About Rangefinders, Leica Elmarit’s, Minolta Rokkor’s, Speed Boosters and more…

This is my last post before the end of 2023, followed by a short break. I want to thank all my loyal readers and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

Events in someone’s life and family can influence many things, as I have experienced in recent months. Everyone has their own way of dealing with uncertainty. In my case, it sparks my G.A.S. – Gear Acquisition Syndrome. Items on the wishlist, whether within or beyond reach, become harder to resist. Yet, this is also a valuable lesson in self-control. I only buy when I am truly, and I mean truly, certain.

Unfortunately, I’m quite easy to convince 🙂

Rangefinders have always been near the top of my wishlist. Although I dabbled in Russian and Japanese Barnac-type rangefinders and owned an original Fuji X100, I never went further. However, the Olympus E-PL cameras in the “Tiny Camera and Lens Project” , like the one in the header, rekindled my desire for a (true) rangefinder. I won’t dwell on the story, but the bottom line is that a Leica rangefinder of the M type seems unlikely due to their exorbitant cost, and I realize I would use it too infrequently. However, there’s the more affordable Leica CL and other non-Leica alternatives like the Minolta CLE, and also digital versions like the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 or 2 and the Olympus Pen-F.

And so I cast a fishing line on various websites in the form of a search function for Leica CLs, Minolta CLEs and Olympus Pen-Fs.
I preferred the Pen-F, because developing 35mm film and then transferring it to digital seems too much hassle now, and I don’t really want to go back to Fujifilm.
And so I had to wait for an “affordable” bite on the bait !
Luckily that didn’t take long, I found a nice black Pen F with some miles on the shutter, but, I know I’m not buying it as a primary camera, and that matters a lot.
So, now I have to wait for delivery.

As I was writing this all down, there was also another project brewing in my head, because a rangefinder camera also needs a lens, and the dream was a Leica, so how did this all fit in with the rest , well …

Initially, the idea emerged during a conversation with a friend about rangefinders and Leica cameras. We debated the famed “Leica Image” and whether it was created by the camera, the lens, or both. Leica cameras are technologically advanced, and their precision in exposure undoubtedly influences the result. However, unless digital, they’re essentially film boxes. Thus, the cherished “Leica Image” mainly results from the lens used. Now, imagine having a Leica lens on a Pen-F, and for that matter, on any camera.
Wouldn’t that be great !

But again there’s a catch: Leica lenses are also expensive, very expensive ! However, there are Leica SLR lenses, type R, that are somewhat more affordable, and also Minolta Rokkor lenses, even cheaper, which some claim are the same or comparable to certain Leica lenses, and perhaps even better, at least according to a few Leica renegades. There is debate about who made what— some say Minolta made lenses for Leica, others claim Leica provided the design Minolta only the glass. However, I will shed more light on the matter in a next post.

So, in the end, I transitioned from having a Leica rangefinder on my wishlist to acquiring a digital Olympus Pen-F along with a set of Minolta lenses. Not a bad outcome I think.

Anyway, I have plenty of new and old lens material available for testing and review, for the new year 2024. Including the Mitakon 28mm f5.6 a Voigtlander Clone, a Brightstar 10mm f5.6, and the Kamlan 15mm f2.8. I am also thinking of a side-by-side comparison between the Minolta MC and MD Rokkor 28mm lenses. Additionally, I am testing two zoom lenses, one of which is an alternative to, or is the Leica Vario Elmar’s 35-70mm : the Minolta MD Mark III 35-70mm and MD Mark III 24-35mm, a great all-rounder.

Christmas came early this year, and on an auction I won a Limited Edition – TTArtisans 28mm f5.6, a Summaron Clone. An all-copper lens with copper lens caps. Only 500 were made, and I have number 364. Can’t wait to test it out !

Exciting and fun testing weeks/months are ahead, with many anticipated reviews for MFT enthusiasts and creative minds !

I hope to see you all again in 2024 !

*** Merry Christmas and Happy New year ***

La Gallerie

The photo gallery of Open Source Photography, Olympus micro 4/3 system, Vintage Lens Photograpy, Film Simulation, PictureFX, HDR – Photographer : Marc R.