Buying SL but need some advise

[Flyer]

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I have found an ex demo SL at a reasonable price and I am ordering today. But I need some advise on lens selection please. 

1. Until the Panasonic SL mounts arrive are there any third party zoom lenses in anywhere in the 16-35 or 24-70 range  that work via an adaptor? 

2. Is there an adaptor (other than the Leica M-T) that will work with manual focus lenses, example voigtlander etc? 

3. Any advise about what lenses to use on theSL

4. Which R lenses can be used and is the Novaflex adaptor any good? 

 

Thanks in advance

 

Flyer

Edited February 5, 2019 by Flyer

[jaapv]

All R lenses are good, but they are best used by stacked adapters. The L-M one with any decent Chinese M-R adapter on top.

As interim zoom I would advise the Vario-Elmar R 35-70.

[mich]

The Canon 4/16-35mm works fine with the Novoflex adapter. AF is a bit slower than on Canon gear and, like all adapted Canon lenses, image stabilization doesn't work. Which shouldn't be a problem at all with a WA lens.

[helged]

38 minutes ago, jaapv said:

All R lenses are good, but they are best used by stacked adapters. The L-M one with any decent Chinese M-R adapter on top.

As interim zoom I would advise the Vario-Elmar R 35-70.

+1. Both the Vario-Elmar R 35-70/f4 and the cousin Contax 35-70/f3.4 are fine zoom lenses.

And yes, the Novoflex adapters are very fine (but expensive). Most adapters will do, lot's of options (search for "Leica SL adapter" on the bay, etc.).

[AndreaP75]

1 hour ago, Flyer said:

I have found an ex demo SL at a reasonable price and I am ordering today. But I need some advise on lens selection please. 

1. Until the Panasonic SL mounts arrive are there any third party zoom lenses in anywhere in the 16-35 or 24-70 range  that work via an adaptor? 

2. Is there an adaptor (other than the Leica M-T) that will work with manual focus lenses, example voigtlander etc? 

3. Any advise about what lenses to use on theSL

4. Which R lenses can be used and is the Novaflex adaptor any good? 

 

Thanks in advance

 

Flyer

On the SL you can adapt pretty much any lenses available. For 3rd party zoom lenses, I won't be necessarily looking for autofocus. Of course, you can get autofocus through dedicated adaptors, but they will not perform as native SL lenses (or possibly L-mount lenses soon to be released by Panasonic and later on by Sigma). If you really need an autofocus 3rd party zoom lens, you may want to consider a 2nd hand Sigma and get it converted to L-mount at a later stage. Sigma stated that they will offer this service. 

For manual focus, R lenses and Contax will do a great job and cover up nicely the time before other native L-mount lenses become more available.

For adaptors, outside the Leica brand, I would stick with Novoflex. I have used Novoflex adaptor with several R lenses, mostly Elmarit 60mm, Summicron 90mm, Summilux 80mm with excellent results. No play, solid, no plastic whatsoever. 

[Flyer]

Would this work on the SL with focus peaking and also aperture settings etc?

https://www.leicastoremanchester.com/28-70mm-vario-elmar-r-f-35-45.html

Cheers

[Boojay]

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6 minutes ago, Flyer said:

Would this work on the SL with focus peaking and also aperture settings etc?

https://www.leicastoremanchester.com/28-70mm-vario-elmar-r-f-35-45.html

Cheers

Yes, if used as Jaapv suggests adaptor wise - aperture setting on the lens.

[Flyer]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

All R lenses are good, but they are best used by stacked adapters. The L-M one with any decent Chinese M-R adapter on top.

As interim zoom I would advise the Vario-Elmar R 35-70.

Thank you for the info, please could you expand on stacked adaptors, what would I need to buy?  Many Thanks

[Flyer]

2 minutes ago, Boojay said:

Yes, if used as Jaapv suggests adaptor wise - aperture setting on the lens.

 

2 minutes ago, Boojay said:

Yes, if used as Jaapv suggests adaptor wise - aperture setting on the lens.

Many thanks I will look into this, thank you

[Boojay]

1 minute ago, Flyer said:

 

Many thanks I will look into this, thank you

This is a great forum and lots of information to be had here - but you might like to read through this, with regard to adapting lenses for the SL.

https://www.getdpi.com/forum/leica/65416-adapers-r-m-lenses-use-sl-mount-experiences.html#post777615

 

[Marac]

I used Contax Lenses on my SL (still do on my CL) with excellent results. Novoflex adapter is around £100, the Contax Zeiss range are wonderful and 'cheap'.

[Agent M10]

 

3 hours ago, Flyer said:

3. Any advise about what lenses to use on theSL

Try to find a used Summicron SL. Or save up. State of the art. Nothing like them, and you'll like the SL that much more.

Edited February 5, 2019 by Agent M10

[helged]

25 minutes ago, Agent M10 said:

Try to find a used Summicron SL. Or save up. State of the art. Nothing like them, and you'll like the SL that much more.

+1; the SL-primes are addictive, indeed...  

[Einst_Stein]

13 hours ago, Flyer said:

I have found an ex demo SL at a reasonable price and I am ordering today. But I need some advise on lens selection please. 

1. Until the Panasonic SL mounts arrive are there any third party zoom lenses in anywhere in the 16-35 or 24-70 range  that work via an adaptor? 

2. Is there an adaptor (other than the Leica M-T) that will work with manual focus lenses, example voigtlander etc? 

3. Any advise about what lenses to use on theSL

4. Which R lenses can be used and is the Novaflex adaptor any good? 

 

Thanks in advance

 

Flyer

R to T/TL/CL/SL adapter, I got mine for $20.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=leica+r+to+TL+adapter&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=15