Created a hybrid Nikon-Leica camera, boasting an endearing imperfection that I adore.
Sebastian Oakley, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an expert in equestrianism, has an eclectic interest in various formats of photography. He is known to use products by Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar, but in his spare time, he prefers his trusted Leica M-E or Leica M2 for Street/Documentary photography, often shooting in Black and White.
Recently, Oakley has been experimenting with an unconventional setup, combining a Leica M-E camera with a 1960s Nikon Nikkor-H 50mm f/2 lens. This combination offers some distinct benefits, as well as notable challenges.
Benefits
The Nikon Nikkor-H 50mm f/2 is a classic manual-focus prime lens, known for its good optical performance and character. When paired with the Leica M-E's rangefinder style, it can produce unique images, often appreciated for artistic and vintage-inspired photography.
The manual control offered by both the lens and camera provides a tactile shooting experience, which is appreciated by many photographers who enjoy precise control. Additionally, the 50mm f/2 lens is relatively compact, aligning well with the compact form factor of Leica rangefinder cameras like the M-E.
Challenges
However, using the Nikon lens on a Leica M-E presents several challenges. The Nikon lens uses the Nikon F mount, which is a bayonet mount designed for SLR cameras with a longer flange focal distance. The Leica M-E is a rangefinder with a shorter flange distance, requiring a specialized adapter. This adapter can be bulky and affect handling ergonomics.
Moreover, focusing through the rangefinder patch is not possible due to the differences in flange distances. All focusing must be done by distance scale or with live view (if available), which is less convenient.
Metering and exposure are also challenging. The Leica M-E does not have TTL metering compatible with Nikon lenses, and the lens aperture and focus information are not communicated to the camera body. This means that photographers will likely need to meter externally or rely on manual exposure settings.
Finally, the differences in lens design and element placement between Nikon SLR lenses and rangefinder lenses can lead to unexpected optical performance such as vignetting or focusing aberrations.
Despite these challenges, Oakley finds joy in making the unusable work with the adapted Tamron lens. He believes that the lack of live view and real-time focus confirmation can lead to magic in photography. The combination of the Leica M-E camera and the adapted Tamron lens offers him freedom, allowing him to use his beloved Leica CCD sensor and hold onto a piece of his Nikon past.
The Nikkor-H 50mm lens is praised for its sharpness, beautiful rendering, and the unique quality it adds to images, described as a "glow" or "3D pop". The combination of this lens with the Leica M-E camera is considered "oddly beautiful" and "magical".
In summary, while using a Nikon Nikkor-H 50mm f/2 on a Leica M-E allows access to a beloved vintage optic with manual control and compact size, it requires an adapter that complicates ergonomics, disables rangefinder focusing, and limits metering integration. It is best suited for photographers comfortable with manual exposure and focusing methods.
[1] Nikon Nikkor-H 50mm f/2 Lens Review [2] Using Nikon Lenses on Leica M Cameras [3] Leica M-E Review [4] Nikon Nikkor-H 50mm f/2 Lens on Leica M-E
- Sebastian Oakley, even with his affinity for various photography formats and high-end gear like Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar, has recently been experimenting with an unconventional setup: a Leica M-E camera combined with a 1960s Nikon Nikkor-H 50mm f/2 lens.
- The Nikon Nikkor-H 50mm f/2 lens, a manual-focus prime lens known for its good optical performance and character, provides unique imagery when paired with the Leica M-E's rangefinder style.
- However, this combination presents several challenges: an adapter for compatibility between the Nikon F mount and the Leica M-E's shorter flange distance, difficulties in focusing, metering, and exposure, and potential optical anomalies such as vignetting or focusing aberrations.
- The Leica M-E and the adapted Nikon Nikkor-H 50mm f/2 lens, though demanding precision and manual control, offer Oakley a sense of freedom, allowing him to incorporate a beloved vintage optic with the Leica's CCD sensor and retain a piece of his Nikon past.
- The resulting combination has been characterized as "oddly beautiful" and "magical", with the Nikkor-H 50mm lens applauded for its sharpness, beautiful rendering, and unique quality, which adds a "glow" or "3D pop" to images.
