Leica Macro adapter-M #14652

[nwphil]

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ok,

this was a quick and dirty shootout, just to see how it works with different lenses - far from being technical and perfect, and actually missed the focus in a few, but still allows to see what the adapted can do.

Initially was going to be just the 90mm macro-elmar with kit adapter and then the #14562; ended adding up the cron 35 v6 and cron 50 v3. all shots wide open, and close to mfd.

#63 90mm on kitadapter, #64 90mm no adapter

#65 90mm w/#14562; #66 90mm w/ #14562 fully extended

#67 & #69 50mm cron - same as above

#70 & #71 35mm cron - same as above

with a 21mm it's way too close, and with a 15mm the lens was touching the dice (lol)

 

 

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[LraStn]

Thanks for posting these examples. I just received my M Macro adapter and wanted to verify that you had the same experience I did, i.e. I can't choose at what distance I want the lens to focus thereby controlling the composition. With the adapter on, I was only able to achieve focus by moving the camera very close to the object, I couldn't frame the shot from a foot away and then focus, I had to be just inches away from the subject to achieve focus. I tried with three different lenses: the 35, 50, and 75 (all Summilux). Thanks for any input you can offer.   

[lct]

You need an EVF to focus any lens with the 14652 macro adapter. Otherwise you may wish to try the 14409 macro adapter with goggles (pic) to be used on rangefinders together with the Macro-Elmar 90/4.

 

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Edited December 29, 2019 by lct

[luigi bertolotti]

3 hours ago, LraStn said:

Thanks for posting these examples. I just received my M Macro adapter and wanted to verify that you had the same experience I did, i.e. I can't choose at what distance I want the lens to focus thereby controlling the composition. With the adapter on, I was only able to achieve focus by moving the camera very close to the object, I couldn't frame the shot from a foot away and then focus, I had to be just inches away from the subject to achieve focus. I tried with three different lenses: the 35, 50, and 75 (all Summilux). Thanks for any input you can offer.   

Generally speaking, the Macro Adapter is enjoyiable with 75-90mm focals : 50mm and under give such a limited focus throw that is annoying, and, anyway, an excellent wa lens like, for example,  the Summicron 35 asph isn't designed to work at very short distances… the planarity of the focus plane fails…  for real Macro, nothing is better than a bellows on tripod… and there are many Leica lenses that are very good for such tasks (personally, I like the old Elmar 65 and the Elmar 100R )

 

[nwphil]

11 hours ago, LraStn said:

Thanks for posting these examples. I just received my M Macro adapter and wanted to verify that you had the same experience I did, i.e. I can't choose at what distance I want the lens to focus thereby controlling the composition. With the adapter on, I was only able to achieve focus by moving the camera very close to the object, I couldn't frame the shot from a foot away and then focus, I had to be just inches away from the subject to achieve focus. I tried with three different lenses: the 35, 50, and 75 (all Summilux). Thanks for any input you can offer.   

I forgot to mention that was shot with a M240 (either in live view or with the viewfinder) - if your camera can use be used with either LV or EVF just like LCT said, the macro adapter does indeed a great job acquiring magnification and shortening mfd (not exactly a correct technical phrase mind you).

I find the goggles that come with the elmar 90mm kit quite annoying to use...the #14562 adapter is  smaller, allows adjustments  and brings new uses to a 50mm and even 35mm - and still can use the elmar 90, but LV or EVF is needed.

 

@luigi - had the elmarit apo 100R and was too heavy while still needing the EVF, but aside that totally agree with what you are saying

[wattsy]

2 hours ago, nwphil said:

I find the goggles that come with the elmar 90mm kit quite annoying to use...the #14562 adapter is  smaller, allows adjustments  and brings new uses to a 50mm and even 35mm - and still can use the elmar 90, but LV or EVF is needed.

I'm not sure what's annoying about the goggled adaptor? It simply extends the RF functionality to a very useful closer focus range. Focus and composition are made using the RF and framelines in the traditional way of using an M camera. The 14652 adaptor, whilst extending the focussing range to achieve 1:2 macro, is IMO significantly slower to use and (obviously) necessitates the use of live view (thus restricting its usefulness to a digital body). I have both adaptors and use them for different purposes but find the 14409 goggled adaptor indispensable.

[wattsy]

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14 hours ago, LraStn said:

Thanks for posting these examples. I just received my M Macro adapter and wanted to verify that you had the same experience I did, i.e. I can't choose at what distance I want the lens to focus thereby controlling the composition. With the adapter on, I was only able to achieve focus by moving the camera very close to the object, I couldn't frame the shot from a foot away and then focus, I had to be just inches away from the subject to achieve focus. I tried with three different lenses: the 35, 50, and 75 (all Summilux). Thanks for any input you can offer.   

As Luigi has pointed out, this is normal. Focal lengths shorter than 90mm will have decreasingly useful focal ranges. When you get down to wide angles like a 35mm you can only achieve focus when very close (a few inches) to the subject. IMO a waste of time because, in addition to the problem of such a restricted focussing range, these lenses are not very good as macro lenses (as demonstrated in the photos posted earlier in the thread).

Edited December 30, 2019 by wattsy

[lct]

Better use a close focus adapter for WA lenses. Can be used hand held with no problem at all. Here at about 20cm with a CV 21/4 (V-ME close focus adapter + Sony A7s mod): https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-2JbsFrZ/0/3fbf21e0/X3/i-2JbsFrZ-X3.jpg

[luigi bertolotti]

6 hours ago, wattsy said:

I'm not sure what's annoying about the goggled adaptor? It simply extends the RF functionality to a very useful closer focus range. Focus and composition are made using the RF and framelines in the traditional way of using an M camera. The 14652 adaptor, whilst extending the focussing range to achieve 1:2 macro, is IMO significantly slower to use and (obviously) necessitates the use of live view (thus restricting its usefulness to a digital body). I have both adaptors and use them for different purposes but find the 14409 goggled adaptor indispensable.

+ 1 : I have the goggled adapter with its Macro Elmar, and use it regularly... it's a light, portable, fine working solution for occasional closeups handheld ... I appreciate it more than putting on the accessory EVF (but, maybe it's because, before it, my set for the same purpose was SOMKY-UOORF-Summicron 50 head...  and used it for >20 years from M2 to M4 to M8...😉)

[AceVentura1986]

On 12/29/2019 at 12:10 PM, lct said:

You need an EVF to focus any lens with the 14652 macro adapter. Otherwise you may wish to try the 14409 macro adapter with goggles (pic) to be used on rangefinders together with the Macro-Elmar 90/4.

 

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I’ve been thinking of digitally photographing negatives but my Leicas all lack live view. My option was to use my Canon 6D but this seems interesting as I’d be able to use my Monochrom on BW negatives for (theoretically) better results. 
 

Does this adapter work only with the 90mm Elmar?  I have a 50mm Summicron and. 75mm Nokton. would those work on an M9M? 

[Gobert]

What is the advantage of this adapter above that from f.e. Novoflex (except the Leica has a six bit code)?

[UliWer]

The Macro-Adapter-M (14652) which is mentioned here allows you to use M-lenses - especially the 90mm Makro-Elmar-M - with your M camera and live view for close focus purposes.

Novoflex does not offer a similar product, only adapters to attach different lenses to different camera bodies.

P.S.: Not completely true, since you could use the LEM/VIS adapter by Novoflex to get a closer focus. Though the intermediate rings of the LEM/VIS are fixed. The Leica Macro-Adapter-M can be extended.

BTW: The six-bit code for the Macro-Adapter-M is useless. 

Edited December 31, 2019 by UliWer

[RexGig0]

3 minutes ago, UliWer said:

The Macro-Adapter-M (14652) which is mentioned here allows you to use M-lenses - especially the 90mm Makro-Elmar-M - with your M camera and live view for close focus purposes.

Novoflex does not offer a similar product, only adapters to attach different lenses to different camera bodies.

BTW: The six-bit code for the Macro-Adapter-M is useless. 

What about the Novoflex LEM/VIS II/III?

Edited December 31, 2019 by RexGig0

[UliWer]

vor 3 Minuten schrieb RexGig0:

What about the Novoflex LEM/VIS II/III?

Yes, true! I corrected my posting above.

[nwphil]

1 hour ago, AceVentura1986 said:

I’ve been thinking of digitally photographing negatives but my Leicas all lack live view. My option was to use my Canon 6D but this seems interesting as I’d be able to use my Monochrom on BW negatives for (theoretically) better results. 
 

Does this adapter work only with the 90mm Elmar?  I have a 50mm Summicron and. 75mm Nokton. would those work on an M9M? 

it works with any leica mount lens...but like others said, below and at 35mm it is a bit too close among other things. I compared the results using the 90mm elmar with kit adapter vs this one, and actually IMO the #14562 (no googles) has an advantage in size and with the helical movement - gets a tad closer and adjustable. both have no glass, so no induced distortion or loss of IQ

[RexGig0]

True; the Leica adapter allows a continuum of adjustment, whereas the Novoflex LEM/VIS only allows stacking of the individual components. I have noticed that the Novoflex LEM/VIS has always been difficult to source, first the II, and now the III. 

Edited December 31, 2019 by RexGig0

[pedaes]

22 minutes ago, RexGig0 said:

True; the Leica adapter allows a continuum of adjustment, whereas the Novoflex LEM/VIS only allows stacking of the individual components. I have noticed that the Novoflex LEM/VIS has always been difficult to source, first the II, and now the III. 

https://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/adapters/novoflex_lem_vis_iii_leica_m_extension_tube_set/27625_p.html

[RexGig0]

13 minutes ago, pedaes said:

https://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/adapters/novoflex_lem_vis_iii_leica_m_extension_tube_set/27625_p.html

Thanks. That is a friendlier price than the seller I found in Hong Kong.

Now, to decide whether to buy the Leica Macro-Adapter-M, or the LEM/VIS III. If the cost factor is set aside, the LEM/VIS III allows the use of Leica Visoflex lenses, including a 65mm that has been in my sights, since I handled a very nice one, last year. The Leica adapter allows a continuum of adjustment, rather than stepped intervals.

The immediate goal is to use my Thambar-M for close-range flowers, with floral backgrounds rendered in the distinctive Thambar manner.

[pedaes]

1 hour ago, RexGig0 said:

Leica Visoflex lenses, including a 65mm

This was taken playing about with a Visoflex 65mm (head) plus original Visoflex II and Leica Bellows II on a M10. You can pick up this set for a lot less than any of your options and have fun staying traditional with your Thambar.

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Edited December 31, 2019 by pedaes

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[wattsy]

1 hour ago, RexGig0 said:

The immediate goal is to use my Thambar-M for close-range flowers, with floral backgrounds rendered in the distinctive Thambar manner.

I have used both types of Leica adapter with the Thambar-M for wildflower photos. I don't particularly care for the "distinctive Thambar" look but do like the low contrast of this lens for this type of photography. Within the close range, the out of focus areas are nice and smooth and the areas in focus are nice and sharp.

 

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Edited December 31, 2019 by wattsy