R-Summicron on 5D - Unsharp

[mickmindless]

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Friends,

 

I have mounted a R-Summicron 35 (exc. condition) on my 5D with a Siolex adapter, but unfortunately, when I focus on infinity, results are quite unsharp. Is the Summi a bad performer (I have a little bit better results with the 35 Elmarit) - or do I have a problem with the rather cheap Siolex adapter?

 

Cheers

Michael

[pascal_meheut]

You have a problem because the Summicron is an excellent performer, one of the best I've tried, almost as good as more recent designs like the 90/2 AA.

[thomasl.se]

It's a known issue with the 35/2 and adapters. I received this reply from ebayer happypagehk:

 

"Due to variations of thickness needed for different customers on Leica 35/2.0 lens we know so far, we cannot summarize the best thickness needed. We do not charge extra for shaving the adapter down to a limit of 2.80mm. Thank you for your enquiry."

[lct]

So what's the best adapter you would suggest folks?

[robsteve]

So what's the best adapter you would suggest folks?

 

DMR

[lct]

Too big for me sorry so which R to Canon adapter would you advise for the 35/2, Novoflex, Cameraquest, Kindai, HappyPageHK on EbaY?

[robsteve]

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I don't think it is the adapter that is the problem. A Leica to EOS adapter is pretty simple to make. It is probably the infinity setting of the lens that needs adjusting. Even with my DMR, I had a few lenses that were not focusing at infinity and needed adjusting. I suspect the tolerences for film were not tight enough for a digital sensor. In other words, if the lens was set up on the far side of the tolerance, it would not focus well on the sensor.

 

Robert

[lct]

Thank you Robert. Did you try adapters allowing focus confirmation? I wonder if they are usefull or if focussing screens are accurate enough per se.

[Jamie Roberts]

On a wide angle (28 or wider) I found I didn't need the focus-confirming adapters, and the camera quest ones were fine.

 

On the 35, 50s, 85 and up, the focus-confirming adapters on the 5d are great. I used the happypagehk ones from eBay that are around $75; no problem with them.

[lct]

Sounds great, thank you Jamie.

[AlanG]

I have a Novoflex adapter to use Nikon lenses on a Canon and it has perfect infinity focus. I then bought two cheap Chinese adapters on eBay and both were too thin - focusing closer than infiinity. They were made up of two parts so I took them apart and shimmed them a tiny bit until focus was correct.

 

Of course if your adapter is too thick and won't allow focus to infinity, you'll need to get a thinner one.

[mickmindless]

I don't think it's a problem with the lens. My 90 Elmarit shows similar problems (though not as strong as with the 35)

[cnguyen]

Canon 5D focusing screen is mediocre for MF at best. You can also have a bad leica R/EOS adapter. I've gone through this route before with Canon chip and firmware you get the boring Canon look at the end IMHO.