peterv Posted March 4, 2015 Share #1 Posted March 4, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'd like to see Leica produce adapters for their S lenses, like they did with the Hassy and Contax lenses for the S camera. Imagine S adapters for Nikon, Canon and Sony E mount with full functionality. Kind of like the quite successful Otus lenses, only with AF, aperture control and wheather sealing. IMHO, Leica would find a market for this. Lots of 24x36 'Kleinbild' users are looking for high quality lenses with high resolving power for their 37-50 MP cameras. The S lenses have great MTF's, for FF even better. The Zeiss Otii are around the same price and are f1,4 but manual focus, no wheather sealing, no auto aperture. Though nice, people find them difficult to operate. (Try to focus manually through the tunnel like CaNikon OVF's @ f1,4) This way, Leica could sell quite a few S lenses, that are already developed and payed for, make the S system more known, and gain prestige with the so called FF-crowd. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 4, 2015 Posted March 4, 2015 Hi peterv, Take a look here Plea for Canon, Nikon and Sony E-mount adapters. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
John McMaster Posted March 4, 2015 Share #2 Posted March 4, 2015 Probably no use other than as 'macro' lenses. The Leica R is 47mm register distance and the Lei-Ko adapter really only works with 180mm and longer; Canon register is 44mm, Nikon 46.5mm and Sony E 18mm. The Leica adapters are all for medium format lenses with longer register distances than the S has; Hasselblad C 74.9mm, Hassleblad H 61.63mm, Mamiya 645 63.3mm. This means the adapter is also an extension tube and the S can focus to infinity with these lenses. john Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterv Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted March 4, 2015 John, maybe I wasn't clear enough. I don't want to adapt CaNikon/Sony lenses on my S, I want the option to adapt my S lenses on CaNikon/Sony cameras. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McMaster Posted March 4, 2015 Share #4 Posted March 4, 2015 Also, image circle is likely to be an issue... john Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterv Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted March 4, 2015 Nope, image circle will not be an issue, see above. Leica S lenses image circle is ~ 54mm, 24x36 needs ~ 43mm, so more than enough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McMaster Posted March 4, 2015 Share #6 Posted March 4, 2015 Ah, cannot see many people spending the money on S lenses over what is available for the FF systems. Given some of the lenses feel unbalanced on an S2+grip I wonder what they would be like on a Sony A ;-) Also no tripod mounts, other than on the T/S, so putting a great deal of stress on camera\adapter if tripod mounted. john Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterv Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted March 4, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I agree it won't be an option for many people, just the ones that want to use Otus lenses and such, which are about the same weight as Leica S lenses. People adapt all kinds of long and heavy lenses for improved IQ and or reach, even to E-mount. Anyway, IMHO, it's a misconception that mirrorless is only about small. Size and weight of the S lenses won't be a problem for CaNikon DSLR's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravinj Posted March 5, 2015 Share #8 Posted March 5, 2015 Agree with Peter and it would be really great if the S lenses can be reverse engineered by a third party and an adapter offered to mount them on FF bodies. I say third party as I don't see Leica doing it. As for weight of the lenses, it is a non-issue: a tripod mount or collar can be a part of the adapter or mounted separately. I routinely use Mamiya 645 200 APO on sony A7 with an adapter that has tripod mount built-in. For my heavier R lenses, I use the Novoflex adapter and the tripod collar that is sold separately. Works beautifully. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 6, 2015 Share #9 Posted March 6, 2015 A better solution and I've been suggesting this for years, would be for Leica to make a small range of lenses in Canon EF & Nikon mount. As they don't make an SLR it doesn't conflict with their own products. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterv Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted March 6, 2015 James, that means Leica would have to design yet another line of lenses, which IMO would be to much hassle and perhaps a financially too risky endeavour for them. The S lenses or available today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 6, 2015 Share #11 Posted March 6, 2015 James, that means Leica would have to design yet another line of lenses, which IMO would be to much hassle and perhaps a financially too risky endeavour for them. The S lenses or available today. I think it would have been a less risky and longer term venture for them than the T system. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterv Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share #12 Posted March 6, 2015 Thanks ravinj, I guess you're right and some third party manufacturer will eventually make adapters. It's just that I'd rather have Leica do it and make money with it. The adapters will probably be more expensive, but I would trust the electronics in my costly S lenses on a Leica-made adapter more than one made by some guy, back in his garage. I think it would be very logical for Leica to produce these adapters themselves. They already make it possible for owners of other brands glass to put their lenses on an S camera, now I'd like to see them make high quality adapters so that we can put our S lenses on other brands cameras. This way, Leica would offer an extra option to existing owners, and find potential new customers for the S glass and get them in to the S system. The S lenses are a big investment, and being able to adapt them makes them much more versatile. I could have a d800, 5D or 7r or whatever as back-up camera. I could have a high res S camera and a high ISO D4, all with my beloved high quality S lenses. It would make investing in S lenses more secure, economical and worthwhile. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterv Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share #13 Posted March 6, 2015 I think it would have been a less risky and longer term venture for them than the T system. Maybe you're right, but we don't know where the T will be in five years from now. Anyway, different discussion Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildlightphoto Posted March 6, 2015 Share #14 Posted March 6, 2015 While we're discussing unlikely fantasies, how about an adapter to fit R lenses to E-mount cameras with auto diaphragm and full-aperture metering. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted March 6, 2015 Share #15 Posted March 6, 2015 (edited) Leave it to the third-party specialists. Do you think Leica has unlimited resources? By making such, Leica opens the door to those who would accuse Leica of looking outside their own FF digital line for assets. The sh*t-for-brains reviewers prejudiced to Asian DSLRs will pan it to death without a thought: it is what they do. The OP's suggestion is from fantasy land. . Edited March 6, 2015 by pico Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterv Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share #16 Posted March 7, 2015 While we're discussing unlikely fantasies, how about an adapter to fit R lenses to E-mount cameras with auto diaphragm and full-aperture metering. Hi Doug, I liked one of your bird-photos on Facebook, the other day Still interested in the S system? I hope one day you’ll be able to get an S camera. Leave it to the third-party specialists. Do you think Leica has unlimited resources? By making such, Leica opens the door to those who would accuse Leica of looking outside their own FF digital line for assets. The sh*t-for-brains reviewers prejudiced to Asian DSLRs will pan it to death without a thought: it is what they do. Haters Gonna Hate. When Leica brings out a special edition of another M, we all know how the keyboard photographers on the net are gonna react. That doesn’t stop Leica from making some collectors happy, and make good money along the way. The OP's suggestion is from fantasy land. At least I can dream. And come up with valid arguments why such adapters might be useful to S shooters and Leica. It’s easy to dismiss ideas to fantasy land, but who would have believed just a few years ago that Leica would produce fully functional Contax 645 and Hasselblad adapters? And Pentax and Hasselblad V and Mamiya … When these adapters came out, of course Leica knew they were going to be accused of not being able to produce good MF lenses and of not bringing enough S lenses for a complete system, etc, etc. But that did not stop Leica and now they are being praised for opening up the S system. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildlightphoto Posted March 7, 2015 Share #17 Posted March 7, 2015 (edited) Hi Doug, I liked one of your bird-photos on Facebook, the other day Still interested in the S system? I hope one day you’ll be able to get an S camera. Yep I'm still fantasizing about the S system, and since Leica hasn't made any S lenses longer than 180mm the adapters for other-brand lenses are essential for me to even think about the S. Realistically it will take an inheritance or a lot more print sales (hint, hint) before I can give an S serious consideration. A rebuilt shoulder would help too. When these adapters came out, of course Leica knew they were going to be accused of not being able to produce good MF lenses and of not bringing enough S lenses for a complete system, etc, etc. But that did not stop Leica and now they are being praised for opening up the S system. I agree, it was a brilliant strategy. For myself there's no way I'd consider the S system without the adapters. Edited March 7, 2015 by wildlightphoto 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom0511 Posted March 8, 2015 Share #18 Posted March 8, 2015 I think the S-lenses are-besides others-one strong reason to buy a Leica S body. Why should eica make those lenses available for Canon or Nikon? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterv Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share #19 Posted March 8, 2015 1 - to make money on adapters and lenses 2 - to make the option to use S lenses on other cameras available to S lens owners. This could be handy for photographers who don't want to buy a second S as back up camera (who does/can?) and usefull for photographers who want to use a high ISO camera next to their high res S camera. This would save them having to buy Canon, Nikon or Sony lenses and/or schlepping around two lens systems. The money saved on other system lenses can be used to invest in future proof "multi-mount" S lenses 3 - to sell lenses to the Gazillion buyers of high res, small pixel pitch FF cameras who are (with reason) afraid native lenses are not up to the task of providing enough resolving power for their 37,5 - 50 MP (and in the future even higher MP) sensors. 4 - All this would mean that an investment in S lenses is a future-proof and thus safe investment, which would lead to more sales. And hopefully more market penetration of the complete S system. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildlightphoto Posted March 8, 2015 Share #20 Posted March 8, 2015 I think the S-lenses are-besides others-one strong reason to buy a Leica S body.Why should eica make those lenses available for Canon or Nikon? 1 - to make money on adapters and lenses 2 - to make the option to use S lenses on other cameras available to S lens owners. This could be handy for photographers who don't want to buy a second S as back up camera (who does/can?) and usefull for photographers who want to use a high ISO camera next to their high res S camera. This would save them having to buy Canon, Nikon or Sony lenses and/or schlepping around two lens systems. The money saved on other system lenses can be used to invest in future proof "multi-mount" S lenses 3 - to sell lenses to the Gazillion buyers of high res, small pixel pitch FF cameras who are (with reason) afraid native lenses are not up to the task of providing enough resolving power for their 37,5 - 50 MP (and in the future even higher MP) sensors. 4 - All this would mean that an investment in S lenses is a future-proof and thus safe investment, which would lead to more sales. And hopefully more market penetration of the complete S system. Agree completely. I'd be much more likely to buy an S lens, and buy into the S system in general, if I had inexpensive (compared with a second S body) backup options. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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