Leica R Lenses

[notsane]

My Grandfather worked at a camera store for 40 years. During that time he collected quite a few Leica R lenses (and tons of other camera equipment). I am lucky enough to have use of his Leica (Leitz Wetzlar) lenses. I think the biggest advantage of lenses like this is the handling. There is no substitution for vintage manual focus glass when it comes to smooth focus action and long focus throws (except the new Zeiss ZE and ZF or cine lenses). I have posted a series of photos taken at the same settings (F2.8 ISO 100 at 1/80th) with a T2i.

35mm F2 Summicron R

50mm F2 Summicron R

60mm F2.8 Elmarit Macro

90mm F2.8 Elmarit R

135 F2.8 Elmarit R

180mm F2.8 Elmarit R

Lens Test Shots (all at ISO 100 f2.8 except the 17-40 at ISO 200 F4)

180mm F2.8 Elmarit R

135 F2.8 Elmarit R

90mm F2.8 Elmarit R

60mm F2.8 Elmarit Macro

50mm F2 Summicron R

35mm F2 Summicron R

17-40 F4L at 40 (ISO200 F4)

17-40 F4L at 17 (ISO200 F4)

11-16 at 16

11-16 at 11

 

[jambredz]

nice. i have my eye on leica summicron series next year

 

[Samuel H]

very nice

I have a couple of vintage leitz lenses myself (elmarit-r 35 and elmarit-r 90) and they're totally awesome; mines came from ebay, though, so I'd bet yours are better kept

 

[notsane]

The 90mm I got on craigslist and it looks like someone was trying to sand the paint off with ultra grit sandpaper. Still works nice though and it completes my set.

I haven't explored the wider lenses because the 24mm f2.8 is a minolta design that clips the mirror on 5dii (runs around $5-600) and the 21mm f4 is a Schneider design (runs around $500). Anything wider than the 21 is into real money $1000s and is not particularly fast usual f3.5 or f4. Sure they are nice lenses, but the main advantage of these manual lenses is the long smooth focus throw and I don't see needing to pull focus much with these wide focal lengths. Also you have to compare the price against something like the 16-35 F2.8L once you start adding up 24, 21, etc. Maybe someday when my ship comes in.

 

[treynolds]

I got two Leica Elmarit-r lenses at a camera swap meet. The two of them i got together for $700. Its a 28mm F/2 and a 60mm f2 macro. They both are great lenses but the 28 isn't in the best shape of its life. They both could use a good professional cleaning i think. I would love a 35mm to use as a normal lens for lo light stuff. The 60mm macro makes for a great portrait lens and small tele.

 

[BoF]

Summicron-R adapter for T2i

Summicron-R adapter for T2i

I bought the Leitz Summicron-R 1:2/90 for my son. Which adapter would you recommend for this lens to be used on Canon T2i camera and one also on Pentax K-7? We are in Ontario, Canada.
Any suggestions, please e-mail me bfodrek@gmail.com
Thank you,
Bo

 

[Samuel H]

I use fotodiox adapters, you can look for them on ebay

most people say their pro adapters are best-in-class, but my leica-r to eos adapters are non-pro, I think they had no pro version of these; in any case, they work fine

the other option is changing the mount; that's a totally pro option, and costs around $100 per lens, but you have to fiddle with those tiny screws...

 

[Darren Levine]

beautiful glass you got there. the closet to 'vintage' i have are some canon FD!

 

[BoF]

Summicron-R adapter

Summicron-R adapter

Thanks Norman,
I sent e-mail to Fotodiox, waiting for their reply.
Bo

I use fotodiox adapters, you can look for them on ebay

most people say their pro adapters are best-in-class, but my leica-r to eos adapters are non-pro, I think they had no pro version of these; in any case, they work fine

the other option is changing the mount; that's a totally pro option, and costs around $100 per lens, but you have to fiddle with those tiny screws...

 

[Samuel H]

if you're asking about the swappable mounts, thouse are not fotodiox, but leitax
http://www.leitax.com/

that's the best option, but also the most expensive, and requires you to change the mount yourself (take the tiny screws off, take mount off, put new mount, screw again)

the second best is the fotodiox pro adapter:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fotodiox-Leica-...32377?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item5ad305d8b9

then the fotodiox standard adapter:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fotodiox-Leica-...15194?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item5ad305959a