1750Shooter Posted December 30, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted December 30, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Finaly managed to scrape up the cash to buy a mint R-3 body, but, WOW, the prices of lenses! Does anyone know if there are adapters to allow me to mount either Nikon or Canon lenses on this thing? I've got 28mm & 50mm non-AI Nikon primes that would be wonderful with this body, if I can mount them. Thanks for any advice! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted December 30, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted December 30, 2011 Look at this link may be you find your happiness Leica & Pentax & Nikon | Leitax Henry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 30, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted December 30, 2011 Leitax mounts are to fit R lenses to Nikon bodies, not the other way round. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted December 30, 2011 Share #4 Â Posted December 30, 2011 Leitax mounts are to fit R lenses to Nikon bodies, not the other way round. Â Exactly, and this is why there could never be a truly workable adapter to mount Canon/Nikon lenses on Leica R bodies. The lens flange to film plane distance is greater for the R system than for the other two. This means that, even if you constructed an adapter to enable you to mount these lenses physically, you could only use them for close focus work (probably macro). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted December 30, 2011 Share #5 Â Posted December 30, 2011 sorry to confound in this case I believe that there is no solution because the distance between film and bayonet is not the same as said John Henry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billib Posted December 30, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted December 30, 2011 One of the first to attach a Leica R lens to a Nikon body didn't change the R lens mount into a Nikon. He bought a Leica R lens mount for the R body and had it adapted to his F Nikon body. Nikon F2 R Â Just try the oppisite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 30, 2011 Share #7  Posted December 30, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) R lenses are bargains in the world of Leica! Look for a Summicron 50mm or an Elmarit 35mm for starters, you should be able to find one for about £200. You need a 3 cam or 'R' only version.  You can also get a Tamron adapter for Leica R and then use any Adaptall ll type lens - I have a few I use on my R3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1750Shooter Posted December 31, 2011 Author Share #8 Â Posted December 31, 2011 R-model owners' manual lists an adapter for using M lenses on the R, so maybe that's something for me to look into. Thanks for all your input. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted December 31, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted December 31, 2011 R-model owners' manual lists an adapter for using M lenses on the R, so maybe that's something for me to look into. Thanks for all your input. Â Umm - M lenses on the R will only be usable as macro lenses, with no focusing beyond a few inches. Except for some older 90 or 135 lenses, with front ends that can be taken out of the M mounts, and adapted to the R with special focusing units (which likely are more expensive than a 50 f/2 Summicron-R). Â The Leica M lens mount is about 28mm from the film surface. The R mount is about 40mm from the film. So the extra thickness of the R body+adapter acts like a built-in 15mm extension tube with M lenses - thus macro range only. Â And - BTW - if you think R lenses are expensive, wait til you see M lens prices......! Â I'm not sure I see the point of using an R3 with anything except R lenses. The body is OK, but not as capable a tool as, say, a Nikon F2 (which can take your Nikon lenses with no muss or fuss). Â The ONLY thing in the R3's favor is that Leica R glass fits on the front. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 31, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted December 31, 2011 You would definitely be better off buying a Nikon SLR body, and Nikon lenses, then moving onto Leica lenses later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1750Shooter Posted January 1, 2012 Author Share #11 Â Posted January 1, 2012 Got Nikon FTn, F3, 2xF4 - what more do I need? R-model is lighter & smaller than any Nikon other than the older ones or the RF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 1, 2012 Share #12 Â Posted January 1, 2012 But with the fundamental problem of the lenses... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 1, 2012 Share #13 Â Posted January 1, 2012 Â I'm not sure I see the point of using an R3 with anything except R lenses. The body is OK, but not as capable a tool as, say, a Nikon F2 (which can take your Nikon lenses with no muss or fuss). Â The ONLY thing in the R3's favor is that Leica R glass fits on the front. Â I have a couple of Nikon's and I'd say the R3 is nicer in some ways than even the F2! Smooth quiet shutter, superb metering Inc spot metering. But yes, the point of the R is to use Leica lenses. Â I use Tamron for a couple lesser used focal lengths, they're very good too, but no better than Nikon glass so I think you really need to make some sacrifices and buy a Leica lens or two for your R3, or send it to me and I'll give it a good home! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1750Shooter Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share #14 Â Posted January 6, 2012 Thanks for all the input. I think this thing is MUCH nicer than my Nikons, FYI, I've probably owned 15 of them so.... I asked it "earlygallery", but it said it would rather stay with me, sorry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFNewcomer Posted January 6, 2012 Share #15 Â Posted January 6, 2012 Leica equipment is expensive and that's just a fact, but then so are the best Nikon/Canon bodies and lenses. Â If you've got an R body, do yourself a favour and look around for some nicely priced Leica glass (it does exist!), then you'll see what all the fuss is about, at least I hope so! In the final analysis, though, it's down to you and not your equipment as to what kind of images you succeed in capturing. I like Nikon and I like Leica, and right now Leica is my number-one choice, both R and M, both with Leica glass of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted January 6, 2012 Share #16 Â Posted January 6, 2012 WHY? A R3 body has no advantage over a Nikon. It is just a box to hold film. The idea is to use Leica glass which in my opinion does not have a great advantage over Nikon if you buy the best Nikon. For sure the best Leica glass is better than Nikon, but is quite costly. Â I just got the last of my Nikon 1.4 G lenses. I consider then terriffic. The 85 G walks all over the 80 Summilux at wide open apertures. On the other hand, the 100 2.8 APO is simply the best sharpest lens I have if you need sharp, and that is not always best. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 6, 2012 Share #17 Â Posted January 6, 2012 WHY? A R3 body has no advantage over a Nikon. Â It the special unique Leica coatings on the insides of the camera, they absorb light in a way that give the 'Leica glow' to images. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted January 6, 2012 Share #18 Â Posted January 6, 2012 The R3 was my first Leica R model...I was pleasantly surprised with how well it worked. I got the body for free with a used lens purchase. Found I could use Tamron Adaptall lenses in the R3 a well as some of my M lenses (specifically the unscrewable lensheads which could be used on the Visoflex). After reading some of Doug's comments over the years I tried a Leicaflex SL and then the SL2 (which in my mind was a terrific camera). I also had an R8 for about 7-8 years. Unfortunately the lens flange to film distance is such on the R system that you have a limited choice of lenses - Leica R, Tamron Adaptall, or Leitax modified Nikons (I'm assuming infinity focus here just to clarify), and some Leica M lenses (65mm and longer). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 6, 2012 Share #19 Â Posted January 6, 2012 You CANNOT modify a Nikon lens to put on a Leica R camera. Â You can modify a Leica-R lens to mount on a Nikon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted January 6, 2012 Share #20  Posted January 6, 2012 Slightly off subject but how about R lens on Nikon camera  Leica FAQ — R6.2 alternatives  Nikon F2 R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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