AF-Adapter Carl Zeiss Contax 645 lenses to Leica S

[veraikon]

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The rumor page "pre"announced an AF adapter for Carl Zeiss Contax 645 lenes to Leica S cameras.

 

Leica Camera is pleased to introduce the Leica S-Adapter C which will be available from this June. With this adapter, Contax 645 lenses can be used with the Leica S (Typ 007), Leica S2 and Leica S2-P cameras. The adapter enables owners of the Contax 645 system to switch effortlessly to the Leica S System. The Leica S-Adapter C when used with Contax 645 lenses on any of the Leica S cameras offers the following:

 

* Autofocus and manual focus with focus confirmation

* Automatic aperture

* Using the EXIF data of lenses of Contax 645 system

* Use of corrective lens profiles for the Contax 645 system when converting the RAW files in Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop.

 

 

* Catalog #16038

* UPC: 16038

* Retail Price: $1,950.00

 

Leica Camera announces S-Adapter C for Contax 645 lenses | Leica News & Rumors

[darylgo]

This is a great day for us Contax 645 users. Although my two bodies and digital back are working fine, the whole system is a dead end. With this adapter it gains new life.

Many questions remain prior to committing to a new system but the more I handle the S the more difficult it is to resist purchasing it.

[veraikon]

the "official" news:

NEW LEICA S-ADAPTER C ENABLES THE USE OF CONTAX 645 LENSES / News / Home Page - LEICA Camera AG

 

NEW LEICA S-ADAPTER C ENABLES THE USE OF CONTAX 645 LENSES

 

Leica Camera presents a new accessory for the Leica S: the Leica S-Adapter C. This adapter now permits the use of all lenses from the Contax 645 SLR system on Leica S, S2 and S2-P camera bodies. This increases the number of lenses available for use with the Leica S medium-format system by another nine lenses that are particular favourites with users due to their excellent imaging quality.

 

This new adapter will above all be greatly appreciated by photographers who have previously worked with the Contax 645 system. First of all, the Leica S-Adapter C provides the ideal solution for the long-term preservation of the value of the photographer’s existing lenses. In addition to this, and in combination with the Leica S, it offers not only an opportunity to exploit the full potentials of Contax 645 lenses, but also simultaneously expands their range of use. Leica S product features, such as the high burst frequency of 1.5 frames per second, fast autofocus and ISO sensitivities from 100 to 1600, offer numerous additional options for the use of Contax lenses.

 

With the exception of the 120 mm macro lens, all Contax 645 lenses from 35 to 350 mm feature autofocus. The smart electronics of the adapter enable full integration of the lenses into the Leica S-System and support all lens functions such as autofocus, manual focusing with focus confirmation and automatic aperture control. EXIF lens data and correction profiles for Contax 645 lenses are also enabled for the conversion of RAW image files in Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop.

 

With the launch of this adapter, the lens portfolio for the Leica S medium-format system now embraces more than 30 professional-quality lenses for use on Leica S, S2 and S2-P bodies. These include a total of eight Leica S-Lenses from 24 to 180 mm (five of which are also available as alternative options with a central shutter) that guarantee uncompromising imaging quality in almost all areas of photography. In addition to this new option for mounting Contax 645 lenses, the previously launched Leica S-Adapter H enables the use of a further eleven Hasselblad H System lenses with central shutters and focal lengths ranging from 28 to 300 mm.

 

 

[Paul Reading]

Amazing move by Leica, I have a full set of these lenses so it might add to their second hand value?

[JerryYordy]

What is the "Leica S (typ 007)?" Will it work with the Type 006?

[darylgo]

Since the announcement I have sold a Contax 645 setup and purchased a used S2 and 70mm lens. The dealers have told me the Leica lenses will be superior to the Zeiss and not by a small margin. Will a $2000 adapter be worth the investment or would it be better to put the money toward another lens?

[BerndReini]

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I think that statement is a gross exaggeration. Lens design is always a compromise and, while they may not be as sharp as Leica S lenses, the Zeiss lenses for the 645 are some of the best lenses ever made. The 80mm f2 is not a sharp lens wide open, but has more shallow depth of field than the Noctilux, and the 120mm Makro Planar is bitingly sharp with the most wonderful bokeh. Now I don't know how these lens will draw on the S System, but on the Contax with a P25 back, you couldn't ask for anything better.

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[darylgo]

I think that statement is a gross exaggeration.

 

I believe you are referring to the dealers indicating the Leica lenses being superior to Zeiss by a large margin. A dealer said this when he generalized from customers unhappiness with Hasselblad H lenses on the S2 using the proper H adapter. Another dealer flat out said "don't buy the adapter and use the lenses on an S2". I found these statement difficult to believe after reading many posts in the forum indicating the H lenses are performing to their satisfaction. I did buy a Contax 645 lens adapter, the Zeiss lenses on the S2 perform extremely well. The 35mm, 55mm and 120mm Macro perform so well it is difficult to justify replacement with the equivalent Leica lens (if available). The auto and manual focus with the S2/Zeiss lens combination has been nothing short of spectacular, without the need for the split image screen. The focus indication is accurate and the original screen shows focus well. I have no doubt the Leica lenses are superior in some ways, after all they are 20 years newer. From my limited tests it isn't always sharpness but rather color aberrations that Leica excels.

[menos I M6]

I bought a 645 adapter upon it's introduction. I have since then added several Carl Zeiss lenses, to add to my S lenses and couldn't be happier.

 

The addition of the Carl Zeiss lenses extends my AF lens system with the S2 significantly, not to speak of the interesting character of each of these lenses.

My favourites are indeed the 80 Planar and the spectacular 120 Apo-Makro-Planar.

 

I do not understand the dealer's comment and would question the dealers intention in such a case.

The C 645 adapter has not been developed and offered by Leica to offer more affordable lens substitutes to the very costly (but optically untouched) Leica S lenses, but in fact to offer a much wider range of lenses to work with the system and make the Leica S a much more appealing proposition to customers, who start at a white sheet of paper and for potential switchers/ upgraders.

 

I have had also a great experience with Leica customer service, when it turned out, that my very early adapter has been shipped with a firmware, that would produce an issue with recognising the attached lens.

After a telephone call with the customer support, Leica bent backwards and made a big effort not only to ship a brand new exchange adapter around the globe, but to make the exchange as pleasant and fast, as possible and follow up on me.

Great service!

 

 

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