Leica R lenses on 5D

[MarkM6]

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I had no problem whatsoever with infinity focus and the CQ adapters. Now, I'm not a landscape guy, but I tested them pretty thoroughly for infinity focus on each lens on 3 EOS bodies.

 

Then what could be the source of error for my infinity focus problem? I am in Southern California and will contact CQ or even pay him a visit.

 

About the close-focus; I too have problem and I am about to test the focusing and see if my 5D needs calibration.

 

And Simon, thanks for the info for another source for high quality adapter. From the pictures, they look identical to the CQ and the CQ adapter does say "R-EOS JAPAN".

 

Thanks Jamie and Simon!

 

2nd Edit: Which AF Confirmation adapter works for 5D and is the highest quality?

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[sdai]

Mark, go find a guy called happypagehk on ebay ...

 

Edit: forgot to mention, you have to make sure that you get his "improved" version, the previous one lacks the ability to trigger the EOS lens identification switch inside the mount and won't work on a 5D, 1D ... etc.

[craigrmurray]

Which AF Confirmation adapter works for 5D and is the highest quality?

Do these things really work well on the 5D with R lenses?

[MarkM6]

Do these things really work well on the 5D with R lenses?

 

As far as I can say, the Leica lenses on 5D take you to another world of Color and Contrast (Micro or otherwise). The smoothness of the out-of-focus areas are as smooth as the center of the finest Brei cheese.

 

If you like the pictures from 135L on 5D, the R lenses should kick it up another notch; BAMMMMMM!

[craigrmurray]

Thanks, Mark. But what I meant was, do the adaptor rings with AF confirmation really work on the 5D with Leica R lenses

[MarkM6]

Thanks, Mark. But what I meant was, do the adaptor rings with AF confirmation really work on the 5D with Leica R lenses

 

I have read both sides of the story. But here is the catch; on my 5D+CameraQuest+60mm Macro R, I often don't get, in my opinion, a perfect focus, especially at close focusing range [Jamie have the issue].

 

So, the AF Confirmation Chip is worth a try. Besides, the adapters with AF chip are cheaper than CameraQuest's.

[Ludwig der 13te]

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Hello Craig,

on my 5D I use the AF confirm adaptor, comming from HongKong, about $ 80 incl. shipping. It works perfect with Elmarit-R 2.8/28, Summicron-R 2.0/50, Elmarit-R 2.8/90, Macro-Elmar 4.0/100 with R-Bellows. The Macro-Elmarit-R 2.8/60 seems to be designed for the 5D. See the picture following: Apo-Telyt-R 3.4/180 attached to 5D via AF adapter.

 

[ATTACH]20734[/ATTACH]

 

Cheers

Ludwig

[stunsworth]

Bear in mind that there is an exposure shift as you stop down - lighter as the aperture is smaller - this is independant of the make of adaptor. It doesn't bother me because I shoot RAW and underexpose by 2/3rds of a stop.

[MarkM6]

Bear in mind that there is an exposure shift as you stop down - lighter as the aperture is smaller - this is independant of the make of adaptor.

 

I believe I am confused about the statement; "exposure shift" and "lighter". I can't relate.

[stunsworth]

Mark, let's say you are shooting a scene wide open in aperture priority mode. If you take the same shot at f2, 2.8 , 4, 5.6 etc., the captured image will change in brightness - the image at f2 will be darker than the image at f5.6, which will in turn be darker than the image at f11. Remember this is in aperture priority mode so the meter should adjust the shutter speed to compensate for the change in aperture. This doesn't seem to happen unless there is an electrical link between the aperture on the lens and the camera body - which of course there isn't even with one of the new focus confirmation adaptors.

 

With the high end Canon bodies you can tell the body what the maximum aperture of a manual lens is and the metering will work ok. This isn't the case with the 5D.

 

As I mentioned earlier, I get round this issue by dialling in -2/3rd of a stop compensation and shooting RAW. This gives me the headroom to shoot without any problems.

 

Let me know if the above isn't clear.

[MarkM6]

Let me know if the above isn't clear.

 

Now it is clear and thanks for the tip. I just have very difficult time focusing except at the wide-open aperture. Do you focus at wide-open then stop down for the exposure?

 

2nd Edit: The focus at infinity on my 5D;

Even my beloved 135L focus-ring rotates pass the infinity [so does the 24-105L's] and the image becomes out-of-focus. Is that why my Leica 100 Macro with CameraQuest adapter will not focus at infinity? But, unlike the 135L, Leica lens doesn't rotate pass infinity

[Jamie Roberts]

@Craig--

 

The focus confirmation adapters work exceptionally well with the 50 1.4 Lux and the 80 1.4 Lux. The 80, in particular, is quite soft anyway wide open, but has a "look" about it when in focus that is very beautiful.

 

To be clear: though my eyes can't focus on it, the focus confirmation adapter nails it with these lenses every time. They're great.

 

@MarkM6

 

Various lenses go "past" infinity focus if their design allows for heat compensation (depends on the lens) or for IR focusing. In other words, some lens designs, usually large telephoto types, have some wiggle room at the infinity end scale to allow for accurate focus under adverse conditions. Some don't; some don't need this either.

 

I also don't know why you've got infinity focus problems with your CQ adapters. But the mount itself may need adjusting. I know on the 1ds2 I had to have the mount adjusted a little for various lenses to ensure good focus. Canon CPS did this--no problem--but I don't know who would adjust for the adapter. Having said that, you may want to check your Canon glass for rigourously for the same or similar errors...

[stunsworth]

Mark, yes I focus wide open and then stop down. It becomes natural after a while :-). I bought a Brightscreen for the 5D to aid focussing - Brightscreen Flash Detection

[craigrmurray]

Thanks very much, Mark, Ludwig, and Jamie. That helps me a lot.

[ennjott]

Various lenses go "past" infinity focus if their design allows for heat compensation (depends on the lens) or for IR focusing

IR focuses "nearer" than visible light, not further.

 

If the plane of focus visible in the VF differs from the one the sensor is seeing, something is wrong and you should adjust your focusing screen. This is independent of the lens used.

[Jamie Roberts]

IR focuses "nearer" than visible light, not further.

 

If the plane of focus visible in the VF differs from the one the sensor is seeing, something is wrong and you should adjust your focusing screen. This is independent of the lens used.

 

You are exactly right on the IR mark, and my post doesn't make that clear (and I was wondering when someone would correct the post as written). My point was only that there are different points of focus for infinity in some lens designs.

 

As for not being able to focus the Leica R Summiluxes manually, it's not that the plane of focus necessarily differs from the one the sensor is seeing on the 5d.

 

But rather that I find it hard, with my aging eyes, to get the whole system set so I can literally see what's in focus on it with MF and thin DOF, at least with the stock Canon or Ec/S Canon screen. It's just too dim (and that's partly a consequence of AF).

 

On the DMR, even with the stock DMR screen, I have no such problems. It's much brighter than the 5d, even a 5d with a Brightscreen. A DMR with a Brightscreen and a magnifier is one easy-to-manually-focus SLR, let me tell you!

 

But the AF confirm adapters for the 5d are the real deal; they work at infinity, and they work close up, wide open, in light I'd never be able to focus in with a 5d and some other adapter.

 

And my screen may be off for the lenses with the adapter in place; there's no way to tell how critically meshed the adapter is with the body (certainly Canon CPS isn't going to help me there!).

[stunsworth]

Jamie, got to agree about the R screen, My R8 with the standard screen is much easier to focus than the 5D with a Brightscreen. The image seems to 'snap' into focus in a way that it doesn't with the 5D.

[carstenw]

The Ee-A screen is awful for focusing manual lenses. A friend and I were trying both that and the Ee-S tonight, and only one of our combined many shots with the 80 Lux and Ee-A were in focus. Most of the Ee-S shots were very good. You can send an Ee-S to Maxwell in Georgia, USA, to get it brightened.

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[john_j]

Hi-

 

I do not have a Canon 5D but I do have an Olympus E1. I also have several (4) Leica bodies and many lenses. When I first recieved the E1, I was excited at the prospect of using my R lenses.

 

I bought an adapter from cameraquest (nice solid piece) and although found focusing a little difficult the images were nice. I then bought a custom split image focus screen and it was easier to focus but, it still was limiting once the lens was stopped down. Exposure options were fewer, the performance sluggish and at times unpredictable.I did however gain digital experience with my existing lenses which allowed me to defer further investment.

 

A few weeks ago, I bought a short tele macro (made by Olympus for the 4/3rds system) an have not looked back. It's fast and predictable and the images nice. I really do not see myself going back to the adapter. Perhaps ocassionally should I need a longer telephoto.

 

So, my opinion here is to use lenses designed for the camera.

 

Best,

[carstenw]

I think you are generalising too much. The 4/3 system cameras have dark tunnels for viewfinders compared to the 5D. I love manual lenses on the 5D and would not go to Canon lenses again, even if they were as good, which they are not.