras, lenses and accessories for stills photography and video production whatever your genre and subject matter.
  • B&H Affiliate Link – Leica
  • Leica Camera – website
  • Leitz Auction – website

Breathe Easy in Swing, Shift, Tilt on Fujifilm GFX 50S with Cambo Actus-GFX Mini View Camera

Photography and video hardware manufacturer Cambo has announced the availability of its bellows-based swing, shift and tilt solution for the Fujifilm GFX 50S medium format mirrorless camera system, the Cambo Actus-GFX. The Actus-GFX appears to be a GFX 50S-adapted version of Cambo’s Actus Mini View Camera designed for a range of mirrorless cameras. 

cambo_gfx50s_view_camera_01_1572px

The Cambo Actus-GFX is excellent news for those of us photographing architecture, still-life, food, portraits and other subjects demanding fine control of focus points and perspective via camera movements.

View cameras using 4″x5″ sheet film, Polaroid Type 55 instant positive/negative film and 120 roll film were my preferred camera type for portraiture during the analog era and I miss their ability to swing, shift or tilt front and rear standards to control the plane of focus.

My emotionally intense portraits with just two points in sharp focus such as a reflection in one eye and the tip of a lower lip became popular during my magazine portrait career and they could only be done using view cameras.

I am grateful that Cambo has seen the need for technical view cameras in the digital era and has created the Actus Mini View Camera to take advantage of mirrorless cameras like the Fujifilm GFX 50S as well as other cameras such as Canon’s EOS and M series, Nikon F DSLRs, Leica M rangefinders and Sony E-mount, Pentax K-mount, Fujifilm X-mount and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras.

The Cambo Actus Mini View Camera lens mount range currently includes lens plates for Canon EF, Nikon F, Leica R, Hasselblad, Mamiya RB/RZ, Mamiya 645 Pro TL and Pentax 645 35mm and medium format lenses.

The Cambo website has not yet been updated with further information about the Cambo Actus-GFX Mini View Camera but that should be coming soon. It will be useful to know which lenses work well with the Actus-GFX and Fujifilm GFX 50S camera combination.

I might also point out that view camera systems have their uses in movie production and are a more versatile alternative to the tilt/shift lenses found in DSLR camera systems.

Links

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  • Cambo ACTUS-GFX View Camera Body with Fujifilm GFX Bayonet Mount (Black) – B&H
  • Fujifilm GFX 50S Medium Format Mirrorless Camera (Body Only) – B&H
  • Fujifilm GFX 50S Medium Format Mirrorless Camera with 63mm Lens and Battery Grip Kit – B&H