Quality L mount adaptor makers

[tedd]

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Hey gang,

I've had Leica and Novoflex adaptors in the past which were both great, but expensive for rare use. Has anyone got any feedback regarding cheaper brands? TTArtisan look like they make a decent M to L for 1/4th the price of a Novoflex, but obviously that's expensive if it degrades the image quality or damages the mount.

Thanks!

[frame-it]

51 minutes ago, tedd said:

obviously that's expensive if it degrades the image quality or damages the mount.

or the $5000++ lens falls off

[matted]

Yes, the Leica adaptors are expensive but worth it IMHO if you have 6-but coded lenses. If you don’t, Novoflex is the only substitute I would use. At the price point of the SL system and M lenses I couldn’t imagine chancing anything cheap, but that’s just me. 

[Camaro5]

I have a couple of Urth adapters that are really well made.  The lenses fit perfectly and the adapter is a perfect fit on the camera.  Not too tight and no play.  I use the R to M adapter all the time without issue.  For the price, you can't beat them.  

[cboy]

Kipon is ok but the build quality is subpar compared to Leica & novoflex adapters. It gets the job done with no play. Purchased a close focus adaptor which was very stiff.

The fit and finish of Metabones and Rayqual are excellent 

But I would still recommended novoflex. You get what you pay for when it comes to adapter imo.

[Olaf_ZG]

I don’t have coded lenses (yet) but got the Leica adapter, may be expensive, but seen over the lifetime I plan to use it, it is ok to me.

[Luke_Miller]

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Don't know if this is applicable to third party M to L adapters, but my Metabones F to L adapter has one issue.  While I can manually select Leica M and R lenses (and the selected lens nomenclature shows on the LCD when I check it) - it is not recorded in the image metadata.  This is very different from when I use my Leica (brand) M to L mount adapter which does result in uncoded lens nomenclature being recorded.  So, if having correct lens metadata is important it would be worthwhile to verify the third party M to L mount adapter will permit it.

Edited April 11, 2022 by Luke_Miller

[Ba Erv]

The TTARTISANS adapter is fine and it only weighs 30g.

[shawn2nd]

On 4/11/2022 at 6:16 AM, Camaro5 said:

I have a couple of Urth adapters that are really well made.  The lenses fit perfectly and the adapter is a perfect fit on the camera.  Not too tight and no play.  I use the R to M adapter all the time without issue.  For the price, you can't beat them.  

Hey @Camaro5 how are those Urths now performing long term? I just picked up a M>L & an Nikkor F>L Adapter for my SL, they arrived yesterday, and feel pretty good. Part of me wants return them and to give in and shell out for Novoflex or maybe used Leica, but interested to hear how yours are holding up and performing? 

[dynaerik]

We all use cameras and lenses with thousands of dollars - no matter if we bought them used or new. So why not spend 450$ to get the original adapter including automated recognition of 6-bit coded lenses? 

[huwm]

I've had an Urth M39 L  adaptor stuck to my Canon 50mm f1.4 for a few years now, no complaints.

I regard it as part of the lens.

Maybe if the adaptors are coming on and off it is worth paying more but my 7 Artisans helicoid seems as 'solid' build wise as my Leica adaptors 

[dpitt]

+1 for the URTH adapters. I have R-L and M-Z adapters and they are very well built. (and environmentally neutral too) Almost feel like Leica. I must say they follow the same strategy as Leica native adapters i.e. being slightly short, so infinity focus is reached just before the infinity mark on the lenses. Novoflex M-L adapter is not doing that and is dead accurate. The same with an old R-M adapter stacked on that.

Also, as mentioned before, with third party adapeters the EXIF info is never updated, even if you chose the correct lens profile in camera. I use keywords(tags) in PP for the lenses that I used.

Edited October 12, 2023 by dpitt

[Camaro5]

7 hours ago, shawn2nd said:

Hey @Camaro5 how are those Urths now performing long term? I just picked up a M>L & an Nikkor F>L Adapter for my SL, they arrived yesterday, and feel pretty good. Part of me wants return them and to give in and shell out for Novoflex or maybe used Leica, but interested to hear how yours are holding up and performing? 

The only one I use now is the R to L adapter and it's just fine.  You do have to manually change the lens profile in-camera (which I forget to do sometimes) but it does show some of the EXIF data in Lightroom like ISO and shutter speed.  Even the aperture is usually close if not right on the money.  The fit is perfect.  It is not loose or tight and I've had no issues with it.  I don't really know what a $1,000 Leica adapter would do that this one doesn't.  

[shawn2nd]

4 hours ago, Camaro5 said:

The only one I use now is the R to L adapter and it's just fine.  You do have to manually change the lens profile in-camera (which I forget to do sometimes) but it does show some of the EXIF data in Lightroom like ISO and shutter speed.  Even the aperture is usually close if not right on the money.  The fit is perfect.  It is not loose or tight and I've had no issues with it.  I don't really know what a $1,000 Leica adapter would do that this one doesn't.  

Thanks for the input!