Hologon Conversion

[richam]

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I'm about to sell my Contax G2 as a system. But I have a 16mm Hologon in Contax mount that I may want to keep if I can get it converted to Leica M mount. Is this doable? If so, who can do it and how much does it cost?

[doubice]

I have a 16mm Hologon in Contax mount that I may want to keep if I can get it converted to Leica M mount. Is this doable? If so, who can do it and how much does it cost?

 

Michael,

 

It is doable and it has been done before. In the US, I would check with DAG or Sherry Krauter. In the UK, try Malcolm Taylor.

 

Here is a link to the three listed above and some other reputable Leica repair shops:

 

Leica FAQ - Where can I get Leica repairs done?

 

All the best,

 

Jan

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[dkCambridgeshire]

SRB in Luton UK are well known for manufacturing adaptors to use lenses on other cameras .. and also for making new custom mounts for lenses ... they might be able to quote you for the conversion ...check out 'lens conversions' here ... Made to order

 

dunk

[wattsy]

If you are planning on using the converted Hologon with an M8 you may want to check compatibility first. The M8 manual explicitly warns against using the original Leica M mount version of the lens. I presume that the rear lens element fouls the shutter.

[richam]

Thanks to all for the information. I'll be in the US for an extended stay soon, so I contacted DAG. It looks like it will work out. I don't have an M8 yet, but Don indicated that the converted lenses will work with it: "...many people want them for their M8 digital camera..." I may never get an M8, but compatibility would certainly affect the value of the lens.

[kdemas]

I have a converted Hologon 16mm (was Contax G) on the way and it should be here tomorrow. Could someone clarify whether the lens should be OK with the M8? In one post it appears that there needs to be some filing done to use the lens on "A".

 

Any info would be great. I am sure looking forward to using this lens! A funny thing.... the Hologon is the only lens I never bothered to buy for my Contax G2 and here I've bought a converted one for the M

 

Kent

[luigi bertolotti]

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If you are planning on using the converted Hologon with an M8 you may want to check compatibility first. The M8 manual explicitly warns against using the original Leica M mount version of the lens. I presume that the rear lens element fouls the shutter.

 

That's true, but the M8 manual refers to "another Hologon" : the 15 mm f8 made by Zeiss in M mount (1973-75, 350 items or so... super rare), that has a hemispherical rear glass element which protrudes a lot into the body, and is risky into M8. Albeit for short time and small numbers, it was officially on the Leica M lens catalog: so Leica co. quotes it in the M8 manual.

 

The 16 mm for Contax G, though with the same name, has a less "extreme" lens design, and can be adapted and mounted on M8: M8 manual doesn't quote it because, officially, the Hologon 16 has been never produced in M mount... Leica co., correctly, doesn't take care of 3rd party adaptions.

[richam]

Egad, a year has passed since I checked in on this one. I'll report that I had DAG convert the lens, and I've since bought the M8. The conversion included coding for the WATE, so one has the additional option of selecting the WATE focal length. I was a bit disappointed with the magenta fringing, which was least on the 21 mm setting. I expect that the problem would be less with an IR cut filter, but there does not seem to be any way of attaching one, especially with the graded ND filter in place. I ran some tests from my balcony; you can see the results.

 

Hologon on 16 mm WATE setting:

 

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Hologon on 21 mm WATE setting:

 

 

For comparison, here's my unfiltered CV 15: