Leica S lens on Fuji GFX 50s

[Tirpitz666]

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Thanks to a super quick shipping, I got Sarnian's spare Kipon adapter and here are my preliminary findings on my GFX 100S:

- the 30mm is the one that works best, like because of course the shortest the FL, the easier is for the adapter to rack focus, so it's a pass

- the 75mm works but not as good as the 30 and I got a few false positives, so it's still a pass but let's say with room for improvement

. the 120mm is extremely slow to focus, every time the AF is engaged the lens doesn't move but one can hear the electrical noise of the AF motors inside the lens (not very reassuring) and when finally it racks focus it's more or less half hit and miss, and we are talking far/infinity, while at close distance the AF simply gives up after trying several times (very handy for a macro lens 😀 ). So to me is a NOT passed. For now it's a MF only affair

- the 180mm sadly just seem to work for a shot (usually in focus so far) but very quickly the camera shows a "Lens error" message and has to be turned off and the lens dismounted to return normal. So a total NOT passed for the time being.

 

So for a product that retails for over 1000 quids I was expecting a bit more in all honesty, Kipon has still a lot of work to do with thir FW updates, especially regarding the longer FLs. Anyone is managing to have their 180 work on any GFX body with the last FW?

 

P.S. still not fully clear if the adapter reports the correct FL of the attached lens to the camera, if I use AutoISO with the 1/FL min shutter speed setting, I noticed that it doesn't get respected and often it has dropped way below. Also setting the adpated lens FL manually doesn't seem to have an effect in that regard. The only "sure fire solution" that I found so far was to set the min shutter speed manually to 1/160 or so, to be on the safe side with the 120 Macro. I have more testing to do if and how the IBIS works.

Edited September 17 by Tirpitz666

[Stuart Richardson]

It’s very interesting that it is this hard! I wonder what is going on that makes it that hard. I remember Leica saying that each lens communicates its exact focal length to the body and the body communicates its spec back to the lens so that their tolerances zero out. I also remember that the af is designed to cut out just before it reaches optimum focus so that the stop time, that last bit of inertia will stop exactly on the point of focus. So I suspect that while it seems like it would be a basic affair, the big heavy optics of the S lenses and Leica’s own degree of optimization has made it very hard to implement on another body. 
That said, if they still work reliably manually, that is still a great thing. Just getting open aperture metering and focusing and being able to stop down correctly is a great way to use these lenses since the MF is so well done. 

[Tirpitz666]

Yeah, that thing about the intertia thing is indeed interesting, as it looks that the adapter puts the lens in the focus ballpark and that slowly adjust it with some micro movements until (hopefully) perfect focus is achieved.

It’s not ideal but probably for the time being is the only way to have a spot on focus (and not always works nonetheless).

Edited September 17 by Tirpitz666

[helged]

33 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

It’s very interesting that it is this hard! I wonder what is going on that makes it that hard. I remember Leica saying that each lens communicates its exact focal length to the body and the body communicates its spec back to the lens so that their tolerances zero out. I also remember that the af is designed to cut out just before it reaches optimum focus so that the stop time, that last bit of inertia will stop exactly on the point of focus. So I suspect that while it seems like it would be a basic affair, the big heavy optics of the S lenses and Leica’s own degree of optimization has made it very hard to implement on another body. 
That said, if they still work reliably manually, that is still a great thing. Just getting open aperture metering and focusing and being able to stop down correctly is a great way to use these lenses since the MF is so well done. 

+1. I would be happy as long as the electronic adapter allows full control of aperture, plus passing correct focal length to the body for IBIS stabilization (would also be good with correct EXIF, but that's on the bonus side). Manual focus with focus aid on mirrorless bodies works, in general and for most purposes, fine, so AF is no biggie for me. That being said, I prefer using S-lenses on S- and SL-bodies...

Edited September 17 by helged

[Tirpitz666]

My point would be that, unless the AF part of the Kipon improves by a significant margin, and provided that the new XpImage adapter works as intended (still to be verified), for just using MF one could be better off paying less than half and go for the second. 
Guess we will need some more testing/reviews also on that one 🙂

[sostinv]

On 8/16/2025 at 8:46 AM, ZHNL said:

In this case, the best bet is update your 35mm lens firmware with 007 or S3. 
I don’t have single case that adapter won’t recognize 35mm over all the firmware so far. 
you can try to reinstall latest firmware and mount it again. I don’t think 70mm will help 35mm support. In my case, I feel the adapter is just confused with 100 and 180/120mm lenses so only one can be supported. 

My S35 started to work correctly after lens firmware update using 007 body. The body firmware must be not less than 3.0.0.0, where they most likely changed a communication protocol. Starting from this firmware version a body initiates a lens firmware update automatically just after turning it on (if it has not been updated previously). BTW, Leica’s own S to SL adaptor also requires lens to be updated in such a way. Just wondering, why don’t they just support backward compatibility in old communication favour to let users be free of a hassle finding 007/s3. I suppose a new lens firmware still maintain old way to continue working on 006/s2. 

[Tirpitz666]

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All my lenses are at the advised xx.47.xx FW, so they should be already ok for usage (even if I don't have a S007/3 to try to "further" update them, so don't know if it's relevant).

 

One thing I'm reading on the Kipon website is that the adapter doesn't support CS lenses yet, but it's not clear to me if it's only referred to the central shutter or maybe the FW of the lenses themselves is different than non-CS ones (my 75 and 120 are indeed CS versions).

On the other side it reports the 180 F3.5 as compatible but my non-CS 180 doesn't work 🙃

Edited September 17 by Tirpitz666

[chrismuc]

I received the XPimage S-GF adapter in Guangzhou and took it to Munich. First test with the S 120f2.5 Macro on the GFX100: Very good fitting, XPimage in various adapters uses a thread ring additionally to the twist lock with release button to tighten the lens to the adapter, adapter looks nicely made with good looking internal matt stepped surface. Of course AF does not work yet but the lens is recognised correctly, IBIS works well, the aperture can be controlled by the camera, MF allows tack sharp images and the EXIF shows the correct lens information. So let's hope the XPimage boss and team succeed in implementing a good AF functionality. I will push them to send me a FW for testing a.s.a.p..

(I tried to upload an image of the camera + adapter + lens but I get error code 200 all the time, even the image is just a small jpg.)

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[Tirpitz666]

Very good to hear, especially because so far no luck for me using the Kipon with my favorite lens, the 180, and Kipon support was not useful at all. So I may well look soon for a viable alternative for that.

[tom0511]

I wonder if it is really worth to use the S lenses adapted to Fuji or if one is not better served with a used S007 or S3?

[Sarnian]

27 minutes ago, tom0511 said:

I wonder if it is really worth to use the S lenses adapted to Fuji or if one is not better served with a used S007 or S3?

If money were no option, an S3 would get you very close to a GFX100 and it would be a seamless (although heavy) option. 

I have 2 camera set-ups in identical camera bags: an S2 + 30-90mm and a GFX100S + 20-35mm. I don't need to look inside to see which one I picked up as I can tell just by the weight!! 😛

 

Edited Friday at 11:57 AM by Sarnian

[Tirpitz666]

1 hour ago, tom0511 said:

I wonder if it is really worth to use the S lenses adapted to Fuji or if one is not better served with a used S007 or S3?

Well, guess especially if you happen to own one of the CCD-equipped bodies and already also have a Fuji GFX, to me it's worth in the sense that with a rather limited expense (if you can deal with MF only, the XPImage adapter is around 500 bucks), you can enjoy all that wonderful Leica S glass on a "modern" CMOS sensor in light conditions where you have likely put your S2/006 away since hours or where you simply need even more dynamic range. I've shot last day my 100S with a dumb adapter with the 180 F3.5 (so wide open only) and the experience was nonetheless wonderful: the lens covers perfectly the 4:3 sensor, even on a 100MP sensor pics are pin sharp and the overall rendering is as beautiful as ever (if one likes Fuji colors, that is). MF experience was seamless, the magnification+peaking of the 100S is very good and the S lenses are among the best ones for MF that I've ever used, so precise focussing was a breeze. Add as an additional bonus that you can dial in the camera the correct FL and you have even IBIS, and to me it's totally worth the hassle and a very compelling alternative to spend basically four times the money on a used S007 body (let alone a S3). But of course YMMV 🙂

[Sarnian]

When using your dumb adapter why don’t you choose the desired aperture of your 180mm lens when attached to your S camera and then, when holding down the lens release button, remove it. The lens will stay at your desired aperture. 

[chrismuc]

I have a S006 to enjoy CCD with Leica S lenses. I don't have a macro lens for the GFX, so the S 120 is great, there is no GF 35, so the S 35 is in my case well in between my GF 23 and GF 45 and there is no GF prime lens between 110 and 250 mm, so the S 180 makes perfectly sense. I also can confirm, even with manual focus, but with auto aperture and correct EXIF, I too find it a joy to use the S lenses on the GFX.

[Stuart Richardson]

10 minutes ago, chrismuc said:

I have a S006 to enjoy CCD with Leica S lenses. I don't have a macro lens for the GFX, so the S 120 is great, there is no GF 35, so the S 35 is in my case well in between my GF 23 and GF 45 and there is no GF prime lens between 110 and 250 mm, so the S 180 makes perfectly sense. I also can confirm, even with manual focus, but with auto aperture and correct EXIF, I too find it a joy to use the S lenses on the GFX.

Have you tried all your lenses then? Is it just those three? It seems like very good news if all of your lenses are working consistently, as that does not seem to be the case with the Kipon for some people. 

[Tirpitz666]

Thank you for the pointer Sarnian, but for me the 180 is my go to portrait lens, so usually it lives 95% of the times wide open even on the S006 🙂

So Chris have you successfully used also the 180 with the XPImage adapter?

[chrismuc]

Actually, I currently own the S35, S70 and S120M and these work well with the XPimage adapter (in particular IBIS + zoom in is great for manual focus). I don't have yet the S180, but will buy one, as soon as I am back in China. More choice and better prices on 2nd hand market there 🙂.

[chrismuc]

(There was a new patent on a GF 165f2.8 recently shown online, in case that this lens shall be released, it would make even more sense for the GFX ... but I still would get a S180 for the S006 :-)))

[Einst_Stein]

It is a clever choice to skip AF, at least for now. That is the most fragile part for the lens if not handled properly. 

Please confirm if it works for S30, S35, S45, S70, S120, and S30-90. or inform us which one it doesnt work if any.

Now, wish it is also  weather sealed. It doesn't mention yet, so I assume it's not. 

Edited Friday at 06:29 PM by Einst_Stein

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[siddhaarta]

Am 17.9.2025 um 12:53 schrieb Stuart Richardson:

It’s very interesting that it is this hard! I wonder what is going on that makes it that hard. I remember Leica saying that each lens communicates its exact focal length to the body and the body communicates its spec back to the lens so that their tolerances zero out. I also remember that the af is designed to cut out just before it reaches optimum focus so that the stop time, that last bit of inertia will stop exactly on the point of focus. So I suspect that while it seems like it would be a basic affair, the big heavy optics of the S lenses and Leica’s own degree of optimization has made it very hard to implement on another body. 
That said, if they still work reliably manually, that is still a great thing. Just getting open aperture metering and focusing and being able to stop down correctly is a great way to use these lenses since the MF is so well done. 

I wonder also. On the other hand - the S lenses work wonderful with the SL/SL2/SL3. AF-Reliability is much better than with the S007/S3  PDAF (same as when you use Leica S in live view from the LCD monitor with CDAF) and as an extra you have IBIS. So there seem to be some secret sausage that the Chinese manufacturers haven't figured out (yet) ...

Edited 15 hours ago by siddhaarta