Leica Elmarit R 28 f.2,8 V1 frame lines on an M8

[Diegolino81]

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Hi guys,

I'm considering buying a Leica Elmarit R 28 f.2,8 V1, to use on my M8.

My only concern is: since it's a super old lens, will the M8 recognize it and show the proper frame lines in the viewfinder?

Does anybody actually own that lens and use it on an M8? How does it fare?

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[jaapv]

All M mount lenses will show the proper framelines on any M camera. It will need to be coded for it to be recognised otherwise.

You might struggle with corner colour shift on this lens.

[andybarton]

It’s an R-mount lens. 

[Diegolino81]

25 minutes ago, andybarton said:

It’s an R-mount lens. 

Oh, you're right! I would need an adapter  

[andybarton]

Yes, and you’d not have any coupling to the focusing in the M. 

[250swb]

It wouldn't show the framelines and it wouldn't have focus coupling. And it would be very big.

[adan]

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The frameline lever beside the lens mount can be held in position temporarily to 28/90 for framing.

The M8 rangefinder will not connect to this R-lens at all. But scale-focusing with a 28 is possible, with some stopping down for extra depth of field (at least f/5.6-8). Just estimate the distance to the subject by eye (say, 6-feet/2m) and set that on the lens's focusing scale.

Frankly the v1 28-R will need stopping down anyway, to get the outer edges of the picture sharp. It's a 1970 retrofocus design (to clear an SLR's flipping mirror) so not exactly Bog's Gift to optical performance wide-open, even from Leica.

If you are looking for a "budget 28" to use on the M8, a used Voigtlander or Zeiss ZM 28 already made in M-mount will likely be almost as inexpensive, and much less kludgy to use. Full rangefinder operation, no adapter required, some can even be hand-coded for camera recognition.

Just for example (there will be others, from other dealers):

https://www.lensrentals.com/buy/root/photo/lenses/leica-m-mount/wide-angle/zeiss-zm-28mm-f2.8-biogon?srsltid=AfmBOorHYTz_7KlnurvI8F6BKpHAhhuWEd-mO71wgI5bwfwofcK84lfWCTw&gQT=2

https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/voigtlander-color-skopar-28mm-f-2f28-aspherical-vm-type-ii-leica-m-fit/sku-3249107?utm_source=google&utm_medium=surfaces&utm_campaign=shopping feed&utm_content=free google shopping clicks&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=US|Google|Buy|Pmax|SmartUpgrade|All|All|EN&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19663888302&gbraid=0AAAAADRsxMk7uTtllXPE8aFJfhxAUF1ef&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI78jomNq8jgMVCa7uAR1QFTRGEAQYAiABEgJqHfD_BwE

 

The appropriate digital camera for a 28-R would be the Leica SL/SL2/SL3, or similar camera with EVF viewing (Sony, Fuji, M240/262/M10/M11).

Or a used Canon true-SLR with snap-on adapter (Fotodiox/Novoflex/Urth etc.) Or a true-SLR Nikon with the user-replaceable-with-a-screwdriver Leitax mounts.

[lct]

The Elmarit-R 28/2.8 # 11204 is a compact lens, in Leica R terms, that would need an adapter on M cameras and could in no way focus on M8 or M8.2, nor bring up framelines in their viewfinder. It could not be 6-bit coded either so  a better idea, as suggested above, would be to choose an M-mount lens among Leica M or Cosina made VM or ZM lenses. My favorite is the Elmarit 28/2.8 asph v1 on my M8.2 but the Ultron 28/2 does fine too if you like high contrast lenses.

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