Old lenses for M11?

[Jobetim]

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Hi - I'd appreciate some advise. I have an M11 with a 50mm lens. My daughter-in-law, returning from Hong Kong carried with her a camera bag of her late father, which contained the following lenses:

Leica APO-MACRO-ELMARIT-R 1:2 8/100

Leica Macro VARIO-ELMAR-R 1:4 35-70

Leitz APO-TELYT-R 1:3 4/180

She also brought back a Leica R8 body, which I presume he used with these lenses.

Questions: With the right adaptor (R to M mount I guess...) how will these lenses perform on an M11? Are they worth keeping, or better to sell?

Finally, the Macro-Elmarit lens has a Novoflex adapter to use with a Canon mount (he also had a Canon 5D)...and it's stuck; how do I remove it?

Many thanks in advance for any insights!

[frame-it]

45 minutes ago, Jobetim said:

Are they worth keeping,

yes

[Photoworks]

it is an adapted lens, so you will have to use live view all the time with the LCD screen or the Visoflex 2.0 to focus and frame.

does lenses have some value on the used market. I would see and trade in for other lenses that work on your M11

I don't think they are that easy to use all the time on an M camera. Better on the R8 film camera or SL2.

[Stef63]

32 minutes ago, Photoworks said:

does lenses have some value on the used market. I would see and trade in for other lenses that work on your M11

I don't think they are that easy to use all the time on an M camera. Better on the R8 film camera or SL2.

First of all : Never sell a good lens !  And more important : never, never ever sell a good R lens !  Good bodies come and go and are replaced by better bodies, good lenses hold value and quality.  My most “loved” and “used” lenses are 20+ years old.

I have the 100 and the 180 also and although I must admit that there is a small advantage to use those two on an SL2 than on an M11 with Visoflex 2.0, my question here is : what lens would give you more satisfaction and you would exchange for one of the top macro lenses ever produced?  Also the 180 is a very very good lens.  
 

I’m sorry to not being able to tell you something positive or negative about the 35-70, as I do not have experience with it on an M11, so I won’t repeat or duplicate what others have said or have written about this combination.  This forum sure has plenty of opinions about this lens. 
 

RE the stuck Novoflex adapter I cannot help you either, but I wish you good luck in removing it.  And mount it on a proper M to R and enjoy this lens on your M11 (with Visoflex and tripod)

[MrPaulK]

Since I’m actively looking at more classic macro options on an M11, I’m curious as to the visoflex recommendation. Is there a reason, outside of possible ergonomics (assume I am doing actual macro type work with a tripod) to not just use live view, or an evf? Or are we talking about the visoflex evf…

My needs are modest and I’m torn between a sensibly priced 100/4+bellows, a very cheap super takumar, or the quite a bit more pricy 100/2.8 apo. 

Edited July 2, 2022 by MrPaulK

[darylgo]

It's never easy to answer the question about lenses, there's no one-metric that can rate a lens.  The R lenses are very much in demand by the cinema guys and I am happy with some that don't have great reputations and ambivalent with others that have great reputations.  

The 35-70 is a good performer, the M system doesn't have anything current that will give you zoom capabilities.  

The 100mm has a great reputation, I have no experience. 

The 180 has a great reputation, it is exceeded by newer lenses, many on the forums love this lens.    

The R lenses are built extremely well, so they have many years left.  It would be worthwhile to try them on a cheap adapter, one that I purchased gives me the same results as the more expensive Leica branded adapter.     

[Guest]

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On 7/2/2022 at 11:59 AM, MrPaulK said:

Since I’m actively looking at more classic macro options on an M11, I’m curious as to the visoflex recommendation. Is there a reason, outside of possible ergonomics (assume I am doing actual macro type work with a tripod) to not just use live view, or an evf? Or are we talking about the visoflex evf…

My needs are modest and I’m torn between a sensibly priced 100/4+bellows, a very cheap super takumar, or the quite a bit more pricy 100/2.8 apo. 

In this case: Visoflex = EVF. Also consider enlarger lenses with a bellows. Enlarger lenses of great optical quality (usually 6 lens elements) can be found very cheap and work amazingly good in their intended magnification range (about 1:2 - 1:20).  

Back to R lenses.

[davidmknoble]

@Jobetim, I use over a dozen Leica R lenses on the SL system (SL2-S) with 24mp and love them.  They draw very well and work well on the M, but with the EVF, which the M11 handles very well.  As an aside, I still use them on an R8 and R9 and get great black and white negatives from them.

The first one, the APO 100mm is a great lens and incredible sharp.  The M11 sensor will produce great images with that lens. The 35-70 f/4 is very similar to the Leica M MATE 28-50-35. And the last one is very good, and while there are sharper 180mm, this will produce nice images. 

Yes, Leica R to M adapter, but it does not record the focal length like the SL-R adapter does.

[MrPaulK]

I picked up the 100/4 R + bellows and am extremely pleased with it. Really great operation, including the ability to rotate the camera 90 degrees, etc. Bought it from leica classics, impeccable condition, good price and fast shipping. DId I mention I was pleased with this lens? I especially like the rack/pinion operation to move the whole unit, as a macro should. I'm not *really* using it for macro (just like at 0.5m type of think mostly). My only complaint is the super cheap R->M adapter I bought has a little rotation play on the R side

Edited July 13, 2022 by MrPaulK

[Guest]

Good choice! The bellows-R is very well made. 100mm focal length gives you a good working distance. Among others, I am using a 100mm lens (Componon-S) on my bellows as well. Regarding the adapter, I heard good things about Urth adapters, which are reasonably priced. 

[MrPaulK]

Very random, boring photo, but still a joy to take! The quintessential Canadian drink, the Caesar, or as I call it Fish Juice Two Ways. M11, 100/4 R bellows version

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