Can my R lenses be used on any currently-made Leica cameras?

[craigrmurray]

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 I have every focal-length R lens from 15mm to 800mm, but i'm confused about which contemporary Leica body will accept them, and which adaptors I would need. Also, is there any lens information that that camera could read, like aperture information, or would the lens have to be used in stop-down mode. Obviously it would be manual focus only.

[frame-it]

you mean the SL series ? get the Leica or Novoflex R adapter L.

 

 

[Hans-Dieter Gülicher]

You can adapt them on M-cameras using the Leica R to M adaptor. I did it and it funcioned well.

[AndreasG]

I use the Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm together with a no-name R-M Adapter on a Leica M10-D. works very well, but no lens data transmitted. Focussing via screen, in case of the M10-D with a Visoflex 020.

[jankap]

I use the Sigma fp. It has an L-mount, like the SL series.

[dpitt]

I use a Novoflex M-L adapter stacked with R-M adapter. I also have a URTH R-L adapter. Stacking adapters shows vignetting on R lenses above 135mm. My URTH adapter feels as solid as the Novoflex, but I found that infinity is reached slightly before the infinity mark on the lens. In other words you can focus beyond infinity. (which is a minor issue )

[jankap]

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For another mount, I have the same problem, focussing beyond infinity. One looses on the close focussing side. Shimming would be the solution.

Edited August 7, 2023 by jankap

[frame-it]

1 hour ago, dpitt said:

infinity is reached slightly before the infinity mark on the lens. In other words you can focus beyond infinity. (which is a minor issue )

its not an issue, its designed like that, and a good explanation is in the user guide of the M adapter L

[a.noctilux]

😁

RTFM

[jankap]

On 8/7/2023 at 12:26 PM, frame-it said:

its not an issue, its designed like that, and a good explanation is in the user guide of the M adapter L

Technical reasons? I think, that they can take wider tolerances here. On an L-camera, the distance scale is not important anymore.

The adapter LTM to M had to be spot on.

[frame-it]

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40 minutes ago, jankap said:

Technical reasons? I think, that they can take wider tolerances here. On an L-camera, the distance scale is not important anymore.

The adapter LTM to M had to be spot on.

madapter_l.pdf

Edited August 9, 2023 by frame-it

[jankap]

Hello, I have seen that too.

It simply was cheaper, I suppose. What are technical reasons, I ask you? It is a matter of tolerances.

But with LCD´s or Viso´s it is not important any mare.

Edited August 9, 2023 by jankap

[frame-it]

51 minutes ago, jankap said:

Hello, I have seen that too.

It simply was cheaper, I suppose. What are technical reasons, I ask you? It is a matter of tolerances.

But with LCD´s or Viso´s it is not important any mare.

heat/temperature, focus shift, some adapted lenses might by off the register distance by a tiny amount.

and

 

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/tuning-adapters-infinity-focus-reflections/

 

[jaapv]

9 hours ago, jankap said:

Technical reasons? I think, that they can take wider tolerances here. On an L-camera, the distance scale is not important anymore.

The adapter LTM to M had to be spot on.

All of them the same because of tolerance? In that case there would be a variation.

[davidmknoble]

All electronic focus lenses focus to the proper point using electronics.  You cannot see if infinity is the same spot every time in all weather (it isn’t). Manual lenses have long focused past infinity because of temperature differences - 100 degrees versus 20 degrees (F) changes the focus point because of changes in the metal and glass.  SLR’s made that easier, because you focus through the lens.  

The EVF’s for the M digitals help with this and the SL EVF does the same.

The point is that the scale on the lens may not match with the actual focus. Note the S lenses also focus past infinity on their distance scale.  This is old physics.

But to answer the OP’s question, many R lenses work on the SL and M system.  The 1-cam and 2-cam lenses do not fit the adapters, but the 3-cam, R-only and ROM lenses do.  I believe it is more a function of R mount than lens focal length.  I have a whole group of R lenses I use regularly on the SL.

[Ko.Fe.]

"Latest" and still alive are SL series.

Leica made R to L adapter for those and some you your R lenses.

This is the list on BH site, which I guess  they took from Leica:

Quote

 

Compatible Lenses
Super-Elmarit-R 15mm f/2.8 ASPH, Super-Elmar-R 15mm f/3.5, Fisheye-Elmarit-R 16mm f/2.8, Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, Super-Angulon-R 21mm f/4, Elmarit-R 24mm f/2.8, Elmarit-R 28mm f/2.8, Elmarit-R 35mm f/2.8, Summicron-R 35mm f/2, Summilux-R 35mm f/1.4, Summicron-R 50mm f/2, Summilux-R 50mm f/1.4, Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8, Summilux-R 80mm f/1.4, Elmarit-R 90mm f/2.8, APO-Summicron-R 90mm f/2 ASPH, Macro-Elmar-R 100mm f/4, APO-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8, Elmar-R 180mm f/4, APO-Telyt-R 180mm f/3.4, Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8, APO-Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8, APO-Summicron-R 180mm f/2, Telyt-R 250mm f/4, APO-Telyt-R 280mm f/4, Telyt-R 350mm f/4.8, APO-Telyt-R 280mm f/2.8, APO-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, APO-Telyt-R 400mm f/4, APO-Telyt-R 560mm f/4, APO-Telyt-R 560mm f/5.6, APO-Telyt-R 800mm f/5.6, Vario-Elmar-R 21-35mm f/3.5-4 ASPH, Vario-Elmar-R 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5, Vario-Elmarit-R 28-90mm f/2.8-4.5 ASPH, Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm f/4, Vario-Elmarit-R 35-70mm f/2.8 ASPH, Vario-APO-Elmarit-R 70-180mm f/2.8, Vario-Elmar-R 80-200mm f/4, Vario-Elmar-R 105-280mm f/4.2

 

More info here: https://leicacamerausa.com/leica-r-adapter-l.html

 

[hepcat]

On 8/6/2023 at 9:46 PM, craigrmurray said:

 I have every focal-length R lens from 15mm to 800mm, but i'm confused about which contemporary Leica body will accept them, and which adaptors I would need. Also, is there any lens information that that camera could read, like aperture information, or would the lens have to be used in stop-down mode. Obviously it would be manual focus only.

Aside from the discussion about the adapters, and to your point...  Both the M series digitals and the SL series digitals can accept all of the R lenses with the appropriate adapter:  R to M for the M series or R to L for the SL series.

Add to that the Panasonic Lumix S1 and S5 series (I have one of each instead of the SL bodies) and the Sigma fp body, and you have a really nice selection of bodies on which to use your R lenses.

It is my understanding (not first hand) that the R-ROM lenses will transfer lens data to the SL bodies using the Leica R-L adapter.  AFAIK, none of the aftermarket adapters will do that... there are no electronics in them.   I use a Metabones adapter for my 2-and-3 cam R lenses on my Lumix bodies.  It is simply a mechanical lens mount extender.  As far as the R to M adapter, it is my understanding that the Leica adapter will transfer info from six bit lenses, all of the rest are mechanical.   As none of my M lenses have the 6 bit coding, and I just have cheap aftermarket adapters, I have no first hand knowledge.  With the M bodies, you will need to use either the Visoflex or Live View for focusing, of course.

You are fortunate to have a stable of R glass.  The prices have skyrocketed the past couple of years as video people have discovered them.  R film bodies are cheap now... glass is not.

[wizard]

vor 39 Minuten schrieb hepcat:

As far as the R to M adapter, it is my understanding that the Leica adapter will transfer info from six bit lenses,

There may be a misunderstanding here, as R lenses may have ROM, but no R lens is or can be six bit coded (only M lenses can). According to my understanding, therefore, even if a ROM equipped R lens is used on an M Leica by way of the R to M adapter, no information whatsoever will be transferred from the R lens to the M body. 

[hepcat]

2 hours ago, wizard said:

There may be a misunderstanding here, as R lenses may have ROM, but no R lens is or can be six bit coded (only M lenses can). According to my understanding, therefore, even if a ROM equipped R lens is used on an M Leica by way of the R to M adapter, no information whatsoever will be transferred from the R lens to the M body. 

That was my error in my original post. Thanks for catching it.   That's what happens when I post before I have enough coffee...  That comment was slightly off-topic from the R lenses anyway, but I MEANT to write M to L adapter.  My bad.  Sorry.  

Edited August 14, 2023 by hepcat

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[wizard]

Am 14.8.2023 um 17:51 schrieb hepcat:

That's what happens when I post before I have enough coffee... 

I hear you, same here 🙂.