Fabulous M-L adapter from Light Lens Lab

[MindsEye]

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I just received my Leica M to L-Mount lens adapter by Light Lens Lab. In a word, Marvelous. This adapter is not in general release yet in the U.S. but you can pre-order from Popflash or on eBay if you are comfortable ordering from a third party in China (QyCamera)

The construction is first rate and will pair nicely with well constructed lenses like Leica and Voigtlander. As a result it’s on the heavy side at 99 grams but like good lenses the weight for the size inspires confidence.

The best part, in my opinion, is the locking mechanism for the helicoid. It works like vintage Leica lenses with a push-in cone shaped button (see photos) that allows you to easily lock/unlock it at infinity position or use the helicoid for closer-than-rangefinder focusing while using M lenses on your L-mount camera body. All without taking your eye from the camera.

Compared to:

I also have a Voigtlander M to E adapter with helicoid but the lock isn’t nearly as convenient and a little fiddly, taking extra time to engage or disengage. I also had (and returned) a third party Haoge adapter with a helicoid. It had a decent feel but I always had to double check the helicoid was at infinity as it had no lock. And as it turned out, the infinity position was not accurate.

The only real downside I can see so far is that unlike the Leica adapter (at 3X the price) it doesn’t transfer 6 bit coding. That doesn’t bother me as the helicoid is more useful for me and the Leica adapter doesn’t have that. But for those of you with 6 bit coded lenses it may be meaningful.

This is a first look and I’ll add more as I get some miles on it.

*Before and after of helicoid extension next post*

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Edited February 13, 2024 by MindsEye

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[MindsEye]

Here are some more photos showing helicoid extension from mini-review- previous post

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Edited February 13, 2024 by MindsEye

[GFW2-SCUSA]

This is interesting. I have the Leica adapter which is lovely, but the cost was very high. I have thought of getting another since at time it would be nice to have one on my SL2 and CL.  I don't understand what the helicoid is or does.  Does it function a bit like the Leica macro adapter? or something different. 

I have a LL Lens and am impressed with the build quality. It is odd that some (none on this forum, I'm sure) tend to think of Chinese products are all being poor quality. It's easy to forget that the Chinese created some of the most amazing jade pieces ever made with details that would boggle the mind. ( At least mine). 

Your second group of pictures didn't show up for me.

Edited February 14, 2024 by GFW2-SCUSA
added info.

[frame-it]

8 minutes ago, GFW2-SCUSA said:

It's easy to forget that the Chinese created some of the most amazing jade pieces ever made

in which century?

[BernardC]

8 hours ago, GFW2-SCUSA said:

I don't understand what the helicoid is or does.  Does it function a bit like the Leica macro adapter? or something different.

It extends the focusing range. You would leave it at the locked position to use the normal range on the lens (infinity to 1m or 70cm, for most M lenses), and extend it for closer focus. I have a different helicoid adapter, and it extends close focus on a 50 from 70cm to approximately 45cm.

[Dr. G]

 I'm ordering one.  I have the Haoge and I've always suspected the lens was the wrong distance from the sensor when in the default position.

[Photoworks]

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On 2/13/2024 at 1:43 PM, MindsEye said:

Haoge adapter with a helicoid. It had a decent feel but I always had to double check the helicoid was at infinity as it had no lock. And as it turned out, the infinity position was not accurate.

it is probably by design, even the Leica does not stop infinity. 

it is to compensate for material changes in different temperatures.

[Pierre68]

Where do you find this adapter. It seems I cannot find it on th e LLL website....

 

[OR120]

6 hours ago, Pierre68 said:

Where do you find this adapter. It seems I cannot find it on th e LLL website....

 

I  couldn't find it either??

[Dr. G]

I spoke to Alex from Popflash Photo yesterday.  They were supposed to have it available for preorder yesterday but they still aren't ready.

[Planetwide]

If anybody is looking for a Hawks M to Sony E helicoid adapter...

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1821779/0#16329985

[agfa100]

Yes, it's not on LLL website does not make any sense, I have one coming from qycamera in the "Mother Country" they have shipped it already I normally expect about 1-2 weeks will see how long it takes. From the pic's it really appears to be nicely made, keeping my fingers crossed.

[MindsEye]

On 2/15/2024 at 6:19 AM, Photoworks said:

it is probably by design, even the Leica does not stop infinity. 

it is to compensate for material changes in different temperatures.

The problem was that I couldn't acheive infinity focus at all. Leeway in the other direction makes sense. Some of my M mount lenses actually focus beyond infinity but this was the opposite problem.

[MindsEye]

On 2/16/2024 at 7:36 PM, OR120 said:

I  couldn't find it either??

As mentioned I got mine from Popflash. They are the reseller in the U.S. and perhaps Canada too. I emailed with David at LLL and he said they wouldn't have it on their own site until after the Chinese new year. At the moment, perhaps QyCamera on eBay might be the only choice. But if you're in the U.S. I would check with Popflash. They only had one in stock when I bought mine but had more on the way.

Edited February 22, 2024 by MindsEye

[Photoworks]

1 hour ago, MindsEye said:

The problem was that I couldn't acheive infinity focus at all. Leeway in the other direction makes sense. Some of my M mount lenses actually focus beyond infinity but this was the opposite problem.

that sound like a defect

[MindsEye]

3 hours ago, Photoworks said:

that sound like a defect

Yeah, it was a defect. I returned it.

[LocalHero1953]

On 2/13/2024 at 6:43 PM, MindsEye said:

The only real downside I can see so far is that unlike the Leica adapter (at 3X the price) it doesn’t transfer 6 bit coding. That doesn’t bother me as the helicoid is more useful for me and the Leica adapter doesn’t have that. But for those of you with 6 bit coded lenses it may be meaningful.

Sadly this would make it a no go for me. It may be fine as a close focus extension, like an OUFRO, but not really as an M-L adaptor.

Edited February 22, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[MindsEye]

5 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Sadly this would make it a no go for me. It may be fine as a close focus extension, like an OUFRO, but not really as an M-L adaptor.

I get it. I don't know of any adapters with both 6 bit coding and a helicoid/close-up ability. The TTArtisans adapter with 6 bit coding also allows you to pass EXIF data to the camera, even without a six bit coded lens. But as far as I know, they don't have it in L-mount. If they did I'd be temped to get one.

My L-mount body is a Lumix S5 IIx so I can store my lens focal lengths in the camera and have that transmitted to the camera in EXIF. But not the working aperture.

Seems if you have mostly/only six bit coded lenses, the Leica M-adapter-L is the answer and perhaps the TTArtisan if you have both (though haven't tried that one) and a Sony E-mount or Nikon Z-mount body.

Edited February 23, 2024 by MindsEye
updated information

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[LocalHero1953]

5 hours ago, MindsEye said:

I get it. I don't know of any adapters with both 6 bit coding and a helicoid/close-up ability. The TTArtisans adapter with 6 bit coding also allows you to pass EXIF data to the camera, even without a six bit coded lens. But as far as I know, they don't have it in L-mount. If they did I'd be temped to get one.

My L-mount body is a Lumix S5 IIx so I can store my lens focal lengths in the camera and have that transmitted to the camera in EXIF. But not the working aperture.

Seems if you have mostly/only six bit coded lenses, the Leica M-adapter-L is the answer and perhaps the TTArtisan if you have both (though haven't tried that one) and a Sony E-mount or Nikon Z-mount body.

Yes, the Leica M-L adaptor is what I use, though it would be nice to have a cheaper version. I get M lenses 6-bit coded for use on the SL2-S if they aren't coded already.

NB Nothing can transmit the aperture of a M lens to a Leica or Panasonic body. The 6-bit coding just tells the body what lens it is.

Edited February 23, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[MindsEye]

8 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Yes, the Leica M-L adaptor is what I use, though it would be nice to have a cheaper version. I get M lenses 6-bit coded for use on the SL2-S if they aren't coded already.

NB Nothing can transmit the aperture of a M lens to a Leica or Panasonic body. The 6-bit coding just tells the body what lens it is.

It's been awhile since I've had an M body but I have a recollection that my M 240 read an approximate aperture from coded lenses. Is this any different on the SL2-S? I borrowed an SL2 to shoot some lens tests but didn't have the Leica adapter so wasn't sure how/if aperture would work with an SL2/S.