Does IS at Sony A99 work with Leica R Lenses?

[dsapkota]

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Dear All,

 

As per the reviews (Sony A99 Review), Sony A99 body has Image Stabilisation in the body itself and IS functions perfectly with even old Zeiss and Maxum lenses.

 

I am basically Canon and Leica R shooter, never have had experience with Sony system.

 

I am thinking it would be a great solution to use Leica R lenses with Leitax mount with Sony A99 and enjoy the IS facility especially the Tele R lenses/Modul system.

 

Any experience and/or thought about it?

 

Thanking you all in advance.

Photography in Nature - Dhruba Kumar Sapkota

[CaptZoom]

I've no experience with the A99, but there's no reason to believe the IS wont work with R lenses.

[ns_ng]

Hi,

 

I have been using the A850 which has IS for nearly 4 years with my leitaxed R lenses. Yes, IS does work. Each of my alpha mount R lens has an AF confirmation chip. This enables AF confirmation as well as optimised the IS for each focal length. I was told without the chip to identify focal length, the IS defaults to that of a 50mm lens.

 

N S Ng

[dsapkota]

I was expecting more comments on it.

 

I was excited to know that Sony A99 body has Antishake (=IS=VR) function on the body itself and we could use non IS/non VR lenses on it like the Leica R lenses.

But, came to know that the R lenses need to be specially Leitaxed by David (Leica & Pentax & Nikon | Leitax) and that costs almost 300 EUROS per lens

Not only that, if you want to reverse it back to R mount later, you need to send the lens back to him.

[CaptZoom]

There's no adapter for Leica R to Sony Alpha?

[naturephoto1]

There's no adapter for Leica R to Sony Alpha?

 

You need to change the R mount to a Sony Alpha mount. That is why many are using the R lenses on the E mount for the Sony NEX cameras and many of us are waiting for the anticipated FF Sony NEX which is rumored.

 

Rich

[ns_ng]

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I was expecting more comments on it.

 

I was excited to know that Sony A99 body has Antishake (=IS=VR) function on the body itself and we could use non IS/non VR lenses on it like the Leica R lenses.

But, came to know that the R lenses need to be specially Leitaxed by David (Leica & Pentax & Nikon | Leitax) and that costs almost 300 EUROS per lens

Not only that, if you want to reverse it back to R mount later, you need to send the lens back to him.

 

The standard Sony mount with 6 holes is 68 Euro, while the more specialised version for Angenieux lenses is 88 Euro. Most of the R lenses can be diy'ed. Out of the 4 lenses ( 19mm V2, 35-70 VE, 28mm V1 and 180 Apo-Elmarit) that I have converted to alpha mount, the 35-70 VE was the most difficult, but I managed to do it by following David's instructions. The other lenses required 5-10 minutes each. Also, I could easily revert to the original R mounts as well. As far as I know, the 2 zoom lenses, 21-35 and 28-90 will have to be shipped back to David to change the mounts.

 

N S Ng

[dsapkota]

The standard Sony mount with 6 holes is 68 Euro, while the more specialised version for Angenieux lenses is 88 Euro. Most of the R lenses can be diy'ed. Out of the 4 lenses ( 19mm V2, 35-70 VE, 28mm V1 and 180 Apo-Elmarit) that I have converted to alpha mount, the 35-70 VE was the most difficult, but I managed to do it by following David's instructions. The other lenses required 5-10 minutes each. Also, I could easily revert to the original R mounts as well. As far as I know, the 2 zoom lenses, 21-35 and 28-90 will have to be shipped back to David to change the mounts.

 

N S Ng

 

Thanks for your comments NS Ng and all. Please read here what David wrote to me -

 

************

Hello Dhruba,

 

The good news is that you can use your Elmarit 24m on a Sony A99 camera.

 

But there are bad news too.

 

I have to receive here in Leitax office the Leica-R Zoom lenses with ROM and the focus module, for a custom conversion, that costs 230 Euro each + shipping + VAT

 

Also, the Sony cameras need a chip on the Leitax mount that has the focal length saved in it, so the Sony camera can operate the Anti shake system properly for each lens. ( on the zoom lenses I use the put the chip for the longer focal length )

 

Please take a look at the instructions and prices here:

Leica lens for Sony cameras

********************************************************************

So, if I want the Anti-Shake on the camera working with R Lenses, the standard bayonet without cheap does not help, isn't it? That is my understanding.

[ns_ng]

Thanks for your comments NS Ng and all. Please read here what David wrote to me -

 

************

Hello Dhruba,

 

The good news is that you can use your Elmarit 24m on a Sony A99 camera.

 

But there are bad news too.

 

I have to receive here in Leitax office the Leica-R Zoom lenses with ROM and the focus module, for a custom conversion, that costs 230 Euro each + shipping + VAT

 

Also, the Sony cameras need a chip on the Leitax mount that has the focal length saved in it, so the Sony camera can operate the Anti shake system properly for each lens. ( on the zoom lenses I use the put the chip for the longer focal length )

 

Please take a look at the instructions and prices here:

Leica lens for Sony cameras

********************************************************************

So, if I want the Anti-Shake on the camera working with R Lenses, the standard bayonet without cheap does not help, isn't it? That is my understanding.

 

 

Fortunately, in my case, all my lenses can use the standard mounts without the need to send them to David for conversion. As for the AF chip, there is a link to contact James Lao who can program the chip. It is USD50 each. It was less a few years ago. I had mine sent to David who glued them onto the mounts.

 

From my understanding, the Anti-Shake will still be activated, but it will default to that of a 50mm focal length. Therefore, if you are using a 400mm lens it might not be very effective.

 

If this mount replacement is too expensive, then you should consider a Canon FF. All you need is an adaptor. Of course, there is no IS. One of the reasons, I chose the Sony, is there is no mirror interference with my 19mm R. With Canon or Nikon FF bodies, I will have to shave the mirror or do surgery on the lens.

 

N S Ng

[dsapkota]

Fortunately, in my case, all my lenses can use the standard mounts without the need to send them to David for conversion. As for the AF chip, there is a link to contact James Lao who can program the chip. It is USD50 each. It was less a few years ago. I had mine sent to David who glued them onto the mounts.

 

From my understanding, the Anti-Shake will still be activated, but it will default to that of a 50mm focal length. Therefore, if you are using a 400mm lens it might not be very effective.

 

If this mount replacement is too expensive, then you should consider a Canon FF. All you need is an adaptor. Of course, there is no IS. One of the reasons, I chose the Sony, is there is no mirror interference with my 19mm R. With Canon or Nikon FF bodies, I will have to shave the mirror or do surgery on the lens.

 

N S Ng

 

Thank you N S Ng for your comments/suggestion. Basically, I use Tele Lens for Bird Photography purpose. At this moment, I only have 400mm F2.8 Modular combo which is not enough. I am hunting for 2x Modul to have 800mm. I am thinking to send the 2x modul once I will have it to David to be Leitaxed and Chipped for Sony mount so that I can enjoy the Anti-Shake. For smaller/wide angle lenses, Anti-shake is not that important.

 

What is your experience with Sony A99 by the way? While googling I found that CZ makes lenses for Sony like the 24-70, I guess that is a super lens. Any experience with CZ lenses? I guess they are super but still not as super as Leica in terms of color saturation, contrast, and corner to corner sharpness.

[dsapkota]

No answer on my last question as above?

[colorflow]

I have Leitaxed the 19V2, Lux 35, Lux 80, V-E 35-70, and V-E 80-200, plus a couple of Contax lenses. Only the 80-200 had to be done by David. The rest took 15 min or less.

 

I have had the Zeiss 24-70 for quite a while, first with the A900 and now the A99. A superb zoom except it is too heavy for me. So now I use the V-E 35-70 most of the time when I don't need auto-focus. There are lots of posts and examples of the Zeiss 24-70 in the Sony section of

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[naturephoto1]

Thank you N S Ng for your comments/suggestion. Basically, I use Tele Lens for Bird Photography purpose. At this moment, I only have 400mm F2.8 Modular combo which is not enough. I am hunting for 2x Modul to have 800mm. I am thinking to send the 2x modul once I will have it to David to be Leitaxed and Chipped for Sony mount so that I can enjoy the Anti-Shake. For smaller/wide angle lenses, Anti-shake is not that important.

 

What is your experience with Sony A99 by the way? While googling I found that CZ makes lenses for Sony like the 24-70, I guess that is a super lens. Any experience with CZ lenses? I guess they are super but still not as super as Leica in terms of color saturation, contrast, and corner to corner sharpness.

 

Here is a 2X modul on ebay. Yes it is expensive.

 

Mint Leica Focus Module 1 5 6 560 800mm ROM 11845 2X | eBay

 

Great performing combination. Leica Camera USA loaned me the 400mm f2.8 and the 800mm f5.6 Modular Apo Telyt combination for a month in 1998. Leica USA used 2 of the bird photos that I took with my Leica R7 on transparency film.

 

Rich

[dsapkota]

I have Leitaxed the 19V2, Lux 35, Lux 80, V-E 35-70, and V-E 80-200, plus a couple of Contax lenses. Only the 80-200 had to be done by David. The rest took 15 min or less.

 

I have had the Zeiss 24-70 for quite a while, first with the A900 and now the A99. A superb zoom except it is too heavy for me. So now I use the V-E 35-70 most of the time when I don't need auto-focus. There are lots of posts and examples of the Zeiss 24-70 in the Sony section of

The GetDPI Photography Forums - Powered by vBulletin

 

Many thanks for your reply on my post.

I have both the Zeiss 24-70mm for Sony (bought to use for my Alaska trip soon, never have used it before) and also have Leica R 35-70/4 ROM.

How do you compare them in terms of Color Saturation, Sharpness, DOF? AF is not important for me as far as I am shooting landscape.

[dsapkota]

Just a small update especially for them who have not done this test.

 

I bought 2X Modul to make my system 800/5.6 and put the Leitax Canon mount on it and used it with my Canon 1DX and 5D III two weeks ago.

My conclusion about Color Saturation, Contrast, Sharpness, Depth of Filed =

 

The color saturation we see using DMR+R9/R8 with Leica R lens is mostly by DMR and a bit by R Lens.

 

While using R lenses on Canon with canon mount (Leitax), I found the sharpness, contrast and depth of field almost same/equal as while using DMR+R9/R8 with R lenses but not the color saturation.

 

So, if you really want to have great color saturation, you should stick with DMR.

 

However, using R lenses on Canon body render better result in terms of sharpness and depth of field than what Canon body+Canon lenses do.

 

I am sorry I tried but could not succeed to upload pictures here the way this site suggests, am not good in technical stuff. Here are sample pictures I have made -

 

Leica R9+DMR+800/5.6 =

 

Canon 5D III+Leica 800/5.6 with Leitax Canon Mount =

 

Canon 5D III+Leica 35-70/4 ROM with Leitax Canon Mount =

 

By the way, I am still in The Netherlands, 9 more days to fly to Alaska with my Leica 800/5.6 (modified to use with Sony A99, an experiment, never have used Sony, my Sony A99 body is waiting for my in my Alaska address), Canon 1DX and 5D III bodies with Leica 28/2.8 ROM with Canon Leitax Mount, 35-70/4 ROM with Canon Leitax Mount, 80-200/4 ROM with Canon Leitax Mount am not sure but am thinking to bring 280/4 ROM as well with me.

 

And Canon 600/4 IS II lens waiting for me in my Alaska address, my friend will accompany me enabling me to handle these two big tele lenses. Will be an experiment to see the result from Canon body+Canon Lenses, Canon body+Leica R lenses, Sony body+Leica R lens.

 

Friends, pray for me to capture great moment of Fall Color with Great Scenes, Bear catching Salmon and other wildlife in the great Alaska.

[CaptZoom]

Friends, pray for me to capture great moment of Fall Color with Great Scenes, Bear catching Salmon and other wildlife in the great Alaska.

 

Hope the shots you're after:)

[dsapkota]

Dear All,

I am back home after my Photography tour of Alaska. It was great to be in Alaska, made many great pictures of Bears, Moose and Landscapes, some of them are here -

 

 

and