Asahizuiko
Member
Hello everyone,
My first time back here for a while. Has anyone else here got the Contax G Planar 45mm F2 to Leica M conversion by Funleader / Mr Ding? I'd really like to hear your impressions of the lens. I will share mine briefly below. I am impressed with it, but I do have two gripes with the lens. I wonder if the issues are with my copy or universal?
Briefly, for anyone who doesn't know, Funleader are offering both a complete, calibrated and rangefinder couple lens in their own brass helicoid, as well as offering an empty helicoid for those that wish to supply their own Contax G lens and do the (apparently non-destructive, reversible) conversion at home. I went for the complete lens in black paint.
This lens is really impressive out of the box. A very professional finish, and clearly from the weight it's a solid piece of brass. My black paint copy has a somewhat matte finish, with red and white markings. It looks great on my black Zeiss Ikon. It comes with a metal slip-on lens cap, which I think is a nice touch.
Issue 1. This lens focuses from closer than 0.7m (maybe 0.67m?) to (actually a little past) infinity. This is personal preference, but I wish the lens stopped hard at 0.7m and at infinity. At close focus, the focus ring continues to turn after the RF patch has stopped at 0.7m on my Ikon. This isn't entirely unfamiliar. The same happens when I mount a 0.7m lens on my M3, of course. But for me, this is something I like to avoid.
At infinity the RF patch keeps moving with the focus ring a fraction past infinity. An RF lens focussing past infinity is a new one to me. None of my other lenses do it... That's not to say my experience of M mount lenses is that extensive, btw. I have a couple of Voigtlanders, a Minolta M-Rokkor, a vintage Summicron and an Avenon.
Having said all that, focus does seem to be perfectly accurate.
Issue 2. There is a small amount of play in the focus ring. I would say about 0.5mm of play before the helicoid starts turning. I know 0.5mm doesn't sound like a lot but it's enough for the ring to feel wobbly. Once the helicoid is turning, it is very smooth. I find the play a bit distracting. Maybe I'll get used to it. I don't have any other lenses that have play in the focus ring like this. I raised this with Funleader and they told me they asked Mr Ding (the man who makes the lenses) about it and he said it's normal and he just can't make them more accurate unfortunately. I naively hoped there might be a way to tighten it up.
Do other owners of this lens have the same play in their focus ring?
Probably my expectations were too high. But I can't help but wish Funleader had better described what to expect from this lens on their website. I don't want to to sound overly negative about this lens though. It's as sharp and contrasty as you'd hope from the famous 45mm Planar. I'd love to hear what other owners think of this conversion.
My first time back here for a while. Has anyone else here got the Contax G Planar 45mm F2 to Leica M conversion by Funleader / Mr Ding? I'd really like to hear your impressions of the lens. I will share mine briefly below. I am impressed with it, but I do have two gripes with the lens. I wonder if the issues are with my copy or universal?
Briefly, for anyone who doesn't know, Funleader are offering both a complete, calibrated and rangefinder couple lens in their own brass helicoid, as well as offering an empty helicoid for those that wish to supply their own Contax G lens and do the (apparently non-destructive, reversible) conversion at home. I went for the complete lens in black paint.
This lens is really impressive out of the box. A very professional finish, and clearly from the weight it's a solid piece of brass. My black paint copy has a somewhat matte finish, with red and white markings. It looks great on my black Zeiss Ikon. It comes with a metal slip-on lens cap, which I think is a nice touch.
Issue 1. This lens focuses from closer than 0.7m (maybe 0.67m?) to (actually a little past) infinity. This is personal preference, but I wish the lens stopped hard at 0.7m and at infinity. At close focus, the focus ring continues to turn after the RF patch has stopped at 0.7m on my Ikon. This isn't entirely unfamiliar. The same happens when I mount a 0.7m lens on my M3, of course. But for me, this is something I like to avoid.
At infinity the RF patch keeps moving with the focus ring a fraction past infinity. An RF lens focussing past infinity is a new one to me. None of my other lenses do it... That's not to say my experience of M mount lenses is that extensive, btw. I have a couple of Voigtlanders, a Minolta M-Rokkor, a vintage Summicron and an Avenon.
Having said all that, focus does seem to be perfectly accurate.
Issue 2. There is a small amount of play in the focus ring. I would say about 0.5mm of play before the helicoid starts turning. I know 0.5mm doesn't sound like a lot but it's enough for the ring to feel wobbly. Once the helicoid is turning, it is very smooth. I find the play a bit distracting. Maybe I'll get used to it. I don't have any other lenses that have play in the focus ring like this. I raised this with Funleader and they told me they asked Mr Ding (the man who makes the lenses) about it and he said it's normal and he just can't make them more accurate unfortunately. I naively hoped there might be a way to tighten it up.
Do other owners of this lens have the same play in their focus ring?
Probably my expectations were too high. But I can't help but wish Funleader had better described what to expect from this lens on their website. I don't want to to sound overly negative about this lens though. It's as sharp and contrasty as you'd hope from the famous 45mm Planar. I'd love to hear what other owners think of this conversion.
