M to L adapters & Arca type plate for SL

[pgk]

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OK I succumbed to an SL body for a whole host of reasons but primarily to use M and other adapted lenses on. Two questions;

1. What M to L adapters do people recommend and is Leica's own adapter worth the price relative to others?

2. I use Arca they plates on all my cameras - smaller anti-twist ones generally. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

[adelie]

The Leica M -> L adapter is well worth the money. I tried a less expensive adapter - nothing but trouble. I have a used SL that I use my M and R lenses with. I am using the Novoflex R --> L adapter - works like a charm. The Leica R --> L adapter here in Canada is almost $1500.00 Canadian dollars!!

[BernardC]

The "Really Right Stuff Base Plate for Leica SL (Typ 601)" is very good. It's not small (12mm high, same width and length as the SL), but it fits perfectly and maintains access to the battery door.

The Leica M-adapter-L (or earlier M-adapter-T, which is the same thing) is very good, and has the advantage of relaying 6-bit codes to the camera for lens correction. Novoflex is also good if you don't need 6-bit codes, but still want an adapter that fits.

Cheap adapters are hit-and-miss. Some don't fit at all, some are too tight, some are too loose, some are tight at one end and loose at the other.

More expensive adapters are probably good ( £100 to  £150 range), but they aren't much cheaper than the Novoflex. I have a Kipon M39-to-L adapter (for Leica screw-mount lenses), and it is fine.

One other option to look at is an adapter with a built-in focusing helical. This will let you focus a bit closer (40cm instead of 70 cm, for instance). No 6-bit, of course, but I use one on a Zeiss ZM Planar, which isn't coded.

[beewee]

I have the Leica M-adapter L and R-adapter M. Both are very good quality and I have no complaints. If you have coded M lenses, I would recommend going with the Leica M-adapter R since it will automatically detect the 6-bit code.

[ravinj]

Another vote for the Leica M to L adapter. Tried a few non-Leica brands, but in the end better to bite the bullet and get the Leica one. Build quality and tolerance is far ahead of other options. For base plate, go with the RRS model mentioned in one of the earlier responses here. Excellent fit and finish and it is not too heavy.

Edited March 31, 2021 by ravinj

[LD_50]

I use the Leica M to L adapter and Really Right Stuff base plate. Both are highly recommended. 

[GFW2-SCUSA]

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I also use the Leica M to L adapter. It is Leica quality and a thing of beauty. I could not get a black one, so it's a bit of silver on an otherwise all black set up.  As for Arca Type plate I use a 40mm one from Breakthrough Photography which I bought at Leica Store Miami. It fits perfectly on my M 10 as well as on my SL2.  It is snug and very nicely machined. I like it better than the other plates I have used. 

[Photoworks]

You can find Leica M to L adapter used $250-300.

Benefit of the Leica adapter M-L is the 6bit reader and applied in camera correction of color, vignetting, and CA.

I also use the coiled 3rd party adapter. I t works well with overcoming the minimum 70-100cm distance with moderation . Obviously the Leica lenses are often not corrected to focus closer, especially with FLE elements, but non than less I get good results.
This adapter get you all the uncorrected character of the lens that can be useful in some cases. the Noctilux 0.95 will show more vignetting.
You can still use sensor stabilities feature in SL2 by selecting in the menu the lens, but no correction will be applied

TIP. If you only have one Lens you use with 3rd party adapter make a profile so that you can pick the lens quicker.
TIP2. you can constumize the list of lenses in the menu to only lenses you have.

complaints.
The Leica M-L adapter is well made, but I have 2 and tried others and there is always a little lens play and the infinity focus does not match the hard stop, it goes past it. Most noticeable in 9.95 1.4 lenses.

 

ARCA PLATE.

I find the Really Right Stuff  L plate the best.  It is on the camera at all time and it is a great extension of the camera giving me a better grip with larger hands. for some people the little square may be better, but does usually are not so smooth on the body and can be cumbersome if  you have the camera on a strap.

[Simone_DF]

https://www.3leggedthing.com/ellie

[pgk]

Thanks everyone. I'm really after a small Arca plate - has anyone tried Arca's own plate 802227?

[Chuck Albertson]

I bought a RRS Arca plate for the SL (small, not the full plate) with the anti-twist pin a couple of years ago, but I can't seem to find it in their online catalog now. It stays on the camera pretty much full time.

[granite]

Has anyone used the M-adapter L with either of the Tri-Elmars? I had my MATE upgraded to 6-bit encoding and I'd like to use it plus my single focal-length M lenses until I can scrape up the wherewithall to get a L-mount lens for the SL2.

Dave

[FlashGordonPhotography]

23 hours ago, granite said:

Has anyone used the M-adapter L with either of the Tri-Elmars? I had my MATE upgraded to 6-bit encoding and I'd like to use it plus my single focal-length M lenses until I can scrape up the wherewithall to get a L-mount lens for the SL2.

Dave

Yep. With both. The MATE has correct focal length display at all stops. The WATE shows the 16mm setting only (but you can choose manually). The WATE is also a true zoom lens so you can use it in between click stops. Doing the same on the MATE may damage it.

The WATE is a stronger optic than the MATE so you'll probably get a 24-XXX first. Several good options now. The Sigma probably the best performance/price balance. The 24-90 the best overall optic.

Gordon

[granite]

Thanks for the feedback, especially the comment on the 24-90, my first choice for an all-around SL-2 lens.

[pgk]

FWIW I picked up a Kirk PZ-10 QR Plate which is a close fit - a couple of pieces of tape and its nice and neat if not quite perfect.

[aj55]

I would like to remark that I first had a clone adapter and now the Leica M to L and on my T it makes a large difference because the two dials behave different.

Now with a M lens and in A mode I can dedicate the right dial to something else while with the clone it was stuck to aperture and thus not useful.

Haven't tried the clone on my SL yet......

Cheers Arnold

[johntobias]

re coding, I use the leica M-L adapter and a WATE   when you switch the camera on, it comes up with the 3 focal lengths to let you choose what you are shooting at...I personally cannot tell the corrections in-camera apart so I always pick 18mm and as an earlier answer, the WATE is a true zoom so I just frame up and shoot !

Obviously exif says 18mm then !