Leica R Lens on Canon 5d Mark II

[trippingthelight]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone out there has any experience with this setup?
I was looking to buy a few Leica R lens for landscape and portrait photography in the second hand market.
I was told that you need to buy an adapter for this a preferably a chip so that the camera can use its metering system.
If anyone of you have done this (with any Canon camera and have pictures to show for it) please comment on your experience.

Thanks.

 

[pitoy]

I'm using 5d mk.1 with 35 summicron..
if you can live with manual focusing, you'll not regret it, the result is just amazing.

 

[wdEvA]

I used to have a 5D1 and the 50 summicron, with great results.

Yes, you'll need to get a leica R to EOS adapter to moun the lens, metering would be just fine
the chip, is for AF confirmation.

do note that there might be some lens that does not clear the mirror of the 5D/5D2, do check before buying =)

 

[FFForever]

If you are into manual focusing, that's the way to go. I use a Leica R50mm f/2.0 on my 5D Mark II to take landscape as well as people in their environment. The colour renditions is fantastic, the resolution is excellent. Best of all, this lens has little distortion. I used this to take panoramic shoots and stitch them together in Photoshop. The result is very good. If you have the money, buy them all, 18mm, 21mm(?), 35mm 50mm 90mm, 100mm APO. But for 18mm, you need to do some modification either to the mirror in the camera body or to the back of the lens where it is attached to the camera so as to prevent the mirror from hitting the back of the lens. A confirmation chip on the adaptor, preferable a programmable one help in focusing.

Hope this help.

 

[nsng]

If you are into manual focusing, that's the way to go. I use a Leica R50mm f/2.0 on my 5D Mark II to take landscape as well as people in their environment. The colour renditions is fantastic, the resolution is excellent. Best of all, this lens has little distortion. I used this to take panoramic shoots and stitch them together in Photoshop. The result is very good. If you have the money, buy them all, 18mm, 21mm(?), 35mm 50mm 90mm, 100mm APO. But for 18mm, you need to do some modification either to the mirror in the camera body or to the back of the lens where it is attached to the camera so as to prevent the mirror from hitting the back of the lens. A confirmation chip on the adaptor, preferable a programmable one help in focusing.

Hope this help.

I believe you are referring to the 19mm Elmarit, 2nd ver. This was one of the reasons, I decided to change the R mount to the alpha mount. With the A850, there is no need to shave the mirror or carry out surgery to the lens. Several other R lenses have this issue. Have a look at the link, http://www.pebbleplace.com/Personal/Leica_db.html

I have the 19mm Elmarit, 28mm Elmarit, 50mm'Cron, 90mm'Cron, 180mm Apo-Elmarit and 35-70 Vario Elmar converted to alpha mounts. The older lenses such as the 1st version of the 28mm, does not perform that well. Previously, I used this lens with the DMR and it performed very well. But with ff it vignettes and corners and edges tend to be soft at f2.8. It needs to be closed down to at least 5.6 to have acceptable corners, better still f8.0 or f11.0. Get the 2nd version of the 28mm for much better performance but at a much higher price. The same applies to the 19mm R. The 2nd ver is much better.

N.S. Ng

http://nns555.zenfolio.com

 

[sharkymachine]

I believe you are referring to the 19mm Elmarit, 2nd ver. This was one of the reasons, I decided to change the R mount to the alpha mount. With the A850, there is no need to shave the mirror or carry out surgery to the lens. Several other R lenses have this issue. Have a look at the link, http://www.pebbleplace.com/Personal/Leica_db.html

I have the 19mm Elmarit, 28mm Elmarit, 50mm'Cron, 90mm'Cron, 180mm Apo-Elmarit and 35-70 Vario Elmar converted to alpha mounts. The older lenses such as the 1st version of the 28mm, does not perform that well. Previously, I used this lens with the DMR and it performed very well. But with ff it vignettes and corners and edges tend to be soft at f2.8. It needs to be closed down to at least 5.6 to have acceptable corners, better still f8.0 or f11.0. Get the 2nd version of the 28mm for much better performance but at a much higher price. The same applies to the 19mm R. The 2nd ver is much better.

N.S. Ng


Hi NS
Care to share is there any adaptor in the market that allows me to mount on Leica R lenses onto the SONY A850? Or do we need to change the R mount permanently?
Am presently using the R8 with some R lenses, like the ROM 28/2.8, ROM 50/2 and the 60/2.8, am looking for a digital body for these gems. Actually was looking at the 5DMII, what are the options can i have?
Thank you

 

[pitoy]

Hi NS
Care to share is there any adaptor in the market that allows me to mount on Leica R lenses onto the SONY A850? Or do we need to change the R mount permanently?
Am presently using the R8 with some R lenses, like the ROM 28/2.8, ROM 50/2 and the 60/2.8, am looking for a digital body for these gems. Actually was looking at the 5DMII, what are the options can i have?
Thank you

you can use it on nikon body too with adapter..
http://www.leitax.com/leica-lens-for-nikon-cameras.html

 

[trippingthelight]

Hi All,

Thanks so much for the information.
I like manual focus and am using the current Zeiss ZE 21mm f/2.8 lens. The pictures from this lens is so much better than the Canon 24mm L series.
What 8 would like to know is:
1. which adapter is best as there are many on the market. I am inclining towards Novaflex as it is German technology and is well rated.
2. Do u really need to glue in a chip just for confirmation and how reliable is this?

 

[chiif]

You don't need a chip on the adapter to do metering on 5D or any canon system cameras. The chip is only used for focus confirmation. Unfortunately, the focus confirm chip doesn't always work well on the canon systems. I tested so many times and result is very inconsistent. That is why I do not bring in any adapters with focus confirm chip anymore. If you want to focus well on the canon system, use the Live View, which will give you a much better result in focusing.

Coming back to the adapter for R to EOS, PM me, I can direct you to where to get.

Any old manual focus lenses on 5D systems will give you very pleasing results. The best thing is even the most expensive R lenses in the market today will cost a fraction of what you pay for the L lenses. But different lens serves different purposes, we just can't blanket everyone out....

 

[nsng]

[
Hi NS
Care to share is there any adaptor in the market that allows me to mount on Leica R lenses onto the SONY A850? Or do we need to change the R mount permanently?
Am presently using the R8 with some R lenses, like the ROM 28/2.8, ROM 50/2 and the 60/2.8, am looking for a digital body for these gems. Actually was looking at the 5DMII, what are the options can i have?
Thank you[/QUOTE]


Hi,

I am using replacement mounts from www.leitax.com. Except for my zoom lens, it takes several minutes to change the mount. This is totally reversible. I am also using an AF confirmation chip that activates Steady Shot as well. Leitax also offers Nikon F mount, but again there might be issues with mirror interference with certain lenses. Your 28 Elmarit-R ROM might have this issue. If you do not wish to change mount, the Canon is the only option using the adaptor. Of course, there is always the DMR since you have the R8

Have a look here for some photos using R lenses,

http://nns555.zenfolio.com/p38431480
http://nns555.zenfolio.com/namibia


N.S. Ng