Mounting Leica M lens on Canon eos camera?

[danedit28]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Anyone have an adapter they can recommend that will do this? I don't think this is possible but asking anyway...

 

More specifically, I'm looking to use my Leica M lenses on my Canon C300 cinema camera but I'm guessing the flange distance cannot be fitted going in this direction.

 

Thanks in advance,

-dan

Edited January 27, 2015 by danedit28

[Dikaiosune01]

I'm not an expert; but i think i know enough to give a reasonable answer.

 

 

You're right in saying it is all about the flange distance. The M mount lenses needs to be put close to the lens. The Eos mounts needs to be put further away from the lens (to accommodate the camera mirror) As such, the Eos Cameras are built with that flange distance in mind and are built into the body.

 

It can't be made shorter.

 

That being said; i remember reading one article a while back where someone hacked up a 5D to put the Leica 50mm 0.95 on it. A quick google search helped me find it.

 

How a Canon 5D Mark II is Transformed into a Pseduo-Leica

[Lenshacker]

Lenses made for the Viso-flex, including the longer focal length lenses like the 90/2 Summicron with lens heads that unscrew from the focus mount could be adapted.

 

Lenses like the 50/0.95 and others- not going to focus to infinity without adapters that have glass elements in them. Those "corrective optics" will impact image quality. There are many good EF mount lenses, including a Canon 50/1.0. I would look at them.

[sdk]

Non-Visoflex lenses can be used but they will only work as macro lenses, not focusing to infinity. The shortest Visoflex lens that will focus to infinity is the old 65mm/3.5 Makro Elmar. It's not super sharp, especially compared to modern macros, but a classic lens. Another Visoflex lens that's interesting on DSLRs is the 200mm/4 Telyt. You get a very vintage look from these lenses: decent resolution stopped down a bit, but relatively low contrast.

[Echo63]

Does the C300 have a mirror ?

It may actually work, if you can mount the lens far enough back in the "mirror box"

Will probbaly reauire a custom built adapter though

[CheshireCat]

There are many good EF mount lenses, including a Canon 50/1.0. I would look at them.

 

Indeed. And there are some Zeiss lenses in EF mount that I like more than M equivalents (size and weight apart ).

[bpultorak]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Well, I wouldn't do it, but looks interesting:

 

Eos with m lens

[Ivanski]

old thread i know, but wanted to see if theres been any developments since. the c300mkii does not have a mirror and the film plane/lens distance is shorter. has anyone messed with this since 2015?

[rent]

I believe C300 MkII offers either a EF mount (44mm flange distance) or a PL mount (52mm), either of which are significantly longer than Leica M's 27.8mm. I suppose you can rig up something to mount the lens inside of the body cavity of the C300, but it'll be challenging.

You can also try mount it however you can, and shoot macro movies? 

[david strachan]

Why bother? (Reply in general)

There are thousands of delicious lenses old and new, at the full range of prices.  Many for the cost of adapters.

...