Jump to content

Leica R lenses-What to do with them digitally?


dave.gt

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

At the moment, I have an R4 stuck on the 80 Summilux for the next few months and the 50 Cron is in the bag. Having a lot of fun with film and this magnificent lens!

 

But here is the question...what are the best options digitally-speaking for R lens owners? Stick 'em on a Nikon DSLR? (I won't touch Canon products, that's just me).

 

The new M is waaay out of my price range and waaay too complex for me to enjoy. So, maybe some 4/3 camera? Will those even do justice to such a nice lens as the 80mm Lux?

 

I can get an almost-new Nikon D2Xs for $700 or a D700 for $1400. But it is not a Leica body...guess I would have to put black tape over the name.:rolleyes:

Link to post
Share on other sites

Dave, I have leitax bayoneted all my R lenses to fit Nikon - some by myself and some by sending them to leitax because the rear cowling had to be ground down to avoid hitting the mirror (the Elmar 21 - 35 on the D700). Some of my photos taken with this combination can be see here:

 

lens pix

 

and here:

 

R lenses via Leitax bayonet on Nikon D700

 

Before using the R lenses on the Nikon I used them via an adapter on a Canon 5D Mk II but exposure variation issues drove me over to Nikon. The D700 works very well with the lenses - focus confirmation light indicates (roughly) the correct focus but, of course you need to turn the lens in the opposite direction of the arrows in the view finder due to the opposite turn threading on the R lens focusing cam. You get used to it.

I do miss auto aperture control but tend to use R lenses wide open anyway so that is not a big issue.

I have now moved on to a Nikon D800E and it is an even better, if slightly slower, platform for my Leica lenses. I might buy a new M but I won't be buying it for use of R lenses - I like the solution I have now adopted.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey, thanks for these! They look great...and I must say that I love the D2 DX bodies but the D700 seems to be the smart choice. Now, I just have to get a job/gig to pay for one, and the adaptor. And a red dot and black tape.

 

:)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Many of us are using our Leica R lenses on either the Sony NEX or the Fujifilm X Trans cameras.

 

Rich

 

 

+1 for NEX, and OM-D EM-5.

Once my M arrives, these cameras have crop factors of 1x, 1.5x, and 2x.

Very conplementary and useful for different scenarios.

1x for WA, normal, and short tele lenses.

1.5x for hand held tele, my favorite lens 80-200/4.

2x for extra reach with 280/4 and 105-280/4.2

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Okay, that brings up yet another question....The like-new D2Xs for $700 is a great deal. But with the 80 Lux, isn't that going to stretch it out to like a 130mm lens with the crop factor?

 

How about the NEX? Not full frame is it?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Okay, that brings up yet another question....The like-new D2Xs for $700 is a great deal. But with the 80 Lux, isn't that going to stretch it out to like a 130mm lens with the crop factor?

 

How about the NEX? Not full frame is it?

 

 

Both D2X and NEX have a crop factor of 1.5x.

For a crop factor of 1x the D700 will work just fine after you leitaxed your lens,

Link to post
Share on other sites

Dave, I'm in the same boat as you.

After toying with the idea of getting a mirrorless, I finally decided to get a Canikon SLR body and see for myself to which extent I can cope with the lack of autoaperture.

 

Canon and Nikon each have pros and cons (no need to change the mount for C, better support of legacy lenses/metering for N) - but what gave me the toughest time was the ergonomics: for my hands, Canon has the best shutter and AE lock button position, however the scroll wheel's position is impractical (read: idiotic). Nikon has two properly placed scroll wheels but the AE lock button is too far on target models like the D7000.

I know it's not a big deal when setting the camera to react like a Leica R, and that each of these buttons can conveniently be reprogrammed, but still. If I start using some AF lenses as well, that'll be a mess.

 

Only Pentax seems to have gotten it right... two wheels and an exposure lock button that falls right under the thumb. Perfect. But no clear perspective of a full framed body, no deal (yes there's one rumoured just right now, but that's still a rumour).

 

Anyways, I decided to get an inexpensive D300 for now (and to get rid of that Nikon advert right over the viewfinder :D). If everything clicks, I'll later upgrade to whatever the D600 replacement will be called (hoping it'll feature a clean sensor :rolleyes:) or a D800. Bonus: plenty of Nikon and Zeiss lenses with an aperture ring will be available in case of need.

My Leitax mount has just been sent and I'll be ordering a split screen soon.

 

I'd take the D700 if I were you, it's closer to an R4... size- and weight-wise.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the input, folks.

 

IMO, Leica AG has missed the point for a digital R-solution. Yes, the new M is capable. It is far too expensive for me to even consider. There is a huge gap between the X1/X2 (I own an X1) and the M...even with the M-E plugged in north of $5k. In fact, for the M mount there is nothing affordable from Leica, let alone for the R mount.

 

Sure, we can all go out and get a used M8/M9 ($1500-$4000 range) for our M lenses... with long-term support doubtful. But going with another brand of camera to use Leica R lenses is...idiotic. Especially to someone like me who likes to stick to one brand and I thoroughly intend to stick with Leica cameras I own. It is a shame to have to go back to Nikon to use my lenses that work marvelously on a 30-year old Leica R4.:mad:

 

But, it looks like my money will eventually go for a Nikon DSLR body and supporting lenses when it could have gone for to Leica AG for a Leica product.:rolleyes:

Edited by dave.gt
Link to post
Share on other sites

One caveat was brief and in with other comments, so here it is for you to clearly see: If you shoot wide open, no problem. If you stop-down, you will probably want to focus at full aperture and stop down to shoot. Having not used the Leitax/Nikon solution, I have no idea how well the focus confirmation light mitigates this issue.

Edited by stuny
Link to post
Share on other sites

Focus confirmation on all Nikons I have used, both film AF and digital doesn't work below 5.6, and is less easy to be accurate with (IMHO) than the M rangefinder or a split image screen.

I put a thirdparty split image screen in my Film AF Nikon F90 a while ago, especially as the AF is not good compared to more modern cameras. My digital Nikon experience has been mainly with a D7000, and is normally used with AF lenses for grandchildren/sports etc and with long lenses. While the confirmation is adequate, if I were to do any serious landscape/architecture work in manual focus with a Nikon I would be very tempted to change the screen for one with a split image. You do have magnified live view too which is great for technical stuff with wide angles.

 

Gerry

Link to post
Share on other sites

Leica-R lenses can be used on Sony A-mount cameras with a Leitax adapter. If the adapter is chipped it will enable the camera's sensor-based stabilization, and since both the A- series and Leica-R mirror box spec are based on Minolta-spec mirror boxes, collisions with the mirror are probably not an issue. I'm using a DMR.

Link to post
Share on other sites

At the moment, I have an R4 stuck on the 80 Summilux for the next few months and the 50 Cron is in the bag. Having a lot of fun with film and this magnificent lens!

 

But here is the question...what are the best options digitally-speaking for R lens owners? Stick 'em on a Nikon DSLR? (I won't touch Canon products, that's just me).

 

The new M is waaay out of my price range and waaay too complex for me to enjoy. So, maybe some 4/3 camera? Will those even do justice to such a nice lens as the 80mm Lux?

 

I can get an almost-new Nikon D2Xs for $700 or a D700 for $1400. But it is not a Leica body...guess I would have to put black tape over the name.:rolleyes:

 

Hello Dave.

 

This is a subject or topic close to my heart.

Due to the unfortunate circumstances, people at solms to discontinued the R system I no longer have the fate in this once GREAT Campany.

 

I have been using and buying Leicas since 1973,and anything else was unthinkable.

 

I noticed in your comment you won't touch Canon, I was also in the same frame of mind, going back

to the early years on this forum since 2002 I use to ridicule Canon badly, well I am older and hopefully more wiser now, and NO LONGER RIDICULE CANON.

 

Now because Our dear friends in Solms decided to throw us R users out, most of us had no choice

But to look elsewere, as I still love my Leicas and shooting slide film I didn't want to change the lens mount so I had no choice, but Go for Canon, and now I am glad I did, and yes It did hurt my pride....Lol.

 

At this time I am using the 600D, but I would love to use the 6D unfortunately my 28-90 and the 21-35mm

hits the mirror only slightly though perhaps I might find the courage to shave a couple of mls of the shroud.

Two shots taken with the 600D.

 

First one is with the 21-35mm, and the second with the 80-200mm.

 

Not bad for a 800$ camera, how much better do you think Leica M240 is going to improve on these images.

 

So consider yourself lucky that much cheaper and better alternatives exist out there.

And frankly I feel proud to walk around with the Canon, after all most professional do likewise.

 

Good luck on you endeavour.

 

Ken.

 

LONG LIVE THE R.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited by hamey
  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

Which 5D do you have? I am trying to get some form of focus confirmation on my 5D3 with a chipped adapter.

 

The "oldest" one, 5Dclassic (as some call it), or Mk I. ;)

 

I have tried some of the chipped adapters, but IMHO it's much better to use a suitable matte screen.

For a while I had a Leica R screen installed. Focussing was perfect, but metering went completely astray.

 

I have used the Canon EE-S screen for some years now and I'm very satisfied with it.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

+1 for the ee-S screen. The standard screen trades in accuracy on faster than F4.0 for the brightness of the viewfinder. It is almost impossible to focus with F2.0 and even more so with F1.4

 

The ee-S screen is meant to be used with F2.0 so is much easier to use it with F2.8 and faster, even with F1.4.

 

I still miss the split screen of the old analog screens though...

Link to post
Share on other sites

I nikon mounted 28 & 35 pc lenses around 18 months ago.

 

A month ago I ordered 4 Nikon mounts from Ebay at $16 @. They work fine on lenses that have 6 screws holding the flange on.

 

My 100 APO has 10 screws and I thought I could drill out the other 4. Not unless you have a NC machine in your shop. I had engineers and a machinist look at the blind holes started.

So I ordered a real Leitax 10 hole mount. Came in the mail in 2 weeks, mail is slow, Leitax shipped fast.

 

You need the other 4 as they hold the lens together, not just hold the mount on.

 

So far I have the 21 4.0, 28 & 35 pc, 60 2.8, 100 2.8 APO all in Nikon mounts.

 

Images are excellent. Matrix metering works if you add them to non cpu lens list.

 

The 21 is a bit weak in the very corners, but that is the only problem. It is better than Nikons manual focus wides.

 

The mounts seem tight in D3 and D700, no idea why. Nikon lenses are not tight. They work normally on 7000, 200, 800.

 

It is not as easily converted as you might imagine. Some skill in small assembly is necessary are are proper tweezers and screwdrivers, good light, and very steady hands.

I spent 4 hours on the 60, 2 or 3 on the 100. 21 was quick. PC were quick, however I did not reverse the null cam reversing ring because that would have blocked movement in one direction. I made a replacement from.030 plastic without the null cam. That took time, but now the actual focus coincides with scale almost perfectly. I needed .032 plastic which is not available.

Edited by tobey bilek
Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello,

 

since about 8 weeks i use a Nikon D800 with a few R-Lenses. I.E. 2,8/19 (I), 1,4/50 (II), 1,4/80, 2,8/100, 2,8/70-180 and since yesterday the 4,8/350. All these lenses do a great job with the D800. i opened a flickr group with some pics, if You like, You may look here:

 

Flickr: Leica-R Lenses and the Nikon D800

 

regards

 

Markus

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...