Does micro4/3 lens cover ff


derekj

New Member
A purely technical question. Does a typical 4/3 lens cover a ff sensor? i.e. if i mount one on a M9, would it vignette like how a DX lens would on a FX body. If so, does anyone know where i can buy an adaptor?:)
 

1. 4/3 lens cannot cover full frame. Will either shows vignette or a round circle.

2. You cannot mount 4/3 lens on M body. Even if you can, you can't focus to infinity as the flange distance for 4/3 lens is much longer than the M mount.
 

A purely technical question. Does a typical 4/3 lens cover a ff sensor? i.e. if i mount one on a M9, would it vignette like how a DX lens would on a FX body. If so, does anyone know where i can buy an adaptor?:)

Why? It will be like buying a Ferrari but mounting bicycle tires on it.
 

the m43 sensor diagonal distance (21.6mm) is only about half that of 135mm film format (43.3mm). what this means is that the required image circle of the m43 lens is also smaller than that of the full-frame.

but as hypothetical replies to hypothetical question go - the m43 flange distance (20.0mm) is smaller than that of the m-mount (27.8mm). it works the other way around, when you mount a m-mount lens on a m43 camera, by using an adaptor to hold the lens at 27.8mm away from the sensor. a few of things work in our favour in this scenario, i) the flange distance of m-lenses is longer than that of m43, ii) you can adjust aperture manual on m-lenses, iii) and m-mount lenses have full-frame image circle.

to your question, i) the opposite scenario of the lens flange distance (m43) is smaller than that of the camera (leica m), the adaptor would likely have to be recessed into the camera pass the bayonet mount, ii) you cannot manually adjust aperture on m43 lenses, and iii) the m43 lens (if it can be fitted for a properly focused image circle) would not provide a full image on a ff sensor... lastly, the lens would of course not be rangefinder coupled.

that been said, i'm not sure if there is an adaptor out there, or if one will be built in the future. but i'm not sure why you would want to mount a m43 lens on a m?
 

1. 4/3 lens cannot cover full frame. Will either shows vignette or a round circle.

2. You cannot mount 4/3 lens on M body. Even if you can, you can't focus to infinity as the flange distance for 4/3 lens is much longer than the M mount.
for 4/3, similar to the F, OM, FD lenses, the flange distance is longer than the m. however, unlike the F (even G), OM, FD, there is no way to control the aperture on the 4/3 lenses as they are electronics controlled.

edited > to correct a point on infinity focusing
 

Last edited:
the m43 sensor diagonal distance (21.6mm) is only about half that of 135mm film format (43.3mm). what this means is that the required image circle of the m43 lens is also smaller than that of the full-frame.

but as hypothetical replies to hypothetical question go - the m43 flange distance (20.0mm) is smaller than that of the m-mount (27.8mm). it works the other way around, when you mount a m-mount lens on a m43 camera, by using an adaptor to hold the lens at 27.8mm away from the sensor. a few of things work in our favour in this scenario, i) the flange distance of m-lenses is longer than that of m43, ii) you can adjust aperture manual on m-lenses, iii) and m-mount lenses have full-frame image circle.

to your question, i) the opposite scenario of the lens flange distance (m43) is smaller than that of the camera (leica m), the adaptor would likely have to be recessed into the camera pass the bayonet mount, ii) you cannot manually adjust aperture on m43 lenses, and iii) the m43 lens (if it can be fitted for a properly focused image circle) would not provide a full image on a ff sensor... lastly, the lens would of course not be rangefinder coupled.

that been said, i'm not sure if there is an adaptor out there, or if one will be built in the future. but i'm not sure why you would want to mount a m43 lens on a m?

thanks for the explaination. i ask becoz i have some lenses with my epl and it would be great if i could use the zoom lens/ultra wide angle on the rare occasion when i might want to.
 

for 4/3, similar to the F, OM, FD lenses, you can only use it like a limited macro lens, as it will not focus to infinity. however, unlike the F (even G), OM, FD, there is no way to control the aperture on the 4/3 lenses as they are electronics controlled.

I'm not sure about the rest, but OM lenses with the Novoflex adapter can focus to ∞ on the M cameras but not rangefinder coupled.
 

gommy said:
I'm not sure about the rest, but OM lenses with the Novoflex adapter can focus to ∞ on the M cameras but not rangefinder coupled.
you're absolutely right doc. sorry, I was thinking of the m lenses on f mount when I made that comment regarding infinity focus. all of the f, om, and fd have longer flange distances than the m-mount.
 

you're absolutely right doc. sorry, I was thinking of the m lenses on f mount when I made that comment regarding infinity focus. all of the f, om, and fd have longer flange distances than the m-mount.

You probably could do plenty with the M9 and M8 with all those lenses, but the only problem really is that the M9/M8's electronics aren't up to the task when you compare them against M4/3. There is no live view for example, and you can't magnify a portion of the image in live view.
 

1. 4/3 lens cannot cover full frame. Will either shows vignette or a round circle.

2. You cannot mount 4/3 lens on M body. Even if you can, you can't focus to infinity as the flange distance for 4/3 lens is much longer than the M mount.

Sorry, realized my misleading info.

You can get infinity focus with the m body. But not with the other way round.

Thanks the moderator and gommy for correcting this.
 

I'm not sure about the rest, but OM lenses with the Novoflex adapter can focus to ∞ on the M cameras but not rangefinder coupled.

I used to have a Canon F lens to LTM adapter but I can only do zone focus but Canon F lens on Leica?? Why on earth?
 

Sorry, realized my misleading info.

You can get infinity focus with the m body. But not with the other way round.

Thanks the moderator and gommy for correcting this.
this had nothing to do with mod duties, this is just a RFer to another in this community of sharing... ;)
 

Back
Top