Adapting S lenses to L-mount: adapter options

[_Olivier]

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Hey everyone,

Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere, I searched and couldn't find an answer. 

I'm interested in adapting my S lenses to my SL2, but I really don't want to spend $1600 on the Leica adapter. I don't care about autofocus, and I'd have assumed that at least one cheaper third-party adapter would be available (again, I'd be happy with one that provides manual focus functionality only), but I'm not finding anything. 

Am I not looking hard enough, or is the $1600 Leica adapter really the only option?

Thanks!

Olivier

 

 

[John McMaster]

I believe it is the only option, it is not just AF but aperture settings as well...

john

[FlashGordonPhotography]

You need electronics for aperture and manual focus with S lenses.

Gordon

[_Olivier]

Ah, yes, thanks, that makes sense. And besides, the potential customer base for such an adapter is probably so limited as to make it an unattractive option for third-party manufacturers. 

[Einst_Stein]

48 minutes ago, _Olivier said:

Ah, yes, thanks, that makes sense. And besides, the potential customer base for such an adapter is probably so limited as to make it an unattractive option for third-party manufacturers. 

You might want to consider to expand the potential users to include Contax 645, Hasselblad H, etc, besides Leica S, or even include Canon EOS, Nikon. I think the electronic part is relatively easy. You can make one chip but with mode control. But make sure the fully compatibility and long term reliability, particularly with respect to the camera and the lens, can still be very challenging.

The mechanical part is more difficult. You need dedicated mount.